My opinion on when the new iMac release date will be.

[thesdx]

here's what I think:

Imac released soon = $ for Apple

Leopard released later = more $ for Apple

OR:

Imac released with leopard = Loss of sales

That makes sense. However, I'm starting to believe that we might get an early release of Leopard. Well, at least I wish. I'm sure Apple's marketing department is looking at the same angles that we are. So, it does make perfect sense to release the iMacs in a few weeks, and then release Leopard as planned. What puzzles me is how iMacs could be introduced without a Stevenote?

 

[torrid30]

Well, as far as a big event, was there a big event for the macbook pro redue? When they increased the power for a lesser cost back at the begining of the summer I don't recall hearing about a big release event. I just saw it up on apple.com. I could be wrong though.
-matt

The Macbook Pro update was just a bump in specs, while the iMacs are getting a complete overhaul (from what we hear), being completely redesigned and everything. That is why people are expecting/anticipating an event announcement.

PLEASE LET IT BE THE END OF JULY!

I'm right with you on that one!

I guess I see your point about returning students. However, in my 4 years at The University of New Hampshire, I always had a laptop, and didn't have any friends with desktops. Are you seriously willing to pack up and move a desktop after every semester? Are you going to bring an iMac to the library, or over to a friends to study with? Desktops are a little less functional for students. Get a MBP, it will be more powerful and a hell of a lot more useful/portable. And if you really need screen realestate, just get a ACD. Then, you'll have the baddest set-up on campus. So anyways, the people that I was referring to as being nuts would be those that don't NEED a new computer immediately. They would save money by waiting a month. And, as I have said before, I highly doubt they will be released before Leopard. This is the longest period of time without an iMac refresh. Common sense tells you that it means apple is waiting for something, and that something is Leopard. It's only a guess...but it's one i would be happy to make a gentleman's bet on.

With students it's all about preference. Yes, I'm sure a majority of them do enjoy the portability of laptops (taking to class, library, friends, etc.), but there are some (myself included) that want some more. In my original post I talked about my laptop that died. Which two years ago was really powerful and was in this laptop form. Now the battery life in it sucked because it was so power hungry, that I never took it anywhere and it suited my needs perfectly. It was an easy pack-up from school to home or vice-versa. After it died, I wanted to get away from laptops because of the problems I had (Alienware's Engineering no doubt, but still laptops now put up red flags in my head). So the iMac fulfills my needs/preferences perfectly. Still "one piece" of hardware, compared to a bulky tower and monitor, and I can take it from home to school fairly easily if it's only 2-4 times a year. Don't get me wrong, like I said, a majority of students will prefer the power/portability for all the reasons you stated of a MBP, but me (and hopefully a few others) the iMac is perfect and I want that late July/early August release. Fingers Crossed.

Torrid

 

[GWN]

I hope you are right because I personally can't wait much longer with my current PC dying. Right now I can get a quad core Dell with more memory, more HDD space, a much better graphic card and with a 24" monitor for the same price as the basic 24" iMac... I don't mind paying more for a Mac but right now the iMac is a poor value for the money.

 

[CPPhoto]

im hoping for july early august as well...ive got a 2000.00 gift card burning a hole in my pocket and waiting for imacs vs. a mac pro is killing me!

 

[superlatic]

same here

im hoping for july early august as well...ive got a 2000.00 gift card burning a hole in my pocket and waiting for imacs vs. a mac pro is killing me!

i have hung out as much as i possibly can for the new imac, the reason being that i think the current imacs are such poor value for money and out of principle not paying 2006 prices for 2006 hardware

if its not updated by end of july im gonna have to get a pc as i badly need a new computer for msc project

 

[daniel851]

I also hope that the iMac is released before school starts. Like stated, it would capitalize and benefit from the iPhone aftermath, and so many people want new computers. I still have a G3 on my desk and the only thing that's keeping me from buying a new iMac right now is the hope that Apple will release a better iMac by the end of July.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/329585/ --> July 24th would be great!

Also, is this (http://television.gearlive.com/tvenvy/article/q307-apple-set-to-update-imac-line-in-august) a picture of the "new" iMac, or is it just a Photoshopped image?

 

[Royale w/cheese]

im hoping for july early august as well...ive got a 2000.00 gift card burning a hole in my pocket and waiting for imacs vs. a mac pro is killing me!

I know what you mean, I have a $500 and it is beginning to take its toll on me. So I can only imagine how you feel.