No 2018 iMac?!

[badlydrawnboy]

Has Apple already committed to creating its own chips for the iMac and other desktops? Is it a question of when, or are we still wondering about “if”?

I have a 2013 iMac. Been wanting to upgrade for some time, was really hoping for a new model this fall. Now I’m not sure whether to just get the 2017 or even iMac Pro (which is definitely overkill for me) or wait to see what happens next year. If the Apple chip isn’t coming until 2020 or later I can’t wait around for that.

 

[EugW]

Why are you wanting a 2019 model when it's the last year of the Intel CPU's? If you've waited this long, why not wait till the really new-redesigned iMacs with Apple CPU's and I bet much better graphics are released in 2020? First year jitters a concern? I believe that iMac is worth waiting for IMHO.

I’d prefer to have the last Intel Mac for my primary Mac for application compatibility reasons. I’d buy an A-series Mac 4-5 years down the line to replace it, after everyone else has been the guinea pigs to get the software up to par with A-series Macs.

 

[Kevbasscat]

I’d prefer to have the last Intel Mac for my primary Mac for application compatibility reasons. I’d buy an A-series Mac 4-5 years down the line to replace it, after everyone else has been the guinea pigs to get the software up to par with A-series Macs.

That answers my question as to whether folks will have first year or three jitters with such an important component.

 

[cwanja]

I purchased the 2017 iMac because I believe it's the last user upgradable iMac Apple will make, and the last without a T* chip. Let me ask you all this. Why are you wanting a 2019 model when it's the last year of the Intel CPU's? If you've waited this long, why not wait till the really new-redesigned iMacs with Apple CPU's and I bet much better graphics are released in 2020? First year jitters a concern? I believe that iMac is worth waiting for IMHO.

Apple's silicon is as much speculation as when the next iMac is going to be released. Anyone throwing dates around is just that - throwing dates around.

I’d prefer to have the last Intel Mac for my primary Mac for application compatibility reasons. I’d buy an A-series Mac 4-5 years down the line to replace it, after everyone else has been the guinea pigs to get the software up to par with A-series Macs.

I am right there with you - let a version or two get built out and the process worked out. Do not get me wrong, they have the mobile CPUs worked out, so the laptop line up might be squared. But desktop will be a different beast to tackle.

 

[iZeljko]

Quite a few posts back I've mentioned surface studio as a potential replacement for the iMac. I've tried two of them today - I do not like them.
The touch seems quite laggy. First tough was that I need to touch icons exactly the right length of time to open stuff, but then I realised that it is the machine that just wont pick the touch every time. Not sure how can someone use Surface Studio after owning and using a modern iPad.

Not my type of machine.

 

[BigBoy2018]

I’m about to pull the trigger on a 3.8ghz i5 27 inch model, and will swap the hdd with an ssd myself and also up the ram to 24 or 32 gigs.
Like others, I’ve decided this will be one of the last macs to come without the dreaded t2 chip. Also the last one in which the storage drive (and ram as well possibly) is upgradable.
Wish Apple had come out with one more model just like these but with the latest 6-core intel chips ... but it is what it is.

 

[EugW]

I’m about to pull the trigger on a 3.8ghz i5 27 inch model, and will swap the hdd with an ssd myself

That voids the warranty.

Plus, the SSD you'd put in it is nowhere near as nice as Apple's PCIe SSDs.

and also up the ram to 24 or 32 gigs.

It would be 24 or 40 GB.

 

[Jrshelby]

That voids the warranty.

Plus, the SSD you'd put in it is nowhere near as nice as Apple's PCIe SSDs.


It would be 24 or 40 GB.

Just order SSD or live with the 2 TB Fusion drive

 

[badlydrawnboy]

Well, this decision has gotten more pressing for me now. I'm having an issue with my iMac 2013 that Apple Support has not been able to figure out, and it looks like it could be a problem with the logic board. I may need to get a new iMac now, which is not what I planned as I'm fairly optimistic that a new model will come out in the first half of next year (pure conjecture, I know)—possibly with FaceID, that new display tech that Ming Kuo was referring to, etc. Argh!

 

[orbital~debris]

Well, this decision has gotten more pressing for me now. I'm having an issue with my iMac 2013 that Apple Support has not been able to figure out, and it looks like it could be a problem with the logic board. I may need to get a new iMac now, which is not what I planned as I'm fairly optimistic that a new model will come out in the first half of next year (pure conjecture, I know)—possibly with FaceID, that new display tech that Ming Kuo was referring to, etc. Argh!

There's another phase you're not at yet (I am :/), where you get rid of your current iMac because it's not working so well, but are then waiting trying to decide whether to buy a current gen. iMac or hold out just a little bit longer for a new model.

(It doesn't help to hear the present conjecture that Apple's moved to a mode of only updating for meaningful updates i.e. not speed bump updates…)

 

[BigBoy2018]

That voids the warranty.

Plus, the SSD you'd put in it is nowhere near as nice as Apple's PCIe SSDs.


It would be 24 or 40 GB.

I have no problem doing the upgrade myself. Have done it on several iMacs over the years.
As far as the Apple ssd’s go, they are faster than a 2.5inch ssd, but unless you’re doing massive file transfers (100gb or more) the real world noticable difference in speeds is negliable.

PS. and oh by the way, you only see that advantage with massive file transfers if you’re copying to or from a drive as equally fast as the Apple drive! lol

 

[badlydrawnboy]

There's another phase you're not at yet (I am :/), where you get rid of your current iMac because it's not working so well, but are then waiting trying to decide whether to buy a current gen. iMac or hold out just a little bit longer for a new model.

(It doesn't help to hear the present conjecture that Apple's moved to a mode of only updating for meaningful updates i.e. not speed bump updates…)

Ah, I hadn't heard that. But I very well may be in the place where I have to get a new iMac. The keyboard/mouse/trackpad input is intermittently dropping out, and it's not a Bluetooth issue (happens even with wired keyboard and mouse). I can't use it at all if I can't type or move the cursor!

 

[BigBoy2018]

It would be 24 or 40 GB.

Not necessarily. One scenario I was thinking of was initially getting one 16gb pair (8x8) to make it 24... then down the road pull the two 4gb chips and adding a second 8x8 pair ... bringing it to 32gb total.

 

[EugW]

Not necessarily. One scenario I was thinking of was initially getting one 16gb pair (8x8) to make it 24... then down the road pull the two 4gb chips and adding a second 8x8 pair ... bringing it to 32gb total.

OK, but that's not what you'd be getting first.

 

[BigBoy2018]

OK, but that's not what you'd be getting first.

So serious question, since you seem like an iMac guy: Do you think its silly to get a 2017 model at this point, a year and a half after their release?

 

[EugW]

So serious question, since you seem like an iMac guy: Do you think its silly to get a 2017 model at this point, a year and a half after their release?

I like my 2017 iMac, But that's because I bought 18 months ago... and got free headphones too with it. I personally wouldn't buy one now if I could wait a few months.

I'm not too keen on T2, but having a so-called 65 Watt 6-core would be great. I'd probably buy something like an i5-8400 or i5-8500. Or i5-9400?

BTW, I had the i7-7700K, but returned it because the fan would rev up too quickly. I am much happier with the i5-7600, despite the slower speed.

 

[BigBoy2018]

I like my 2017 iMac, But that's because I bought 18 months ago... and got free headphones too with it. I personally wouldn't buy one now if I could wait a few months.

I'm not too keen on T2, but having a so-called 65 Watt 6-core would be great. I'd probably buy something like an i5-8400 or i5-8500. Or i5-9400?

BTW, I had the i7-7700K, but returned it because the fan would rev up too quickly. I am much happier with the i5-7600, despite the slower speed.

I’m with you on the i5. The i7 gives you only a moderate speed boost at the expense of heat and fan noise, and some programs don’t even use the hyper threading anyway

 

[krazzix]

We might get a great GPU if Apple releases a new iMac somewhere in 2019.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Navi-RX-3080-3070-3060-specs-prices-leaked.374406.0.html

 

[Lammers]

Well, this decision has gotten more pressing for me now. I'm having an issue with my iMac 2013 that Apple Support has not been able to figure out, and it looks like it could be a problem with the logic board. I may need to get a new iMac now, which is not what I planned as I'm fairly optimistic that a new model will come out in the first half of next year (pure conjecture, I know)—possibly with FaceID, that new display tech that Ming Kuo was referring to, etc. Argh!

Personally I think you have to be extremely optimistic - not just “fairly optimistic” - to think that a new iMac will come out in the first half of 2019 with Face ID. No other Mac has Face ID, so that iMac would be the first, and personally I think that’s extremely unlikely. My view is Face ID will come to MacBook Pro first.

 

[Cashmonee]

We might get a great GPU if Apple releases a new iMac somewhere in 2019.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-Navi-RX-3080-3070-3060-specs-prices-leaked.374406.0.html

15% better performance than a Vega 64 for an MSRP of $250? If this comes to pass, that will be a pretty hot seller! Hell, it will be in my PC immediately at that price!

 

[wardie]

Personally I think you have to be extremely optimistic - not just “fairly optimistic” - to think that a new iMac will come out in the first half of 2019 with Face ID. No other Mac has Face ID, so that iMac would be the first, and personally I think that’s extremely unlikely. My view is Face ID will come to MacBook Pro first.

Yes makes more sense that Face ID would come to mobile macs first after mobile phones, rather than static desktops

 

[Lammers]

Yes makes more sense that Face ID would come to mobile macs first after mobile phones, rather than static desktops

Yep.

 

[Glmnet1]

Yes makes more sense that Face ID would come to mobile macs first after mobile phones, rather than static desktops

Adding FaceID to the iMac would be a much bigger upgrade than it would be on the laptops because it doesn't currently have TouchID

Also, the implementation would probably be easier on an iMac than on the laptops because of the larger bezels and thicker screen.

Even then I still think it's more like to appear on the laptops first because desktops are far on Apple's priority list.

 

[Icaras]

Adding FaceID to the iMac would be a much bigger upgrade than it would be on the laptops because it doesn't currently have TouchID

Also, the implementation would probably be easier on an iMac than on the laptops because of the larger bezels and thicker screen.

Even then I still think it's more like to appear on the laptops first because desktops are far on Apple's priority list.

The reason why I don’t think Apple has ever brought Touch ID to any of their desktops is because the keyboard isn’t physically attached, which I feel raises a bunch of security concerns.

With Face ID, every device has equal rights to it.

 

[BigBoy2018]

The reason why I don’t think Apple has ever brought Touch ID to any of their desktops is because the keyboard isn’t physically attached, which I feel raises a bunch of security concerns.

With Face ID, every device has equal rights to it.

Christ, the more you people talk about Face ID and the T2 chip coming to the upcoming iMac the less appealing it sounds to me.
I can log into my computer just fine. Have for 30 years, no big deal. Also haven't had my data stolen by some Chinese spy.
So both Face ID and the T2 chip feel like unecessary 'features' when all I really want is a faster processor, a better video card, and a hard drive and memory that's user upgradable.

FWIW, the screens already kick ass, so they can leave those alone as far as I'm concerned.