Depends. Are you happy with your current machine? If it still sparks joy, skip the next refresh. If you absolutely need to upgrade, buy whatever is on the market. That's it!
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No 2018 iMac?!
- Thread starter Internet Enzyme
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if the rumour turns out to be true (and I think unless Intel picks up and invent something amazing - unlikely) then you want to get the last intel from Apple as that will bridge the period for you. Because if its going to be something like PowerPC to Intel (different scenario to this one though) then there will be lot of developers behind as it takes time to recode the apps to new architecture and also, some developers will simply not do it. Sure, we will probably get a simulator but it won't be ideal. Thats why I think its good to get 2019 machine (or 2020 if there is one) and keep it for about 4-5 years. That would give around 3 years after the 'switch' and by then most apps will be out recoded.
While I fully believe Apple intends to transition macOS from x86 to ARM instruction sets, I expect the iMac to be one of the last models to be transitioned over and only once core productivity apps have been fully integrated.
So I am quite confident the iMac and iMac Pro will be on x86 for a number of years to come.
So I am quite confident the iMac and iMac Pro will be on x86 for a number of years to come.
The 5K iMac is one of the few Macs that must pack enough graphics compute power just to drive its own display. So I am with you to bet on the iMac being the last of the bunch to have an (all) ARM treatment.
But that's not a good reason, given that iPads drive an immense resolution themselves with around what, 7 watts?
That's precisely what I did a couple months ago, from the refurb store, then upgraded ram to 40Gb. It's an i5, 3.8 Ghz, Radeon 580 Pro. Does everything so effortlessly, almost instantly, and smooth. Ya'll can talk about it or do it. If the 2019 iMac is all that, I'll sell this one and buy the 2019, so what? I'll just consider this model as a lease cost for the time I used it and what I get for it, but I don't think the selling price will drop in value that much, since it's upgraded.
After having to wait this long, i think if the iMac is only given a spec bump a lot of people will be annoyed. Reduced bezels, promotion and True Tone should be added to the iMac in my opinion.
Yes a redesign is probably coming since apple is working on the 6k display
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12” macbook and 21.5” imac are the first candidates for arm
Yeah, thats how I see it. There are going to be a lot of great things about the transition to ARM, but if you just want a computer that will work with bootcamp and act like, well a mac running OSX, then i think it would be wise to buy the 2017 or 2019 because they will be the last intel products. Early adoption can be great, but with something like Intel to ARM, i think most hardcore mac fans would be wise to wait a good few refreshes and see if they want to jump in
My guess is a thinner bezel iMac, maybe the screen is extended to around 30" on the 27" iMac. We may also see True Tone and probably 6-8 core processors. I'm really looking forward to a BIG iMac upgrade so that i can pass on my current 2012 iMac and finally upgrade.
But that’s what Rosetta was for, and it worked fine while it lasted. I’m sure Apple will do the same for ARM and not leave the Mac customer in the dust. We can’t just keep dipping our toes in the water with a couple of first party Apple marzipan apps once every keynote. The big transition has to hit sometime and developers are going to have push their agenda if they’re going to keep up with the times. They did during the Intel transition and i’m sure they’ll do it again this time.
There’s so many leaks about apple products and none about iMacs, i’m wondering if it always been like that in past refreshes/spec bumps? Really hopping to upgrade my 2012 iMac this year!
50/50. They‘re waiting for AMD to get a new graphics chip, maybe for Intel to get their 9th generation processors shipping in volume too - why not wait for the AX hardware as well? If we see a new iMac in March, I‘d go with 30 %, in June with 50 % and later with 70 %.
Pretty much. Outside of a case re-design, it's all dependent on Intel and AMD release schedules and product availability so there are no supply-chain leaks like with the iOS devices.
Yes, most probably the 27" imac goes to the same panel as the new upcoming monitor - 31.5", from profit margins makes sense
I’m willing to bet that Apple keeps the 21.5” in order to keep the budget consumers happy. So we’ll either have a 21.5” and 31.5” iMac this year or all three iMacs. If anything, in my opinion, the 27” is the likely size to disappear. That way Apple can get more from those with deep pockets without alienating the rest of us. That is unless they didn’t learn from their iPhone SE mistake.
Yeah I lived through that transition. The problem is Rosetta was basically an emulation solution. You took a performance hit using it. And software optimized for the new chips took years to come out.
I think the 27" iMac provides a market-leading monitor, no need to go bigger. I'd really like to see a new iMac that provides very robust cooling for the latest intel processors, while also providing upgradability for RAM and SSD. Bezels could be made slimmer, that would be nice, but far down on my list. I'm typing on my 27" iMac right now, and I don't really notice the bezels when I'm doing actual work. The potential ARM transition would be a very interesting transition to see happen, however, every chip series has a performance ceiling; I'd be curious to see a comparison of intel vs ARM in terms of which architecture has the most headroom over the long-term.
Me too. Really, 24 inches and 4K is the default size for smaller monitors now. That would be perfect for me and for my desk. A good value 24 inch 4K iMac would be really popular I think for people who just want to get work done. The bigger size is then for the luxury or specialist end of things. But I've been thinking this and holding out for the last five years and my 2009 21.5 is nearing its tenth birthday (and still works better than the three-year old Lenovo PC they make me use at work).
you will have your hands full with all the Candy Crush clones as the makers of traditional PC/Console games completely ignore the platform afterward. Just the difference in the Steam library for PC and Mac games should give an indication that not many developers are willing to work on Mac and it shares the same processor which makes it even easier, going to A* chips will mean the end of cross over games. The games we will see are those on the iPad. Oh joy
Then again, how many of the Macs being sold truly have an adequate GPU solution? How many Mac users are in the subset of being gamers? You'll find that it's just not worth the hassle. So, going that way you described (iPad games on Mac, yay!) makes the most sense for developers financially.
I agree with you both, but Apple has these stupid self made standards like “retina” which means they won’t drop the ppi to go from 4K 21.5” to 4K 24”. Even though ironically both have very high image quality. The only chance of a 24” size would be if they created a smaller 21:9 iMac to complement the rumoured 31.6” 6k2k.
Yeah that’s what I was going to say. All the retina devices have a PPI of around 220 (with native resolution). So I don’t think they’re going to change that any time soon.