So ..... when will the next iMac upgrade be ??

[Perfectionist]

I get the impression the new range was kinda rushed through ..... new keyboard but still the same plastic mouse and remote ..... WTF ?!

Does Apple have an official policy to ignore certain sections of the market like gamers and TV watchers ??!!

Will there ever be an iMac with a kick ass Graphics Card and built in TV card ??

 

[Eidorian]

MWSF 2008 looks good.

 

[togermano]

I hope its another year since i just bought the new imac

 

[kwood]

MWSF 2008 looks good.

I second that motion. And you will probably only see processor and Hard drive upgrades.

 

[66217]

They don't ignore gamers, they just don't see that the best way to sell computers.
They sell the cool factor, they sell the software and they sell the easiness of use.

PCs would always be better for games, since you can customize your PC the way you want it to be.
The iMac, MBP and Mac Pro are able to run most games at decent graphics, and the MB and Mac Mini are able to run many games also, not the new ones that need a lot of power, but they do play many basic games.

 

[rds]

I get the impression the new range was kinda rushed through ..... new keyboard but still the same plastic mouse and remote ..... WTF ?!

Does Apple have an official policy to ignore certain sections of the market like gamers and TV watchers ??!!

Will there ever be an iMac with a kick ass Graphics Card and built in TV card ??

A "kick ass" graphics card would mean turning the iMac into an iBaseUnit, alternatively there's the Mac Pro (the age of it's options are beyond this thread) or if you think that Mac Pros are too expensive, there is always the PC variety... we can't have it all, can we?

They do not need to put a TV card in an iMac, there are many great third party products you could buy. Unless suddenly the vast majority of users wanted to watch TV on their mac, why should they bother adapting their products for a minority?

 

[flopticalcube]

A "kick ass" graphics card would mean turning the iMac into an iBaseUnit, alternatively there's the Mac Pro (the age of it's options are beyond this thread) or if you think that Mac Pros are too expensive, there is always the PC variety... we can't have it all, can we?

They do not need to put a TV card in an iMac, there are many great third party products you could buy. Unless suddenly the vast majority of users wanted to watch TV on their mac, why should they bother adapting their products for a minority?

It would also require a customised iMac for just about every region of the world.

 

[CaptainWOW]

I get the impression the new range was kinda rushed through ..... new keyboard but still the same plastic mouse and remote ..... WTF ?!

I don't think they were rushed, keeping the same mouse and remote makes sense. People buy mice all the time - either to replace a broken one or they want a new one (ie. wireless). Apple gets to still satisfy that market without having to stock both a new and old style.

The above is even more true with the remote. Apple ships the remote with all of it's computers (excluding the Mac Pro), the TV and as a remote for iPod docks and such. With a market that big it makes sense they would want to keep one SKU.

Of course, the same could be said about the keyboard but that is why Apple will eventually update the remote and mouse, just not yet.

Does Apple have an official policy to ignore certain sections of the market like gamers and TV watchers ??!!

Actually, they kind of do. Steve Jobs has said that he doesn't think people use their computer to watch TV. The really reason is if they had a Tuner card option it would cut into their sales of iTunes TV shows. They would lose what little profits they make.

Will there ever be an iMac with a kick ass Graphics Card and built in TV card ??

There is always the chance Apple will offer a TV Tuner and better Graphics Card in an update. I don't think it will be in the next update though. Like others have said, that will probably be a marginal upgrade of HD space/RAM and processor speed.

 

[Hibbsy]

I get the impression the new range was kinda rushed through ..... new keyboard but still the same plastic mouse and remote ..... WTF ?!

Does Apple have an official policy to ignore certain sections of the market like gamers and TV watchers ??!!

Will there ever be an iMac with a kick ass Graphics Card and built in TV card ??

Feb or March 2008, processor jump, maybe better graphics cards, and blueray drives . . . sooner or later they need to do this i suspect.

I kinda agree on the rushed through part regarding the mouse / remote. The keyboard is great but . . . the white mouse, white cables and ipod / dock look out of place. I think we can safely assume that more alu look accessories will be coming our way and we will all shell out for them

I actually think apple has taken 1 big step towards killing the notion that a mac is not for games. But they are not trying to win over hard core gamers overnight. This is a smaller percentage of the market than you may think and one of the hardest for apple to attack easily with a desktop that uses mobile hardware which is not user swappable.

I think what they want is to remove the objection for the next group of mac users who would consider a mac if they could do some casual gaming.

So far the strategy of making a great standalone product (ipod) which attracts users to their computer line has worked very well for them. They are extending this thinking with Safari for windows but mainly with the iphone leading people to the imac. Provided their mobile operator partners don't let them down then I think this will work well for them.

Live TV is still a missing piece in the puzzle, apple TV only really makes sense in the US market right now. I suspect apple have something more up their sleeves here I remember at the launch of apple TV thinking that Steve wanted to say more about apples vision here but held back.

Expect apple TV to get developed and not a TV card for the imac IMO. Considering that more live content is being offered on the internet and also that TV cards often deliver a poor user experience. If apple were to offer a TV card built into an imac it would need to be good enough to sit alongside photos and movies on the front row menu and right now I can't see it.

 

[basherhp2112]

I get the impression the new range was kinda rushed through ..... new keyboard but still the same plastic mouse and remote ..... WTF ?!

Does Apple have an official policy to ignore certain sections of the market like gamers and TV watchers ??!!

Will there ever be an iMac with a kick ass Graphics Card and built in TV card ??

Seeing that I just received my iMac, I hope not too soon.

I am guessing the next iMac will come out in about 345 days.

Just a guess.

As long as my system can run Leopard when it releases I am a happy guy.

In regards to a "TV Card", all I can say is check the products from Legato.

I have heard that EyeTV Hybrid works well...

Peace

 

[Sun Baked]

Does Apple have an official policy to ignore certain sections of the market like gamers and TV watchers ??!!

I think the snack food industry has you covered.

 

[jesteraver]

I would like an HD tv tuner in a an iMac, I wonder how much it would cost though.

 

[Sun Baked]

In regards to a "TV Card", all I can say is check the products from Legato.

I have heard that EyeTV Hybrid works well...

Peace

You might find http://www.elgato.com works a little better, the other spelling is a porn site.

OK, not quite unless you buy the calendar.

 

[Sped]

MWSF 2008 looks good.

I doubt there will be a mobile Penryn by then which makes me think MWSF 08 is unlikely for new iMacs.

 

[Perfectionist]

They do not need to put a TV card in an iMac, there are many great third party products you could buy.

But that goes against the "All-In-One" philosophy .....

Unless suddenly the vast majority of users wanted to watch TV on their mac, why should they bother adapting their products for a minority?

Maybe only a minority desperately want TV ..... but the majority would definitely find it a useful feature ..... why deliberately leave out a useful feature which may garner a few more sales ??

 

[Perfectionist]

I don't think they were rushed, keeping the same mouse and remote makes sense.

Only if they want to deplete their old stock ..... eventually they will update the mouse and remote, it just seems they couldn't be bothered to do it right now .....

Actually, they kind of do. Steve Jobs has said that he doesn't think people use their computer to watch TV. The really reason is if they had a Tuner card option it would cut into their sales of iTunes TV shows. They would lose what little profits they make.

Sounds about right

There is always the chance Apple will offer a TV Tuner and better Graphics Card in an update.

Hallelujah !!

I don't think it will be in the next update though.

God Damn It !!

 

[rds]

But that goes against the "All-In-One" philosophy .....

http://www.wengerna.com/browse/product.jsp?prod_id=1260&cat_id=1&cat_name=Knives&sub_cat_id=23

I'll leave you to ponder what I'm getting at.

Have you seen the size of some of these TV options available? - http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetvhybridna (other brands are available)

Maybe only a minority desperately want TV ..... but the majority would definitely find it a useful feature ..... why deliberately leave out a useful feature which may garner a few more sales ??

If I wanted it that much, I'd hope that the customer would buy one of the many great third party products available that will probably do much more, rather than add to the cost of the machine (in many ways, for both Apple and the customer) for a feature wanted by a minority.

That's not even considering the software side of things, that is a topic in itself.

 

[skubish]

Does Apple have an official policy to ignore certain sections of the market like gamers and TV watchers ??!!

Yes because it is a small market that requires user swappable parts.
Apple only needs to show that most games are playable (which they are).
Case closed. If you need to run the latest game at 75fps, buy a PC.

 

[Perfectionist]

http://www.wengerna.com/browse/product.jsp?prod_id=1260&cat_id=1&cat_name=Knives&sub_cat_id=23

I'll leave you to ponder what I'm getting at.

That the iMac should have everything from a coffee machine to a hooker ?? !!

No thanks, I just want an iMac with a decent Graphics card and built-in TV card .....

Have you seen the size of some of these TV options available? - http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetvhybridna (other brands are available)

Precisely why they could be so easily integrated in to an iMac .....

If I wanted it that much, I'd hope that the customer would buy one of the many great third party products available that will probably do much more, rather than add to the cost of the machine (in many ways, for both Apple and the customer) for a feature wanted by a minority.

True, which is why Apple should make it a Customisable Option for those that do want it .....

That's not even considering the software side of things, that is a topic in itself.

So Apple develops (or buys) a little bit of extra software that would take up a few MB of the Hard Disk ..... what's the big deal ??

 

[Perfectionist]

Yes because it is a small market that requires user swappable parts.

Nope, it just needs a decent Graphics card

If you need to run the latest game at 75fps, buy a PC.

Which is exactly what 95% of people do !! What a waste !!!

 

[flopticalcube]

Nope, it just needs a decent Graphics card

As has been mentioned on other threads, no high-end cards can fit in the tight casing of the iMac. I doubt Apple will change the design to fit such a small group of people who probably wouldn't buy the iMac anyways.

 

[marcg007]

Point of order...

I hate to sound like a language curmudgen but there is no such word as "anyways". Can we please use the English language they way it is supposed to be used?

Now, I think that the likelihood of there ever being a built-in TV tuner on the iMac is quite low unless Apple decides to build TV into their machines. They had a TV tuner once upon a time in the Centris series computers I think and it did not do very well at all. I also personally don't see Apple building iMac bigger than 24 inches which is already pushing the boundries size wise of the point of the all in one computer. I thought the point of an all in one computer was to make it easier for people with space constraints to have a computer that did not take up an entire desk. Some might respond to this by saying that if they have size constraints, they should get a laptop. However, I like having a laptop for travel and a desktop for working at home. For example, I'm writing this on my 12 inch Powerbook while sitting at my desk. The reason I'm writing on my laptop is because I am waiting for the arrival of my new iMac which is a replacement for a great, hardworking Quicksilver G4 that I have used for the past 5 years. I will miss the expandability of the G4 but will love the fact that my computer will not take up so much of my desk. When I need to work on actual paper, I'll be able to just move the iMac out of the way and have desk space available to write instead of having to use my kitchen table.
I realize I have just drifted completely off topic. Sorry.
Mostly back on topic - When you need or want a new computer is when you should get it unless you know for sure that something is coming within a short period of time. I waited to order my new iMac first because I knew something was coming before the end of the summer and then I waited a few extra days because of tax free weekend in MA. If the iMac had been announced at WWDC in June when everyone first thought it would be announced, I would have purchased at that point. If you keep waiting for the next great thing that is just around the corner, you will never get anything and you will get more frustrated with what you currently have.
Ok, I'll be quiet now.

 

[Hibbsy]

Nope, it just needs a decent Graphics card

Which is exactly what 95% of people do !! What a waste !!!

er no actually 95% of computer owners are not hard core gamers.

 

[flopticalcube]

I hate to sound like a language curmudgen but there is no such word as "anyways". Can we please use the English language they way it is supposed to be used?

Now, I think that the likelihood of there ever being a built-in TV tuner on the iMac is quite low unless Apple decides to build TV into their machines. They had a TV tuner once upon a time in the Centris series computers I think and it did not do very well at all. I also personally don't see Apple building iMac bigger than 24 inches which is already pushing the boundries size wise of the point of the all in one computer. I thought the point of an all in one computer was to make it easier for people with space constraints to have a computer that did not take up an entire desk. Some might respond to this by saying that if they have size constraints, they should get a laptop. However, I like having a laptop for travel and a desktop for working at home. For example, I'm writing this on my 12 inch Powerbook while sitting at my desk. The reason I'm writing on my laptop is because I am waiting for the arrival of my new iMac which is a replacement for a great, hardworking Quicksilver G4 that I have used for the past 5 years. I will miss the expandability of the G4 but will love the fact that my computer will not take up so much of my desk. When I need to work on actual paper, I'll be able to just move the iMac out of the way and have desk space available to write instead of having to use my kitchen table.
I realize I have just drifted completely off topic. Sorry.
Mostly back on topic - When you need or want a new computer is when you should get it unless you know for sure that something is coming within a short period of time. I waited to order my new iMac first because I knew something was coming before the end of the summer and then I waited a few extra days because of tax free weekend in MA. If the iMac had been announced at WWDC in June when everyone first thought it would be announced, I would have purchased at that point. If you keep waiting for the next great thing that is just around the corner, you will never get anything and you will get more frustrated with what you currently have.
Ok, I'll be quiet now.

Your grammar and spelling need improvement. Just thought I would point that out.

 

[synth3tik]

Will there ever be an iMac with a kick ass Graphics Card and built in TV card ??

simply put, No