HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Some may look back from the future and say the xMac (sorta) was 'a world-changing revolutionary piece of tech,' rationalizing why it came into play and the iMac 27" juggernaut was terminated.
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The new 27" iMac is almost certainly coming
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HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
I agree. Let's call it temporarily terminated because Apple said so.
On a gut guess level, I think this new monitor was intended to be the new iMac 27" AND a matching monitor for those desiring 2-monitor setups and/or an iMac-like 27" monitor for the Mac Mini, Mac Studio and even some Mac Pro buyers. I presume something happened (besides the idea of harvesting what is probably the much more profitable Mac Studio sales from people like me), putting off WHEN an iMac 27" can come to market.
Somewhere on down the road, I suspect iMac 27" will be resurrected. If I was further guessing, I bet it will be iMac 27" PRO with "starting at" prices up at $2999+... well equipped up into the high-$3X00s to low $6X00s)... and loaded up into traditional iMac Pro loaded price levels.
Those who don't want to wait should bundle Mini or Studio plus this new Apple monitor or the LG one... or grab one of the 2020 refurbs before they are gone. Those able to wait will probably be able to get one on down the road... probably when M2 or whatever it is called is replacing all variants of M1. Maybe even this time next year.
As a long-term iMac 27" user myself, I thought it was a FANTASTIC Mac... maybe the best I ever purchased. Exceptional Mac, Exceptional Monitor, Exceptional Windows computer... ALL IN ONE BOX! From an overall value perspective- IMO- nothing touched it.
On a gut guess level, I think this new monitor was intended to be the new iMac 27" AND a matching monitor for those desiring 2-monitor setups and/or an iMac-like 27" monitor for the Mac Mini, Mac Studio and even some Mac Pro buyers. I presume something happened (besides the idea of harvesting what is probably the much more profitable Mac Studio sales from people like me), putting off WHEN an iMac 27" can come to market.
Somewhere on down the road, I suspect iMac 27" will be resurrected. If I was further guessing, I bet it will be iMac 27" PRO with "starting at" prices up at $2999+... well equipped up into the high-$3X00s to low $6X00s)... and loaded up into traditional iMac Pro loaded price levels.
Those who don't want to wait should bundle Mini or Studio plus this new Apple monitor or the LG one... or grab one of the 2020 refurbs before they are gone. Those able to wait will probably be able to get one on down the road... probably when M2 or whatever it is called is replacing all variants of M1. Maybe even this time next year.
As a long-term iMac 27" user myself, I thought it was a FANTASTIC Mac... maybe the best I ever purchased. Exceptional Mac, Exceptional Monitor, Exceptional Windows computer... ALL IN ONE BOX! From an overall value perspective- IMO- nothing touched it.
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Bootcamp is not dead yet. I believe Apple just released Bootcamp drivers for the new Studio Display. It is true that Intel Mac days are numbered but as of now there is software I need for work that does not have Apple Silicon versions available yet. I don't need to use Windows that much but I do need to occasionally build x86 docker images and use X86 Linux VMs. I have no desire to own a Windows PC or the desk space for either a Windows PC or Ultrawide monitor.
I ordered a 2020 27" iMac as soon as it was announced which was shortly after the Apple Silicon announcement. I am content to wait on the sidelines for at least a few more years while the software library on ARM matures. My 10 core i9 is fast enough for now as is my 5700XT GPU with 16GB of GDDR6 RAM.
The best thing about the 27" iMac was the user upgradable RAM. I was not a fan of the all-in-one design but Apple did not offer a reasonable alternative (Intel Mac mini has no real GPU, the Mac Pro is absurdly expensive).
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Yes, by that I didn't mean dead on Intel Macs. I think I was referring to someone wanting to buy a Silicon Mac. There, I suspect it is dead.
No, I don't think of Windows for ARM as full Windows and I've not seen anything but rumors that Apple will make a Bootcamp for Windows for ARM for Apple Silicon anyway. Perhaps we can simply hope that both Microsoft and Apple decides to play ball on this and that Windows for ARM does become a very complete replacement for such purposes instead of "works with some things but not with all."
I was pretty tempted to do exactly what you did. I almost went that way. I think it is a terrific option for MANY people who really wanted a "new" iMac 27" now and also had some tangible need for Windows. Certainly through a value lens, that is quite the bargain vs. doing what I'm doing. Enjoy your loaded iMac. It should serve you well for many years.
I agree that Windows on ARM is not something people should be relying on right now. Someone who needs Windows should have either an Intel Mac or PC.
Me too, I had been waiting for years for an iMac upgrade, and jumped on the 2020 iMac as soon as it was released, despite the imminent advent of Apple Silicon. I saw it as the ultimate refinement of the iMac.
I was also skeptical that the next model would necessarily always be better, a frequent assumption around here. Consider cars: not every new model iteration is better than the last - there have been some notable flops, models discontinued that were previously popular, and changed target audiences.
The only thing, other than the T2 chip, that I dislike about the 27 inch 2020 iMac is the soldered storage. I bought one anyway but I also have a 2019 where I can replace the blade at some future date. I still think that Apple would be nuts to leave the market for 27 inch 5K (or larger) iMacs untapped. After years of giving us the 5K goodness of a 27" I can't believe that they think everyone would be satisfied with a downgrade to a 24" 4.5K. I mean how hard would it be to create a bigger case for a 27", put in the same guts as the 24" and call it good (for $200 more).
I'm still in the market for a new desktop. I want an iMac because I like the sleekness of an all-in-one but I can't justify buying an M1 when the other, more powerful Pro, Max, & Ultra chips are out there. I was still holding out hope for an iMac Pro but I don't think that's coming anytime soon.
Luke Miani did a youtube video where he stuck an M1 mini's internals into an iMac case. The only problem is that the power button and the ports were inside the iMac case. If someone could design a transition board that would allow you to use the power in and I/O out ports of the iMac case then this might give new life to old non-working 27 inch iMacs with undamaged 5K displays that could be converted. And give Apple the finger.
As a quick solution for the ports you could get or make a set of small extension cables for all the ports (usb, usb C, Hdmi and Lan ports) you could take them through an opening in the case (maybe through the ram door). Then you could drill a hole on the case and get a small pushbutton switch that could be soldered onto the existing switch using a couple of wires. You would end up with a small bunch of cables which replicate the sockets on the back of the M1 Mac mini.
Apple seems to have doubled down on the secrecy for the new larger display iMac. Haven't heard a peep in the rumor mill. They must be holding this one extremely close to their vest because they want to surprise everyone with the vast improvement it will be over the last one. This is going to be a real shocker to the deniers that keep pushing the Mac Studio as if it was in any way a successor rather than just a cash grab.
Or the reason for lack of rumours could just be that it ISN'T on it's way.