Things I'd like to see in the 2011 iMac

[Thermonuclear]

Here's a list of some of the moderate changes I'd like to see in the 2011 iMac:

1) A USB port on the side, perhaps below the SD card slot.

2) A USB port on the other side as well.

3) A wireless keyboard with a number pad, just like the Apple wired keyboard.

4) A power/sleep LED. Maybe make the Apple logo translucent and stick the LED behind it.

5) If not Blu-Ray playback, at least an option for a drive that can read BR data disks.

6) A matte finish option.

7) An included IR remote and a place on the side to store it, just like the old G5 iMacs.

8) HDMI output for those using as HDTV for a second monitor.

9) Have the iTunes music library be pre-loaded with every song Apple has already offered via their Free Song of the Week program.

10) A hardware diagnostics disk.

11) An option to substitute the trackpad for the mouse.

I'm sure you can add a few ideas of your own.

 

[TMRaven]

1) ugly
2) ugly
3) that'd be nice
4) that'd be nice as well
5) eh
6) only if apple found a way to make it look as elegant as the glass finish
7) not bad
8) I rather go hdmi in. It'd save people 200 bucks if they wanted to buy something similar to hd pvr. hdmi out is only limited to 1920x1080, and doesn't match a 27 inch iMac's native resolution.
9) k
10) it already has one?
11) what?!

 

[dexthageek]

1) Nah
2) Nah
3) Would be very nice
4) That would be cool
5) Maybe BTO or else it would increase prices to much
6) I think I am a minority but I like the Glossy screen - Offers sharper picture and colors are more vivid.
7) Personally don't have a need for one
8) With TMRaven HDMI IN would be better.
9) Even though Apple is giving away the free songs, someone has to pay for them. And not everyone will listen to every free song.
10) My iMac shipped with one (AppleCare)
11) Why? I see the trackpad as a secondary input device. I still needed a mouse for somethings.

My Additions:
12) User replaceable HDD(s)!

 

[Iam-AT-Work]

ESATA port / Lightpeak(sp?) or an express port.

 

[LAPTOPODO]

1.- Matte Option

2.- A model between the 21.5 and the 27 , maybe 24,3 or sort of ... (keeping 16:9 ratio)

3.- HD easy replacement.

4.- QuadCore i5-i7 too in the 21.5 inch models

5.- USB 3.0

 

[Hellhammer]

- Sandy Bridge CPUs: +3GHz quad in 27", quad and dual in 21.5"

- ATI Southern Islands desktop GPUs: "Cayman" based GPU in high-end, "Barts" based on medium and "Turks" based on low-end. However, I believe Apple will use mobility so "Blackcomb" for high-end, "Whistler" based on medium and "Seymour" based on low-end

- Easier HD/SSD replacement*

- USB 3.0 and/or LightPeak*

*Doubt it

 

[bolen]

- Sandy Bridge CPUs: +3GHz quad in 27", quad and dual in 21.5"

- ATI Southern Islands desktop GPUs: "Cayman" based GPU in high-end, "Barts" based on medium and "Turks" based on low-end. However, I believe Apple will use mobility so "Blackcomb" for high-end, "Whistler" based on medium and "Seymour" based on low-end

- Easier HD/SSD replacement*

- USB 3.0 and/or LightPeak*

*Doubt it

I can image that the iMac will get USB3.0 once it gets Intel chipset natively supports USB3.0.

Love to see a easier way to exchange the disks, at least the second 2,5" bay. That would be fairly simple I would think, remember the old Macbooks..

 

[kazmac]

Like what some have already said but all I want is the hardware issues from the last two waves of iMacs to be fixed.

I've decided to get my early2009 iMac fixed and get an iPad by next June.
Then I'll be okay until I need to get a new machine. These new 21.5 iMacs are awful resolution - speedwise, and I'm tired of returns etc.

Maybe by the time I need a new Mac the mini towers will be a reality and/or the iMacs will be issue-free.

 

[dexthageek]

....and/or the iMacs will be issue-free.

I hate to break it to you but no hardware will ever be issue-free
Now it would be nice for Apple to step up on their QC and properly test all machines before are shipped.

 

[Macfr3d]

I only need two more things:

1. User replaceable HDD
2. USB 3.0 (or FW3200)

 

[Kronie]

An non LED IPS screen. LED is great if only they could get the whites white and not blue or yellow.

 

[Hellhammer]

An LCD IPS screen. LED is great if only they could get the whites white and not blue or yellow.

The panel is LCD IPS, the backlight is LED. LED backlight has its pros and cons, it's still fairly new so give it some time

 

[Kronie]

..... it's still fairly new so give it some time

I am. I decided to hold off buying the iMac until the they figure it out....if they ever do. If I have "upgrade fever" anytime soon I will just get a Mac Pro and keep my old fashioned IPS monitor with its ancient CCFL lighting.....

 

[kazmac]

I hate to break it to you but no hardware will ever be issue-free
Now it would be nice for Apple to step up on their QC and properly test all machines before are shipped.

After my gen1 iMac was replaced I had 11 years of no issues. As of this March though I would have to agree with your statement.

QC step up, yeah that would well appreciated. I hope that happens and that Apple will use some of all that money they're earning into QC and redesign.

I would like to see the problems fixed in 2011 and USB 3.0 along with more SSD options.

 

[joejoejoe]

Here's a list of some of the moderate changes I'd like to see in the 2011 iMac:

1) A USB port on the side, perhaps below the SD card slot.

2) A USB port on the other side as well.

3) A wireless keyboard with a number pad, just like the Apple wired keyboard.

4) A power/sleep LED. Maybe make the Apple logo translucent and stick the LED behind it.

5) If not Blu-Ray playback, at least an option for a drive that can read BR data disks.

6) A matte finish option.

7) An included IR remote and a place on the side to store it, just like the old G5 iMacs.

8) HDMI output for those using as HDTV for a second monitor.

9) Have the iTunes music library be pre-loaded with every song Apple has already offered via their Free Song of the Week program.

10) A hardware diagnostics disk.

11) An option to substitute the trackpad for the mouse.

I'm sure you can add a few ideas of your own.

dream on. dream on.

11 is the only somewhat possible outcome.

 

[TheBritishBloke]

1) Eww
2) Eww
3) Could be nice.
4) Maybe.. But on the front could be irritating for some, especially if it's the size of the apple logo.
5)Doubt it
6)Would probably look ugly on the iMac
7)Yes, but I doubt you could make a storage place without ruining the finish of the design.
8)Doubt it.. Just buy a MDP to HDMI adapter.
9)Lol? Weird to ask for :S
10)It already has one..
11) Might happen, but i wouldn't keep your hopes up.

 

[TheBritishBloke]

The panel is LCD IPS, the backlight is LED. LED backlight has its pros and cons, it's still fairly new so give it some time

Looks nicer than CCFL which yellows over time.

 

[GyroFX]

i would like to see retina scan security and a holder to keep food hot on the back of the computer

 

[GyroFX]

Looks nicer than CCFL which yellows over time.

yes, i've noticed my Dell 24 Ultrasharp is yellow compared to my new iMac

 

[barefeats]

User accessible HDD and SDD install/upgrade. After all, we can do it on the MBP.

External eSATA with "hot-swap" support. OWC is offering an external eSATA retrofit but it requires Restart to mount eSATA enclosure (Apple/Intel's fault).

 

[GyroFX]

only if OWC offered e-sata without drilling holes in the case

 

[Will : Hi !]

4) A power/sleep LED. Maybe make the Apple logo translucent and stick the LED behind it.

This was in older macs and is now gone. It's not typical for Apple to take away a feature only to add it back later. Also, IIRC, the rumor was that Steve himself requested that Apple get rid of the LEDs ;-)

I wouldn't mind if as long as it can be disabled (not possible on older Macs). When your Mac is in your bedroom, these things are a nightmare.

6) A matte finish option.

The iMac has been selling well with a glossy display for 3 years now. Apple removed FireWire from the Unibody MacBook in October 2009 and re-introduced it in the Unibody MBP in June 2009 (8 months). They switched the MBP to glossy-only in October 2008 and added a matte option in August 2009 (10 months).

If Apple were to add a matte option, they would probably have done it by now (i.e. don't hold your breath).

10) A hardware diagnostics disk.

You mean something more "advanced" than the Apple Hardware Test?

 

[Cavepainter]

From what Ive heard, better quality control would be nice.

 

[hleewell]

1) I agreed with OP. A USB port on the side is actually something I'd want Apple to consider adding without breaking the clean lines of iMac design. Maybe a sliding cover? A push-out mini panel?

2) Also, sorely missed is a headphone port in a spot where you don't have to go around the back to blindly search for the little round thing to plug your headphones in. Current Bluetooth headphones sound tinny, has unstable connection, and drain batteries fast.

3) To have the option to remove the Optical Drive (since Apple is into digital downloading anyway) on 21.5" model so that the SSD-HDD hybrid system is possible here, AND on 27" model so that you can put a 3rd HDD/SSD for capacity expansion (for a mximum of 4TB in a single machine: you could put all your games, all your HD movies, all your RAW files) & redundancy, or a 2nd graphic card to boost up gaming performance etc.

4) I demoed that Magic Trackpad: it is one of the most beautifully minimalist devices Apple ever made. It'd be great if you can have this integrated to a wireless keyboard. I'm sure this will happen in 1 or 2 years. I never miss the mouse anymore. But truth is: this will come as default option with iMac 2011.

5) To completely remove the power cord, and go into wireless charging (with a pre-installed battery as a form of power reserve). I predict this will be in next iMac iteration in 2011. Now iMac will be a truly minimalist design.

6) Finger print secure logging.

7) Higher resolution iSight. Video conferencing (with desktop) is catching on.

8) Direct HDMI 1080p input. If Apple is firm with their "No BluRay" policy then give the consumer the ability to directly hook up
their PS3 so that BluRay playback is possible without resorting to such inelegant solution as Kanex etc. This should be offered in 21.5" model which has the perfect BluRay resolution of 1920X1080p. Only if Apple has a serious "No Sony Stuff" policy, then I would quit fighting like Neo in Matrix Revolutions.

9) Give the 27" model at least the BR reader option so that designers & photographers can back up their massive file collections. The new BDXL can burn up to 100GB of data.

10) Lightpeak & USB 3.0 are "penis-envy stuff" solely for the pride of having the newest & latest. Nice to have. They should instead focus on faster file transfer protocol over WiFi. I hate cables.

 

[Eduardo1971]

- Sandy Bridge CPUs: +3GHz quad in 27", quad and dual in 21.5"...

As always, Hellhammer is spot on with with Mac observations.