What can Apple possibly do with the next iMac?

[mark!]

What Apple can do with the iMac:

&smaller iSight (it is bigger than the MacBook [Pro]'s).
&smaller chin (as said a lot).
&i want the apple to glow.
&ports moved, i think the ports are inconveniently located, maybe on the
bottom & have it (very) lightly labeled on the chin.
&it'd be kinda cool to make the iSight have a shutter, so it doesn't show when
not in use, and that could also eliminate the green light. it would look a
lot more streamline
&more ports
&black option, obviously. a matte black might look weird though.
&maybe thinner...it looks good now, but thinner would be nice.
&that's all i can think off.

 

[shaolindave]

dual screens.

Are you serious? The purpose of having dual screens is to have a bigger screen withought having to pay for a super expensive widescreen huge display. Why put two SEPERATE screens built in to ONE computer?!?! Why not just make...a Bigger screen. It's the exact same thing as dual screens...without a bar in the middle.

Thank god you dont work for apple.

actually having a bigger screen is completely different than having dual screens.

one, it's cheaper. check the prices at the apple store, two 20" would have slightly more space than a single 30" screen, but the 30" cost 3x as much.

two, form factor, two 16x9 makes a 32x9 or 8x9 depending on how you mount them.

three, two full screen apps running at full screen on two monitors looks better than them running part of the screen in a larger display. if you want to see the whole windows at the same time you would only be able to have them running at 1/4 of the screen, with 1/2 going to waste.

four, sometimes when using an app that has to run full-screen, such as a game, it's good to have some other apps running on the second display in windowed mode. when i watch a movie or play a game, i have messenger windows open on the other display so i can see who's sending me messages without quitting the game. this also works when you're watching ebay auctions, keeping track of a burning or rendering project, or keeping track of downloads.

five, with virtualization, you could have a seperate OS on each screen.

six, some game developers have already considered making games that run multiplayer off a single computer with a display for each player. some of these companies only gave up that idea because a lot of people don't have dual displays yet, but if imacs came that way they might put that option into their games.

apple already has the connections available for people to use a second monitor on their imacs. i've been doing it with my PCs for years and will buy a second monitor for my imac when i find a really good one. you should really give it a shot, there are many benefits other than the one a n00b like yourself can figure out.

 

[mpw]

I'll agree with those that want the ports moved to be more accessable and the return of vesa mounts.

I think the next (or possible next+1) iMac will have TV functionality and an option of a bigger screen, at least 23". And better speakers.

It might also either lose the 'i' moniker and be just the Mac.

Of course the Mac might not change and the Apple media centre will be an addition to the range.

 

[Magnus Reftel]

Are you serious? The purpose of having dual screens is to have a bigger screen withought having to pay for a super expensive widescreen huge display. Why put two SEPERATE screens built in to ONE computer?!?! Why not just make...a Bigger screen.

Aside from the obvious reason that it costs less, there are more to multi-display setups than having a bigger screen.
For instance, Matrox has something they call Surround Gaming, where they use the fact that you can have the screens at different angles to make use of periphial vision.
Another option is to have standard-shaped (and therefore cheap) panels tiled to a different shape (e.g. two 4x3 screens above eachother make one big 2x3).
Apart from making the computer part of the case smaller to the point of making the entire iMac the same size of a normal version of the screen it contains, making it multi-panel is the only thing left to do that comes to my mind (of course, that doesn't necessarily mean that it actually is a good idea ;-) )

 

[shaolindave]

vesa mount / tv inputs

I'll agree with those that want the ports moved to be more accessable and the return of vesa mounts.

not sure about the integrity of this post, but near the bottom someone named 'tostada' claims to have installed a vesa mount into a 17" intel imac, just as easily as installing into a G5 imac.

I think the next (or possible next+1) iMac will have TV functionality and an option of a bigger screen, at least 23". And better speakers.

that's what i forgot about when i posted before. honestly, the only reason i own a TV is because i won it at a christmas party. not a big fan of TV shows, i just watch a lot of DVDs, almost always on my computer with video in devices. same for my game consoles. it'd be nice for an imac to have this function built it so there's no need for an external TV device.

 

[p0intblank]

I think about this all the time. The only thing I can think of is make it even thinner. Other than that, no idea.

 

[milo]

Yes. More like hideous

Why? I think they're great looking machines. I can see people's point about the "chin" being a little big, but otherwise I don't see what would be so horrible about them. Black would be a cool addition, I wouldn't be surprised if we see it at some point.

They need to address the iMac's biggest problem. You pay for that big LCD screen but when the computer become obsolite you have to throw the LCD screen away long with the computer. This makes the iMac expensive to replace.

Wouldn't it be great if the imac used some kind of munular design or at least if the iMac have a "video in" port so the iMac could be used as a monitor

A video in port would be cool. But a modular design isn't what the imac is about, if you want modular design you really just want a computer plus a monitor.

 

[redAPPLE]

how about making it touchscreen per default?

 

[Mac Rules]

Heres what I'd like to see,

The new conroe processors at 2.33GHz (or can they run faster?) at at least 800MHz FSB, 1066MHz would be awesome!
Support for 4Gb of RAM,
An improved graphics card, may be an Nvidia 7800? Or equivalent ATI card.
Maybe less chin, but it doesn't bother me that much, but a glowing Apple would be nice.
Fianlly a 23'' screen would be awesome, not sure I could affordit, plus it would be soo heavy, that they'd have to redesign the iMac stand...
I'm pretty happy witht the thickness, especially if it means it cools more efficiently...

Cheers

 

[dcv]

not sure about the integrity of this post, but near the bottom someone named 'tostada' claims to have installed a vesa mount into a 17" intel imac, just as easily as installing into a G5 imac.

The iMac G5 VESA adapter will in fact work with the iMac Intel systems.

The mount point inside the iMac Intel is the same as in the iMac G5. In order to get to it, you must disassemble the entire iMac Intel including the removal of the logic board, HD, LCD screen, etc.

It took me about an hour to install the adapter on a 17" iMac Intel but it's not for the faint of heart. One option may be to have an authorized Apple service provider do the install to avoid any damage issues and preserve the warranty.

OK I haven't actually seen inside an Intel iMac but I *do* know how to fit the VESA mount to a Rev A/B iMac G5 and it goes *nowhere* near the logic board, HD, LCD screen etc. I've done this enough times!! See here... the mounting plate goes through the same slot that the desktop stand uses and everything is bolted to the back cover. You don't need to touch the guts of the iMac at all. Can you remove the back panel from the Intel iMacs or has that changed? With the Rev A/B G5s you simply took 3 screws out from the underside to pull the back off. The Apple VESA mounting kit will not fit (well not properly) onto the G5 iSight or Intel model simply because of the curve in the back. (Well it might do but it wouldn't sit flush with it.)

So anyway... to answer the OP's question... it would be nice if they either flattened the back of the iMac again with the next release, so that you could re-use the G5 mounting kits, or, if they released a curved wall-mounting plate to fit the current design.

 

[Josias]

Add more USB ports (4 or more)
USB 2.0 ports on the keyboard
Height adjustable stand
VESA mount
Built in TV Tuner

Why would they even consider doing this?

1. The MacMini has as standard more USB Ports than the iMac, because it doesn't ship with a keyboard offering extra connectors.
2. Technically impossible.
3. Tha's Dell-ish. I don't hope for that.
4. VESA-mount FTW! w00t!
5. No. Ugly,

What I want to be upgraded is:
17" and 20"
Conroe (2.4 and 2.67 GHz)
1 GB RAM standard on 20" (up to 2 GB on both)
X1800 or X1600 XT. 256 MB standard on 20". Upgrade on 17".
250 GB HDD standard
FW800
Duallink DVI
16x SuperDrive
Glossy screens

 

[Phobophobia]

man, apple needs to hire me.

So they can know what not to do.

 

[mark!]

Whoever said 2 screens in one computer is...(no offense) a DUMB idea.
This is a consumer machine, I think 1 computer screen will do.

I still like my ideas that no one read

 

[DJMastaWes]

Whoever said 2 screens in one computer is...(no offense) a DUMB idea.
This is a consumer machine, I think 1 computer screen will do.

I still like my ideas that no one read

I read them. They suck.

But really, I like the iSIght shutter Idea. The black I don't think would look go. I really hate the Blackbook, It reminds me to much of a PC. But you have some nice ideas.

Knowing apple, when the iMac gets a new design, it will be amazing. Remember the iMac G4, I'm sure you all thought "how much cooler can it get?" and well, then the G5 came, and I must say, It's REALLY cool. I still like the moveing screen on my G4 tho. They should being it back.

 

[JackSYi]

Core 2 Duo!

 

[mark!]

I read them. They suck.

a smaller chin, thinner design (etc) is teh suck? hmm.

But really, I like the iSIght shutter Idea. The black I don't think would look go. I really hate the Blackbook, It reminds me to much of a PC. But you have some nice ideas.

i dont like the black macbook either, everytime i see it i think its a dell.

Knowing apple, when the iMac gets a new design, it will be amazing. Remember the iMac G4, I'm sure you all thought "how much cooler can it get?" and well, then the G5 came, and I must say, It's REALLY cool. I still like the moveing screen on my G4 tho. They should being it back.

I think the iMac G4 was better. But some people hate the G4, and (seems like) more hate the G5. I still think it looks funny. But I would take one any day

The iMac G5 design was kind of an obvious next step. It wasn't all that amazing to me when i saw it.

 

[GFLPraxis]

Give me a 2.13 GHz Core 2 Duo (Conroe) in the 17" model and upgraded graphics card or price drop (since that processor is $70 cheaper than what is currently in there), and I'll buy it.

 

[poppe]

30 inch ACD looking iMac. Maybe doesn't have to look silver, but just size and width. I like the 20 inch, but if they had a 30 with a TV tuner man... and you if you could hang it on your wall... That'd be awesome!

Just sit at your couch with a blue tooth mouse (Doubling as a remote) and keyboard.

Play some games then flip on the HD sat.... so sweet...

 

[discoforce]

A 30" iMac is absurd.

Actually, I think the 30" - 30th Anniversary iMac makes sense based on the 20th anniversary model. It almost seemed like the point was to be absurd (list price = $7,499).

But I doubt that'll be the next iMac...

I'm betting on:
- Merom
- VESA mount
- shiny black (how could they NOT at this point?)

What I'd like would be a return the amazing utility of the G4 lampshade. I've got several at work, and I've never had a more pleasurable computing experience.

 

[milozauckerman]

The reason why Macs sell for more than PCs is that people have good experiences with older Macs working and people are willing to pay a premium for their timeless designs (see prices for the iBook G3 and iMac G4 on Ebay if you need proof).

You forgot the past tense. Sold - PPC is the old days.

Let's look at an iMac G4 - I see them selling from $350 to $550 - let's say $450 average. That's about what I would expect someone to pay for a good 17" LCD and an older desktop. And yes, the design and OS factor into that, people are still willing to buy PPC equipment. There is hardly some kind of Mac Premium that justifies initial pricing there.

What I'm talking about is depreciation within a model. Apples didn't lose 50% of their value on the introduction of a new model - different kinds of G5 towers or Imacs, for instance - because the differences weren't that great. The situation was not that older Macs were holding their value extremely well, it was that new Macs weren't an excellent value themselves. Let someone else take the depreciation hit for a machine that was, for all intents and purposes, just as useful as the latest and greatest.

When was the last major iMac update? Six months ago? Sure there was a minor processor bump on the Macbook Pros, but minor processor updates won't do too much to the value of its predecessor on Ebay. Apple is still only doing major revisions every 6-9 months at this point...Intel may be doing more major upgrades for the next couple of years but they can't keep it up forever. They will hit another wall.

But when that new iMac is a Conroe or a Merom, what happens to Yonah prices? They tank far more than different iterations of the G5. That's the concept here.

Comparing the cost of the iMac display to an ACD is kinda silly since you can get the same display for much less if you shop around. If you unbundle the display from an iMac then you lose the value of the sleek all in one design so the display is worth no more than a 20" Dell.

The 20" Dell and the 20" ACD/iMac aren't the same monitor - the latter are SWOP certified for soft proofing (not irrelevant to photographers and designers).

 

[Mammoth]

What about the screen being covered by the same panel bit as the front of the iMac so that it's flat, rather than the screen being sunk in?

 

[dualsyste]

Bring back the lampshade!!!

Best iMac ever!

 

[Thanatoast]

30 inch ACD looking iMac. Maybe doesn't have to look silver, but just size and width. I like the 20 inch, but if they had a 30 with a TV tuner man... and you if you could hang it on your wall... That'd be awesome!

Just sit at your couch with a blue tooth mouse (Doubling as a remote) and keyboard.

Play some games then flip on the HD sat.... so sweet...

I vote for this concept. 30 inches hanging on the wall with a bluetooth keyboard/mouse and a res-independent OSX (for icons and text) would be the end-all.

 

[poppe]

I vote for this concept. 30 inches hanging on the wall with a bluetooth keyboard/mouse and a res-independent OSX (for icons and text) would be the end-all.

yeah.. Hmm apple premium... so around 4 grand would you say? Sucks to be poor like me and can't afford 4 grand computers... Back to my food stamps...

Surely this is the media center Mac they were talking about all along...

 

[generik]

What I hope to see...?

1) Conroe inside(tm)
2) A innovative.. detachable screen, so you can simply slide off the module holding your LCD and put on a larger one if you desire!
3) smaller chin

That's about it really