What do you think the specs of the new iMacs will be?

[rainydays]

-they might use desktop parts, meaning they can have a faster CPU in there (50% Not if they want to slim down the machine / reduce cost / not eat into the Mac Pro market)

Using laptop hardware certainly doesn't reduce costs. It does reduce heat and power consumption though. Well worth the extra money in my opinion.

 

[rainydays]

So if Apple do drop the Mini and the 17" the cheapest price you'll have to pay to get into Mac computing will go up from $599 to $1399. They definitely need something to replace the Mini.

You forget the MacBook. But yeah, I agree that they need some low entry desktop model.

 

[Umbongo]

But does quad core require the usage of desktop chips? This might be a problem in the relatively slim iMac design which relied on notebook components so far.

It would be a problem, the C2D desktop chips have a TDP of 65W, I believe at even at max TDP the G5 chips used in the iMacs were a fair bit less than this, the merom C2D chips are about 35W.

 

[amc382]

The current iMacs come with 2.16Ghz, not 2.33Ghz. So a 2.2Ghz Santa Rosa chip is more plausible, (with a 2.4Ghz as a BTO option).

no... check the website. the 24" model comes with a 2.33ghz chip. so they won't be going down to 2.2ghz.

 

[roland.g]

no... check the website. the 24" model comes with a 2.33ghz chip. so they won't be going down to 2.2ghz.

Sorry, we have. Base stock is a 2.16, the 2.33 is a $250 upgrade option. Which is why we see it like the MBPs, 2.2 stock, 2.4 upgrade for probably the same $250.

And Scarlet Fever, I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a 27" iMac. Unlikely but not out of the realm of possible. What does surprise me is that Apple doesn't offer a 4th display for the Cinemas, 20", 23", 27", and 30". I think the 30" is too big and too expensive for most, but many would like something bigger than the 23" (and not just a 24").

 

[Flynnstone]

I'd like to see the iMacs and the cinema display look like they go together.
That way dual monitor setups look ... good.
I mean iMac plus extra monitor looks good.

 

[Tsurisuto]

I wouldn't rule out the possibility of a 27" iMac. Unlikely but not out of the realm of possible.

VERY unlikely. The 24" model already looks like a monster!

 

[gkarris]

So if Apple do drop the Mini and the 17" the cheapest price you'll have to pay to get into Mac computing will go up from $599 to $1399. They definitely need something to replace the Mini.

That's what I've been saying all along! Hoping for a headless iMac in sort of an TV form factor! (taller though, with room for an optical drive).

I think, though, the new iMacs will start at $1099 to match the entry level price of a MacBook...

 

[Gentile]

I could see the imacs with a larger hard drive standard to help with future itunes downloads. I am sure those eventual HD downloads will be large.

 

[Tsurisuto]

I think, though, the new iMacs will start at $1099 to match the entry level price of a MacBook...

But I don't see how Apple can do that with a 20" iMac? They would have to cut back quite a lot of things...

1. Use a Combo Drive (I still don't know how Apple can get away with this in this day and age).

2. Integrated Graphics chip (Quite possible with the X3100).

3. No Bluetooth.

4. Much smaller Hard Drive.

 

[Tsurisuto]

I could see the imacs with a larger hard drive standard to help with future itunes downloads. I am sure those eventual HD downloads will be large.

I wish this were true, but I am afraid that Apple will probably try and keep costs down so they can reduce the prices of the new iMacs.

 

[Nutter]

That's what I've been saying all along! Hoping for a headless iMac in sort of an TV form factor! (taller though, with room for an optical drive).

You mean something like this?

 

[Tsurisuto]

You mean something like this?

Yes, but if rumors are to be believed then we won't see an update to Apple's only 32bit machine.

 

[Gentile]

Just speculating here, but I got to believe all standard specs such as memory and hard drive will increase. Apple tends to increase specs over time (as they get cheaper) so that they can keep the prices relatively stable.

 

[gkarris]

You mean something like this?

No, an TV size - slightly larger to fit a C2D board with discreet graphics...

 

[gkarris]

But I don't see how Apple can do that with a 20" iMac? They would have to cut back quite a lot of things...

1. Use a Combo Drive (I still don't know how Apple can get away with this in this day and age).

2. Integrated Graphics chip (Quite possible with the X3100).

3. No Bluetooth.

4. Much smaller Hard Drive.

They can, prices are dropping overall. Not everyone needs a DVD burner, especially if you can eventually get an external (which may be a Blu-ray or HD DVD one when the prices go way down).

I see something like this also:

If their planning on getting rid of the 17 inch option, then I think the following

Entry Level Model

2.2 GHZ Core 2 Duo
20" Screen 1680 x 1050
1 GB Ram (upgradable to 4GB)
Intel X3000 or X3100 Integrated Graphics
250GB Stock HDD

But with just the combo (superdrive optional)...

$1099 isn't too far off...

 

[rainydays]

They will have to stop with the combodrive. It's getting ridiculous really.
I bet it costs more than the superdrive.

 

[gkarris]

They will have to stop with the combodrive. It's getting ridiculous really.
I bet it costs more than the superdrive.

Here where I shop:

http://www.dfwdepot.com

Slim combos are $68 and slim superdrives are $94.

 

[iMacNiPhone07]

Let me FantaZiZe ok!

my dream pc!!! im goin to be a pc to mac switcher as soon as this new iMac comes out so omg im dying!! .. imma a big gamer since im ganna become a game programmer .. so these are my hopefully godwilling specs....


-ALL CUZTOMIZED 4 ME - not standard
2.8 ghz quadcore xeon
4Gb RAM
500gb
Dual Nvidia 8800 GTs or ATIs 2950XT
iLife 07 and iWork 07
Final Cut Express HD 07
Leopard built-in..
16x Superdrive dvd/cd-rw
o and
Multi-touch just like the iPhone since thats wat made me first notice Apple and fall in love with them . ..

k peeps.. hope 4 da best.. if this comes tru ill buy all of u one... Xbox Live GT: Pr(0)phecy Z .. Type-Z ... http://www.z-hour.net

 

[screensaver400]

my dream pc!!! im goin to be a pc to mac switcher as soon as this new iMac comes out so omg im dying!! .. imma a big gamer since im ganna become a game programmer .. so these are my hopefully godwilling specs....


-ALL CUZTOMIZED 4 ME - not standard
2.8 ghz quadcore xeon
4Gb RAM
500gb
Dual Nvidia 8800 GTs or ATIs 2950XT
iLife 07 and iWork 07
Final Cut Express HD 07
Leopard built-in..
16x Superdrive dvd/cd-rw
o and
Multi-touch just like the iPhone since thats wat made me first notice Apple and fall in love with them . ..

k peeps.. hope 4 da best.. if this comes tru ill buy all of u one... Xbox Live GT: Pr(0)phecy Z .. Type-Z ... http://www.z-hour.net

Wow.





Just... wow.






In all seriousness, though, you're getting into Mac Pro territory there. Dual Graphics cards? Xeon processors?

 

[amc382]

i think we're going to have to wait!

 

[Sped]

I'm trying to think what else Apple can introduce to improve the iMac?

I can think of a few things. All Macs need eSATA. FW800 just doesn't cut it. In practical application, it isn't much faster than FW400. I say dump FW800, keep one FW400, and add eSATA. Plus, 4 high power USB 2.0 ports.

Speaking of ports, how about HDMI in? If you're going to get a monitor bigger than 20", you might want to use it to watch some TV. My current iMac is in the bedroom, so replacing it with a 24+ inch iMac using it as a TV would be ideal.

By the way, when is 800 mHz RAM going to available to match Santa Rosa's bus speed?

 

[AlBDamned]

But does quad core require the usage of desktop chips? This might be a problem in the relatively slim iMac design which relied on notebook components so far.

There are no suitable, mobile quad core chips at the moment. However, that relatively slim machine used to have a damn hot desktop processor in it a while back (the G5). Conceivably they could revert back to the iMac having proper desktop chips, but I doubt it will happen. I would assume the cheaper cost of having very similar internals in a several lines is too important.

Plus, I really doubt Apple sees a need for quad core computing in what is essentially a consumer machine. The concept of having MacBook Pro levels of power in a consumer desktop design seems pretty straightforward and here to stay.

 

[rainydays]

There are no suitable, mobile quad core chips at the moment. However, that relatively slim machine used to have a damn hot desktop processor in it a while back (the G5).

And didn't the iMac G5 also have issues with being very loud?

If they release an iMac with a desktop CPU I'll probably just buy the current model instead. Unless they have invented some new cooling system.

 

[AlBDamned]

And didn't the iMac G5 also have issues with being very loud?

The Rev. A 1.6Ghz model we used to have at home was quiet as a mouse. It did used to spit discs out about four feet, rather than gently ejecting them out halfway and holding them, but that was the only thing I'd say wasn't perfect with it

If they release an iMac with a desktop CPU I'll probably just buy the current model instead. Unless they have invented some new cooling system.

That seems a bit pointless to me but there you go.