Will there ever be a new large iMac (Pro)?

[filmak]

True, but you can share ports over fewer lanes can't you...? 2 ports is a pain tbh, but then that's probably because I've got used to 4 on my iMP. First world problems and all that

Some time ago the mini had only one tb port...

 

[MacRS4]

I've got an Amiga 1000 in the cupboard, that does data transfer in bps and was blazing fast.

It's all relative.

I'm off to reminisce*.

*Drink more wine**
**It's 21:15 here don't judge me

 

[filmak]

True, but you can share ports over fewer lanes can't you...? 2 ports is a pain tbh, but then that's probably because I've got used to 4 on my iMP. First world problems and all that

This is why the PCH switches were invented. More ports the better...

 

[CWallace]

Mac Mini will only shine when it will transit to Apple Silicon.

Renee Ritchie had some interesting insights onto what the Mac Mini could be under AS in a recent video.

 

[MacRS4]

See - now I'm interested! TB hubs tend to be Port to hub for 'things' and one pass through port. What I'd like is like a USB hub - 1 port to hub & say 4 TB3 ports. I get they'd share bandwidth but...?

Have I missed this 'PCH switch'.

To google!

 

[filmak]

I've got an Amiga 1000 in the cupboard, that does data transfer in bps and was blazing fast.

It's all relative.

I'm off to reminisce*.

*Drink more wine**
**It's 21:15 here don't judge me

Is the Amiga still working?
Nice times...

 

[filmak]

See - now I'm interested! TB hubs tend to be Port to hub for 'things' and one pass through port. What I'd like is like a USB hub - 1 port to hub & say 4 TB3 ports. I get they'd share bandwidth but...?

Have I missed this 'PCH switch'.

To google!

This has to be soldered on the logic board. Apple must include it.

 

[filmak]

My 6,1 MP surely has one.

 

[MacRS4]

Is the Amiga still working?
Nice times...

It is. I've several old bits of kit. A CBM64, a Vic 20 (doesn't work for long, stays on for a couple of minutes), an Amiga A500, and original A1000, and an Atari ST. Mostly in storage. I get them out to play with now and again, but tbh I've learned such things should stay in the past.

It's interesting watching ideas and how they evolve though. The '64 I've a copy of GEOS - the ideas for modern windows and MacOS were certainly there, even in 64Kb (!) of RAM. Phenomenal.

The Amiga was bonkers capable for specific tasks, but furiously hard (for me anyway) to program beyond Amiga Basic.

Think there may even be an Olivetti in the garage somewhere?

Also - this one my get some interest - An 80186 based Minolta running MS-DOS 2.something. That was really just a word-processor but was probably my first introduction to 'proper' PCs.

 

[MacRS4]

This has to be soldered on the logic board. Apple must include it.

My 6,1 MP surely has one.

Either I've explained myself badly or I'm missing something and am about to get several dreams answered.

I'd like to be able to plug *1* TB3 port to a dock, and have *multiple* TB3 ports to connect to. So 1 to many. The OWC and CalDigit docks I have don't do that - they have pass-through.

So I get 1 TB3 -> Dock which gives me say USB, HDMI etc. and I can pass-through to one more TB3 device.

 

[filmak]

Either I've explained myself badly or I'm missing something and am about to get several dreams answered.

I'd like to be able to plug *1* TB3 port to a dock, and have *multiple* TB3 ports to connect to. So 1 to many. The OWC and CalDigit docks I have don't do that - they have pass-through.

So I get 1 TB3 -> Dock which gives me say USB, HDMI etc. and I can pass-through to one more TB3 device.

Yes this is the current situation, I would like one TB hub too but as far as I know there is not one, only daisy chaining...

 

[DrRadon]

Sorry, I’m just a bit cynical here. In the US the nano tech cost $500 USD, whilst in the UK it is 500 GBP which relates to $666 USD. And in Europe is it costs €625 which relates to $744 USD. That is insane right? I know there is a currency risk but almost 50% premium come on. Bad apple!

P.S. the screens are the same everywhere, of course

From what I understand US prices never include taxes as they only get added when it's clear in wich state stuff gets shipped. I might be wrong though.

Ah, someone else already said that.

 

[pldelisle]

Either I've explained myself badly or I'm missing something and am about to get several dreams answered.

I'd like to be able to plug *1* TB3 port to a dock, and have *multiple* TB3 ports to connect to. So 1 to many. The OWC and CalDigit docks I have don't do that - they have pass-through.

So I get 1 TB3 -> Dock which gives me say USB, HDMI etc. and I can pass-through to one more TB3 device.

Thunderbolt 4 will allow that. It’s in the spec. Won’t happen until this version is out. https://newsroom.intel.com/news/introducing-thunderbolt-4-universal-cable-connectivity-everyone/

 

[filmak]

It is. I've several old bits of kit. A CBM64, a Vic 20 (doesn't work for long, stays on for a couple of minutes), an Amiga A500, and original A1000, and an Atari ST. Mostly in storage. I get them out to play with now and again, but tbh I've learned such things should stay in the past.

It's interesting watching ideas and how they evolve though. The '64 I've a copy of GEOS - the ideas for modern windows and MacOS were certainly there, even in 64Kb (!) of RAM. Phenomenal.

The Amiga was bonkers capable for specific tasks, but furiously hard (for me anyway) to program beyond Amiga Basic.

Think there may even be an Olivetti in the garage somewhere?

Also - this one my get some interest - An 80186 based Minolta running MS-DOS 2.something. That was really just a word-processor but was probably my first introduction to 'proper' PCs.

Memories...

Anyway, most of them were a kind of an enlarged keyboard, impressive for their time, now after so many years Apple could release a similar AS mac mini, a keyboard only, thick as an ipad with enhanced iPad Pro innards.

The ports of course could be a problem, too many wires on the desk in front of the user.

 

[subink]

It equates to USD 740 including taxes and that is insane as he mentioned compared to what , USD 540 incl sales tax depending on state in the USA. Which works out at roughly 30% after taxes are imposed. It's not 50% but its still not anywhere close to being ok.

The EU price id imagine is probably from Germany or France who have similar levels of VAT to the UK. Which again shows how the Euro countries are way worse off than even the UK.

You’re all right I didn’t see the US price is before VAT so that makes the difference less pronounced indeed. But still steep for where I live. I’m from the Netherlands btw.

 

[Azrael9]

Renee Ritchie had some interesting insights onto what the Mac Mini could be under AS in a recent video.

The Mac mini could be even more Mini and still out perform the Intel Mini in cpu and gpu.

Azrael.

 

[CWallace]

Apple also adds in a (likely generous) currency hedge for non-US pricing to protect them for 6-12 months worth of foreign currency fluctuation vis-a-vis the US dollar.

 

[scotttnz]

Well, after going around in circles about waiting for Apple Silicon, and really re-examining what I want to use this machine for, I settled on this config and placed an order this afternoon:

I was torn about the 5500xt vs 5700. I’m not really a gamer, and may not get a lot of benefit from the 5700, but it is a little more future proof, if that is even possible. What decided it in the end is that 5500xt BTOs had a 1-2 week shipping time vs. 3-5 days for the 5700.

So I’m pretty excited about getting a new iMac, but I’m also angry with Apple right now. The rep i spoke to about my order insisted repeatedly that installing RAM myself would void the iMac warranty. This not only contradicts what Apple‘s website says, it would be a breach of New Zealand consumer law. Not to mention that misleading me about my consumer rights is also against the law. I really felt like cancelling my order, but that would leave me without an iMac, so instead I immediately ordered 64GB of third party RAM.

 

[fireguy286]

Report: Apple Silicon iMac With Custom GPU to Launch in Second Half of 2021

Apple will debut a powerful custom-designed graphics procesing unit in its first Arm-based iMac which is set to launch in the second half of next...

www.macrumors.com

 

[CWallace]

I am still inclined to think the ~24-inch iMac will use the on-die GPUs from the A14X as they should wreck an Intel iGPU.

But the 27+-inch iMac will likely need more graphics power so a dedicated GPU makes sense tied with an A14-series SoC that is mostly compute units (say it trades four of the X's GPUs for four additional compute units).

 

[Freida]

You guys are right. I was trying to say something else but seeing from your responses I've failed or didn't do good job explaining.
And yes, I would have no issue to say it in person as I don't hide behind text. And yes, my honesty did get me into trouble few times before )))

Anyway, my point got missed and I think there is no point going there now. You guys said it well so lets leave it at that.

Would you also say to Moonjumper that he/she has no taste if you where in the same room?

Intelligence and ideas of how a society should look like has nothing to do with each other. I really do not like Trump politics or views on how a society should look like. In fact, I find them scary. However, I would not call him and his followers imbeciles as any hope of discussion is thereby killed.

Anecdotal: The divide in US reminds me of the divide we have in my countries (yes plural) 100 years ago. That led to killings when the working class demonstrated agains the inability to work and support themself. Essentially, the situation was a result of inability to listed and to discuss. Nowadays, my contries each has 8-10 parties that in different constellations needs to lead the country. Sounds like a mess but is really is quite stable, nearly boring, and put the pressure on politicians not to divide the country. A politicians "enemy" in one election/topic can easily be a "friend" in another election/topic, but that is another story.

I want to refrain from letting this discussion get out of hand as that is counterintuitive to the point of the thread - but I will reiterate my concerns with the way you and the others were treating Moonjumper yet again.

You don't need to be awful to someone to argue your point.
Your opinion on the matter IS relevant - that is, you are allowed to speak your mind BUT in the interest of civility, we SHOULD attempt to discuss matters like this rationally and not to mock them in a public forum. Moonjumper was not saying anything remotely offensive, they were just casually throwing in an idea.
If you read my post then you can see my personal thoughts, how I thought it was unlikely and that I don't think it's to Apples current design philosophy - however I do like the idea of height adjustment, after all, the XDR display has it. I was trying to be constructive and to critique without bringing them down. What all of you were doing was bullying someone into being quiet. Don't argue in bad faith as to what you were trying to achieve there, it's obvious you all were attempting to shut them up by belittling them and their opinions. By the way, bullying is against forum rules so maybe you should lighten up.

It's funny that you bring up Trump in this discussion by the way. I hope you realise that it's you and your friends who are Trump in this scenario right? Trumps the bully, and attacks people for arbitrary reasons, much like you guys were doing. I mean honestly, who do you think you are in this scenario?

With all due respect, this isn't a reality tv show. We don't need bad guys. We don't need drama. We need constructive and positive voices and we need to do better as a community. You are allowed to be blunt but don't get upset when someone else calls you out for your callousness. Don't spin this as some inherent need to be Simon Cowell, as if he isn't the most unbearable person on Earth, but if that's who you want to be then sure, just don't get into a hissy fit when someone challenges the way you talk to people.

Anyway, to end this, I'm just gonna grab a quote from old mate fireguy286,
"See something you don't like? I do all day every day, and simply scroll on."

I mean I'll just ignore the hypocrisy of none of you scrolling past something you didn't like, lmao, but yeah maybe y'all should've just scrolled past it if you didn't like it. Don't get it twisted though, that's not my philosphy, I just don't like bullies and won't hesitate to stand up against one.

Thank you for those who defended me, I just wanted to make one final point. I did find the responses objectionable, and thought the were very wrong as they had misunderstood my post.

I have previously used example pictures with an aesthetic similar to Apple and people went on about the looks, not the features I was saying might be interesting. So I deliberately used images that had a very different aesthetic hoping the discussion might be about the features, but the response was about me having no taste when I wasn't showing an aesthetic to my taste.

p.s. Simon Cowell is a dick. Rudeness is not constructive.

 

[fireguy286]

IT. IS. HERE.

The Beast has arrived. Let the unboxing begin! Time to get to work.

 

[Moonjumper]

I am still inclined to think the ~24-inch iMac will use the on-die GPUs from the A14X as they should wreck an Intel iGPU.

But the 27+-inch iMac will likely need more graphics power so a dedicated GPU makes sense tied with an A14-series SoC that is mostly compute units (say it trades four of the X's GPUs for four additional compute units).

It will be interesting to see which way Apple go as the A series chips are so different to Intel CPU + AMD GPU.

WWDC talks spoke of shared memory for Apple Silicon, which would suggest a single chip. An iPad Pro has 8 CPU + 8 GPU cores and has performance that seems to hold up well with lower end Intel Mac performance. There are Arm chips with core counts beyond 100, so there is a lot of headroom for more performance if Apple go that route.

On the other hand, having high performance on one chip may concentrate the heat into too small an area, and it could be difficult to manufacture chips of that complexity at the scale Apple requires. Plus a separate GPU might allow more interesting possibilities for multiple GPUs on the Mac Pro, and for eGPUs.

My hunch is a single chip with increasing core counts the further up the range you go, and lots more dedicated functionality beyond that already known so that the CPU and GPU cores are as free as possible to speed along, but it is only a hunch.

 

[sir grotius]

Random question - does anyone have a user-friendly frame-rate program for their Macs? I want to compare my 2014 machine (4 Ghz Quad Core i7 + R9 M295X 4 GB) against my 2020 (3.6 Ghz 10 Core i9 + Radeon 5700 XT 16 GB.

One other quick question - do you all ever use two iMacs? Now that I have two machines sitting on my desk, I'm finding myself strangely more productive. I always assumed it was a dorky thing to have a couple PCs, but now I see myself being more productive in the traditional business sense.

 

[CWallace]

My hunch is a single chip with increasing core counts the further up the range you go, and lots more dedicated functionality beyond that already known so that the CPU and GPU cores are as free as possible to speed along, but it is only a hunch.

What interests me is that Apple is giving this new GPU it's own name, but it could very well be that it will be an on-die GPU, just with a different architecture than the current on-die GPUs in the A-Series that is optimized for more complex tasks and designed to scale much higher in terms of core-counts.