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

[Falhófnir]

It's pretty clear that Jony Ive was running the design show as much under Tim as he was under Steve. Steve might have been able to tell Jonny "no" more than Tim was, but Ive's (presumed) obsession with "always thinner" was as strong under Steve as it was with Tim and this is why we got things like the butterfly keyboard and iMacs and MacBooks that could not handle the heat Intel's busted-arse CPUs were putting out.

Now that Ive is gone, the MacBooks are getting thicker (as are the switches under the keyboards), the iPads are thicker, the iPhones are rumored to get thicker and maybe the iMac will also get thicker so it can cool those hot CPUs better and Apple can put in a half-way decent webcam.

I don't think this narrative quite fits with the reality of how Apple creates products, or what we've seen recently. Honestly looking back at product announcements Steve himself seems pretty keen on thinner, he usually lingers on it a moment... also recent iPads aren't thicker? The new Pros are exactly the same as the 2018s, the 10.2 is exactly the same as the 9.7" iPads before it, and the mini and Air are the same as their immediate predecessors. iPhones have been getting steadily thicker again for years after reaching their nadir with the iPhone 6.

With regard to the stagnating of iMac design, I can only really suggest between 1998 and 2009 Mac desktops probably weren't less than 20% of mac sales as they are today...

 

[CWallace]

Honestly looking back at product announcements Steve himself seems pretty keen on thinner, he usually lingers on it a moment... also recent iPads aren't thicker?

You are correct, my 2018 12.9" is actually a full millimeter thinner than my 2015 model. Guess the slab sides threw me off. So it looks thicker.

With regard to the stagnating of iMac design, I can only really suggest between 1998 and 2009 Mac desktops probably weren't less than 20% of mac sales as they are today...

Agreed. Back then Apple used to post the actual shipments by model and the desktops seemed to perform a fair bit stronger than they do now. I expect it is just shifting dynamics for the majority of the user-base.

 

[jetjaguar]

Honestly any design change will hit the iMac Pro first then to the regular iMac later. I would say the iMac Pro will look like the xdr monitor while the normal iMac would maybe get smaller bezels and the original iMac Pro’s cooling setup

 

[Falhófnir]

Honestly any design change will hit the iMac Pro first then to the regular iMac later. I would say the iMac Pro will look like the xdr monitor while the normal iMac would maybe get smaller bezels and the original iMac Pro’s cooling setup

I'm not so sure, the regular iMac being a consumer product is more reliant on sleek design than the primarily business focused iMac pro, which is there to get a job done. For the Pro, looks are a tertiary factor after whether it offers the performance, and whether the display, speakers etc are up to the job you need to do. For a Prosumer product like the iPad Pro, yes it makes sense to debut the new design on the most expensive one, but virtually no one is going to buy an $5k+ iMac Pro over the regular iMac just because it has a nice new design!

 

[FrankySavvy]

All Apple needs to do is this with the external design and I will be happy!

 

[Moonjumper]

The iMac is just not intersting for anyone that makes noise in the tech sphere and hence there are no leakers. The iMac is for people with low end computing needs and hence we are considered boring.

It was interesting in the past. It was a centrepiece of Mac design. It isn't interesting now because it has been exactly the same for too many years, and almost the same for even longer.

 

[gusping]

All Apple needs to do is this with the external design and I will be happy! View attachment 914203

32in and a much smaller chin, please!

 

[Moonjumper]

All Apple needs to do is this with the external design and I will be happy! View attachment 914203

A bigger screen with smaller bezels would be a nice step. Someone showed a concept on Mac Rumors recently that went one small step further to extend the glass down over the chin, and it looked great: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/imac-redesign-mock-up.2229468/

 

[ArmouredBear]

I hate all these mock-ups, they raise my expectations so the crushing speedbump will feel worse.

 

[Nugget]

I may never understand why people care at all about bezel size. I just want a thicker case with adequate (and quiet) cooling so that they can contain a modern and performant CPU and GPU. Everything else is just cosmetics.

 

[craigrusse11]

Curry’s and Amazon in the UK are both out of stock of current gen 27” iMacs. With Prosser saying the iMac is ready to go, is this a sign it’s more than a spec bump if inventory is cleared out virtually everywhere? Strange iMac is in short supply, but MacBook is just fine.

 

[ekwipt]

All Apple needs to do is this with the external design and I will be happy! View attachment 914203

They'd have to get rid of the bottom to make it a great design, there's no reason to not fatten the back of the iMac there's the whole triangle section of the back of the stand to take up

 

[Moonjumper]

I may never understand why people care at all about bezel size. I just want a thicker case with adequate (and quiet) cooling so that they can contain a modern and performant CPU and GPU. Everything else is just cosmetics.

I can think of 2 reasons:

1. Many people are constrained on desk space, especially those using an iMac at home. Smaller bezels mean less desk space is needed.

2. Screens can be closer in multiple display setups.

 

[dn325ci]

I may never understand why people care at all about bezel size. I just want a thicker case with adequate (and quiet) cooling so that they can contain a modern and performant CPU and GPU. Everything else is just cosmetics.

Dude I feel you with that, and I'm not necessarily boosted about bezels either, but if you're making the case that cosmetics don't matter to the iMac crowd, I think you're on thin ice. iMac from it's inception has been to a significant extent about design.

 

[archrider]

I think one of the only reason for thinner bezels is that it will show that it's the latest model. This provides people that like to show off with bragging rights. I'm on the side of I don't care much about thinner bezels.

 

[jlseattle]

I don't care about anything but getting the new iMac out. I want to the new processor and SSD drive. Otherwise thinner bezels, better screen are icing on the cake. This money is burning a hole in my pocket and I want the top processor they offer in the new iMac once it is out. That's all. Apple just freaking release it already!

 

[iPadified]

A bigger screen with smaller bezels would be a nice step. Someone showed a concept on Mac Rumors recently that went one small step further to extend the glass down over the chin, and it looked great: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/imac-redesign-mock-up.2229468/

It look nice, especially from the front. However, I think the current form has better thermals because it seem to be thicker in the center. Thick edges do little in terms of airflow around a a centrally placed CPU/GPU. Well you could fit some really good speakers in these edges for stereo sound like the iPad Pro. Add a really good camera and and some really good microphones and you have a nice home "studio" for video conferencing, producing tutorial and similar tasks.

...and other day of waiting has just started. I hope the waiting time will not be as long as for the new MP...

 

[JLOAKS]

The iMac is just not intersting for anyone that makes noise in the tech sphere and hence there are no leakers. The iMac is for people with low end computing needs and hence we are considered boring.

With the way Apple is positioning the iPad Pro (as the ultimate mobile device to overtake the MacBook Pro for the majority of users), I would assume the iMac would be the logical step as the best Mac to have in your home for the largest percentage of users.

WWDC is going to reveal a lot of intentions about where Apple plans to go with both macOS and iPadOS which I feel can take one of many turns at the moment.

 

[Manfredi]

I think one of the only reason for thinner bezels is that it will show that it's the latest model. This provides people that like to show off with bragging rights. I'm on the side of I don't care much about thinner bezels.

guys.... Apple (and iMac especially) was since always synonimus of great design.... and you pay (more) also for this aspect.
so you cannot not consider design in the value of an iMac....

 

[Al Bundy]

The wait... The expectation... So... Painful...

 

[gusping]

The wait... The expectation... So... Painful...

Will it happen today.....? Dun dun dun.... probably not

 

[Manfredi]

Will it happen today.....? Dun dun dun.... probably not

why not...?

 

[Migranya]

Both l0vetodream and Jon Prosser said that iMac is ready and that it can be launched at any time. So... Let's see, but I think WWDC is lasted day possible, so we will see in the next 6 weeks.

 

[NewUsername]

We have the Jon Prosser rumour for the iMac, we very long shipping times for the 27" iMac, and the iMac in general is the most outdated computer Apple sells; last updated March last year, the iMac Pro December 2017, the base model iMac even June 2017. It should get a T2, SSDs standard, 10th generation Intel processors, 4 TB3 ports, BT 5.0, a 10Gb Ethernet option, 16GB RAM at least on higher-end models, up to 4 or 8GB SSDs, all Retina displays,… just to keep up with the other Macs. Ideally also bigger displays and smaller bezels, or some sort of a redesign.

 

[krazzix]

iPad + Macbook Air: Wednesday
iPhone SE: Wednesday
Macbook Pro: Monday

I think the new iMac will come tomorrow, maybe today. If not than I don't know what Apple's waiting for if they're ready to ship. Sounds weird to me to wait 6 weeks with a ready to ship product only for them to announce it on WWDC.