New Member
Join Date: May 2005
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My friend depends upon me for recommendations for his personal Mac purchases. His current desktop is a 5 or 6 year old iMac. Though he doesn't need a new Mac to meet his computing needs, he wants to get a new iMac for the nice LCD screen and to insure future compatibility with new software. He's beginning to salivate a little too much. I've told him that since he has waited this long he might as well wait a few more weeks and see if there might be a bump of some sort in the specs of the iMacs. Perhaps I am giving him bad advice. Is there likely to be a significant upgrade in the iMac specs in the next month or two to justify waiting? What do you anticipate will be gained by waiting til, say, August, to purchase a new iMac?
I know, I know the basic rule of thumb-- The right time to buy a new Mac is when you need it. But he really doesn't need one in any desperate way. Thanks for any ideas. I'm torn between telling him to go ahead and order one today or wait until the end of August and see what happens. John |
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Veteran Member
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I don't think there will be an update for a while. Seeing how it was updated twice earlier this year. The only update would be 10.5 I think, possibly a speed boost.
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I wouldn't be surprised about an update in August. Both Conroe and Merom will be updated by then, so no matter which it gets, they'll be available.
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Veteran Member
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Unknown
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I agree with Chucker.
Here's how I would deal with your friend. Tell him that there are no guarantees, but that with the release dates that Intel currently has, it is possible, even likely, that the iMac will see some sort of bump by the end of August. And tell him that since the "if", "what", and "when" are speculative, that he needs to decide for himself whether it is worth the wait, and that regardless, he'll end up with a great computer. Do you know where children get all of their energy? - They suck it right out of their parents! |
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Stallion
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Milwaukee
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I bet mbp, imac and pm get updates before end of cram n jam.
MacBook prolly not. |
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Now in lower-case™!
Join Date: Feb 2006
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If the iMac gets conroe the speed jump will be a considerable one right? Also do you think they will maybe implement the larger HD sizes (750 GB or whatever is available at update time) into the iMac and maybe a slight redesign like black or something small?
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Dubuque, IA
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I don't think the iMac is going to change too much. The processor will change to Merom and the Video memory may be updated to 256mb. Otherwise, same motherboard, same overall specs.
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Stallion
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Milwaukee
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Now in lower-case™!
Join Date: Feb 2006
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And that would occur in August probably?
Edit: Also, how would it get smaller or what do you mean by smaller? How can it get thinner (which is what I assume you are talking about because it can't really get much smaller in other ways because that is the screen size) when they would be putting a hotter desktop processor in it, Conroe? I would love that to occur but is that really possible and likely to occur in or around august? Last edited by macleod : 2006-06-12 at 13:36. |
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Stallion
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Milwaukee
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conroe probably won't be any hotter than core duo. I think the enclosure will get closer and closer to a white cinema display over time.
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Now in lower-case™!
Join Date: Feb 2006
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That is fine by me. I just hope they get it done before the iPod rebate ends because I would not mind getting a new iPod with the iMac.
Anyone think they will make the iMac available in both black and white like the MacBook? |
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Veteran Member
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psactes...bring out your iMac Mockup, you know the one with the lip that has the dvd in it at the bottom!
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Stallion
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Milwaukee
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I doubt they redesign it, just continue to make it thinner
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Sneaky Punk
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IMO, if he has gotten by with a 5-6 year old iMac, I think the current iMac will be more than enough for this fellow.
Sure it will be upgraded, but hey he could wait till August, but wait, it may be upgraded again in January... better wait! |
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Going Strange...
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Brooklyn, NY
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PB PM makes a darn fine point. Does this friend need the bleeding edge? Doesn't sound like it.
The leap he'd be getting from his old iMac to the current iMac or the next revision would be huge... while the leap between the current iMac or the next revision would be (relatively speaking) miniscule. |
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
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and drop the 17" for a 20 and 23" line-up of course
People keep asking for 17" cinema displays at a low price point but i think the 20" display will become slightly cheaper as the iMacs become 20" as standard. |
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Now in lower-case™!
Join Date: Feb 2006
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A move up to a 23" display on the iMac would be great because then I might not even get a 2nd monitor for it. Is that a probable update or just wishful thinking Dazabrit?
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Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
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If you think about it on Apples behalf, budging up a size allows them to retain a price premium and it also gives the engineers a nice space to work with in terms of the internal components. With the empthasis on HD and digital content creation, 20" as standard and 23" for the design/media centric consumers/semi-pros would be a great line-up. Although there are a few people out there who feel the 20" is just too big to be the entry model iMac. |
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Now in lower-case™!
Join Date: Feb 2006
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The logic makes sense to me! What do you think this wouls do to iMac prices? Would prices increase with this screen size increase
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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Oh man...I'd LOVE to see a three-part iMac line up.
The 17", frankly, is a really nice size and lots of people would still want it, ESPECIALLY if they could whack it on down in price to the $1,099 area? Then let the 20" skootch to $1,399. THEN offer an HD 23" version for $1,799 or so? A true "special edition". People would buy it. Hell, they're buying the 20" at nearly that price! That would be the one Mac I'd consider busting my "$1,500 and under" price restriction for! Three sizes, $300 apart (give or take). A truly affordable 17" entry level, a very large/roomy mid-range 20" and then a Cadillac 23" HD model. Better yet, get the 20" to $1,299 (same price as current entry-level 17"), sell the 23" for $1,699-1,899 knowing good and well people will buy it no matter what). THEN take the 17" and give it shared graphics and cut corners in whatever other ways they can and try to get a sub-$1,000 flat screen AIO iMac. Still with USB, FireWire, AirPort and Ethernet (not gigabit, necessarily). Maybe the specs and I/O of last autumn's iMac G5...still respectable, just none of the optical/digital this-or-that? Smaller hard drives, Combo Drives, etc. |
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Formerly Roboman, still
awesome Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
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I can see Apple making the base iMac 20" - it's clear (by their display line-up) that they think 20" is the ideal minimum for a desktop screen, and they've been gradually dropping the price on the 20" model for some time. Also, Apple has been moving to make their lines simpler, and a single 20" iMac would be a pretty simple line-up indeed.
Of course, that point would be moot if Apple also introduces a 23" iMac. I'm not sure they will - at least, not initially. A 23" iMac also wouldn't have a chin, which would destroy the "iMac look" and the visual connection with the iPod. (As much as we might dislike the chin, the iMac would look like a normal everyday monitor without it. Despite Apple's "Where did the computer go?" marketing, that wouldn't be a good thing.) So, in short, it's pretty obvious that the 20" display will eventually become standard, but I don't think we'll see a 23" iMac in the near future. Anyone wanting a larger display will have to buy a Mac Pro. But I could be wrong. and i guess i've known it all along / the truth is, you have to be soft to be strong |
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Formerly Roboman, still
awesome Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
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I had an epiphany after writing that post.
I'm looking at it too much from a "computer" angle. What if Apple is positioning the iMac as their "media center"? Hear me out. It's obvious that when the average buyer hears about an "iMac," they don't think "internet Macintosh." They think "iPod-style Macintosh." It's obvious Apple knows that people are seeing the iMac from a new angle - that's why the iMac G5 adopted an iPod-inspired design. (That's why they gave it a "chin," rather than "ears" - they wanted it to have a vertical, iPod-style design.) While everybody has been talking about how Apple should make the Mac mini into a media center, Apple has been making similar strides, only for the iMac. Front Row showed up first on the iMac, and spread to other Macs. What if Apple added a TV tuner to the iMac? Then, you'd basically have a media center - just one including the "TV." If Apple added a TV tuner to the iMac, I could totally see a 23" "iMac HD." But if Apple continues to view the iMac as their flagship computer, rather than a media center, my position above stands. I just can't see a 23" iMac being sold alongside a 20" iMac with a "chin." and i guess i've known it all along / the truth is, you have to be soft to be strong Last edited by Robo : 2006-06-12 at 16:15. |
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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Oh, I can imagine it easily (a "no chin" iMac). That's not a "design motif" as much as it is "a necessary expanse of space because the guts have to have somewhere to go".
If a 23" came out and Apple could actually fit everything behind the display...then screw the chin! It might still need a small one, and even that would be fine. A nice progression through all three, with the largest (ratio-wise) on the 17", a little smaller on the 20" and a sliver on the 23". And no one is going to get confused on ANYTHING: a) it's white and the displays are silver and b) in case anyone is really dense, it says, in huge honkin' letters on the back, "iMac". But yeah, that TV tuner idea is neat. Talk about a godsend for those in dorms and other tight living arrangements: a 23" computer AND a LCD TV, all in one gorgeous package. They'd fly off the shelves! Where was this computer a year or two ago, when I could've really used it?!? |
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Senior Member
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It ain't so bad without the chin. You still leave some room for the Apple logo - and you've got the slightly chinless iMac!
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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I totally agree. No one is actually going to miss "the chin", when it comes right down to it. Just leave some room for the Apple, and call it a day.
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Formerly Roboman, still
awesome Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
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I know, pscates - it's not like Apple wanted the iMac to have a chin. But I just think a "chin" iMac and a "chinless" iMac, being sold together side by side, would look...weird.
But doublem's mock-up looks the best of all the 23" iMac mock-ups I've seen. and i guess i've known it all along / the truth is, you have to be soft to be strong |
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Selfish Heathen
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Zone of Pain
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The quality of this board depends on the quality of the posts. The only way to guarantee thoughtful, informative discussion is to write thoughtful, informative posts. AppleNova is not a real-time chat forum. You have time to compose messages and edit them before and after posting. |
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Senior Member
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Hey - I'm not a photoshopper. I was just looking to cut down on some of the unnecessary white space. I did the cutting visually, so no measurements were made. By the way - thank you for complimenting my work Roboman!
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Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Dubuque, IA
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Mr. Vieira
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Tennessee
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Here's something to consider as well: maybe they could reduce the bezel space a bit as well? Would be nice if the iMac didn't have such an expanse of white plastic around the display. Make it look more like the Cinema Displays, if possible?
Yeah, on the mockup above something was feeling "off". I think that Apple logo could be reduced a smidge. But I'm still all for this model, chin or not. |
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