New iMac in 2012?

timberflake

What do you guys think, will there be a new iMac in 2012? And if so when?

What improvements on the current spec do you think we'll see?

I'm toying with the idea of getting an iMac but am thinking of holding off until there's an announcement. The current iMac range is almost a year old.

m5rcc

Yep - Ivy Bridge iMac will be launched in 2013, perhaps with 3D capabilities

timberflake

m5rcc wrote: »

Yep - Ivy Bridge iMac will be launched in 2013, perhaps with 3D capabilities

So you don't think there will be a new iMac in 2012? Two years is a long time to leave it between updates, the current iMac's are already starting to look dated from a tech standpoint, by the end of 2012 they would be anchent and well overpriced imo.

Niowrtt

There are new or updated models launched without fail every 9-12 months. I would expect a mid-2012 range within the next few months, but there is always a possibility of an early-2012 launch.

A good insight into the release schedule is here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1758

m5rcc

They can bring it out sooner, but unless Intel make a new advancement on the Core i processors, they'll just do minor updates

iMacs, IMHO, are overpriced items (like most Apple products)

timberflake

m5rcc wrote: »

They can bring it out sooner, but unless Intel make a new advancement on the Core i processors, they'll just do minor updates

iMacs, IMHO, are overpriced items (like most Apple products)

I see core i7 and SSD or Hybrid HDD's being the default in the next release. That would be enough to make me to take the plunge.

m5rcc

timberflake wrote: »

I see core i7 and SSD or Hybrid HDD's being the default in the next release. That would be enough to make me to take the plunge.

That already exists (i7 3.4 with 256GB SSD)

timberflake

Niowrtt wrote: »

There are new or updated models launched without fail every 9-12 months. I would expect a mid-2012 range within the next few months, but there is always a possibility of an early-2012 launch.

A good insight into the release schedule is here: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1758

From the link it looks as though we're certain to see a new iMac in 2012, and maybe within the next couple of month.

timberflake

m5rcc wrote: »

That already exists (i7 3.4 with 256GB SSD)

That's why I said as default, the i7 and SSD's are updrages at the moment.

InsideInsurance

m5rcc wrote: »

IMHO, are overpriced items (like most Apple products)

Apple products are certainly upper end pricing but if you look at competitors for something very similar you tend to get to similar sorts of pricing. There was a comparison of a Sony ultra portable and a MBA shortly after the Sony was released and to upgrade to the same spec the Sony was more expensive (though Sony again is a premium priced brand).

What is very expensive is the Apple applied upgrades and certainly things like RAM should be bought elsewhere and installed yourself at a fraction of the cost.

As to the next upgrades.... Ivy Bridge CPUs are the most obvious, there is talk that the last two version of OS X had reference to much higher resolution screens (in line with the density on the iPhone 4(s) ) but not sure if that's going to be ready for the next iMac or not. Given the last update was in August it could be another ~6-9 months so it may be

Mr_Toad

m5rcc wrote: »

iMacs, IMHO, are overpriced items (like most Apple products)

I agree they are expensive but so are a lot of Windows laptops. When I was looking for a replacement laptop I started with a list of things I wanted.

Once compiled it narrowed the field of choice somewhat and put me in the £1000+ bracket.

Other than the MacBook Pro they were all Windows laptops and many were dearer than the Apple, HP, Acer, Sony, Samsung, Lenovo & Toshiba all make more expensive laptops.

I note that with the exception of Sony none of the others are routinely considered expensive like Apple. I suspect that's because they also sell budget models but comparing those to a MacBook, or one of the same brand costing over £1000 isn't right as they're such different machines.

I tried them all, some were too big, I needed truly portable so wanted a 13", some were too heavy, some were very flimsy and delicate, far to platicy for the money.

There were Windows laptops that I would have been happy to own but they were dearer than the MacBook Pro and being Windows they would over time become slow due to the all the stuff that slows a PC down.

What really convinced me to try a MacBook was a work colleague who has a 5 year old MacBook. It was still very fast and able to hold its own after 5 years and it still lasted all day on a charge. Not something you normally get with a 5 year old Windows laptop. In fact the laptop I was replacing was only 4 years old and was no longer up to what I needed it to do.

Another factor was that I work with Unix/Linux every day so OS X held no terror for me.

I haven't been disappointed and considering its expected lifespan isn't that expensive to own.

It all boils down to personal preference, budget and personal requirement.

I've never understood the PC - Mac flame wars as the right choice is so subjective and personal.