Apple warns of reduced iMac availability in near term

[AppleInsider]

Apple this week is advising members of its reseller channels that supply of iMacs will be constrained in the immediate future, a move that may signal new models are nearing production.

In particular, people familiar with the matter say the Cupertino-based Mac maker has warned that new reseller orders for the high-end 24-inch 3.06GHz iMac are unlikely to be fulfilled, suggesting manufacturing of that model is ramping down or has already ceased.

Additionally, Apple is said to have braced its partners for limited availability of the remainder of the iMac line in the coming weeks, a sign which this late in the product's life-cycle "only means one thing" -- namely that the company is drawing down inventory levels ahead of new models.

So far, details on the next-generation of iMacs are few and far between. Outside inadvertent confirmation on Apple's part that the systems will employ chipsets from NVIDIA Corp., the remainder of their hardware makeup remains unclear.

A recent analyst report had speculated based on source information that Apple was still facing a dilemma of whether to advance the all-in-one desktops to quad-core systems or continue using Intel's mobile Core 2 Duo chips. Given that production of current models is now believed to be winding down, it's almost a certainty that the company has made its decision.

Supporting a possible move to quad-core processors in the iMac line was a November report from Taiwanese rumor site DigiTimes, which claimed that Apple was among a list of PC makers who had agreed to adopt Intel's new quad-core 65W low-power desktop processors that range in speeds from 2.33GHz to 2.83GHz.

The report did not specify in which models Mac maker would employ the parts, however. But short of Apple introducing a completely new breed of Mac desktop, it would appear the only likely candidates for such chips would be the iMac and Mac mini, with the former being a safer bet from both a strategic and historic standpoint.

Assuming the report remains accurate, it would bode with similar rumblings AppleInsider has heard about the direction in which Apple plans to take its flagship desktop line during the 2009 calendar year. With Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard set to debut with Grand Central technology aimed at leveraging Macs with an increasing number of processor cores, it's safe to assume that the majority of the company's Mac offerings will soon see a bump from dual-core to quad-core.

Also fueling rumors of iMac revisions due this quarter were a couple of independent reports out of the Chinese-language Economic Daily News. The first, published in late December, cited sources as saying Apple was scheduled to "launch a new iMac all-in-one PC in the first quarter of next year, and the company's sole manufacturing partner, Quanta Computer, is gearing up to supply monthly shipments of around 800,000 units during the first quarter of 2009."

The second report, filed less than a week later, sparked speculation that the next-generation models would employ a new cooling system than the current iMacs when it identified two OEMs -- Foxconn Precision Components and Auras Technology -- as the team that would manufacturer "the PC's cooling module" without offering details on any of the system's other components. Outside of that report, there's been no concrete evidence to suggest a change to the iMac's cooling methods.

It should be noted that should the iMacs adopt the Intel chips singled out by DigiTimes, it would mark a significant architectural shift for the desktop line, which has long relied on the same breed of mobile chips found in Apple's MacBook and MacBook Pro lines. The quad-core chips in question are true desktop-oriented processors with a higher thermal design point.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[macxpress]

I'll say it before anyone else...

FireWire or no sale!

[SpamSandwich]

About bloody time... I've got my money ready to buy a new iMac right now.

[macxpress]

I'll say this before anyone else too...

I want an updated MacMini!!!

There now we got those all out of the way and we can actually talk about the iMac instead of other items....

[Winter]

Very interesting... I have been debating between an iMac and MBP for a while as my first Mac. The quad-core would be the deal breaker for me. I did notice one small thing and I don't mean to be an idiot, though it is 10.6 Snow Leopard not just Leopard.

[Virgil-TB2]

Originally Posted by macxpress

I'll say it before anyone else...

FireWire or no sale!

I really wish people would give this meme a break.

Apple removed FireWire on *ONE* entry level product (which you actually bought anyway) for reasons of space. There is no reason to expect that it will be removed from any other products and has been included on products released *since* the release of the MacBook unibody.

[macxpress]

Originally Posted by Virgil-TB2

I really wish people would give this meme a break.

Apple removed FireWire on *ONE* entry level product (which you actually bought anyway) for reasons of space. There is no reason to expect that it will be removed from any other products and has been included on products released *since* the release of the MacBook unibody.

Easy grasshopper I was just being a smartass. I'm sick of it too.

I could care less about the lack of FireWire. I don't have any FireWire devices anyways. I wish they would drop FW for more USB ports to be honest.

[hmurchison]

Originally Posted by macxpress

I'll say this before anyone else too...

I want an updated MacMini!!!

There now we got those all out of the way and we can actually talk about the iMac instead of other items.... :P

Me toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[iVlad]

Apple has to update all computers before Snow Leopard, that's their usual deal. MacBooks are ready, next is iMac, yet Mini remains in the cave.

[KindredMac]

For the love of God will you please just put the Quad Core chips in the iMac already!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!

The Mac Pro is just a floating Ghost Ship now with no crew so you might as well make the iMac the pro machine.

[rwood]

I recently purchased a MBP. I love it! I just switched from PC because Vista pissed me off to no end. I have been going crazy waiting on the updated IMAC. Like most others, I refuse to purchase the current version when it is obvious that they will be updating it soon. It is irritating that Apple does not give any public statement or projection on updates to their line up. I was starting to look at a PC desktop because I really want a new desktop. I am going to hold out now because of this latest update..... I love the OS and everything about Apple with the exception of their secrecy.......

[r.kirkerrr]

thank god, the sooner the better, and the sooner i can get to pestering my parents for a new computer for my GCSE's. haha.

[teckstud]

Bring it!!
And while your at it- please add to it
1.) Blu-ray drive
2.) MAtte option
3.) 30" Display
3.) New mouse- flat touch pad.
4.) A unified color scheme with no screen border and no chin.

[Alonso Perez]

Originally Posted by rwood

I love the OS and everything about Apple with the exception of their secrecy.......

Yes, it's annoying. But it gives them flexibility to change their mind at the last minute, delay products that just aren't ready, and keep their competitors clueless.

So, while I don't like it, I can sure understand it. It is not mere capriciousness.

[crisss1104@aol.com]

Please upgrade to quad core!! I have been waiting for this since WWDC 2008 and MacWorld 2009! I need more power!!!

[PeckhamBog]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Bring it!!
And while your at it- please add to it
1.) Blu-ray drive
2.) MAtte option
3.) 30" Display
3.) New mouse- flat touch pad.
4.) A unified color scheme with no screen border and no chin.

I was under the impression Blu-ray is a non starter, everything is going on-line/cloud computing?

[mjtomlin]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

About bloody time... I've got my money ready to buy a new iMac right now.

Me too. I have the original iMacIntel and I'm just waiting to upgrade.

[iPilya]

Originally Posted by Winter

Very interesting... I have been debating between an iMac and MBP for a while as my first Mac. The quad-core would be the deal breaker for me. I did notice one small thing and I don't mean to be an idiot, though it is 10.6 Snow Leopard not just Leopard.

Winter: No, Snow Leopard is a evolutionary update geared towards refinement of the underpinnings instead of being a 'feature' release. You can find a nice little synapse at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X_v10.6

[macxpress]

Originally Posted by rwood

I recently purchased a MBP. I love it! I just switched from PC because Vista pissed me off to no end. I have been going crazy waiting on the updated IMAC. Like most others, I refuse to purchase the current version when it is obvious that they will be updating it soon. It is irritating that Apple does not give any public statement or projection on updates to their line up. I was starting to look at a PC desktop because I really want a new desktop. I am going to hold out now because of this latest update..... I love the OS and everything about Apple with the exception of their secrecy.......

Letting the public know of updates hurts Apple's bottom line. If you were told today that new iMacs were coming out next month you'd wait until next month to get one right? Of course you would! The majority of others would do the same. So now, what does Apple do with the remaining old inventory? They either sell it off cheaply thus, not making as much money off it, or letting someone like overstock.com try and get rid of it which also would hurt Apple's bottom line. Yes there are people that will buy the old stock anyways between Apple's announcement of a new iMac and the day its actually introduced, but the majority of people would wait.

Plus it also gives Apple's competitors an opportunity to get a kick start on a competing product, possibly before Apple gets to release they're new/updated product.

As much as everyone hates it, this is not an uncommon practice by businesses. You don't see Chrysler telling you when the next Chrysler 300 will be out do you? You don't really know until its made available to order from the dealer.

[8CoreWhore]

Originally Posted by rwood

I recently purchased a MBP. I love it! I just switched from PC because Vista pissed me off to no end. I have been going crazy waiting on the updated IMAC. Like most others, I refuse to purchase the current version when it is obvious that they will be updating it soon. It is irritating that Apple does not give any public statement or projection on updates to their line up. I was starting to look at a PC desktop because I really want a new desktop. I am going to hold out now because of this latest update..... I love the OS and everything about Apple with the exception of their secrecy.......

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

[macxpress]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Bring it!!
And while your at it- please add to it
1.) Blu-ray drive
2.) MAtte option
3.) 30" Display
3.) New mouse- flat touch pad.
4.) A unified color scheme with no screen border and no chin.

1. I don't see any reason to have a blu-ray drive on an iMac or any Mac for that reason. There isn't any software on blu-ray discs. Apple wants you to use the iTunes Store to obtain TV Shows, Movies, etc instead of buying them on blu-ray. For HD, they want you to get an AppleTV. Or you could use something else via the internet to get your HD fix.

2. Never gonna happen! You're lucky the 17" MBP retained that option. I wouldn't count on it lasting very long.

3. HAHA! Good one! Wishful thinking at its best!

3. Why are there 2 #3's? hehe... touchpad mouse would be interesting!

4. The chin is necessary unless you want a fat Mac. Other than that I think they look great with silver and black. Looks very professional.

[eiprol]

Originally Posted by mjtomlin

Me too. I have the original iMacIntel and I'm just waiting to upgrade.

Me too (I don't have any iMac, but i've got my cash money ready )

[aaplguy]

Apple, always very conservative in guidance, has projected increased revenues this quarter in a slowing economy with no new products (yet). Could Apple use the 25th MAC anniversary as a catalyst for a REALLY new Imac. The only other time I remember announced channel reduction was for the Iphone 3g and the last time the Imac had a big redo.

[batcat]

Very interesting.

Today I went shopping for an 8GB iPod Touch in John Lewis (a UK department store that was one of the few places you could buy a Mac in the bad old days) as it tends to offer better warranties than the Apple standard.

Now it turns out that they don't offer a longer warranty on the iPods for free, but that didn't matter as they didn't have any 8GB iPod Touches, or the 16 GB model, or even the 32 GB. I was quite surprised as they are generally kept well stocked with Apple kit.

I found a member of staff who looked like they knew what's what, they told me the store had no stock and were only taking orders, but that if I did order I might have to wait a fortnight. I asked why this was and they said they'd received an email from Apple, Apple not head office, saying that there were supply issues and it would be a couple of weeks before they became available again.

Anyway my spidey senses said wait a week.

Fingers crossed the Mac mini is updated ASAP.

[Marvin]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

The report did not specify in which models Mac maker would employ the parts, however. But short of Apple introducing a completely new breed of Mac desktop, it would appear the only likely candidates for such chips would be the iMac and Mac mini, with the former being a safer bet from both a strategic and historic standpoint.

Actually it's not better from either a historic or strategic standpoint to put these chips inside an iMac vs a small headless machine.

They are desktop chips and are hot. We all remember the hot G5 chips in the iMacs.

It also means that the machines will be more expensive as presumably they will leave dual-core for the lower end. The high end iMac sells for $2,199.

It is not a safer bet to put a quad chip into a $2000+ machine during a recession when tens of thousands of people are losing their jobs.

It is a safer bet to put these chips into a new breed of desktop that comes in at under $1000 ($1500 at worst) and rivals what PC manufacturers are offering. It needs to be stylish but it needs to be headless.

The return of the Cube is overdue. Superbowl Sunday, the Mac for everyone, in celebration of their 25th anniversary, the 'Mac' that started everything we have now. The Next Cube.

Macbook -> Mac Pro
Mac Cube -> Mac Pro

That's it. Who would honestly complain about a setup like that?

Next month might bring 8-core chips so the Mac Pro could even go 16-core with a single 8-core on the low end.

[johnmcboston]

Originally Posted by iVlad

Apple has to update all computers before Snow Leopard, that's their usual deal. MacBooks are ready, next is iMac, yet Mini remains in the cave.

But I'd rather get snow leopard WITH a new computer - not have to buy and install an OS 2-3 months after a new computer purchase...

[eiprol]

Originally Posted by johnmcboston

But I'd rather get snow leopard WITH a new computer - not have to buy and install an OS 2-3 months after a new computer purchase...

Why not? You will be able to compare the before-after in that computer.
Despite of that, i want it nowwwwwwwwwwwww

[Bregalad]

Originally Posted by macxpress

4. The chin is necessary unless you want a fat Mac. Other than that I think they look great with silver and black. Looks very professional.

I'd trade thickness for getting rid of the chin. I don't for a second understand the obsession with making a desktop computer thin. How many people look at their displays from the side? That's right zero. If you lose the chin then even a thicker machine would be the same weight and same total amount of material. Probably the only thing that would change is the shipping box would have to be a bit bigger. All that extra engineering to fit and cool components in a tiny space just to save a few trees hardly seems worth it.

[labrats5]

Originally Posted by Marvin

Actually it's not better from either a historic or strategic standpoint to put these chips inside an iMac vs a small headless machine.

They are desktop chips and are hot. We all remember the hot G5 chips in the iMacs.

It also means that the machines will be more expensive as presumably they will leave dual-core for the lower end. The high end iMac sells for $2,199.

It is not a safer bet to put a quad chip into a $2000+ machine during a recession when tens of thousands of people are losing their jobs.

It is a safer bet to put these chips into a new breed of desktop that comes in at under $1000 ($1500 at worst) and rivals what PC manufacturers are offering. It needs to be stylish but it needs to be headless.

The return of the Cube is overdue. Superbowl Sunday, the Mac for everyone, in celebration of their 25th anniversary, the 'Mac' that started everything we have now. The Next Cube.

Macbook -> Mac Pro
Mac Cube -> Mac Pro

That's it. Who would honestly complain about a setup like that?

Next month might bring 8-core chips so the Mac Pro could even go 16-core with a single 8-core on the low end.

Finally someone who agrees with me!! The problem with the original cube was that it was a more expensive, less upgradable powermac. It was priced for power users who had a much more attractive power user model to choose. I still say that if they had put a g3 in and priced it <$1,200 from day 1 they would have sold like hotcakes. But even so, the situation today is different. The powermac is dead, and the mac pro is a surprisingly different machine. The powermac was a prosumer computer, while the mac pro is clearly a professional workstation. The huge gap between it and the mac mini needs to be filled by something more powerful and expandable than the mac mini, but smaller and cheaper than the mac pro. The cube is a perfectly sized form-factor for what this computer needs to be.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Bregalad

I'd trade thickness for getting rid of the chin. I don't for a second understand the obsession with making a desktop computer thin. How many people look at their displays from the side? That's right zero. If you lose the chin then even a thicker machine would be the same weight and same total amount of material. Probably the only thing that would change is the shipping box would have to be a bit bigger. All that extra engineering to fit and cool components in a tiny space just to save a few trees hardly seems worth it.

Excellent- well put. How much thicker would it need to be anyway? Desktops are meant to stay put anyway not be mobile. It could also probably then be kept cooler as well.

[hmurchison]

You know the iMac in its current form factor is a no go.

I should be able to access the iMacs RAM and drive storage in a matter of
minutes. I care not that it's unbelievably thin when I can't do basic upgrades
myself.

The iMac is a classy system but dammit if you're gonna crame the whole widget
down my gullet give me sensible design.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by Marvin

Actually it's not better from either a historic or strategic standpoint to put these chips inside an iMac vs a small headless machine.

They are desktop chips and are hot. We all remember the hot G5 chips in the iMacs.

It also means that the machines will be more expensive as presumably they will leave dual-core for the lower end. The high end iMac sells for $2,199.

It is not a safer bet to put a quad chip into a $2000+ machine during a recession when tens of thousands of people are losing their jobs.

It is a safer bet to put these chips into a new breed of desktop that comes in at under $1000 ($1500 at worst) and rivals what PC manufacturers are offering. It needs to be stylish but it needs to be headless.

The return of the Cube is overdue. Superbowl Sunday, the Mac for everyone, in celebration of their 25th anniversary, the 'Mac' that started everything we have now. The Next Cube.

Macbook -> Mac Pro
Mac Cube -> Mac Pro

That's it. Who would honestly complain about a setup like that?

Next month might bring 8-core chips so the Mac Pro could even go 16-core with a single 8-core on the low end.

The Cube is out of step with Apple's current thiness obsession unless it's morphed into a Chicklet.

[Fast Fred 1]

Originally Posted by KindredMac

For the love of God will you please just put the Quad Core chips in the iMac already!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!

The Mac Pro is just a floating Ghost Ship now with no crew so you might as well make the iMac the pro machine.

Get real.... an iMac with 4 internal drives and 4 ram slots!!

[macxpress]

Originally Posted by hmurchison

You know the iMac in its current form factor is a no go.

I should be able to access the iMacs RAM and drive storage in a matter of
minutes. I care not that it's unbelievably thin when I can't do basic upgrades
myself.

The iMac is a classy system but dammit if you're gonna crame the whole widget
down my gullet give me sensible design.

Well Steve has an obsession for thin products. So thin it will be no matter what the sacrifice is.

[Bregalad]

I'm eager to see new iMacs. My minimum requirements are: IPS display (like the current 24"), quad core processor, OpenCL compatible graphics (minimum 9600), FireWire 800 port(s), ability to upgrade the hard drive myself.

My parents are waiting for the new Mac mini. They've been making do with a 533MHz G4 since their iMac died and ask me every time we talk if Apple has released the new model yet.

[macxpress]

Originally Posted by teckstud

The Cube is out of step with Apple's current thiness obsession unless it's morphed into a Chicklet.

Wishes for an Intel Mac Cube....

*prays to the Mac gods for one*

[hmurchison]

Originally Posted by Bregalad

I'm eager to see new iMacs. My minimum requirements are: IPS display (like the current 24"), quad core processor, OpenCL compatible graphics (minimum 9600), FireWire 800 port(s), ability to upgrade the hard drive myself.

+1

I'll add Mini-DisplayPort.
SSD options

[shanmugam]

$999 3.00 Ghz Dual core
$1299 2.33 Ghz Quad Core
$1549 2.66 Ghz Quad Core
$1899 2.83 Quad Core

price point will be sweet (stole the idea from refurbished mac section) but not sure whether LED display will allow these price point
http://store.apple.com/us/browse/hom...deals/mac/imac

Interested
-----------
Quad Core CPU
Desktop componenet
Better and latest GPU
LED backlit Display
DVI and Mini Display Port
2GB RAM standard

Not interested
------------------
Blu Ray

inventory low is the first sign of new iMac, hopefully with in few weeks ...

[Flounder]

Originally Posted by Bregalad

I'd trade thickness for getting rid of the chin. I don't for a second understand the obsession with making a desktop computer thin. How many people look at their displays from the side? That's right zero. If you lose the chin then even a thicker machine would be the same weight and same total amount of material. Probably the only thing that would change is the shipping box would have to be a bit bigger. All that extra engineering to fit and cool components in a tiny space just to save a few trees hardly seems worth it.

I have never understood why people dislike the chin. I love the chin! I think it makes the iMac look distinguished, to say nothing of the fact that it's really good for post-its.

[Winter]

Originally Posted by iPilya

Winter: No, Snow Leopard is a evolutionary update geared towards refinement of the underpinnings instead of being a 'feature' release. You can find a nice little synapse at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_OS_X_v10.6

Fair enough... I just thought it was a typo.