Apple slims down iMac 40% with 'friction-stir welding' & ditching the disc drive - Page 5

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apple ][ 

You still use DVD's and buy CD's? Good for you, but most people don't.

I read this so often here and I would like to believe it. But then why we have the same big and small shops selling disks, CD's and DVD's, that we had ten years ago or more? I even saw recently many old big vinyl disks in a shop! No idea though who is buying them.

My feeling is that most people actually still do use disks for audio and video. I can tell the same for pretty much everyone I know personally. Apple pulled the plug of the optical drive not because most people do not use disks but because they can shape the future like they did with the floppy drive. Many people used floppy disks when Apple decided to abandon them.

Originally Posted by PB 
But then why we have the same big and small shops selling disks, CD's and DVD's, that we had ten years ago or more?

Yes, no video rental stores have gone out of business or anything, relegating their former presence to vending machines.

The presence of physical media is far less than ten years ago.

Hipsters.

No one really used the floppy when Apple dumped it. It had LONG since been superseded by the CD in speed and capacity. Apple removing the floppy wasn't Apple "abandoning a much-needed format", it was Apple saying, "Know what? Screw this crap. This is crap, it's bad, and all it does is slow our machines down and stifle our creativity, since the tech isn't getting any smaller. We're getting rid of this crap."

And that's not just Apple fans saying this. Ask anyone and they'll acknowledge that floppies were way out of vogue by '97.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil 

And that's not just Apple fans saying this. Ask anyone and they'll acknowledge that floppies were way out of vogue by '97.

Being "out of vogue" is very different from "no one used them". By the time the first floppy-less Mac hit the market, floppies were present and still used everywhere, along with the other storage media of that time.

They were estimated to be 5 billion out there in 1996. Of course people complained about reliability and capacity and wanted something better. And of course the decline started somewhere in the mid '90s. Apple saw the opportunity to shape a new future for personal computing by brutally scrapping the floppy drive in the iMac. They repeat it now with the optical drive.

Originally Posted by PB 
Being "out of vogue" is very different from "no one used them". By the time the first floppy-less Mac hit the market, floppies were present and still used everywhere, along with the other storage media of that time.

I can still buy VHS tapes. Guess that means people are still using VHS. Guess that means VCRs should still be made… 

Is it an amount that matters? Not really.

I'm sure that the greatest number to date of [insert anything whatsoever here] was reached right before [whatever succeeded it] was introduced, too.

And Apple gave it to them.

So… 1996, then.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil 

 

I can still buy VHS tapes. Guess that means people are still using VHS. Guess that means VCRs should still be made… 

 

Is it an amount that matters? Not really.

 

 

I'm sure that the greatest number to date of [insert anything whatsoever here] was reached right before [whatever succeeded it] was introduced, too.

 

 

And Apple gave it to them.

 

 

So… 1996, then.

Please, try to understand what I am saying and see the situation in the correct context and proportions.

Originally Posted by PB 
Please, try to understand what I am saying and see the situation in the correct context and proportions.

You're claiming that people still use spinning discs in the same (or more crucial) manner and with the same (or greater) frequency now as floppy disk users did when Apple removed those drives. 

The 'more crucial' and 'greater' can be discounted, as Apple got rid of the drives. At "best" it can be of equal importance. Therefore the question then turns to what percentage of the population this encompasses and why everyone else should be forced to still have these drives they don't need, don't use, don't want, and which stifle computer size.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffDM 

If you have more than one computer, you likely can slave another computer's drive over the network.
I actually use an optical drive on occasion, but I've at least fully processed the fact they're going away. It's just a matter of time, if not this update, then it would have been the next. Movies don't matter to me on a computer as I use devices next to my TV, not my computer. Unless you're talking used, most of the time downloads are cheaper. There are audiophiles ripping to preferred settings, but they're a minority, and would be better served with a large desktop style external drive rather than the laptop optical drives.
Personally, I'd suggest an Apple certified/refurbished 2011 iMac and you'll almost certainly be ready to drop optical drive by the time you're ready to replace the iMac. I'm quite happy with my 2011 and I'll still use it as a primary work machine for a couple years at least.

Not sure if your answer is addressed to me or not. But if it is, I have to say that personally I am glad that the iMac lost the optical drive. This means one less mechanical component that is slow, noisy and prone to failure. I had a different opinion a couple of years ago but I changed my mind in the meantime. My daughter uses regularly disks (CD's and DVD's), like many times a week, but if I buy a new iMac she is not going to be affected by this because she has her own optical disk-capable Mac.

Dear Apple,

On your website, it said the 21.5in model will be available in November. It has been November for 7 days now. Just saying.

Sincerely,

Pinkunicorn

Originally Posted by JeffDM 
The fact that they don't even have a preorder page or announced CTO upgrade prices is unusual though.

I'm really really bothered by the fact that you cannot buy a product called 'iMac' from Apple right now.

There will come a day when the iMac is discontinued. Eventually it won't exist anymore. But that's not this day. And when it can't even be preordered, I'm really wondering about Apple.

"Go where the money is" needs to shut up and take a hike. There has to be balance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil 

 

I'm really really bothered by the fact that you cannot buy a product called 'iMac' from Apple right now.

There will come a day when the iMac is discontinued. Eventually it won't exist anymore. But that's not this day. And when it can't even be preordered, I'm really wondering about Apple.

 

"Go where the money is" needs to shut up and take a hike. There has to be balance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXGUNvIFTQw ?

Originally Posted by pinkunicorn 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXGUNvIFTQw ?

THAT'S WHERE THE WORD ORDER CAME FROM! It was nagging at me. It felt right to write it like that in this context, but I was thinking I'd heard it somewhere… 

Other than the "Oh! Wow! Cool!" factor, I just don't see why anyone would care about this reduction in thickness of a *desktop* computer! It's not like it was 3 feet thick and they knocked it down to 3 inches here - as happened with CRT TVs and flat panels. The hoopla over this just confuses me. I guess if you mainly stand around and stare at it during parties in your Malibu beach house, it is an important improvement. But for those who actually use the thing, who cares?!

Again, I'm just glad that I bought my iMac last year. Not being able to easily access the RAM would cheese me off more than them giving it the Gucci treatment.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior 

Other than the "Oh! Wow! Cool!" factor, I just don't see why anyone would care about this reduction in thickness of a *desktop* computer! It's not like it was 3 feet thick and they knocked it down to 3 inches here - as happened with CRT TVs and flat panels. The hoopla over this just confuses me. I guess if you mainly stand around and stare at it during parties in your Malibu beach house, it is an important improvement. But for those who actually use the thing, who cares?!

Many care, outside of the U.S. of course. For example, if I was going to buy it, I would have to find a way of transportation since I don't have a car. This weight reduction comes very handy. You can tell me that in this case, I can order it online. Even so, less weight means a more friendly device for the economy and the environment.

Plus, I don't have a TV in my home. If I was to watch a movie on the iMac, I would have probably to move it occasionally around the house. Again the lighter iMac is much better suited for this.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jag_Warrior 

Again, I'm just glad that I bought my iMac last year. Not being able to easily access the RAM would cheese me off more than them giving it the Gucci treatment.

You must talk about the 21.5" model, since in the 27" one even a small child can add memory.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PB 

Many care, outside of the U.S. of course. For example, if I was going to buy it, I would have to find a way of transportation since I don't have a car. This weight reduction comes very handy. You can tell me that in this case, I can order it online. Even so, less weight means a more friendly device for the economy and the environment.

 

Plus, I don't have a TV in my home. If I was to watch a movie on the iMac, I would have probably to move it occasionally around the house. Again the lighter iMac is much better suited for this.

 

You must talk about the 21.5" model, since in the 27" one even a small child can add memory.

Well, you seem to have some rather unique requirements for your iMac. I'm not sure how many people carry their computers from room to room to watch TV on it though. So I still don't see the weight and thickness reductions as being things that would matter to most. I could be wrong, but I just don't see it. And the same is especially true when talking about the one time trip of carrying it into your home if it hasn't been shipped to your door.

And no, I'm not talking so much about the 21.5" iMac. On that one, from what I've read, the RAM is nearly impossible for the average person to access. On the 27" model (which I have), the RAM in the new one is apparently harder (though not impossible) to access than on the older one. So that's why I said that it wasn't easily accessible.

They're good machines though. But for my needs, the weight and the thickness wouldn't matter one bit. Being able to easily get to the RAM and having an optical drive would matter much, much more. Especially for business use, I couldn't see myself buying the new one.

I recall when the first Macintosh was released.  Everybody went crazy complaining about the included mouse; "why do you want that thingy to do whatever?"  The mouse went on to become standard for all computers.  Then Apple deleted the floppy and lots of people went crazy.  Now they've deleted the optical and people will go crazy.

The pattern here is that Apple will be Apple, their new designs will make some people go crazy, they will sell like crazy and life will go on.

Times change.  Apple likes to be at the forefront.  That means some of their customers will feel squeezed from time to time.  That's how things are.  Think of all the people who have accessories for their now old iPads, etc. when the new Lightening adapter was released.  They're stuck in a tight spot.  

Again, things go on.

Originally Posted by Bergermeister 

Think of all the people who have accessories for their now old iPads, etc. when the new Lightening adapter was released.  They're stuck in a tight spot.  

I'm bugged by how few accessories that use it are out.

I mean, do these companies NOT want to make money? It's the frigging holiday season. GET YOUR PRODUCTS OUT.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil 

 

I'm bugged by how few accessories that use it are out.

 

I mean, do these companies NOT want to make money? It's the frigging holiday season. GET YOUR PRODUCTS OUT.

Very true.

Same for Thunderbolt. 

With the newest docks coming out TB might not move that fast.

http://www.matrox.com/docking_station/en/ds1/

http://www.belkin.com/us/F4U055-Belkin/p/P-F4U055

That said, I have two TB external HD's and they are tons faster than FW800.  I would never dream of going back to USB, USB3 or FW800.  Hopefully, lots of people catch on and demand more products.

Both are set up as RAIDs.

WD 6TB dual drives.

Can transfer files in half the time compared to FW800, which adds up over a week/month/year.  These are "green" so they aren't as fast as they could be.  I'm pretty happy, though.  They can also be a little noisy but that will be taken care of next week with a new shelf (the one they're on now is thin and tinny sounding as it sits on a wire rack).  Too bad the cable is only 2 meters.

The drives don't power down, though, and there is no power switch, so I have them on a switched extension cord.

The new VeliciRaptor drives look real fast.