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iMac LCD... more rumors

post #1 of 42
11/26/01 at 5:39pm
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Your Daily Mac.com is claiming to have seen photos, but is still hazey on the specs... if new pictures are going around, hopefully some might find this thread.

[quote] (11/25/01) Breaking news about the new iMacs
<a href="http://www.phasedreality.com/yourdailymac/index.html" target="_blank">yourdailymac.com</a>

Sources close to YDM have confirmed that Apple is planning the roll-out of
the much anticipated LCD iMac. The recent update to OS X version 10.1.1 was partly to facilitate new technologies being utilized in the iMac, as Apple had hoped to have the new machine on the shelves for Christmas. Unfortunately, supply problems with the Taiwan manufacture has stalled this plan, and it is now more likely the iMac will be unveiled at Mac World SF in Jan. The LCD iMac which has been slated with the title "Pro iMac", will be the as the name suggests the pro unit in the iMac range. The form factor for the rest of the range of iMacs will retain the bubble shape for now until the price of LCD's come down, in which Apple will switch to all iMacs to LCD units.

YDM has been fortunate enough to acquire actual photos of the new units,
which due to legal reasons we have been advised to withhold from publishing on our site, but we can tell you that the units are a cross between the gorgeous cube, and the current cinema displays. The pro unit will come out in only two colors, snow, and graphite, although when the rest of the range switches to LCD's, new and daring color schemes will be added to the range. Remember the Flower Power, and Blue Dalmatian iMac, well we wont be seeing those, but don't be surprised to see variants with much more impact, so expect the unexpected.

Specifications are a bit hard to confirm as Apple is still in the process finalizing the final specs for the machine but we have been told that being the "pro" unit, the iMac will come equipped with everything. 15" wide screen as used in the G4 ti-book CD-RW, DVD (Superdrive is being rumored), 256meg ram as standard, 30gig HD, and possibly powered by a G4 600 chip (if Superdrive is used). If not the G4 then
definitely the new G3 1GHz chip. Stay tuned as over the next few days more info should be coming to hand, and we will have a much clearer idea as to what are actual facts, and what is just merely speculation. Our sources are very reliable, but as always we can only tell you what we have been told, and shown.

<hr></blockquote>
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post #2 of 42
11/26/01 at 7:05pm
Very very interesting. When they said that they wouldnt post the picture becuase of legal concerns I raised and eyebrow. But everything else seem to be about right.
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post #3 of 42
11/26/01 at 7:13pm
[quote]Originally posted by pathogen:
<strong>Your Daily Mac.com is claiming to have seen photos, but is still hazey on the specs... if new pictures are going around, hopefully some might find this thread.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Whoa.

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post #4 of 42
11/26/01 at 7:17pm
Definately was interesting to read. Let's just hope it's true.
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post #5 of 42
11/26/01 at 7:20pm
Nothing specific. Anybody could predict what they said. A cross between a cube and a cinema display could be ANYTHING.

The only thing of interest is that Apple will introduce the new iMac as a high-end model. This is a mistake, IMO. The iMac has always been aimed squarely at the consumer market, the low end of Apple's lineup. To introduce the new iMac as a high-end consumer machine is only asking for trouble. This also suggests that it will be overpriced, and thus will not sell well. It might be another cube.

The current iMac is already overpriced. Compare a DVSE at $1500 to a Wintel at $1000, and the results are staggering. The Wintel has a 17" display, and far more features than the iMac. Apple should be addressing this gap. If they introduce a high-end LCD iMac and leave the low-end of the iMac lineup as-is, then they have addressed nothing. The iMac will only be more overpriced and it will not compete with wintels.

A 15" LCD is ok, but Apple should be offering a 17" LCD for the high end iMac. For $1500, a Wintel could be had with 17" LCD and all the options of the iMac. Is Apple serious about competing, or are they going to introduce another cube?

It seems lately that everything Apple sells is overpriced and underfeatured. This must change.
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post #6 of 42
11/26/01 at 7:43pm
mmm, then why was the iMac the top selling pc of all time? I don't think the iMac is over-priced. Also, why would Apple release all LCD iMacs ranging from possibly $1500 and up? That would be stupid and over priced and sure to fall the way of the cube except for the same type of people who bought the cube. Releasing it at the high end until LCD prices fall is a smart move IMO. Leaving the bottom of the iMac line alone is strictly an education market move. I also think this type of move will allow Apple to lower the prices of the CRT iMacs, if they so choose.

Start small, work your way into it. Kinda like the rumored migration to the G5.
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post #7 of 42
11/26/01 at 7:59pm
But LCD prices already have fallen. And the current iMac is NOT selling well.
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post #8 of 42
11/26/01 at 8:03pm
[quote]Originally posted by KidRed:
<strong>mmm, then why was the iMac the top selling pc of all time? I don't think the iMac is over-priced.</strong><hr></blockquote>

When the iMac first came out I don't think it was overpriced. I guess starting at MWNY 2000 or maybe even before that the specs weren't worth the price and now they surely aren't.
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post #9 of 42
11/26/01 at 8:14pm
[quote]The only thing of interest is that Apple will introduce the new iMac as a high-end model. This is a mistake, IMO. The iMac has always been aimed squarely at the consumer market, the low end of Apple's lineup. To introduce the new iMac as a high-end consumer machine is only asking for trouble. This also suggests that it will be overpriced, and thus will not sell well. It might be another cube. <hr></blockquote>

nothing wrong with that as long as they price it at $1299. no one is expecting the new flat screen iMac to be sub 1000. $1299 works as long as it lives up to the price.

leave a single CRT model for 799 or 899

[quote]
A 15" LCD is ok, but Apple should be offering a 17" LCD for the high end iMac. For $1500, a Wintel could be had with 17" LCD and all the options of the iMac. Is Apple serious about competing, or are they going to introduce another cube? <hr></blockquote>

no they shouldn't. You don't want Apple to become known for crappy quality systems do you? a 17 inch LCD in a 1499 iMac simply is going to either sacrifice computer features or LCD quality. neither is desirable. 15 inch LCD or a 17 inch CRT.

[quote]mmm, then why was the iMac the top selling pc of all time?<hr></blockquote>

1.) when it was first introduced it truly was a great price/performance machine. it had the same processor as their powermac systems, a good feature set, everything out of the box and was new and exciting.
2.) iMac sales suck now because Apple seems to have fogotten what made the imac such a success in the first place... see above.

[quote]I don't think the iMac is over-priced.<hr></blockquote>

the iMac is horribly overpriced.
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post #10 of 42
11/26/01 at 8:42pm
[quote]The recent update to OS X version 10.1.1 was partly to facilitate new technologies being utilized in the iMac, as Apple had hoped to have the new machine on the shelves for Christmas. <hr></blockquote>This part doesn't quite make sense. Since when do they release hardware-support OS updates before the hardware is released?
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post #11 of 42
11/26/01 at 9:19pm
None of it makes sense. The second paragraph smells especially bad.

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post #12 of 42
11/26/01 at 9:48pm
The key is to build in an ADC port, so that customers can choose the display size they want, from the get-go, OR upgrade later to a larger display.

The "headless iMac" if you will.

If Apple comes out with another form factor with a non-upgradable display, they are phukked. It will flop. It is NOT 1998 any more!!!
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post #13 of 42
11/26/01 at 9:58pm
It's a hit-grabber, that's it. I mean, I could write that damn story!

"Honestly, we have these great photos, but we can't show you. But, like, we honestly have them!"

Bullsh!t, if they had them they'd put them up. Just be quick on pulling them with Apple sicks the wolves on you, that's all.
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post #14 of 42
11/26/01 at 10:12pm
<strong>Originally posted by pathogen:
The recent update to OS X version 10.1.1 was partly to facilitate new technologies being utilized in the iMac,</strong>

As said before, this doesn't make sense. With Mac OS 10, what's needed to support new hardware are drivers. 10.1.1 is a bug fix.

<strong>The LCD iMac which has been slated with the title "Pro iMac", will be the as the name suggests the pro unit in the iMac range.</strong>

"Pro iMac" is an oxymoron.

<strong>15" wide screen as used in the G4 ti-book CD-RW, DVD (Superdrive is being rumored), 256meg ram as standard, 30gig HD, and possibly powered by a G4 600 chip (if Superdrive is used).</strong>

This is reasonable. Except for the 256 MByte standard maybe.

<strong>If not the G4 then definitely the new G3 1GHz chip.</strong>

We won't see a GHz G3 until 2H 02. Not because of marketing, but because the chips won't exist in shippable quantities until then.

Looks to me like a toned down MOSR article.
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post #15 of 42
11/26/01 at 10:46pm
[quote] nothing wrong with that as long as they price it at $1299. no one is expecting the new flat screen iMac to be sub 1000. $1299 works as long as it lives up to the price. <hr></blockquote>

That would be a good price, as long as it was fully speced out with CDRW drive and a good GPU.

I fear that the LCD iMac will be priced more like 1500-1800 and we will see a repeat of the cube. But if Apple can stick to 1000-1300 then it's a good sign. I doubt they will get the price so low.
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post #16 of 42
11/26/01 at 10:59pm
[quote]Originally posted by Junkyard Dawg:
<strong>

That would be a good price, as long as it was fully speced out with CDRW drive and a good GPU.

I fear that the LCD iMac will be priced more like 1500-1800 and we will see a repeat of the cube. But if Apple can stick to 1000-1300 then it's a good sign. I doubt they will get the price so low.</strong><hr></blockquote>

I don't know about that. I have a good feeling about the LCD iMac (which I would loveingly call the iMac^2 or iMac Squared). I think that if Apple was to pull that off at the 1299 - 1499 number, they would have a serious hit on their hands. Not only that, even if their margin was only 20% vs the 25% (and yes, that is a guess on those numbers) they would more than make it up in sheer numbers. Not to mention the fact that they would (once again) have the PC industry scrambling to play catch-up.
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post #17 of 42
11/26/01 at 11:05pm
[quote]Originally posted by Junkyard Dawg:
The current iMac is already overpriced. Compare a DVSE at $1500 to a Wintel at $1000, and the results are staggering. The Wintel has a 17" display, and far more features than the iMac. Apple should be addressing this gap. If they introduce a high-end LCD iMac and leave the low-end of the iMac lineup as-is, then they have addressed nothing. The iMac will only be more overpriced and it will not compete with wintels.
[/QB]<hr></blockquote>

i think the worst thing they could do is kill the CRT iMac...... i would like to see something like a flat panel imac out there (though i liked the cube too), but LCD displays are just not tough enough (or cheap enough) for many school enviroments. Apple is not in the position to risk losing more sales to schools. giving individual students laptops is one thing, having flat panel imacs in clusters running all day with millions of kids screwing with them sounds like a nightmare.
the iMac line could use something to refresh it, but i think the basic unit is still as valid as it was day 1. people new to computers are drawn to it, and old timers still buy them for their clean design.
anyway, while i would bet my G4 there is something LIKE a flat panel imac or cube2 coming, i dont know if it will really replace the current iMac case. calling it a "pro-iMac" makes it sounds like another try at the cube project. hopefully this one can be at a better price range for the target users.
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post #18 of 42
11/26/01 at 11:19pm
[quote] i dont know if it will really replace the current iMac case. calling it a "pro-iMac" makes it sounds like another try at the cube project. hopefully this one can be at a better price range for the target users. <hr></blockquote>

That's what I was thinking. Rumor for a while was that the LCD iMac would replace the iMac and cube. So that's why the "Pro-iMac" because it's a gapper between the lowend iMacs and the towers. Hopefully priced better than the Cube tho.
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post #19 of 42
11/27/01 at 12:20am
That's a good point about the edu market. CRTs are the way to go for schools. But if Apple is going to keep the CRTs, then they need a 17" iMac. CRT technology is much farther along than when the iMac came out--I bet a short-neck 17" CRT iMac would be about the same size as the current one, except for the display area of course. This would be a hit for sure, it's what everyone's been urging Apple to do for at least 2 years. 15" CRTs just don't cut it anymore, it's too small and cramped, and especially with OS X. OS X needs high resolution and lots of screen real-estate.
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post #20 of 42
11/27/01 at 6:30am
Well this IS encouraging! I'm looking for a nice little machine for light Web developent and Internet Access. It's gotta be small and compact (my Forest Hill apartment is really really tiny) but I need more than 1024x768. Using the LCD screen from the PB is great, but lets hope they uped the resolution a tad bit, the iBook density is perfect. I don't really need a laptop, so a PB based iMac would be just right!
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post #21 of 42
11/27/01 at 7:07am
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[quote]Originally posted by Junkyard Dawg:
<strong>15" CRTs just don't cut it anymore, it's too small and cramped, and especially with OS X. OS X needs high resolution and lots of screen real-estate.</strong><hr></blockquote>

J.D.: It's good to see you engage in serious discussion. Keep up the good work!

I agree that Apple needs to keep around a CRT iMac, at least at the low end. However, I don't think that 15" CRTs don't cut it anymore. It is simply that crappy 15" CRTs don't cut it anymore.

The screen in the iMac is the one feature that hasn't changed at all since 1998. In my opinion, a 15" flat CRT that can do 1024x768 at 95+Hz would be perfect and significantly more cost effective than an LCD iMac.

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post #22 of 42
11/27/01 at 7:17am
I can see a very shortneck 17" CRT coming to the iMac. But I also think the new form factor will be drastically different than what the iMac is now. But Apple needs to keep it simple if they want to keep the price down and still keep the appeal that made the original iMac such a hit. A modular iMac is not an iMac.
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post #23 of 42
11/27/01 at 7:31am
Actually there are no legal concerns regarding publishing photos on the net. The only 'legal' concern is that companies will try to scare news sources into submission with a mountain of litigation. Even though the site would win, they likely wouldn't risk the cost. The precedent alread exists with Ford.Mo.Co. They tried to stop the publication of 'spy' photos, bat the courts basically told them 'no dice.' It's news, it can be printed. People under NDA, have legal onbligations, but the publishers themselves aren't restricted by an NDA. If they obtain the info, they can publish it.
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post #24 of 42
11/27/01 at 9:08am
Pro iMac? <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />

I'll buy the fact of an LCD, landing in the sweet spot for iMac pricing ($1300, give or take). I'll buy the G4. I'll even buy the SuperDrive if it's in the $1600 SE model.

The rest is BS.
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post #25 of 42
11/27/01 at 9:21am
[quote]However, I don't think that 15" CRTs don't cut it anymore..&lt;snip&gt;...In my opinion, a 15" flat CRT that can do 1024x768 at 95+Hz would be perfect and significantly more cost effective than an LCD iMac.<hr></blockquote>

Right on.

If they could flatten that CRT out, losing the "fishbowl" syndrome the current screen has, that would be almost as good as an LCD iMac IMO.

I think they iMac is still a pretty great machine, maybe a little overpriced now, but it would be GREAT to have a flat-screen CRT at least. I know after a day of using an iMac, my old, 2 steps away from the scrap heap 17" monitor with my PC starts to look like a flat 19"er in comparison!
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post #26 of 42
11/27/01 at 9:27am
My Ideal LCD iMac for MWSF 2002:
  • 1.0 Ghz G3 ("Saharah" probably)
  • 15" LCD
  • 32MB GeForce 2mx or 2mx Ti 200 or Radeon VE
  • CD-RW/DVD Combo drive
  • 2-button mouse!
  • all the other usual stuff
  • Cost: $1499

Sure, we'd like it for $1299, but this is Apple we're talking about.

[ 11-27-2001: Message edited by: NeoMac ]</p>
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post #27 of 42
11/27/01 at 10:08am
[quote]Originally posted by JOHNPAUL191:
<strong>

i think the worst thing they could do is kill the CRT iMac...... i would like to see something like a flat panel imac out there (though i liked the cube too), but LCD displays are just not tough enough (or cheap enough) for many school enviroments. Apple is not in the position to risk losing more sales to schools. giving individual students laptops is one thing, having flat panel imacs in clusters running all day with millions of kids screwing with them sounds like a nightmare.
the iMac line could use something to refresh it, but i think the basic unit is still as valid as it was day 1. people new to computers are drawn to it, and old timers still buy them for their clean design.
anyway, while i would bet my G4 there is something LIKE a flat panel imac or cube2 coming, i dont know if it will really replace the current iMac case. calling it a "pro-iMac" makes it sounds like another try at the cube project. hopefully this one can be at a better price range for the target users.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Your point is interesting.
However , like they did before for the i book, they can release a very strong LCD i mac. The main problem is the prize. I am nearly sure that in the future all Mac will have LCD. All Apple's screen are LCD now, there is no reason that the I mac will not turn to LCD either.
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post #28 of 42
11/27/01 at 10:27am
How about with a wireless av cable. So you can hook up your iMac to your tv and watch movies or surf, without having to run those prehistoric "cables" my grandfather told me about.

Don't tell me it's imposible...
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post #29 of 42
11/27/01 at 12:42pm
Impossible.

No wireless has that bandwidth. You wanna get fried?
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post #30 of 42
11/27/01 at 12:59pm
I'm so glad it's not imposible.

I'm not sure if you've seen it, but *once and a while* I get this pop up ad about a wirless video camera...*maybe you've seen it*?

*- denotes HEAVY sarcasm.

Now arguments that we should skin all spamers and dip them thrice daily in pools of magma aside...(what argument?) I was thinking you could couple a wireless keyboard and mouse to the iMac, and then have the iMac broadcast the signal to the tv.

I could do this for $200 CDN ($3.17 US) today... but with that rental software from Microsoft I'm not to keen on investing a single penny in my PC anymore; which would make a nice whatever as soon as an Apple machine that fits my need comes along.
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post #31 of 42
11/27/01 at 1:05pm
I wonder how all TVs were wireless until about 1975.
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post #32 of 42
11/27/01 at 1:11pm
ha ha ha! Mine still is! I thought the cable thing was so old fashioned. So my wife and I set up a wirless video content stream! (we're pretty geeky) Not only do we have full screen full motion video (try that media player!) but our wireless connection is free!

Talk about fair use!
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post #33 of 42
11/27/01 at 1:33pm
[quote]Originally posted by Junkyard Dawg:
<strong>That's a good point about the edu market. CRTs are the way to go for schools. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Then why are so many schools lately buying laptops if CRTs the way to go for schools?
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post #34 of 42
11/27/01 at 2:56pm
[quote]Originally posted by EmAn:
<strong>Then why are so many schools lately buying laptops if CRTs the way to go for schools?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Different machines. A laptop fills a different need in schools. But for what they're used for, school's *desktop* machines don't need LCDs. 90% of what any student will do on his iMac is word processing.
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post #35 of 42
11/27/01 at 4:20pm
[quote]Originally posted by JOHNPAUL191:
<strong>

i think the worst thing they could do is kill the CRT iMac...... i would like to see something like a flat panel imac out there (though i liked the cube too), but LCD displays are just not tough enough (or cheap enough) for many school enviroments.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Price is a valid concern for schools but as far as not being tough enough why not just build in a glass protective screen over the LCD to protect it?

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post #36 of 42
11/27/01 at 4:23pm
[quote]Originally posted by Jonathan:
<strong>Impossible.

No wireless has that bandwidth. You wanna get fried?</strong><hr></blockquote>

never seen the wireless link for sony camcorders?

[quote]Different machines. A laptop fills a different need in schools. But for what they're used for, school's *desktop* machines don't need LCDs. 90% of what any student will do on his iMac is word processing. <hr></blockquote>

desktop machines need to last, have as small a footprint as possible, be clearly readible, etc. Schools don't NEED computers. But they have em. LCDs are a logical progression of technology. Schools don't NEED more than an old iMac but they get em.

and BTW, I haven't seen a student doing word processing in a K-5 schools in years. schools don't buy thousands of dollars of new computers every 3 years to have spellcheck run faster
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post #37 of 42
11/27/01 at 5:10pm
[quote]Originally posted by a10t2:
<strong>

Different machines. A laptop fills a different need in schools. But for what they're used for, school's *desktop* machines don't need LCDs. 90% of what any student will do on his iMac is word processing.</strong><hr></blockquote>

True.
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post #38 of 42
11/30/01 at 4:55pm
[quote]

Originally posted by a10t2:
<strong>
Different machines. A laptop fills a different need in schools. But for what they're used for, school's *desktop* machines don't need LCDs. 90% of what any student will do on his iMac is word processing.
</strong><hr></blockquote>

So what? LCDs are not good for Word Processing? Of course they are. Your still looking at the screen, and LCDs are better for your eyes...specially for those young lil kiddies with their precious lil eyes blah blah.

-Moazam
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post #39 of 42
11/30/01 at 7:26pm
I know the owner of yourdailymac.com, I haven't seen the photographs of the LCD iMac myself, but I do think the guy does have them... he says he is just waiting for his 'sources' to allow him to post them.
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post #40 of 42
11/30/01 at 7:36pm
Remember...

15" CRT = 13.8" viewable
17" CRT = 16.0" viewable
15" LCD = 15.0" viewable
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