Any ideas for upgraded iMac timeframe?
I looked down this page and didn't see any iMac threads. Since I am in the market and am curious, I thought I would start one.
The LCD iMac hasn't significantly changed since it was introduced in Jan. with the exception of the 17" model. I know they took awhile to actually be shipped but it is still 10 months since the specs were released. That is a long time even for Apple. With the new version of the Superdrive announced by Panasonic (I think that is who makes it), I would like to believe a new model is due before Christmas. It would make a lot of sense to get something new in the channel before the holiday buying season and have discounted models available as well. There were also those rumors of a 19" model. I would like to see processor speed increased as well. 1GHz would be nice.
Anyone else have any thoughts?
Edited for punctuation.
[ 10-20-2002: Message edited by: Kurt ]</p>
The LCD iMac hasn't significantly changed since it was introduced in Jan. with the exception of the 17" model. I know they took awhile to actually be shipped but it is still 10 months since the specs were released. That is a long time even for Apple. With the new version of the Superdrive announced by Panasonic (I think that is who makes it), I would like to believe a new model is due before Christmas. It would make a lot of sense to get something new in the channel before the holiday buying season and have discounted models available as well. There were also those rumors of a 19" model. I would like to see processor speed increased as well. 1GHz would be nice.
Anyone else have any thoughts?
Edited for punctuation.
[ 10-20-2002: Message edited by: Kurt ]</p>
Comments
- CRT-based G3 iMacs
- flat-panel 15/17 iMacs
- the eMac
In the last quarter, some 320,000 iMacs were sold. 76,000 were CRT-based iMacs. 129,000 were eMacs and the remaining 113,000 were flat-panel iMac models.
Of that 113,000, the 17" model comprised more than 50% of sales. All three 15-inch flat-panel iMac models accounted for less than 56,000 units!
The absence of upgrades to the iMac line can be explained by very poor sales after the initial demand (and subsequent shortage) was quenched. If you look at the sales figures for the 15" SKUs, Apple sold more of the G3 iMac than they did of the 15" flat-panel iMacs!
The iMac flat-panels are long overdue for an upgrade and Apple must be waiting for the current stock to be depleted before refreshing the entire line. We've read reports of the Asian manufacturers stopping 15" production.
I think that the refreshed iMac line will have a faster bus and processors and possibly even an L3 cache now that the PowerMac line is all dual and L3 enabled. It's just an educated guess... no sources.
na
That said, I set up my parent's 15" LCD iMac and was totally blown away by it. It's a beautiful computer, and I'd buy one myself if it had an agp slot. But as a disposable computer, the iMac is too much. Nobody want's to sink that sort of money into a computer that's designed to be thrown into a landfill after a few years...
If Apple is going to keep the 15" CRT then they must lower the cost (no R & D here) while update speed (Im sure apple would keep it G3), HD and Graphics. There sould be two options for optical drives CD & CDRW.
eMac needs a 133Mhz Motherboard, faster G4, HD & better graphics. There sould be three options for optical drives CD, Combo & Superdrive.
The LCD iMac needs 133Mhz Motherboard, faster G4, HD & better graphics. There sould be three options for optical drives CD, Combo & Superdrive. All 17" and maybe a 19" SE
Problem is that the Powermacs slow increase of power is holding of f faster & better consumer iMacs
<strong>I would hope for a slotloading iMac, even though I realize this is hard because of the curved front. I think if they pulled this curved slotloading cd/dvd drive off they would sell a whole bunch, or at least in a perfect world they would. </strong><hr></blockquote>
ARRGHHH!!! NONONONONONO...
NO SLOT LOADS PUHLEASE! Disaster waiting to happen, definitely a step in the wrong direction. 8cm media is part of both the standard CD and DVD spec, full compliance is reason enough to avoid slot loaders (unless they make a drive that accepts them). But record comapnies are getting very stupid with their copy protection schemes. It doesn't end at discs that won't play in a computer either, the next step is to have discs that actually cause malfunction. Not only should Apple put a tray loading drive on every single machine that they sell, they should put a big honking manual eject button right beside it. You're gonna need it!