roundaboutnow

22july2013 said:

roundaboutnow said:

22july2013 said:

I'm not an electrician, but a magnetic power connector like the one on the new iMac can exist only when the power flowing is DC not 110v AC. I think 110v AC is probably just too dangerous. In theory it might be possible to design an "AC MagSafe" but I doubt anyone wants to deal with the liability especially when it comes to selling it to the unwashed masses. Perhaps in an industrial setting you could get away with it.

Magnetically attached AC power cords have been used for quite while on deep fryers. Very clunky, but they exist:

Excellent point, thanks. As I predicted, this is an industrial setting, where it makes sense.

That photo is pretty scary, with the exposed 110v connectors. There could be a hidden relay to disable the 110v power if it's not snapped in place, but it doesn't look big enough to be hiding that.

Actually, it is used on a consumer device. I updated my post accordingly. I used to own a Fry Baby, and it had one. The 110V contacts are recessed and separated, so I never worried about them. The standard Edison type cord mounted receptacle has exposed contacts too--a little less scary because they are recessed a bit deeper, but still...

22july2013 said:

I'm not an electrician, but a magnetic power connector like the one on the new iMac can exist only when the power flowing is DC not 110v AC. I think 110v AC is probably just too dangerous. In theory it might be possible to design an "AC MagSafe" but I doubt anyone wants to deal with the liability especially when it comes to selling it to the unwashed masses. Perhaps in an industrial setting you could get away with it.

Magnetically attached AC power cords have been used for quite a while on consumer deep fryers. Very clunky, but they exist:

Found this graphic on a GitHub page (https://github.com/project-chip/connectedhomeip/blob/master/docs/images/CHIP_IP_pyramid.png) that I got to from a link on the Matter page (https://buildwithmatter.com), which I found from the "Matter" menu selection on the Connectivity Standards Alliance page (https://zigbeealliance.org/about/). (Blue triangle representing Application Layer is still the old name -- hasn't yet been updated to say Matter).

Fidonet127 said:

Just because the power supply is magnetic, does not mean it can be easily detached. All I can find on Apple’s page about the new iMac is the power supply is easily attached. Did the keynote say the power supply is mag safe, or to prevent the computer from crashing down? Again the area of the magnet is larger and thus should be harder to detach. There is nothing on Apple’s webpages that there is a battery meant to prevent power loss. They could have enough capacitors to prevent power loss for a brief period. Apple doesn’t detail what the advantage of the magnet attachment is, other than easily attached. The magnet could simply be to ensure proper alignment. 

A magnet that is strong enough to have the same (or greater) pull out force of a conventional power receptacle is straightforward enough, so maybe this is what's in place.

Most power cord receptacles have some depth to have the surface area to provide a spring loaded friction fit or for a threaded connector to keep it in place. Having Ethernet in that cord complicates things, so a custom connector had to be developed. I think the advantage of the magnetic power cord is that it allows secure attachment to the thin structure of the iMac with a shallow receptacle that does not require the length for threads or friction. (I suppose a protruding receptacle on the back of the iMac could work, but the lever arm of such a thing could make it easier to crack the mounting plate or even break off). 

saarek said:

I had planned on buying one of these iMacs, but I have to say I'm massively underwhelmed. £1649 for the model with 512GB SSD and a paltry 8GB of Ram and last years entry level chip.

Real nasty taste in the mouth with the £200 jump from the base model which they deliberately neutered to try and force people into buying the middle model.

Well, that "last years entry level chip" is still the chip in all currently shipping M1 Macs. The new iMac is considered entry level too.

And if you compare the new iMac with a similarly equipped M1 MBP, you get the same specs (CPU/RAM/SSD) for the pretty much the same price. No battery with the iMac of course, but compared to the MBP, you do get a bigger screen, better camera, better sound, a mouse, and separate keyboard. Put in perspective, the pricing is at least consistent with the rest of the product line.

PS: Here on AI, I regularly see discounts on M1 Macs. Don't know if they apply to your region, but it looks like it is possible to save a decent amount on M1 Macs in the US, so I would anticipate the same discounts will apply to the new iMacs before too long.