AI says redesigned iMac is imminent

Sad Professor

Apple as early as this month will begin to fill out its 2009 Mac product line with a new family of iMacs sporting classier enclosures and a few added bells and whistles, AppleInsider has learned.

The new all-in-one, dual-core desktops were finalized earlier in September and have been rolling off the Mac maker's Taiwanese product lines for roughly two weeks, according to two people familiar with the matter.

In addition to more affordable pricing, the systems are expected to come clad in a thinner industrial design, one of those people added. Though details are admittedly limited, it's likely these new enclosures will also take design cues from the Cupertino-based company's relatively new LED-lit Cinema Display offerings.

Aesthetic revisions aside, the late 2009 iMac line should also debut several features previously unavailable to Mac buyers.

Full article

I'm still a bit sceptical about this. It seems a bit early for new iMacs - based on recent cycles I would have thought February/March. But AI is usually reliable.

I don't see Bluray happening. The main reason to update the iMac now is to make it more "affordable", as they did with the Macbook Pro. A BR drive would add too much to the cost. Whatever these "compelling" new features are, I reckon they'll be somewhat underwhelming.

Wait and see, I guess.

Paddy@CIRL

I may just wait it out now, really itching to pick up a 24' iMac with a while, but will go harikari if I buy one then they release the new one !

J-blk

I'm hoping for a pretty sweet upgrade but I agree Sad Professor, it could be an "affordability" upgrade before the holidays, rather than something truly groundbreaking. Still, I'm hopeful it's worthwhile cause I'm really considering a 24" iMac at this stage - I'm using my MacBook as a desktop most of the time anyway and it'd be nice to have the extra horsepower.

Sad Professor

Update: AI are saying new consumer/plastic Macbooks will arrive at the same time.

http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/09/25/apple_close_to_unveiling_all_new_macbook_line.html

Red Alert

No sign of the quad-core iMac then?

Talisman

Red Alert wrote: »

No sign of the quad-core iMac then?

If they are going to change the processors from Core 2 Duo to i7 then they'd be better off holding out for the Arrandale mobile processors which will be available next year.

Ham'nd'egger

Talisman wrote: »

If they are going to change the processors from Core 2 Duo to i7 then they'd be better off holding out for the Arrandale mobile processors which will be available next year.

Quad Core i7 are readily available for consumer desktop models so I'd expect at least one line of iMac to carry them or a two c2 Duo processor option in the interim.

The Apple Pro is due an update soon so this may be the time for it to take a big bump unless the 6 core i9 is the target for it.

Talisman

Hamndegger wrote: »

Quad Core i7 are readily available for consumer desktop models so I'd expect at least one line of iMac to carry them or a two c2 Duo processor option in the interim.

The Apple Pro is due an update soon so this may be the time for it to take a big bump unless the 6 core i9 is the target for it.

The iMac uses mobile not desktop processors.

Ham'nd'egger

Talisman wrote: »

The iMac uses mobile not desktop processors.

I know they do now; I've a G5 in the bedroom that noisily reminds just why that is every night when I go to bed It still doesn't take from the fact that they are readily available to go into an iMac either as a a Quad or 2 c2D processor so it's time for a step up in some of the line up.

Talisman

You can forget about desktop processors in the iMac. Apple are looking to make the iMac thinner/sleeker not thicker. The most power hungry processor available in the current iMac models uses 44W. In 2008, the same model used a 55W CPU. The quad core desktop processors require more power and generate more heat - Apple is going greener and more energy efficient.

The Arrandale mobile processors will be dual core but due to the use of Hyper-Threading they will be able to execute 4 threads simultaneously which will make a significant performance gain.

Talisman

AppleInsider update:

The latest rumors surrounding Apple's plans for its upcoming iMac makeover hint that Blu-ray could remain a "bag of hurt" for a bit longer, while the company taps Intel for its latest mobile chips to help fill the void.

Full article here. I wonder will the new products be officially launched to coincide with Windows 7 next week.

J-blk

TBH, I couldn't care less for Blu-ray especially if it would jack up prices. I'd like to see the iMac prices especially come down but even in the leaked ads, the price drops seem to be limited to the Mini, not the iMac - but at least we'll get bumped specs for the current price...