Apple iMac redesign due this summer?
By Paul Miller 
posted June 18th 2007 1:59PM
posted June 18th 2007 1:59PM
It's pretty clear that "sooner or later" best describes the most solid info anyone has on Apple's next iMac refresh, but AppleInsider is now reporting that we'll be seeing the desktops in shiny new skins come late July-ish to mid-August-ish, which we suppose refines the launch window slightly. That lands the computer right in time for the back-to-school season, which sounds perfectly reasonable. AI is also sticking with its predictions of 20- and 24-inch models only, with the 17-inch getting left out of the makeover to wither on the vine. Nothing outlandish, but we're sure Apple could milk the current form factor for one more (if ill-fated) go 'round if they want to, so we won't believe a word of it until we see these pop up on the Apple Store.
Getting a little greedy Apple, aren't we?
Greedy? What?
I just got an iMac for christmas this past year. Oh well..
Why would Apple release a full re-design of their central consumer computer before the official launch of their new operating system? This just doesn't make sense from a business perspective. The summer belongs to iPhone. The fall belongs to Leopard. Winter will be a new iPod for the holidays.
i am a little bit upset since i have had mine since sept 2006. but anyways, it is about time they upgraded the line-up. i do not know if it was my imagination but at the latest wwdc i thoguht i noticed the steve jobs had an aluminium backed imac. i could be wrong but who knows eh?
That was an Apple Cinema Display.
@palooz, muchos gracias for clearing that up for me.
Are Apple fanboys intelligent enough to learn from WWDC 07?
Do we still believe in these stories?
lmao like the brushed metal iMacs that were coming at WWDC?
This becoming a joke! And if they don't come in summer they will be predicted for Autumn and this will happen until they are announced im sure!
Don't get me wrong I know they are due for a redesign and I am sure it will come but this is just retarded, these "insiders" just keep stabbing in the dark until they hit one! Ridiculous.
I predict it will rain tomorrow. OK, if it doesn't rain tomorrow, it will rain the next day. And if it doesn't rain...
Thanks Daniel D for saying it. This is a Joke, if you wait a couple of days Appleinsider will post something "New Imac at MWSF 08" or "New imac pushed back til first of year".
What is "July-ish to mid-August-ish" mean, how about September-ish, or October-ish, and so on. How about, when Apple feels like it wants to-ish, but they need to do now-ish.
30"?
Now presenting: The Floating iMac!
Monitor stands are so passe. Marvel as your iMac levitates above your desk, seemingly floating on air.*
* Requires superconducting magnet assembly and 50kW power-supply. Sold separately.
lol...?
The stalk neck iMac already tried to pass itself off as a floating screen. I guess if you looked at it in the proper angle it seemed as if the screen was just suspended in mid-air by itself. I would have loved to have one if it's base could have held more drives and been processor upgradeable.
A How-to guide to make your blog/news site look current on a slow news day:
Step 1) Check Apple fanboy sites and determine most out of date Apple Product and related article on the expected refresh
Step 2) Search GIS and find an image relating to step 1.
Step 3) Write canned article relating to product on the likelihood of an update
Step 4) Launch Photoshop/GIMP and modify image to correspond with step 3
Step 5) Post on blog/news site flagging it a rumor to avoid being accused of reporting something that wasn't legit.
Step 6) Sit back and let the Apple vs. Microsoft fanboys commence their usual bickering at each other.
Success! You've made your site look updated and your advertisers happy at the same time!
Well, they failed step 1 as I think the Mini is more out of date than the iMac. Although I'm sure there will be more articles of the Mini's impending doom.
As for me, I don't plan on replacing my perfect 19" monitor with an iMac so will continue to hook my Macbook to it and dream of an xMac.
Sounds like a formula for success!
I've been hoping for a redesign for ages...the last one was, what, late 2004? (the G5 iMac) After 3 years, I'm really sick of that shape.
Black, not white or brushed metal, and I'll buy one to replace my mini. Otherwise, pass.
Wasn't this the year of the Mac or something? it's silly that so far we haven't seen anything with a new design yet and we probably won't see anything until after the holidays.
apple is busy making phones.... and rumor has it GPS nav units... They removed "computer" from their name to become Apple, Inc. it stands to reason that they will remove computers from their core competencies as well.
I think apple is due for a "refresh" and not a spec bump in a number of product lines at this point. Lets hope in some dark office in Cuppertino there are a couple of designers and engineers working on something other than hand held consumer electronics devices
are you serious? apple stop making computers. you dont know a damn thing...apple revolutionized personal computing, you think they would drop computing because now they make phones? your an idiot
Chris, my response to you is in this thread, perhaps you should try scrolling around to find it, maybe you will stumble across my other comments in this thread.
All wrong! ...Consider what is happening with Leopard:
"Conquer Time and Spaces" tagline for Leopard
300 Features only 10 shown AGAIN!
Look at Cover-flow in finder...
3-D Dock...
Core Animation...(the demo alone provides a good look into the future)
Look at how time machine is designed, multiple scenes and layers.
Leopard is leading us into touch screen iMacs, the form factor and architecture is perfect and let's face it, they have been planning this for a few years now. They are simply trying to iron out the iPhone launch to give it a running start, I expect touch screen iPods in January at Macworld because Consumer devices used to be lauched in fall and Macs in January, they are simply changing the game again...typical Apple stuff.
Read between the lines and you see a revolution in interface and interaction...Leopard will work with touch and traditional inputs to segway into a new era.
Everyone had better buy stock before this fall\October.
Speaking of Leopard, I wonder why we haven't seen copies of the newest Leopard beta released onto the BitTorrent sites? It's been one week since WWDC & it seems no developer has decided to "share". Double drats.
I agree, I have been thinking that they are going to go touchscreen on the iMacs. Possibly an iMac that can be removed from its base, toted around - like a ModBook, just not laptop based. The tablet Mac we've all been expecting for years. On screen keyboard that goes away when it is in it's base stand / charger where the regular keyboard & mouse reside.
Sort of like a big iPod.
maybe?
What are they really gonna do with the iMAC, make it thinner ? lol hahaha it's damn near perfect for it's segment in the market, all the can do now is either come out with muticolor versions or make one the look like a big iPhone just like my 24 inch iMAC looks like an ipod on steriods
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=481079233&context=photostream&size=o
I swear when apple updates everything every six months people bitch when they don't update people bitch, who cares it's great product, and i'm sure most people with a iMAC G5 didn't go out and upgrade
to the intel versions right away,Apple has out done it self as far as computers go, they set the standards and i guess they fell they are in a space where they need to focus on other ventures to prefect people are still buying the same ipod videos designed in 2005, people are still buying the powerbookG4/macbook pro designed in 2003, why? because the designs are perfect , theres not much more they can do at this point other than maybe change the materials , appleneed to make a new wide screen ipod for September and maybe release a digital camera and a camcorder.
One thing i would love is to see 50 inc iMACfor the living room and call that Apple TV
I certainly hope Apple does SOMETHING with their damn 7 month old iMac specs and nearly 3 year old design...
I have $3k burning a hole in my savings waiting for a damn update/redesign of some kind!
I think that designs may be perfect at a point in time, doesn't mean they STAY perfect.... I agree vehemently with Neptune's sentiment that the imac and other products by apple are VERY well designed... but this is a fast moving industry. Apple's innovations basically give them a head start in that market space until evryone else catches up and improves upon their design... this is why it is critical for apple to continue to innovate.
Take a look at notebook computers.... there was a time when apple notebooks were not only pretty to look at, but also possessed technologies and features not available in machines by dell and other manufacturers.... things like wifi for example.
And these machines were not competitive cost wise, they were more expensive, this is called a "premium", if you look now, apple has deviated somewhat from this model... they're not as overpriced as they used to be compared to non mac systems, and their beauty is mostly skin deep... the operating system is pretty much the only reason to buy a mac notebook these days... offerings by dell, ibm/lenovo and others honestly put the macbook / macbook pro to shame.
In apple's defense, they did what many thought could not be done... the move from PPC to Intel was incredibly complex, and was managed without abandoning a large segment of its user base... kudos to apple on this effort, but the smoothness of this transition did have a high cost, namely the perceived lack of innovation on all other fronts.
Despite my seemingly negative tone, I really am at heart an apple fanboy... I just want apple to return to innovating in computer hardware and not just in consumer electronics and portable UIs.
Keep in mind that every time pundits predict Apple will "drop" a model it has persisted (sometimes for over 2 years) in the education offering.
I totally agree that the next evolution in desktop computers will include some sort of touchscreen enhancements. Apple is already experimenting with made-to-order screens for MacBooks.
What upsets me is the current model (specs wise, not design, because that horse has been beaten to a pulp), came out September 2006. Ok, now name ANY other computer company that sells a 9 month old PC for the same price as it was brand new........Yea that is what I thought. (AND NO I AM NOT AN APPLE BASHER!)
I only use a PC at work, but it is frustrating because my 3yr G5 is really starting to show its age, and I want to buy a new one, but I am NOT going to pay full price for a computer that is almost a year old. Come on Apple, that is just screwing your customers.
I look forward to a re-design because I like the current iMac and wouldn't mind taking advantage of the inevitable price cuts. As has been pointed out, it's somewhat overpriced at the moment.
In other news: touch screens are for morons. Or media savvy professionals with real machines, real software and real work to do for real money. Really. Otherwise, it's only the mentally challenged who would give up the speed of the keyboard and mouse in exchange for using their freaking greasy pudnut fingers on a screen. Talk about SLOW. Talk about the violation of the most basic rules of ergonomics .... Touch screens: now appearing on the short-bus special.
Touch screens may be for morons, however Apple will probably produce an option for it and it will, as the iPhone will, change the industry, maybe in a good way, maybe in a bad way but as usual they are ahead of the curve. The way Apple does touch interface will undoubtedly be different than what others offer. It is all speculation at this point but I would love a 3-D interface and this maybe the beginning of it. So time will tell and we'll see who is riding the short bus...besides look at what it could do for people with disabilities which has always been a big interest for Apple...acccessibility.
can't we get a new iPod instead?
oh, and can it NOT also be a phone?
Chris, before you go and call some one an idiot, perhaps you should read the entire comment.... and maybe my previous comments... I *do not* think apple should stop making computers.... I am saddened that apple has spread itself thin and focusing too much on consumer electronics because I stated apple has innovated technologically in computers as opposed to today where their innovations are largely skin deep. There was a time apple was the only company from whome you could get wifi at a reasonable price, before anyone knew why wifi was good to have.... again chris, you really shouldn't respond to a post until you read it thoroughly or maybe have some one read it to you.
--Jeff
You are right Jeff, and my apologies for the idiot comment. I did not completely read the comment and did not understand the 'spreading thin' statement. Simply just understood it as a comment that Apple would stop making computers. Which to me, lol, comes very personally since I am a Mac enthusiast with several Apple computers, two of which I work with every day as a graphic designer. So, I apologize for the language and misunderstanding... Glad you took the time to make me understand. As to 'spreading thin' I simply see it as growth. Sony for example can be found from alarm clocks to TV's to even film production. They are perhaps spread thin.. however, Apple I believe is simply experiencing a growth spurt in which it is using its newly acquired fame, market share, and social standing to expand. 'Thin' would be an intent to grow without the necessary resources or funding. Apple has everything reason it needs to release 'computer' from its legal name, think about it, who that owns one Apple product, wouldn't like to own two or three. They need to capitalize on that, and I think they are doing it well.
CRAP!!!!
I waited until after WWDC for this?!?
I'm not waiting any longer.
Back to School? What about the summer for gaming?
*coughs up his Mountain Dew threw his nose* Dude warn people before you associate Macs and gaming. Seriously you are going to kill someone with posts like that.
PS- Apple NEVER releases consumer products at a development show.
I got my iMac back in March 2001. WTF Apple? WTF?
Friends, This update time frame makes no sense. Apple has a back to school deal going on right now. Buy a Mac get an iPod. They are set with all their products until that Promo is just about over. I bought a Core 2 duo upgraded model last September. It was in stores and overlapped the announcement by about a week and was not eligible for the iPod. I don't think they will release a new one now and anger every one by making the nano offer only good on old models. September 16th is the last day of the rebate, Look for your announcement on Sept. 4th and in stores by the 10th This way it will garner some last minute back to school sales for the discerning shopper and not take away from the bargain hunters who also want an ipod. It will probably take even more money from the true geeks as many will have gone in expecting the iPod deal but will be so taken with the new machine that they must have it and will probably buy the iPod also and at full price.
I was getting a Mac today but after reading this I think I might wait. I really hate Vista. Thank you microsoft, you lost another customer.
Argh@!!! I can't take it anymore I'm getting one tomorrow.