[Eug]

The original Mac was launched in January 1984. I predict the iMac G5 1.6 20" will be launched January 27th this year, as a salute to the history of the Macintosh.

Specs:

20" screen
G5 1.6 (90 nm?), with 512 KB L2 cache
FSB 800 MHz
256 MB DDR333 SDRAM, expandable to 2 GB (2 slots)
Radeon 9200
Firewire 800/400
USB 2.0
80 GB ATA hard drive
10/100 Ethernet
56 kbps modem
Apple Pro speakers
USB keyboard and optical mouse
Bluetooth option
Airport Extreme option

$2199

I sure hope so anyway, since I want to get an iMac for my dept.

[BrunoBruin]

I'm sure you will get this machine at some point, but I think January 27 may be a little optimistic.

I can't imagine Apple dropping the G5 into the iMac without a major redesign to go along with it. Engineering considerations aside, Apple will want it to be clear that this is a NEW iMac, not just the old one with a new processor, and they'll want to make a big publicity splash with it. A new form factor attracts attention the way a new processor never would. And the introduction will have to be done at an event; Apple won't do a quiet release on this one.

That being said, I'm in the camp that believes the iMac will get the G5 before the PowerBook. It's just a matter of time.

[Eug]

Originally posted by BrunoBruin:
I'm sure you will get this machine at some point, but I think January 27 may be a little optimistic.

I can't imagine Apple dropping the G5 into the iMac without a major redesign to go along with it. Engineering considerations aside, Apple will want it to be clear that this is a NEW iMac, not just the old one with a new processor, and they'll want to make a big publicity splash with it. A new form factor attracts attention the way a new processor never would. And the introduction will have to be done at an event; Apple won't do a quiet release on this one.

That being said, I'm in the camp that believes the iMac will get the G5 before the PowerBook. It's just a matter of time.

Yeah, a new enclosure, and a major announcement, but not necessarily something like MWSF.

I also believe the G5 before the PowerBook, but I also think the G5 PowerBook is coming by summer/fall of this year, and that's not THAT far off.

Yeah, Jan. 27 is optimistic, but I don't think it's completely unreasonable, esp. since 90 nm chips are already here, because new Power Mac models announcements are likely imminent, and because the iMacs are due for an update anyway.

[P]

A low GHz 90nm G5 (and yes, 1.6 GHz qualifies as low) would be possible with improved cooling, but I don't think it will happen yet. The CPU itself is not very expensive, but the surrounding chipset is, and the iMac is a wonder of engineering as it is. Can they really make a completely new mobo and squeeze it into the globe in just six months? I doubt it. No, a faster G4 and, more importantly, better graphics is what I think will happen.

[Eug Wanker]

Originally posted by P:
A low GHz 90nm G5 (and yes, 1.6 GHz qualifies as low) would be possible with improved cooling, but I don't think it will happen yet. The CPU itself is not very expensive, but the surrounding chipset is, and the iMac is a wonder of engineering as it is. Can they really make a completely new mobo and squeeze it into the globe in just six months? I doubt it. No, a faster G4 and, more importantly, better graphics is what I think will happen.

What makes you think they've been working on it only 6 months? I suspect they've been working on it since 2002.

[BrunoBruin]

Originally posted by Eug:
Yeah, a new enclosure, and a major announcement, but not necessarily something like MWSF.

No, not an expo, because Steve won't want to do it in Boston (if Apple shows at all, it won't be Steve), but I think it will be this year, so a special event will do. I think it will definitely be Steve himself pulling the sheet off. He'll want to talk about bringing 64-bit computing to consumers. And it's the combinaton of Steve and new hardware that draws the media.

Yeah, Jan. 27 is optimistic, but I don't think it's completely unreasonable, esp. since 90 nm chips are already here, because new Power Mac models announcements are likely imminent, and because the iMacs are due for an update anyway.

I agree on all counts, but we don't know what kind of quantities IBM is producing at 90nm. The Xserve is a low-volume product and even that's not shipping until February. The Power Macs will definitely be next, and I think that's the announcement that will coincide with the anniversary. It can be a quiet update, since it's just a speed bump (funny how a 400-600MHz increase now qualifies as "just" a speed bump!), but they can play up the anniversary angle in the announcement.

[Eug]

I betcha they're just ramping up 90 nm production now, which means volume 90 nm shipments will come later. But that doesn't mean the only 90 nm shipments will be the Xserve.

I agree the Power Macs will be first, but I also think it's plausible that the iMacs could appear near the same time. Now that said, in truth, it's likely tha the iMac will come a bit later.

[nredman]

[Centris650]

Originally posted by nredman:

uh, no.

I really hope/think Apple will release a computer in honor of 20 years of the Mac. Be it a ramped up iMac or a new machine I'm sure it will be sweet...along with it's sweet price tag!

[Eug]

Heheh. Nice pic nredman.

BTW, I put this post in the PowerBook G5 thread, but I thought it'd have relevance here too, so please forgive my crosspost:

I have assembed some info on power utilization and die sizes on the various G4 and G5 chips out there, in this post.

Some relevant points about an iMac G5 and a PowerBook G5 include the fact that even at 130 nm, the G5 only needs 19 Watts at 1.2 GHz, and 19 Watts typical (assuming the same measurement guidelines) is very similar to the G4 1.33 GHz found in the 17" PowerBook.

Now nobody wants to drop back to 1.2 GHz (even if it is a G5) for the top-of-the-line laptop, but with the die shrink and potential voltage changes alone I suspect that 1.6 GHz is very feasible.

If this low power 1.6 GHz number is true, then it would be perfect for both an iMac G5 and PowerBook G5 refresh, at around 1.2 GHz for the low end, and 1.6 GHz at the high end.

And that's not even considering any other potential power enhancements.