[Somynona]

I was pretty impressed with the latest iMac upgrade and am seriously thinking about purchasing one (and talking my old man into getting one so we can video iChat across the planet), but there're a couple of things I'm picking might be aspects of the next upgrade that I'm prepared to wait for: more refined case, landscape/portrait rotating monitor, LightScribe, and Blu-ray DVD player/maybe burner.

My question is, based on past experience, when are we likely to see the next major iMac upgrade? Are we looking at least a year?

[sideus]

8-12 months.

[as2]

Originally Posted by Somynona

I was pretty impressed with the latest iMac upgrade and am seriously thinking about purchasing one (and talking my old man into getting one so we can video iChat across the planet), but there're a couple of things I'm picking might be aspects of the next upgrade that I'm prepared to wait for: more refined case, landscape/portrait rotating monitor, LightScribe, and Blu-ray DVD player/maybe burner.

My question is, based on past experience, when are we likely to see the next major iMac upgrade? Are we looking at least a year?

For the things you are looking for above I think it will be a lot longer before you get them on an iMac.

1 - Rotating display would require a re-design of the iMac form factor, as there is physically not enough space above the desk for the current models to rotate, also, with the all in one form factor things like speaker placement, slot loading drive placement would also cause an issue, not to mention cable management.

It might be something that makes it to the Cinema Displays in the future, but not the consumer based iMac line.

2 - I very much doubt LightScribe would ever make it into an Apple as a built in feature. Although the ability to write to the discs is a nice touch, the cost benefit of having a capable drive is not worth it, and you also require more expensive media for full benefits.

3 - It will probably be more like 18 months before Blu-ray makes it into a consumer Mac. With all the discussion at the moment regarding coming to some agreement about the next gen format, and to try and get one standard across the board, that 'may' delay blu-ray as a whole, but I think at first next gen drives will be limited to Pro machines as a BTO option.

[Somynona]

Thanks for the feedback guys, especially as2. Good point on the rotating monitor, I guess heat dissipation would be an issue too. You're probably right on Blu-ray, although, as far as i know, one of Lightscribe's advantages is that the cost is neglible. In any case I'm convinced I'm better off not waiting. Thanks again.

[markb8705]

dual G5's???

[as2]

Originally Posted by markb8705

dual G5's???

Might be a while before we see them in an iMac too, until they have dual core chips. Heat would be too much of a problem.