[markb8705]

I am waiting for the update so i can get my new iMac, I AM SWITCHING!!, anyone got any guesses on when they are gonna come out, i am excitied and it will ship with Tiger!

[StonedRose]

The word on the street is a good eMac/iMac update very soon. Wasn't today. Maybe next Tues. But very soon.

Aloha.

[Commodus]

Think Secret still says this month, and they have a good record... so if they're accurate, within 2 weeks.

[markb8705]

hopefully

[kmkkid]

I was just offered a loan so I could get an iMac, so I'm interested in this topic. I know TS says this month. But they have also just said Apple is updating the powermacs supposedly next week. They wont update two machines at the same time will they?


I could have bought one yesterday, but I'm holding out hoping TS is right


In any case I'm hoping the update brings dual layer DVD burning, 2 Ghz proc. and a better graphics card. thats all I think it needs. A built in TV tuner would be nice as well.



Chris

[discotronic]

Originally posted by kmkkid:
I was just offered a loan so I could get an iMac, so I'm interested in this topic. I know TS says this month. But they have also just said Apple is updating the powermacs supposedly next week. They wont update two machines at the same time will they?


I could have bought one yesterday, but I'm holding out hoping TS is right


In any case I'm hoping the update brings dual layer DVD burning, 2 Ghz proc. and a better graphics card. thats all I think it needs. A built in TV tuner would be nice as well.



Chris

Don't hold your breath on the dual layer burning or the TV tuner for the iMac. I would say the dual layer burner is possible for the PowerMac though.

Here is what I think will happen with the iMac:

Low-end model:

1.8GHz
17"
Combo drive
600MHz BUS
80GB HD
512 RAM
64MB GPU

Mid level model:

2.0GHz
17"
8X Superdrive
900MHz BUS
80GB HD
512MB RAM
64MB GPU
Built-in Bluetooth
128MB GPU BTO option

Top of the line:

2.0GHz
20"
8X Superdrive
900MHz BUS
160MB HD
512MB RAM
64MB GPU
Built-in Bluetooth
128MB GPU BTO option

Last but not least:

A fix for the damned "fan noise problem" with a firmware update! I would be really surprised if Apple didn't have at least a BTO for the GPU. The eMac and iBook are in real need for a GPU update and I don't see Apple doing that until they get the iMac up to speed.

[kmkkid]

Well at least we know it will have 512 stock ram for sure. Now whether that's one stick or two... It will probably be two as it's cheaper and screws us, the consumer for upgrades in typical apple fashion.


Chris

[discotronic]

Originally posted by kmkkid:
Well at least we know it will have 512 stock ram for sure. Now whether that's one stick or two... It will probably be two as it's cheaper and screws us, the consumer for upgrades in typical apple fashion.


Chris

If Apple doesn't put 512MB as stock I think I would be pissed. Tiger calls for 256MB minimum. I really feel that all versions of OSX should have required 256MB. The 128MB minimum is just plain painful. It was enough to run the OS, and badly I might add, but that is about it.

Hopefully it will be one module and not two. 768MB seems to be the sweet spot as it stands right now. 256MB modules are real cheap and would save a small chunk of change for someone. I upgraded from 768MB to 1GB without any real performance improvement.

[kmkkid]

Originally posted by discotronic:
If Apple doesn't put 512MB as stock I think I would be pissed. Tiger calls for 256MB minimum. I really feel that all versions of OSX should have required 256MB. The 128MB minimum is just plain painful. It was enough to run the OS, and badly I might add, but that is about it.

Hopefully it will be one module and not two. 768MB seems to be the sweet spot as it stands right now. 256MB modules are real cheap and would save a small chunk of change for someone. I upgraded from 768MB to 1GB without any real performance improvement.

Yeah, unless you're running memory intensive apps like Photoshop along with a plethora of other apps all at once, no more than 1 GB is really needed. 512 should even suffice.



Chris

[Simon]

According to this TS article the new iMac (codename Q45C/D) line-up will be
� 17", 1.8GHz, Combo
� 17", 1.8GHz, SD
� 20", 2.0GHz, SD

[Commodus]

I think the most important bit in that Think Secret article is that the video chipset should become a 128 MB Radeon 9600 on all models. That's a major boost by any stretch, and instantly makes the iMac much more viable for gaming (though it's still not on the level of the PowerMac) as well as apps that rely heavily on CoreImage to work well, such as Motion.

[Simon]

Originally Posted by Commodus

I think the most important bit in that Think Secret article is that the video chipset should become a 128 MB Radeon 9600 on all models. That's a major boost by any stretch, and instantly makes the iMac much more viable for gaming (though it's still not on the level of the PowerMac) as well as apps that rely heavily on CoreImage to work well, such as Motion.

Good point. The 128MB 9600 is a worthy card for the iMac. Not too expensive, good enough for (casual) gaming. If they don't raise the prices, the new iMac will look pretty good.

[Randman]

More power, better video card and more sdram. Sounds good. Wonder what the pricing will be.

[markb8705]

on the thinksecret article where it says that blue tooth will ship pre-installed does that mean it is free and don't have to pay the $50 you do now? hopefully these will come out right when Tiger does...im ready for mine.

[neilio]

Hm.... I'm tempted to upgrade my 20" iMac already, just for the improved video card.

Any takers?

[discotronic]

Personally I would not get an iMac unless they have worked the bugs out of it.

I have had several issues with my 17" 1.8GHz iMac which are not isolated incidences. The "fan noise" issue, BT come and goes, and now the thing smells like it is on fire. According to the Apple Discussion forums the burning smell is an on going issue also.

If Apple finds a fix for these problems I wouldn't have a problem recommending the machine to someone.

[kmkkid]

If TS is correct then this is a damn nice upgrade and pretty much all that I wanted, cept for the tv tuner, but that's available 3rd party anyways for a fair price.

[markb8705]

please go into details about this 3rd party tv tuner

[kmkkid]

Originally Posted by markb8705

please go into details about this 3rd party tv tuner

This is the one I've been looking at:

http://www.elgato.com/index.php?file=products_eyetvmain


There are other brands also, just google it.


Chris

[AppleOptionFour]

Originally Posted by Commodus

Think Secret still says this month, and they have a good record... so if they're accurate, within 2 weeks.

Maybe around the time of the NAB in Vegas? I hear there will be a p-mac update there.

[markb8705]

anyone used one of those tv tuners or about to buy one and have any suggestions or know how well they work?

[Spartan24]

I've had the EyeTv 200 (firewire) for quite a while now and love it.. Have it hooked up to satellite TV receiver and it makes a nice tv/recorder on a 20" iMac.

I believe these units work even better on a G5 iMac tho.. Seems the 1.25 G4 works pretty hard to multitask when using it.

[kcmac]

Originally Posted by neilio

Hm.... I'm tempted to upgrade my 20" iMac already, just for the improved video card.

Any takers?

That makes two of us. Have really enjoyed our 20 inch iMac. Thinking seriously about selling and buying the next version.

[markb8705]

im getting one

[Pierre B.]

I would not get my hopes too high about this TS rumor saying eMacs and iMacs will get all the Radeon 9600. If true, what this leaves us with? ALL Apple lines from Mac mini to Power Mac, iBooks and Powerbooks included, with ATI graphics in their standard configuration. Why Apple would do that?

EDIT: oops, exception would be the 12" Powerbook.

[Crusoe]

Though I'm hoping for an update I wouldn't count on it this month. Unless they redesigned the power supplies to be outside like the mini, the current design is faulty and the replacement parts are backordered by a month.