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Eug · Sep 1, 2006, 12:55 PM

Rumours of a 23-inch iMac Core 2 Duo

Take the above with a grain of salt obviously, but I would buy a 23" Core 2 Duo iMac to replace my current G5 iMac. However, I'd want HDCP support.

seanc · Sep 1, 2006, 01:15 PM

So this would make it 17, 20 and 23? Or would they get rid of the 17?

Sounds interesting, and I want it! It would probably well out of my price range though

(if it exists/materialises)

scottiB · Sep 1, 2006, 01:17 PM

AppleInsider | Intel's Merom to power Apple's next-gen iMacs

Second 23" iMac story...

Merom inside - no Conroe

Eug · Sep 1, 2006, 01:19 PM

I dunno if they'd keep the 17", if the 23" appeared.

My guess is that they would keep the 17" for price reasons, but then again, I thought they were going to keep the 15" for longer than they did.

seanc · Sep 1, 2006, 01:20 PM

Maybe it is true then. We can hope

Eug · Sep 1, 2006, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by seanc

Maybe it is true then. We can hope

I wonder if AI is just repeating the MOSXR (not MOSR) rumour. According to Macrumors, MOSXR also said it was going to be Core 2 Duo Merom. (I can't access MOSXR at the moment. They must be getting hit hard.)

macgeek2005 · Sep 1, 2006, 02:05 PM

This makes me sort of annoyed. Are they saying that my brand new 23" ACD is going to be only as big as the iMac's screen now?

iREZ · Sep 1, 2006, 02:08 PM

and? does that make youre 23" any smaller or less productive?

macgeek2005 · Sep 1, 2006, 02:09 PM

Originally Posted by iREZ

and? does that make youre 23" any smaller or less productive?

It makes it feel like a consumer monitor... But yeah, you're right.

gooser · Sep 1, 2006, 02:30 PM

i bet it still won't be big enough to put a modem in it.

Eug · Sep 1, 2006, 02:43 PM

Originally Posted by macgeek2005

It makes it feel like a consumer monitor... But yeah, you're right.

Well, it's certainly progressing that way. When the iMac went to 20 inches, a 20 inch monitor wasn't truly a "consumer" monitor, but it was dropping quickly in price so that it became feasible. I have seen the same thing happening with the 23" as well. In fact the 20 inch monitors are practically disposable these days.

Just a quick check shows that you can get a new 2nd tier brand 20 inch monitor for under US$300.

(This might be a reason for Apple to drop the 17" iMac actually.)

Plus "consumers" like me have been pining for a 23 incher for years now.

Originally Posted by gooser

i bet it still won't be big enough to put a modem in it.

I bet you're right.

seanc · Sep 1, 2006, 02:47 PM

The only use I'd have for dial up is when my broadband goes out. Very few people use it these days, the only ones I know that do are old people who see no point in upgrading or people who can't get it in their areas.

the_glassman · Sep 1, 2006, 05:02 PM

I hope it's true, I would be all over this! It would be nice it was 24"

As I use my current iMac as my digital hub (watch moves, tv shows, etc...) I only wish the screen was a little larger even though the current 20" suits me well.

selowitch · Sep 1, 2006, 05:05 PM

Originally Posted by the_glassman

I hope it's true, I would be all over this! It would be nice it was 24"

As I use my current iMac as my digital hub (watch moves, tv shows, etc...) I only wish the screen was a little larger even though the current 20" suits me well.

Wow, who would want a 24", anyway? My dad has a 30" Cinema Display and that beast is too big as far as I'm concerned. The whole desk is in its shadow! The 20" on my new iMac Core Duo is fabulous, but even it is a little too big for my needs.

That said, if I did the kind of work that required a lot of space, a 20" iMac with a 20" Cinema Display alongside it sounds better to me. You don't have to use the other screen when you don't need it, and if you're working on say, a comic-book spread or a catalog or a newspaper or something, you can turn the other one on. My kind of setup!

Eug · Sep 1, 2006, 05:10 PM

I find the 20" iMac too small, and dual 20" screens takes up too much space.

I have been wanting a 23" iMac ever since before I even bought my 20" G5 iMac. A dual-core 2.0 GHz iMac Core 2 Duo Merom would rawk.

I still say a 2.33 GHz Conroe would probably be OK in an iMac, especally at 23", but according to these rumour site, Apple thinks otherwise.

I'm thinking that if Apple does release a 23" iMac (with HDCP support), then I may get it for home, and bring the 20" iMac I have now to work.

So, what am I gonna do with my Cube then?

selowitch · Sep 1, 2006, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

So, what am I gonna do with my Cube then?

Install Ubuntu Server on it.

seanc · Sep 1, 2006, 05:12 PM

Make it a file server. Leave OS X on there, SO much simpler than Ubuntu.

macgeek2005 · Sep 1, 2006, 05:14 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

I find the 20" iMac too small, and dual 20" screens takes up too much space.

I have been wanting a 23" iMac ever since before I even bought my 20" G5 iMac. A dual-core 2.0 GHz iMac Core 2 Duo Merom would rawk.

I still say a 2.33 GHz Conroe would probably be OK in an iMac, especally at 23", but according to these rumour site, Apple thinks otherwise.

I'm thinking that if Apple does release a 23" iMac (with HDCP support), then I may get it for home, and bring the 20" iMac I have now to work.

So, what am I gonna do with my Cube then?

Why would apple have HDCP support in the iMac and not in the Cinema Displays???

Eug · Sep 1, 2006, 05:15 PM

Originally Posted by seanc

Make it a file server.

I serve files from my iMac. 400 GB drive.

Originally Posted by macgeek2005

Why would apple have HDCP support in the iMac and not in the Cinema Displays???

I expect the Cinema Displays to get HDCP support very soon. They were last updated in October 2005. (I'm not counting the minor panel spec changes in August.)

If Apple doesn't update the iMacs to include HDCP support, then I'm willing to wait another generation.

seanc · Sep 1, 2006, 05:20 PM

You can never have too many backup solutions.

Eug · Sep 1, 2006, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by seanc

You can never have too many backup solutions.

Well, the max drive size in a Cube is only 120 GB. Plus I have several Firewire hard drives for backup. Furthermore, I backup all my important documents to DVD.

I can't wait for Blu-ray/HD-DVD to become reasonably priced though. Backing up 35 GB of music is a pain on DVD. (I like having secondary backups on non-magnetic media.)

imitchellg5 · Sep 1, 2006, 05:32 PM

I don't think that I would buy a 23 inch iMac. That would be too big, and I don't really think that there is a market for it. People who buy a large screen buy a Power Mac or Mac Pro to go with it since they are pros. Also the iMac is a consumer computer.

Eug · Sep 1, 2006, 05:36 PM

Originally Posted by imitchellg5

I don't think that I would buy a 23 inch iMac. That would be too big, and I don't really think that there is a market for it. People who buy a large screen buy a Power Mac or Mac Pro to go with it since they are pros. Also the iMac is a consumer computer.

That's exactly what people said about a 20" iMac before the 20" iMac came out.

BTW, as has already been mentioned, I am a "consumer" and I most definitely want a 23" iMac. I have zero desire to buy a tower. In my case, it'd just be a waste of space and money.

grinder · Sep 1, 2006, 05:43 PM

If they make a 23", can they please make the chin smaller? or make it disappear? Or something like that. that would look amazing.

mjhamson · Sep 1, 2006, 06:06 PM

I agree with grinder in the hopes that any new iMac will be more svelte. Speaking of wishes... doesnt anyone else here wish for eSata and/or ExpressCard (should a manufacture start making real cards and not just readers)

scottiB · Sep 1, 2006, 06:06 PM

Let the pricing-is-right guessing begin:

23"/2.33Ghz = $1899

20"/2.16Ghz = $1499

17"/2.0Ghz = $1199 (I don't believe it will be dropped)

selowitch · Sep 1, 2006, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by seanc

Make it a file server. Leave OS X on there, SO much simpler than Ubuntu.

True. But at least it beats Windows.

seanc · Sep 1, 2006, 06:46 PM

Originally Posted by selowitch

True. But at least it beats Windows.

I'd actually rather use Windows than try and configure my computer via the command line or change values in a text file to make my graphics adapter work. Ubuntu is going places, but it needs to get better.

selowitch · Sep 1, 2006, 06:54 PM

Originally Posted by seanc

I'd actually rather use Windows than try and configure my computer via the command line or change values in a text file to make my graphics adapter work. Ubuntu is going places, but it needs to get better.

Ssssshhhh!
You know that's heresy around here. Not that I disagree with you, of course. I have a WinXP partition on my new Core Duo. I hate it, but it sure comes in handy when I have to test my web pages against Internet Explorer for Windows. Also, it's nice to play games that aren't available for MacOS. Star Wars: Empire at War, anyone?

seanc · Sep 1, 2006, 06:58 PM

Blech IE, if it restores your faith in me, I'm using a 400mhz PowerMac G3 with 384mb Ram and Tiger over a 2.66ghz Dual Core Pentium D with 1gb of Ram and XP.

macgeek2005 · Sep 1, 2006, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

I serve files from my iMac. 400 GB drive.

I expect the Cinema Displays to get HDCP support very soon. They were last updated in October 2005. (I'm not counting the minor panel spec changes in August.)

If Apple doesn't update the iMacs to include HDCP support, then I'm willing to wait another generation.

NOOOOOO!!! Please don't say that! I JUST BOUGHT a 23" ACD!

harrisjamieh · Sep 1, 2006, 07:58 PM

Personally, I think the 20" iMac is pretty unattractive compared to the 17". My 17 looks so cute, whereas the 20s I've used look bloated and too big. When working on the 20s at school, setting them up, there were a few comments along the lines of... whooa, thats way too big, and not very pretty'.

I think a 23" would just be plain fugly. but thats my opinion. I also hate the way the 20" is thicker than the 17, even though theres more space inside due to the larger width & height of the enclosure

macgeek2005 · Sep 1, 2006, 08:02 PM

How much would a current 23" ACD be worth after HDCP ACD's are released?

slugslugslug · Sep 1, 2006, 08:35 PM

Good grief, I've still been kicking around whether to complement my iMac G5 with a MacBook, but if a 23" iMac comes out, I'm gonna seriously want to donate the G5 to my girlfriend and get a bigger iMac. I do mostly e-mail, web browsing, and homework on my 20" screen, but it seems no matter how much resolution I get, I figure out ways to clutter it.

Which of course might make me go crazy if I get a low-res laptop..

Anyway, yeah. 23" might be too big for some folks, but I think plenty of people would love it. I still think Apple would do better to put out that Headless Wonder Mac, but I'd probably rather by a Jumbo iMac.

Jasoco · Sep 1, 2006, 08:47 PM

If they released a 23" at the price of the 20" and dropped the 20" to the price of the 17", I would get a 20". Ecstatically.

imitchellg5 · Sep 1, 2006, 10:17 PM

Originally Posted by Jasoco

If they released a 23" at the price of the 20" and dropped the 20" to the price of the 17", I would get a 20". Ecstatically.

That is the only way I would buy a 23 inch iMac is if it would be at the current 20" iMac price. Then I could see it being a hit. But I also would hate to see the 17 go away, it is a beautiful computer. Maybe make the 17 inch $899.

Eug · Sep 1, 2006, 10:39 PM

The current 20" iMac is US$1699/CAD$1899.

I'd pay US$1999/CAD$2249 for a 23 incher (minus the educational discount).

Simon · Sep 2, 2006, 01:29 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

So, what am I gonna do with my Cube then?

Toss it. Too young to be a vintage Mac, to old to be useful.

Eriamjh · Sep 2, 2006, 10:15 AM

23? I'd move up from my 20" in a heartbeat! The Mac Pros are too "pro" for me.

seanc · Sep 2, 2006, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by Simon

Toss it. Too young to be a vintage Mac, to old to be useful.

Definitely. Eug's Cube runs at 0 mhz

fisherKing · Sep 2, 2006, 11:51 AM

Originally Posted by harrisjamieh

Personally, I think the 20" iMac is pretty unattractive compared to the 17". My 17 looks so cute, whereas the 20s I've used look bloated and too big. When working on the 20s at school, setting them up, there were a few comments along the lines of... whooa, thats way too big, and not very pretty'.

I think a 23" would just be plain fugly. but thats my opinion. I also hate the way the 20" is thicker than the 17, even though theres more space inside due to the larger width & height of the enclosure

hmmm...
guy i work with has several 20" imacs in his office.
we think they look better than the 17"...

the 20" seems to be about the screen (with a computer tucked inside)
the 17" looks like a computer with a screen added...

true, all a matter of opinion.
but i'm thinking of getting one this fall (and keeping my 12" powerbook).

guess we'll have to see what they look like: a thinner imac, 23" would be amazing...

Dave Hagan · Sep 2, 2006, 01:06 PM

I have a 17-inch iMac G5. I was thinking of getting the Merom MacBook Pro when it comes out, but things have changed a little bit for me.

The talk of a 23-inch iMac appeals to me.

Before this rumor actually surfaced as now being somewhat plausible, I was thinking of getting a Mac mini. I would use a 23-inch iMac as a TV too if it came with that feature (or I could add those features 3rd party). I don't know, I guess I would have to see it first then decide on what I want to do.

After all, it is a rumor, and like every Mac rumor, you can't really get a good idea about the product until Apple unleashes it (along with the marketing RDF).

Eug · Sep 2, 2006, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by grinder

If they make a 23", can they please make the chin smaller? or make it disappear? Or something like that. that would look amazing.

I don't mind the chin look at all.

Originally Posted by fisherKing

hmmm...
guy i work with has several 20" imacs in his office.
we think they look better than the 17"...

I think they both look good, but I too prefer the 20".

Originally Posted by fisherKing

guess we'll have to see what they look like: a thinner imac, 23" would be amazing...

The thickness/thinness doesn't concern me that much for a desktop. In fact, I'd prefer it to be thicker if it meant I could put a second hard drive in it. Yeah, I know that's what the towers are for, but I have no desire to buy a humungous tower, and don't need quad either.

I do wonder how realistic it is though to hope for HDCP support. GPUs suitable for the iMac are already available with HDCP support, but it does add cost for something many people won't use, esp. since this coming iteration of the iMac won't come with an HD-DVD or Blu-ray drive.

It'd also be nice if Apple would incorporate H.264 & VC-1 GPU-assist functionality into the OS, but I suspect Apple is simply relying on the CPU to take care of that. (A dual-core Merom 2.0 is more than sufficient for 1080p24. Still, it'd be nice not to have to use 150% of your dual-core CPU just to play back video.)

macgeek2005 · Sep 2, 2006, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by Eug

I don't mind the chin look at all.

I think they both look good, but I too prefer the 20".

The thickness/thinness doesn't concern me that much for a desktop. In fact, I'd prefer it to be thicker if it meant I could put a second hard drive in it. Yeah, I know that's what the towers are for, but I have no desire to buy a humungous tower, and don't need quad either.

I do wonder how realistic it is though to hope for HDCP support. GPUs suitable for the iMac are already available with HDCP support, but it does add cost for something many people won't use, esp. since this coming iteration of the iMac won't come with an HD-DVD or Blu-ray drive.

It'd also be nice if Apple would incorporate H.264 & VC-1 GPU-assist functionality into the OS, but I suspect Apple is simply relying on the CPU to take care of that. (A dual-core Merom 2.0 is more than sufficient for 1080p24. Still, it'd be nice not to have to use 150% of your dual-core CPU just to play back video.)

I was just playing a 1080dpi HD trailer on a 2.0Ghz iMac, and it played flawlessly at 24fps.

I didn't check how much CPU it was using up though, but there were backround tasks going on.

But if what you say is true, a Quad 3.0Ghz CPU should be able to handle HD video just fine even without HDCP support...

Jasoco · Sep 2, 2006, 11:18 PM

Glad to know 1080i runs well on an Intel Mac. 720 runs like crap on my current G4 Mac mini. (BTW, how about the Intel Mac mini. How does 1080 work there?)

Eug Wanker · 11:36 PM

Originally Posted by macgeek2005

I was just playing a 1080dpi HD trailer on a 2.0Ghz iMac, and it played flawlessly at 24fps.

I didn't check how much CPU it was using up though, but there were backround tasks going on.

It's up to about 150% on my MacBook Core Duo 2.0 for movie trailers (Batman Begins) at 1080p. Other videos will use more.

Originally Posted by macgeek2005

But if what you say is true, a Quad 3.0Ghz CPU should be able to handle HD video just fine even without HDCP support...

What does that have to do with a consumer oriented desktop Mac?

Anyways, HDCP has nothing to do with CPU usage. It's a DRM requirement for commercial HD content.

Originally Posted by Jasoco

Glad to know 1080i runs well on an Intel Mac. 720 runs like crap on my current G4 Mac mini. (BTW, how about the Intel Mac mini. How does 1080 work there?)

Works OK, if you have a Core Duo.

Simon · Sep 3, 2006, 02:23 AM

Originally Posted by Eug Wanker

It's up to about 150% on my MacBook Core Duo 2.0 for movie trailers (Batman Begins) at 1080p.

How do you do that? Shrink the window so it fits the MB screen? The 1080p trailers I just tried didn't even fit on my 23" ACD and the MB won't drive a 30" ACD.

macgeek2005 · Sep 3, 2006, 02:29 AM

Originally Posted by Simon

How do you do that? Shrink the window so it fits the MB screen? The 1080p trailers I just tried didn't even fit on my 23" ACD and the MB won't drive a 30" ACD.

1080p almost fits on a 20" ACD. It definetaly fits on a 23" ACD.

Simon · Sep 3, 2006, 03:01 AM

Weird. I went to Apple.com and wanted to try the Driving Lessons trailer to see how much load it puts on my MBP.

Apple - Trailers - Driving Lessons - HD

The 1080p wouldn't fit on my 23" ACD. That's why I'm wondering how you do the testing.

Are there different aspect ratios making some 1080p clips wider than others?

C.A.T.S. CEO · Sep 3, 2006, 03:11 AM

Originally Posted by EugSo

, what am I gonna do with my Cube then?

Give it to me, please!?