Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Desktops, Rumors, iMac, MacBook
New iMacs and MacBooks coming soon?
Maybe so, if you believe the predictions of some analysts at Wedge Partners. They proclaim in their neverending analyst-y wisdom that in the next few weeks, Apple will again refresh its lines of iMacs and MacBooks, including a slimmer iMac and an only slightly updated MacBook. Why would Apple announce such a thing, especially so soon after the recent June revamp? Windows 7 is apparently the answer -- Apple wants to distract from Microsoft's big release, according to the analystsPersonally, it all sounds kind of hokey to us -- Apple's already got their back-to-school lineup all set, and while there probably is room for one more update before the holiday season, it's hard to believe they're going to announce some extremely minor updates in a desperate grab against Windows 7.
And not even the analysts will guess at a netbook or tablet release -- they say neither one of those is coming up for an announcement any time soon. You have to think that if Apple is doing one more update before the holidays, it really will come up in the next few weeks, so by the time Halloween candy starts dropping in pillowcases, we should know for sure.
[via PC World]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
PiperSon said 8:42AM on 9-17-2009
I can only hope - work is buying me a new iMac in January so let's hope they've been updated by then!
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skalpa said 3:56PM on 9-17-2009
Why ?
It's probably going to be mostly the same 2006 hardware components, running with the same OS X you can get on any Mac.
As a user who had to face the GPU bug on a previous iMac serie one advice: unless you want to use beta drivers during 6 months, ask your boss to get you an actual iMac, before the refresh.
PiperSon said 8:50AM on 10-23-2009
I don't know - all those extra pixels on the new 27-inch version seem worth the wait to me...
bward74 said 9:13AM on 9-17-2009
"Windows 7 is apparently the answer -- Apple wants to distract from Microsoft's big release, according to the analysts"
Didn't that already happen with Snow Leopard? This isn't going to happen.
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Jordan said 9:30AM on 9-17-2009
The only way they could distract from Windows 7's release is the much rumored yet never to be seen tablet. And even if that did happen, beyond us Internet nerds, not many people would be distracted.
Windows 7 already has way to big of a fan base to be distracted by Apple's "updated" computer lineup. Most people already know they are getting it. They either have it pre-ordered, have just bought a new computer and are waiting for their upgrade kits, or are waiting for its release to buy a new computer. Apple releasing new hardware isn't going to skew them the other way.
If the general public wanted a Mac they would go get one now. The general public never knows about rumors of "suspected release dates"
Le Big Mac said 9:34AM on 9-17-2009
And wouldn't a price drop on current models be a more effective way to get attention than what would be just a minor speed/features bump?
Jordan said 10:17AM on 9-17-2009
It would be, but this is Apple we're talking about.
LAGal said 10:51AM on 9-17-2009
a hardware update is totally NOT an attention to fight Windows 7. because Win 7 is software. Snow Leopard was the volley in that battle
A hardware update/price drop is about encouraging switchers and updaters. remember that Snow Leopard doesn't work on those just now out of warranty PPCs out there. Apple doesn't want to have to continue to support those machines even at out of warranty prices, so they want folks to ditch those old guys for fresh new machines. And nothing does that better than "Look Kids for $1500 you can get this brand new Intel Two Processor-- yeah I said two processors-- imac with a killer 24" screen that runs at 3 Ghz, not the 1.2 from your old machine. and it's got 8 times the RAM (and it's faster) and a built in isight with speakers and mic, plus a way better graphics card and a 2 TB hard drive. what's in that old junker? 60 Gigs. pffffhhh. how old. Plus you have 4 USB ports, 3 Firewire 800 (that thing has one firewire and it's a 400, how sad), a speaker port for some kick ass desktop speakers (I recommend the Bose, yeah it's $600 but they are soooooo sweet. trust me)" blah blah
and then they can also sell that training/transfer program of theirs and very likely also their iwork software (if they are still discounting it with new coomputers) and so on
tomas said 9:24AM on 9-17-2009
The iMac has essentially looked the same since the launch of the G5 version with it's materials changed, some new industrial design would be welcome
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LAGal said 10:58AM on 9-17-2009
if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
and for the most part, it ain't broke.
I would say some minor changes wouldn't hurt. such as lowering the screen a little and perhaps putting in some better speakers and a better mic. I don't think most folks would mind the top bezel being double the current height for that trade off.
putting at least a one of the USB plugs on the front 'chin' along with perhaps the headphone and mic plugs for easier access wouldn't be rejected by many. even if they had to do it via a little flip down panel along the front (to cover them when you aren't using them). perhaps add an express card slot with SD and/or esata in that zone (or both)
certainly the tech geeks don't mind the notion of being a bit thicker in exchange for a desktop processor rather than the laptop ones currently used.
but you could do most of this and keep what is now an iconic design for the company
tomas said 11:16AM on 9-17-2009
@LAGal I agree with your statements, but I still am finding the design a little stale, and hoping for something new
tony d said 1:08PM on 9-17-2009
@LAGal
Wow. love the idea of an express card port. Now that I think about I'm kind of surprised Apple hasn't thought of this for the iMac and the mini.
Brian said 9:28AM on 9-17-2009
Apple is long overdue to drop some quad core CPUs into their notebooks and iMacs. It was surprising this didn't happen back in June. Realistically, that's a minor configuration bump, but Steve could weave a pretty good narrative with that and Snow Leopard's multi core goodness.
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Jordan said 9:32AM on 9-17-2009
To who? The general public doesn't listen to Steve nor do they know what he's talking about. The nerds who listen to Steve either already own a Mac or already have the RC of Windows 7 and most likely have it pre-ordered. Steve's preaching would do no good this time around.
Rob said 9:34AM on 9-17-2009
I hope they update the Macbook Pros too! I have been waiting for an update before I buy one. If all the problems with the hard disks in the existing Macbook Pro line, there is NO way I am going to buy the current Macbook Pro.
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phlyingpenguin said 9:49AM on 9-17-2009
All the problems? I have one of the "affected" computers, it's one model of hard drive, and it was only an annoying noise and it isn't anymore. There's nothing wrong with the current lineup. A good reason to wait would be i7. On that note, the only reason I see apple changing their mobile lineup out of schedule would be i7. The current MBP is only halfway through the usual update cycle, I doubt we'll see any changes for a while.
Scott said 9:35AM on 9-17-2009
Why on earth does the iMac need to be slimmer? A design revision, I'm all for. But shaving a few more centimeters off the profile? Why waste time on that? Is there someone out there who needs those millimeters? It's a stupid thing to measure for a device that sits on a desk and is suspended vertically in the air. It won't reduce the footprint. Until you can roll the things up and put them away, a "thinner" desktop system seems like a phenomenal waste of engineering resources. I own an iMac, and if it were half the thickness, it would make absolutely ZERO difference to me. If it were double the thickness, same thing.
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Level 5 said 9:42AM on 9-17-2009
Personally, if Apple put an HDMI 1.4 port on in addition to DisplayPort (which has a much higher resolution cap), I'd probably get a 13" MBP. Double that if they extended the matte option to the 13".
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Aaron said 9:57AM on 9-17-2009
How about that.
I've been planning to buy a MBP after the end of Q3, but looks like I'm going to have to wait a few more weeks.
Buying hardware from Apple is like playing Frogger. I really wish they were a bit more transparent about coming refreshes - I hate the idea of dropping $2k+ on a new laptop, only to have it rendered obsolete a few weeks later.
/sigh
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LAGal said 11:01AM on 9-17-2009
two reasons
1. they don't want to tip their hand to folks like HP, Dell etc
2. sometimes the best laid plans get stymied and they have to delay. with their plan they can make sure everything is ready to go before they even announce they intend to announce something, which is better than post announcement delaying (which does nasty things to the stock price and the PR ratings)