[Macworld]

Post your comments for Apple: New iMacs start shipping November 30 here

[Poupic]

Is there anyone who buys a Mac because of thinness? Loving the fact that no more super drive to have to deal with? Inquiring mind want to know. I am so happy I bought my last Mac a few months ago, it still has everything I need.

[cashxx]

Everyone freaked out about the iMac doing away with the Floppy drive and it was no big deal. The last I used a CDROM I can't even remember so not really a big deal now.

I think its a year or two too soon and think its a shame for Blu-Ray and video professionals, but do you really need a CD Drive of some sort? Like I said I can't remember the last time I used mine.

For the rare occasions have an external, but then again like you said who cares how thin a desktop computer is, the old one was fine and was nice having everything in one. I think they could have curved the backing enough to include a drive in its normal area. I don't think it would have taken away from the new design that much.

My biggest complaint is having to turn the whole thing around to get to the IO. I would like to see one or two USB in the front, especially for students in a lab. Its such a pain to watch a student have to turn the whole machine around to plug something in like thumb drive or external HD and now they have to do it with a SDCard since its on the back now.

All in all I don't see it being a major issue, always have an external and most people in labs use an external HD or thumb drive so schools shouldn't be affected that much.

My biggest worry is everything going to the cloud like the Mac App Store.

[Claude Mathis]

It appears that you can add memory yourself on the 27 inch, but the memory is not user accessible on the 21 inch?

[DH1986]

I think the new imacs are kind of a disappointment. I know they're beautiful, but it's nothing spec wise for $1800 and essentially the same machine as last year. I can handle the no optical drive I guess, but the XPS One is like $400 cheaper, and I'm not sure if OSX is that much better, better yes, but still.... I just expected more, I've had my mac mini for like 7 years or something, and really needing a new one.

[LelandHendrix]

I find the new machines impressive, and plan to purchase one to replace my late -09 iMac which has served as the hub of my digital studio.

There are some architecture changes, and the inclusion of two thunderbolt ports is quite welcome for me. I use professional FireWire audio interfaces, and I know already from using them with my MBA that they work well with the thunderbolt-to-FireWire interfaces.

The screen redesign will be nice in eliminating the gap between the glass and LCD, and though it rarely moves, I'll enjoy the reduced weight for when I reconfigure the station.

I'll reserve final judgement for when the lab results are in, but I think it's fair to assume we can expect outstanding performance from the new architecture improvements.

Expect this new iMac to be the fastest Mac available when tested in benchmark performance.

[wardoggie]

Quote

I think the new imacs are kind of a disappointment. I know they're beautiful, but it's nothing spec wise for $1800 and essentially the same machine as last year. I can handle the no optical drive I guess, but the XPS One is like $400 cheaper, and I'm not sure if OSX is that much better, better yes, but still.... I just expected more, I've had my mac mini for like 7 years or something, and really needing a new one.

What's stopping you from getting a new mini?

[DH1986]

Quote

I think the new imacs are kind of a disappointment. I know they're beautiful, but it's nothing spec wise for $1800 and essentially the same machine as last year. I can handle the no optical drive I guess, but the XPS One is like $400 cheaper, and I'm not sure if OSX is that much better, better yes, but still.... I just expected more, I've had my mac mini for like 7 years or something, and really needing a new one. What's stopping you from getting a new mini?

I've thought about that, i'm still not sure. The imac is still probably beefier, and has a gorgeous screen. My monitor is an old hp about the same age, and I figured i'd uprade that as well.

[DH1986]

Quote

I find the new machines impressive, and plan to purchase one to replace my late -09 iMac which has served as the hub of my digital studio. There are some architecture changes, and the inclusion of two thunderbolt ports is quite welcome for me. I use professional FireWire audio interfaces, and I know already from using them with my MBA that they work well with the thunderbolt-to-FireWire interfaces. The screen redesign will be nice in eliminating the gap between the glass and LCD, and though it rarely moves, I'll enjoy the reduced weight for when I reconfigure the station. I'll reserve final judgement for when the lab results are in, but I think it's fair to assume we can expect outstanding performance from the new architecture improvements. Expect this new iMac to be the fastest Mac available when tested in benchmark performance.

I will too, we'll know soon enough. It may blow the other away, I'm holding out for the 27" model, so hopefully if there's any issues with the 21" I'll know before then.

[cashxx]

Quote

I think the new imacs are kind of a disappointment. I know they're beautiful, but it's nothing spec wise for $1800 and essentially the same machine as last year. I can handle the no optical drive I guess, but the XPS One is like $400 cheaper, and I'm not sure if OSX is that much better, better yes, but still.... I just expected more, I've had my mac mini for like 7 years or something, and really needing a new one.

Dell has gone down hill, they have always sucked, but getting worse. I'm not sure about Vizio, but they had some good deals on them over the Thanksgiving holiday/BlackFriday. Like roughly $1000 for i7, etc. But they are just starting out so not sure on the hardware of these computers, plus you are stuck with Windows. Windows 8 MS shot themselves in the foot.

[cashxx]

Quote

It appears that you can add memory yourself on the 27 inch, but the memory is not user accessible on the 21 inch?

Yea I read the same thing.....I'm waiting to get my hands on the tech manuals to see how difficult they are to tear apart. I'm hoping easier than before, but we will see and have my doubts.

[DH1986]

Quote

I think the new imacs are kind of a disappointment. I know they're beautiful, but it's nothing spec wise for $1800 and essentially the same machine as last year. I can handle the no optical drive I guess, but the XPS One is like $400 cheaper, and I'm not sure if OSX is that much better, better yes, but still.... I just expected more, I've had my mac mini for like 7 years or something, and really needing a new one. Dell has gone down hill, they have always sucked, but getting worse. I'm not sure about Vizio, but they had some good deals on them over the Thanksgiving holiday/BlackFriday. Like roughly $1000 for i7, etc. But they are just starting out so not sure on the hardware of these computers, plus you are stuck with Windows. Windows 8 MS shot themselves in the foot.

True, Windows 8 is kinda clumsy, but the XPS one has gotten rave reviews. I'll still probably go with the imac once the benchmarks are out though. In 5 years wont really matter, and OSX is better.

[josu]

Many people said why to do the iMac so thin, to me is very good because it makes my only problem with the iMac disappears, weight. The 21'5" iMac is now 12,5 lbs, or 5,68 kilos, and before was more or less what is now the 27" weight. If i had a problem with the computer I have to take it tho the repair workshop, that thankfully, its near my home, but I live in a "car hating" european city, so I can't put the computer on a car and drive to there, I must take it and carry myself by feet, throwing away all those kilos is fantastic, now, for my next computer I could buy and iMac instead of a laptop, and here in Spain the cheapest 15" MacBook Pro is more expensive than a 21,5" iMac with fusion drive.

[ZapDuff]

Would suggest anyone buying a new iMac.... make sure your hardware comes with the 10.8.2 OS loaded. I bought a new MacMini last week. Never mind, 10.8.2 has been out since January... this new MM model was shipped with OS 10.8.1.... and after six days... I STILL AM UBABLE TO LOAD 8.2! Not at all pleased that I get an error message saying my hardware is not compatible with the upgrade... and when I try to load the 8.2 patch,,, it politely tells me I need 8.2 to continue.
Don't bother calling Apple tech support... they are babbled too: "Maybe we'll have it figured out in a week or two." Swell... in the meantime, the new software I need to earn a living sits unable to install or run - demanding 10.8.2 BEWARE