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27-inch iMac gets a major update

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Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#361

Post by eitally »

mistersquid wrote: post #144
epistasis wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That appears to only have a single C port. It's a strange thing, you can get these super complicated docking stations with all sorts of different ports, but can't get a 4-port hub that's only usb-c connectors. At least neither tzs nor I have found such hubs.

The CalDigit TS3 Plus Dock has two USB-C ports and one Thunderbolt 3 port, not counting the port for the computer itself. [0] (To be clear, USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 ports have the same form factor and Thunderbolt 3 is downwards compatible with USB-C.) [0] https://www.caldigit.com/ts3-plus/

This is the only way you can end up with >1 USB-C port, afaik. It's not currently possible to split USB-C like USB-A, so the only way you can get a second USB-C port is if you have a Mac and use a Thunderbolt dock.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#362

Post by okennedy »

hn_check wrote: post #263
n3k5 wrote: post #134

“SSDs across the line with quadruple the storage” 1/4 TB of storage in the $1800 model, 1/2 TB in the $2300 one. Ugh. (So before the lower-end one had 64GB? [Edit: Nope, 1 TB Fusion Drive, thanks smnrchrds!] That would be FULL just from installing the one game the press release mentions.) What kind of magic fairy dust SSDs are they using that you can't have a sensible amount of storage space at those prices? Looking…

HN clearly isn't the target market. When HN frets about how it isn't suitable for them, it's just a lot of meaningless bluster and noise. Though let's be real here. I have a 2018 MBP with 256GB of storage. I have XCode, the XCode beta, Logic Pro, virtually the entire Adobe gamut of software, brew and a massive selection of brew packages, every browser, IntelliJ, GoLand, and just a tonne of crap. I've used about 150GB…

I agree that Apple has focused its attention exclusively on the consumer market... and that's a problem.

Developers write code for platforms that they're using. This is what drove adoption of Apple hardware in the early 2ks (a POSIX that runs MS Office!), which in turn set set the stage for the iPhone and iOS.

Unlike then, Apple now has a good grip on the consumer market: Not targetting iOS with a mobile/tablet release is a bad idea, regardless of whether or not devs are familiar with it. But OSX? There are a few areas where it's still has strong devotees: Color management in OSX is still fantastic, creating a lot of loyalty among artists, photographers, etc... It's still technically a POSIX, so it's still attractive to developers.

In short, OSX is not targetted at consumers. When someone needs a "computer" for their kid to do their homework, that's increasingly going to be an Android/iOS device.

For a platform to survive, it needs a healthy developer community. A developer community needs incentives (e.g., market-share or devs already using the platform). Right now, what are the incentives for OSX devs?

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#363

Post by oneplane »

mamon wrote: post #217
onepointsixC wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Right, but having an integrated camera that is absolutely awful completely defeats the point of having that there in the first place. It really noticeable when you Facetime with someone on an iPhone and you compare the video quality of the two.

Which is riddiculous, because if they can fit good front camera in iPhone they should be able to do that in the much bigger device, like laptop, right?

I'm sure they can, but for some reason they didn't. It's fun to speculate, but apply Hanlon's Razor and Occam's Razor; it's unlikely there is some evil corporate scheme at play, and it's highly likely that the reason is very simple.

Perhaps they never got the levels of feedback that drove them to upgrade it. Perhaps it has to do with internal designs of using an USB 2.0 bus or something that now has to be changed to a CSI or MIPI style interface that first has to be processed by something like the T2 before it is a readable data stream for the standard Intel architecture.

They probably won't be able to fit the exact same iPhone module, the optics (Be it plastic or glass lenses) are too deep, but you could probably do with a better sensor for sure. Some manufacturers tried to 'fix' this by putting the camera below the screen which gives it a bit more space because you can then use the hinge area for the components; but now you end up looking at someone's chin all the time.

We simply don't know.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#364

Post by rbanffy »

Dahoon wrote: post #349
rbanffy wrote: post #266

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of Mac users get the computer and never plug anything to it besides a phone or some USB sticks. If all you want is a computer you can read your e-mail on, 8 GB is fine. Memory, AFAIK, is upgradable post-purchase in all current models.

It isn't on all models unless you pay Apple to do so.

It was until the previous 27" model, at least:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201191

The 21.5", however, is a different story.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#366

Post by asveikau »

enterprise1 wrote: post #272
osrec wrote: post #248

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why do their customers tolerate this?! I know some people love Apple (their hardware does look great), but this is extremely annoying.

Because not everyone can be a computer nerd. Apple has put a huge amount of real effort into direct outreach and support of their customers, really. Microsoft chased business. Apple chased people. Google is chasing its own tail. For the markup over the retail price of the SSD, someone else does the installation, validation, built dumb stupid restore and backup services to boot. Dell? Lenovo? Microsoft? Still ramming…

You seem to be really angry at people who make choices different from yours. So much sarcasm and contempt for others here.

Anyway, if you want to get into it... Microsoft dominated the consumer market in the 1990s. The same people you say who were not nerds and didn't care ... Didn't care to get an Apple machine either, they got whatever everybody else got, which were Wintel PCs. Most didn't care if something else had a nicer design or UI or was friendlier or more efficient. It was Win9x almost everywhere.

I think this negates your "Microsoft went after businesses" hypothesis somewhat. They had total domination everywhere, and maybe got a little lazy or complacent and the lead eroded, at the same time Apple got Jobs back and grew as a consumer brand due to iPod etc. But Microsoft is still a major force outside of techie circles.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#367

Post by damnyou »

briandear wrote: post #287
damnyou wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's only rich schools that buy them, and most places that do would be better off without them.

Until you have to manage a lab full of Windows, then MAC becomes a much better value. With a Mac you don’t have to buy MS office, you get iWork. You also get iMovie, GarageBand and other Apple software that covers almost everything a typical school would need. And you never have to buy updates for either the OS or the other Apple software. You also have less malware to deal with. Having worked at a school with labs f…

I'm imagining this being said to the principal of a local rural school in, like, Ghana.

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#368

Post by _ph_ »

rsynnott wrote: post #338
_ph_ wrote: post #243

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is the reason why I think at least one of the MB Pros will be available on Apple Silicon from the start, I am just not sure they will start with the 16", as they would have to replace a dedicated GPU for that machine.

> I am just not sure they will start with the 16", as they would have to replace a dedicated GPU for that machine. Why? The 2015 15" came with an integrated GPU option (and that was by far the most popular SKU, AFAIK).

Because one important feature of the large MB Pro is the availability of a dedicated GPU making it a decent graphics machine when connected to an external screen. I am certainly stressing the GPU of mine :)

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#369

Post by [deleted] »

_ph_ wrote: post #341

The one thing I keep missing on my 5k iMac is some form of video-in. Would be great if I could connect my MB Pro to it and use the iMac as a display. Perhaps even in a window and all mouse and keyboard events to the window get passed to the connected MacBook.

[deleted]

Re: 27-inch iMac gets a major update

#370

Post by Jenya_ »

bluedino wrote: post #37
Mindwipe wrote: post #5

Honestly a fairly mediocre upgrade considering the pricing. It's good that they've finally improved the webcam, but Apple clearly went out of their way to ensure people looking to get an Intel Mac because they need to dual boot weren't going to get anything too compelling. Edit: Downvotes be damned, it is mediocre. Not bad, because it is a spec bump, but there are lots of things about the iMac's architecture that are…

>> upgrade considering the pricing. Don't forget it includes a 5K display...

It includes a 5K display which may become useless in five years? (when Apple plans to stop updates for Intel based Macs). It seems that iMacs do not support using them as expernal displays right now. I would prefer 5K monitor to last a bit longer than five years.
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