The Mac Rumors never stop, even when there’s nothing to monger about… especially in regards to new Holiday iMacs:
While details remain scarce on what specific updates will be forthcoming, it is fairly safe to assume that no major design changes will be introduced, since the aluminum iMac has provided the template for the new look of the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and 24-inch Cinema display. Some sources, though not reliable, are suggesting a new 30-inch form factor that would retain the black-framed look.
More likely, however, are internal upgrades for the existing 20 and 24-inch models, including processor bumps in keeping with the updated Montevina-based chips currently shipping in new MacBooks. Another likely change is the move to better, Nvidia-branded graphics cards in all models, replacing the ATI Radeon 2400 and 2600 HD cards currently in use. Nvidia has clearly become a supplier of choice for Apple, and their presence in all Apple notebooks provides strong evidence that we’ll see them in Apple’s desktops, as well.
Mini DisplayPort, the royalty-free new video connector present on all new Apple notebooks will likely also make the jump to the desktop in new iMacs.
The big question, of course, is not whether Apple will update iMacs. Natch. But what about Mac Minis? It’s increasingly looking like that whole product line is being put out to pasture.
New iMacs Before The Holidays? [The Apple Blog]
“It’s increasingly looking like that whole product line is being”
This to me is sad. I love the idea of using the Mac Mini in the living room. I see other companies taking advantage of this (Dell Studio Hybrid) and I see Apple as missing the mark with this. Why buy a computer that is built into a monitor when you can use your TV as your monitor?
Ditto that, Canes816.
I have zero use for an iMac. I have a laptop, but I need a small and inexpensive server to go with it, that also acts as my HTPC. I’d like to replace my aging Core Duo Mac Mini someday with something more powerful, but at a price point an order of magnitude less expensive than a Mac Pro.
They want you to buy an Apple TV for that. I know that it’s exactly not what you want, but they’re trying to convince you otherwise.
In the end, we’ll probably have to get a nice little Atom machine running Ubuntu.
I use a mac mini as my htpc. It’s great except for one key thing. The output doesn’t match the screen, and there is no easy way fix that.
That aside, the mac mini is the best thing ever. What most people need for an HTPC is a mac mini or an imac, and apple could do well to put together a strategy built around that.