Macworld 2007 discussion thread

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HighwayAssassins

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Well, its that time of year again. January 9-12 is Macworld 2007. Any predictions on what we will be seeing?

I am hoping for iTV and a new iPod. I have a gift certificate for $250, but I wont be buying a 5G ipod...gotta wait for 6G; I hope they are released at macworld!!

What are you all looking forward to/speculating/hoping for?
 
iPhone. Just to shut up all these expert analysts finally. :rolleyes:

Seriously though, perhaps some lovin' to the Mac Pros with the Quad Core Xeons.

Perhaps a new Cinema Display with HDMI and a built in isight? (isight's negligible, but everything else has it so why not)

The long rumored / longed-for 12" Macbook Pro?
 
new cinema displays with iSight
new iPod
iTV
...apple's mobile phone? which may also be considered a new iPod... well, we can speculate on that one.

...perhaps an update to the mac pro?

Most importantly, new features for OSX will be unveiled.
 
I'd love to see an HDMI upgrade for existing Cinema Displays, but that's about the longest shot imaginable.

Also waiting for the phone, but early indications lead me to believe that I'll likely need to switch carriers for it, which doesn't sound too terribly fun. If I can't snag one from Verizon for less than a couple hundred tied to a contract, I'll pass.

Octo-pumped Mac Pros'd be the cakes, but that's a pretty long shot as well.
 
I guess there's a difference between what I'd expect to see and what I'd like to see.

What I expect to see. . .

- Additional 10.5 (Leopard) details. Apple showed some features at WWDC in August and a few additional features have come out from later developer seeds. But in his speech at WWDC, Steve Jobs seemed inclined to play a game of chicken with MS. Sort of waiting for Vista before showing the real goods, perhaps. It wouldn't surprise me if they announced Leopard shipping details.

- I expect to be underwhelmed with iCal Server. Everything I've heard is that once Apple put it to open source, they pulled most of their people off of it. It's available for anyone to work on, but the calendar/contact management developers I've talked to tell me noone has really picked up that ball yet.

- News of iLife '07 apps

- Announcement of a 100GB iPod (since Toshiba has announced the 100GB 1.8" drives)

- Actual details of the iTV

- I expect to hear about an Apple phone - and to be disappointed. None of the reports I've read about it makes any mention of contact and calendar handling. Right now, I carry a mobile phone, Palm, and iPod (40GB G4). Based on everything I've read, the rumored device won't even consolidate two of these for me, much less all three. While I'm sure that many of the sheeple will line up and buy it regardless, if it doesn't have semi-robust contact and calendar handling then it's really of no use to me.

- Appearances from the usual Adobe and Microsoft folks reiterating their commitment to the Mac platform. Adobe will tout and demonstrate the CS3 Public Beta. Microsoft should have something relating to Office 2007 to show.


What I'd like to see. . .

- A Core 2 Duo mid tower slotted just below the Mac Pro, which used standard DDR2 RAM. With current Mac Pro RAM at $200+ per GB, it makes it a tough sell to design professionals who can't yet buy Universal versions of their bread-and-butter apps.

- A NAS appliance that's easy for regular folks to manage. Would need to do at least AFP and SMB. Perhaps it could be into a media storage appliance to stream to the iTV. Conceivably if it's only a media server, it could be integrated into and managed by iTunes.

- Displays that are more realistically priced. Apple 20" Cinema Display @ $699?



What I do NOT expect to see. . .

- A rush to Quad-Core in the Mac Pro. A significant portion of the Mac Pro's target market still isn't able to take full advantage of the currently shipping machine. Most design folks I know are holding off on upgrading their G5s to Mac Pros until Adobe releases CS3. Folks using Apple's Pro Apps have started migrating, but that's about it.
 
all I want to see is updated macbook pros, they're just about due for a bump or redesign (maybe something other than a powerbook case...). Sadly, I get the feeling that there isn't enough new hardware out there to justify even a bump :(

At any rate, I will be there to see whatever is announced/ released :D
 
19" ACD and a new isight, and a $199 video ipod, and maybe a Core Duo upgrade for Powermac G4 owners, the latter being the best thing I could see
 
- Leopard release date.

- 19" Widescreen ACD, isight for all ACDs, HDMI for 30"

- C2D Minis??
 
felix88 said:
Wishful thinking basically.
Click to expand...

I could set it happen... all you'd need is new ram, new 'logic board', new cpu.... :rolleyes:

there is an upgrade for power mac g4 users. it's called a new mac. :p
 
Least said:
I could set it happen... all you'd need is new ram, new 'logic board', new cpu.... :rolleyes:

there is an upgrade for power mac g4 users. it's called a new mac. :p
Click to expand...

Basically, drop a Mac Mini into the G4 case, right? :p
 
felix88 said:
Basically, drop a Mac Mini into the G4 case, right? :p
Click to expand...

hasn't that been done? I can't think of the place, but I think such a mod has been done.

...get cracking.
 
TheLordsServant said:
and maybe a Core Duo upgrade for Powermac G4 owners, the latter being the best thing I could see
Click to expand...

That'll never happen. The subsystems are totally different.
 
I'd like to see a refresh to the Mac Pro line, maybe a different choice of motherboard and a move away from the expensive FB-DIMMS. The memory prices are just ridiculous IMHO. I'd also like to see the 8800GTX as a video card option as well.

I've got $300 worth of Apple Store gift cards for Christmas, and a potential buyer for the rig in my sig. That means I'd only have to shell out about 700-900 bucks for a new Mac Pro.

I'd like to see a 12" MBP as well. I love my 12" Powerbook, but if the rumored 12" MBP has a great screen and dedicated graphics, I'd be tempted to sell the Powerbook and pick one of these up.
 
I didn't know that it would require a new logic board, I just figured you could buy an adapter to fit the CPU onto the standard slot, and then you could be done. I didn't know it would be so complicated, but yeah, pretty much wishful thinking on my part
 
^^ said:
New iPod is released. 3.5 Inch screen, Bluetooth. NOT a touch-screen. Controlled through invisible “touchstrip” on the top side of the iPod that corresponds to symbols that appear on the upper portion of the iPod screen. 30GB $300, 80GB $400
Click to expand...
Nice. Hope its true.

The thing about hearing anything before the event is that its not verified. I have heard many, many speculations about a new ipod since february of last year and they all come from "good sources"...

But, heres to hoping!
 
Unlikley to happen, but I am holding off on ordering my MacBook Pro until after the expo in hopes of higher resolution displays. With other companies offering 15.4" screens with 1920x1200 resolution, apple is really lacking in this department to me. The 17" sporting 1920x1200 and the 15" sporting 1680x1050 would be awesome.
 
Higher res LCDs would be amazing!

I'm counting on a new ipod being released. I sold my nano a while ago and I'm really wanting a new ipod now.
 
aren't the 13" macbooks the 'replacement' for the 12" powerbooks?

nothing against 12" macbook pro's...
 
sgt said:
Unlikley to happen, but I am holding off on ordering my MacBook Pro until after the expo in hopes of higher resolution displays. With other companies offering 15.4" screens with 1920x1200 resolution, apple is really lacking in this department to me. The 17" sporting 1920x1200 and the 15" sporting 1680x1050 would be awesome.
Click to expand...

I agree higher resolution displays would be sweet, but-- apple is having enough trouble with quality control as is with its current macbook pro displays and IIRC, apple wants to keep to keep its professional displays at 100dpi (or something like that) for "professional" reasons...whatever that means.
 
bahula03 said:
I agree higher resolution displays would be sweet, but-- apple is having enough trouble with quality control as is with its current macbook pro displays and IIRC, apple wants to keep to keep its professional displays at 100dpi (or something like that) for "professional" reasons...whatever that means.
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I would fully expect higher resolution displays since resolution independence is one of the most heavily promoted (by Apple) new features in 10.5. My qualm with Apple displays is primarily that they are overpriced and under-warranteed compared to comparable quality displays from Samsung or Dell.


TheLordsServant said:
I didn't know that it would require a new logic board, I just figured you could buy an adapter to fit the CPU onto the standard slot, and then you could be done. I didn't know it would be so complicated, but yeah, pretty much wishful thinking on my part
Click to expand...

Think about it for a minute. . .the Intel machines use an entirely different firmware (EFI) from the older Open Firmware of the PPC line. The Intel machines also use a totally different memory and PCI controller architecture. Even if you could fashion an adapter of sorts to make the Intel CPU fit, it wouldn't know how to talk to the G4/G5 components.
 
CreativeMac said:
I would fully expect higher resolution displays since resolution independence is one of the most heavily promoted (by Apple) new features in 10.5. My qualm with Apple displays is primarily that they are overpriced and under-warranteed compared to comparable quality displays from Samsung or Dell.
Click to expand...
This gets my hopes up!
 
I'd love to see Apple come out with something more than the iMac and less than the Mac Pro. The Pros have become really expensive while the iMacs are well-priced, but include monitors that I don't want/need. I'd like something that is about 1/2 the size of the Pro and can be likewise custom configured and priced around $1600. I can easily lack the expandability of the Pro, limited to one optical bay, one or two HD bays, and maybe 3 PCI slots including the one for the graphics card.

It just seems to be this product would fill a large hole in Apple's product lineup, if you consider the top iMac at $1999 and the lowest Pro at about $2400. The closest thing to the product I want is the mini, but that hasn't nearly the kind of horsepower I want. This machine would do well in the gaming market, I think.
 
ceege said:
I'd love to see Apple come out with something more than the iMac and less than the Mac Pro.<snip>
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Exactly. I don't need a computer with 2 dual-cores and ninety zillion gigabytes of ECC ram and 8 hard drives like the mac pro, but I don't particularly care for the form factor of the iMac and the limits on upgradeability that it brings along.

A C2D processor in the mid 2ghz range, option for 2-4 gigs of regular ddr2, 2 hard drive slots, 2 optical drives slots, options for a solid modern (not necessarily even top of the line) graphics card or two and that would be it for me. Around $1500 would be a fair price.

Basically, I'd like to run OSX on the type of computer I buy and put together myself every 2-3 years. I think Apple could sell a lot of people on that platform, especially mid-range gamers like myself. I don't need to overclock, process 3gb .psd files or run Doom 20xd6 on a 30" screen and neither does 99% of the population.
 
I knew I wasn't the only one who'd want something like that! I'm thinking of a small-form factor PC, like a Shuttle sized box. Probably shiny white, in line with Apple's non-Pro stuff. Apple would sell a ton of these to gamers and probaby Windows switchers that have monitors already and want more power/upgradeability than a Mac mini and less than a Mac Pro. Heck, it would be a great upgrade for G4 tower owners who don't want or can't afford Mac Pros, too.
 
ceege said:
I'd love to see Apple come out with something more than the iMac and less than the Mac Pro.
Click to expand...

Many of us have been waiting years for this kind of product. A headless iMac basically with maybe an upgradeable graphics card (one PCI-E x16 slot). Doesn't use the FB-DIMM's like the Mac Pro. Has maybe two hard drive slots, and a real optical drive bay so you could upgrade it.

Bring back the Cube I say! :D
 
If my mother buys an iMac now, and a new iMac is announced at Mac World, can she upgrade without paying the restocking fee? I remember seeing something like a two week limit, but then again, it's kinda early in the morning for me. :)
 
B. W. said:
If my mother buys an iMac now, and a new iMac is announced at Mac World, can she upgrade without paying the restocking fee? I remember seeing something like a two week limit, but then again, it's kinda early in the morning for me. :)
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If she can wait, I'd just wait to see what happens. Macworld is to close not too.
 
CreativeMac said:
What I'd like to see. . .

- A Core 2 Duo mid tower slotted just below the Mac Pro, which used standard DDR2 RAM.
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yes please. this would make me put me in the mood for mac. with bays so that I can put my own bluray/hd-dvd drive in later, add hard drives, etc.
 
Tutelary said:
yes please. this would make me put me in the mood for mac. with bays so that I can put my own bluray/hd-dvd drive in later, add hard drives, etc.
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As much as I'd like to see it, I simply don't think it will happen. I think a smaller tower configured say -
- 2.16GHz C2D
- 1GB RAM Std - 4GB Max
- Superdrive
- 1 full sized slot - for video - with the same options as current Mac Pro
- 2 SATA HD bays
- SuperDrive
- eSATA port(s)

Unfortunately, Apple will almost certainly never build this machine. It would simply steal too many sales away from the Mac Pro. Most design folks I know are still on G5s (or, dare I say G4s). These folks are holding off on buying a new machine until Adobe ships CS3. The folks who would consider buying now are turned off by the high price of RAM and don't necessarily need two dual-core Xeons. Honestly, even when CS3 ships how many people really need four Xeon cores? In 6 years of professional Mac support, I've seen less than 5 people who fall into this category.
 
CreativeMac said:
As much as I'd like to see it, I simply don't think it will happen. I think a smaller tower configured say -
- 2.16GHz C2D
- 1GB RAM Std - 4GB Max
- Superdrive
- 1 full sized slot - for video - with the same options as current Mac Pro
- 2 SATA HD bays
- SuperDrive
- eSATA port(s)

Unfortunately, Apple will almost certainly never build this machine. It would simply steal too many sales away from the Mac Pro. Most design folks I know are still on G5s (or, dare I say G4s). These folks are holding off on buying a new machine until Adobe ships CS3. The folks who would consider buying now are turned off by the high price of RAM and don't necessarily need two dual-core Xeons. Honestly, even when CS3 ships how many people really need four Xeon cores? In 6 years of professional Mac support, I've seen less than 5 people who fall into this category.
Click to expand...

the obvious problem then, is what kind of idiotic planning leaves a huge farking hole in the lineup with people absolutely clamoring for that hole to be filled? This is what irritates me. Even if Apple bought that machine out, how would I know they are going to continue to fill that hole in the future? This is one of the reasons many of us keep building our own windows based PCs.
 
Tutelary said:
the obvious problem then, is what kind of idiotic planning leaves a huge farking hole in the lineup with people absolutely clamoring for that hole to be filled? This is what irritates me. Even if Apple bought that machine out, how would I know they are going to continue to fill that hole in the future? This is one of the reasons many of us keep building our own windows based PCs.
Click to expand...

Well. . .I think there are a couple things at work here. First is Apple's apparent commitment to SMP on the server and professional workstation end. As a result, they are tied to the Xeon architecture which means expensive FB-DIMM RAM.

One could argue that Apple fills the hole in the lineup you described with the 24" iMac, and for many people it is well suited. Fairly large (and decent) display, acceptable horsepower, standard external port compliment, and will accept up to 3GB RAM. However, for myself, I think a machine that would fill this space would have to differ from the 24" iMac in the following ways (in order of importance) -
- a desktop version of the C2D, not the mobile version
- two internal SATA bays - which are actually servicable by the end user. In the current lineup, HD swaps are simply too involved for the average user.
- a slot to install a more serious video card

Considerations -
- I think that most folks don't have a major problem with the 24" display. Despite the cry to make the display seperate, how many folks are really going to use/need a 30" display and not be willing to pony up for the Mac Pro? A few, but probably a small minority. I think it would be nice if the display were seperate, but not essential.
- I think for more serious design folks, it's a good idea to have a second drive. I think if the user can afford it, it's better to have a second HD to handle Photoshop and Illustrator scratch space.
- I put a video card last because it would be nice, but for the people this machine would be targeting (prosumer design folks) I'm not sure how much additional benefit they'll actually see. For gaming, absolutely there's benefit to be had. But I'm not too convinced that design apps push the GPU that hard.

As for the last sentence in your post. . .there are definite advantages to being able to build your own machine with off-the-shelf components. To me, the dealbreaker is I can't run OSX on them.
 
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