Report: Apple ready to release new iMacs with Blu-ray

Apple may be ready to introduce a new line of iMac all-in-one desktop computers before the end of year, according to a new report on AppleInsider.

Citing "people familiar" with Apple's plans, AppleInsider said the new iMacs got the go-ahead in early September and have been in production for the past couple of weeks.

(Credit: Apple)

In addition to a new thinner enclosure, the new iMac line is rumored to possibly include a Blu-ray optical drive. This would mark the first time Apple would include a Blu-ray drive in one of its desktop or portable computers.

Based on previous updates from Apple, it's reasonable to expect the company to also include faster processors, perhaps newer graphics cards, and increased hard drive capacity. Current models feature processors ranging from 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo to 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo.

Hard drive capacities go from 320GB on the low-end model to 1TB on the high end.

Apple also usually keeps the prices of its updated machines pretty close to the previous ones, although they have reduced prices on occasion. Current prices range from $1,199 to $2,199.

[davidwarren]

so when are they coming out?

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

they're coming out either late this month or mid-october. i would like to see core i7's in this line or at least have a new line that features them. they may be expensive and hard to put in an all in one, but it would really make the iMac stand out.

[cvaldes1831]

Probably next month. It is likely that there will be some sort of media event to unveil the new line. The current design is over two years old and it's time for a new model, not a refresh with slightly improved specs (which would be released without fanfare).

[Goodbye Helicopter]

if and when they are announced.

[shycelticwitch]

Has anyone besides me figured out why Apple waits to introduce certain technology? Well here's the most probable reason I can think of. Building a better mousetrap. Even if they didn't do it first, they almost ALWAYS do it better.

[kewell82]

Not ALWAYS.

[Pishkado]

In general, Apple doesn't have to be the first out of the gate with a new technology because people buy its products for other reasons. In the Windows world, where software differences from one vendor to another are essentially zero, hardware suppliers have to look for every advantage they can. That means pushing the envelope to get even a temporary edge, a potentially risky strategy but a necessary evil. Apple has chosen to differentiate itself in other ways: OS, bundled software, its industrial design. Windows vendors can only try to compete with the last of these. The record shows they don't usually do that very well. So, they can wait until the bugs have been worked out of something like this, and take the time to do a more thorough engineering job of it.

[blakestar]

Should be the Mac Mini...

[xxFUQUAYxx]

Yea I agree I would like it in a mini as well

[Soul of Wit]

Blu-ray in a Mac Mini is a no-brainer. I would expect an update to the Mini at the same time or soon after.

[kevinskrause]

with and HDMI out ofcourse and full audio pass through fro 7.1 and stereo channels.

[markredf150]

Apple waits to introduce certain technologies because for one, the iMac is basically a MacBook (Pro) in an all in one desktop design. iMacs use laptop memory when it comes time to upgrade. This way of building desktops allows Apple to make their desktop computers small (like the Mac Mini which uses most of the same internals as a low-end MacBook). But this Blu-ray debacle would require mainly just software updates in OS X Snow Leopard (and of course the aformentioned licensing mentioned by Jobs and Apple last year), and of course the internals. Blu-ray will most likely be a BTO option, it probably won't be standard. But think about a Mac Mini with a Blu-ray drive...sweet lil home theater box! It would be even nicer if Apple made a 26' or 28' iMac line with Core i7 and Blu-ray support for about $2300. THAT would be a stunning desktop.

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

i agree. i want to see if the blu-ray drive will be slot loading or not.apple uses slot loading to make the computer thin and keep the design clean. apple seriously needs to phase out the core 2 duo and replace it will the core 2 quad or i7. apple seriously needs to make their desktops with quad-core to be more competitive. however, they want to make their computer more affordable all of a sudden and so i hope they don't sacrifice on potential quality. maybe a quad-core mac pro Air that is a separate desktop but delivers performance between the imac and the mac pro.

[cvaldes1831]

"It would be even nicer if Apple made a 26' or 28' iMac line with Core i7 and Blu-ray support for about $2300. THAT would be a stunning desktop."<br /><br />Indeed, a twenty-six-foot wide iMac would be a stunning desktop.

[Dalkorian]

by cvaldes1831 September 24, 2009 2:51 PM PDT<br />Indeed, a twenty-six-foot wide iMac would be a stunning desktop.<br /><br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><br />They mean a diagonal measurement, not total width. Still, a twenty-six-foot diagonal measure iMac would be purely stunning.<br /><br />;-)

[EarthToApple]

I would love to see Apple do away with laptop memory &#38; processor specs in the iMac and make a true consumer base desktop out of it, go with all desktop components.<br /><br />This I will be waiting a while for this........

[cvaldes1831]

Yeah, Apple is "Green" happy, so I doubt they will want to increase thermal levels. They have already had some thermal issues in the all-in-one iMacs in the past and allegedly the next generation model is thinner.<br /><br />I'm guessing that Apple will probably put the newly announced 45nm quad-core mobile Core i7 processor in the upcoming iMac and refresh the line early next year with the 32nm die shrink.

[drwam]

As for the enclosure, let me put in a vote for a return to a user-upgradable hard drive. The current model requires removing the glass and the display panel to get at the internals. Unibody iMac anyone?

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

good idea. the focus of apple should be on the desktops. apple has notebooks (especiaclly the mbp) covered.

[lightningrob]

Adding a blueray drive to the AppleTV would be cool, they'd sell a lot more of them, even at a higher price (and a slightly bigger footprint). It's not like the HD movies on iTunes are close to blueray quality anyway.

[Swimmin00nick]

i agree...i think they should add a blu-ray drive to the apple tv, or at least a dvd player...

[jscott418]

Just when Blu Ray looks to be dying out already. Not enough people think its worth it. I actually saw Blu Ray disc's on a clearance rack half off! It was at KMart or ShopKo. I think they were dropping them. I did not see any at regular price. Seems they are just taking up space better used for disc's that people can afford. Of course I will admit I can see a difference in quality. But frankly I just don't care to spend the extra for it.

[lazycat202]

$2300?? i give up!

[solitare_pax]

Between the availability of movies online, USB key capacities increasing and the potential for SD chips to hit 1 TB in the future, I tend to think Blu-Ray tech will have a very short lifespan. In other words - why bother? If its an option, I won't take it.

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

the reason people buy blu-ray is for full HD Quality, not 720.

[thelemurking]

I used to think the same thing until I purchased the new PS3. I had a 720p TV and was just blown away that 3 days later I went and bought a new 1080p TV to go with it. Picked up a few BluRay movies to go with it and **** @ the difference!!! While some stuff I will still pick up on DVD, there are just some movies that you want to see in all of it's glory. Wolverine, Iron Man, Transformers, Planet Earth, ID4 look absolutely incredible! <br /><br />I think we have a ways to go before most of us are fully capable of streaming fully quality uncompressed 1080p video over the internet.

[NervClaX]

At the prices Apple customers pay, they deserve a freaking Blu-ray drive. Streaming HD just isn't practical yet.

[1812dave]

Jobs is such a tool! What happened to his attitude about Blu Ray being a "bag of hurt"?? He just LOVES dissing products that he doesn't currently sell. Then when the products come out, all the idiot Apple fanbois drool over themselves as if the technology was something NEW. He also said it wanted no part of the netbook segment. Mark my words, he is a liar--Apple will undoubtedly come out with some form of a netbook. Jobs is a lot like Obama--if you see their lips moving, they are lying.

[hick9]

1812dave, <br /><br />Remember this is a RUMOR, Jobs has not said at this point that there will be a Blu-Ray player in any product. He was and is right about Blu-Ray is will be a very short lived media type. So he is not a liar...YET. It will cheaper at some point to put the same product on a SD card in the near future. I do agree with you on the Obama thing! Got a good chuckle out of me. The only scary thing is When Jobs talks..it is about products you have the CHOICE of buying, When Obama talks we have no choice and it hurts us much worst.

[Perry_Clease]

Steve Jobs said "Blu-ray is just a bag of hurt. It's great to watch the movies, but the licensing of the tech is so complex, we're waiting till things settle down and Blu-ray takes off in the marketplace."

[Dalkorian]

1812dave, that sewage smell you're suffering is due to the effect that post had on your "credibility".

[KhanC]

How about if you leave your politics on some other message board.

[tipoo_]

Lots of people are probably hoping for Mobile Core i7 in this as well...It would make sence, they dont have to worry about battery life (not bad with mobile Core i7 anyways) or heat output (also not bad with Mobile Core i7) with the Imac, so why not? Other than the fact that they always delay releasing the newest technologies so that their profit margins can remain insanely high.

[danielwsmithee]

If this has a mobile Core i7 it will be a great product. If they stay dual-core they basically will not be upgrading the processor at all and will just be dropping the price across the board.

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

this imac will be a dissapointment if there is no quad-core i7.

[shellcodes_coder]

Don't worry it will come with an intel core i7 processor after a couple of years...as usual always late

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

@shell<br />the mac pro was the first comp to use the nehalem xeon. same microarchitecture as the i7.

[Dan7637]

i agree they need to phase out the core 2 duo and introduce the new mobile i7's also introduce new graphics instead of the 9400M

[SimonChristopher]

Why is everyone so obsessed with Blu-ray and that being some reason NOT to buy a Mac? <br /><br />Seriously - what do you have to have it for? The only viable reason for Blu-Ray is for watching movies. There aren't any applications requiring that much installation disc space.<br /><br />If the only reason you want Blu-ray is for playing movies - then Boo-Hoo! It's a semantic argument.<br /><br />Let's say Apple made a 28" iMac with Blu-Ray and optical audio out to connect with your surround sound system. Would you pay $2,800 for it? Probably not - then you would gripe about the price.<br /><br />Look... Apple doesn't make televisions and PS3's. If you want a heck of an entertainment system. Take your $2,800 and buy a 46" Sony 120hz 1080p LCD, surround sound system of your choice - and a PS3. Then do whatever you like with the $800-1,000 you have left over.<br /><br />If you want a COMPUTER - then make a choice on that based on the true merits of each machine, your needs and your ability to pay for it. <br /><br />Any and all testing data regarding these chips is a maximum of 20% increase in performance - IN BURSTS. Current C2D's are crazy mad fast and I would be willing to bet that 98% of you never even see the processing capability of a low end C2D chip.<br /><br />Learn from the past. These new chips are Intel's way of paying for their R&#38;D and the advertising budget. The best versions of these new chips won't be out for a year or more --- fun part is: they will cost 1/2-1/3 as much, if not less. Check historical pricing of C2D - P4, etc.

[shellcodes_coder]

As usual...crapple are always late. We've been enjoying blue ray since ages and finally they decided to do so. What about intel core i7? after two years or more :)

[AppleSuxLeo]

Exactly...The SKELETON even said it was "a bag of hurt"<br />So I guess Macs are a "bag of hurt" now also.<br />First they copy the PC internals and go INTEL...now this. How innovative Apple.

[Gold_Storm_Mac]

@Leo<br />SJ was referring to the process of licenesing the tech onto macs. that was difficult.

[Yelonde]

@shell<br /><br />And the mac pro was the first computer to get the i7 processor. Iv'e got no more to say about that.<br /><br />@AppleSuxLeo<br />Apple copied PC internals? lol, you are joking right? I guess dell, HP, Asus, Acer, Lenovo, Samsung, Sony, Hitachi, etc copied apple with the concept of the computer, right?

[danielwsmithee]

Blu-Ray who cares. I'll take a Clarksfield i7, LED Display ... that is what I care about. Blu-Ray is pointless.

[lil-yankee]

I don't think that a 26", 28" inch iMac is going to see the light of day. <br />The only apple product that could reach those dimensions if any it will be an apple tv. People that a dreaming about this get a monitor. Those of you Who want blue Ray are probably just going to get it as an option, an expensive one. If we know our scouting about apple is that they are not fans of new technology and don't like taking risks. As of now, blue Ray it's only used for movies and games because they are the only things that rake advantage of the space. I know some of us would like it, and even have the money to pay for it but apple isn't gonna do something for a niche group, they are very main stream now. I have a mbp and would have loved to have a blue-Ray (don't know why since I have a ps3 and a 46" Bravia) but it wouldn't have bother me. Want HD and it's full glory for 2300? Ps3, HD tv and surround system, not an iMac. Wise up people....

[AppleSuxLeo]

Funny...the Walking Skeleton called BD a "bag of hurt" LOL<br />Monkey see...monkey do ! How innovative Apple.