New machines tomorrow?

Cleve Nettles
|
March 02, 2009
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Hardmac and OneMoreThing.nl (via Macrumors) are reporting on new iMac and Mac Mini specs to be released tomorrow.

The new iMac models and their corresponding references:
- MB417: Entry level model
- MB418: "Mass market" model
- MB419: high-end model
- MB420: ultimate model
- one 20" model, three 24" models
- 20" 2 GB DDR3 memory, 24" 4 GB DDR3 memory (max 8 GB)
- 1x Display port
- Intel Core 2 Duo (not a quad core): 2.66 Ghz, 2.93 Ghz and 3.06 Ghz

For the Mac mini, the references are the following:
- MB463: entry-level model
- MB464 high-end model
- 5x USB
- 1x FireWire 800 - 1x mini DVI - 1x Display port - Nvidia chipset (like the newest MacBook)
- starting at Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 Ghz
- 1 or 2 GB DDR3 memory (max 4 GB)
- 120 GB hard disk (max 320 GB)

Comments (17)

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2009 - 3:00pm

- Intel Core 2 Duo (not a quad core): 2.66 Ghz, 2.93 Ghz and 3.06 Ghz

I find it funny that Intel would rate chips at 2.93 and 3.06 GHz. They seem so close in speed. They must be VERY good at understanding how fast individual chips can be driven to have such fine gradations.

Anyhow, the "entry level" model must be primarily for schools and he like. I'm surprised their upgrading the internals - I figured they'd just keep on the old one, like they did with the white MacBook.

I'm going to make a wild guess that they update the look of the new iMac, just so existing owners get a little "new iMac envy".

I am surprised by the support of both MiniDVI an DP on the new Mini. That doesn't add up to me. Most people don't have a mini DVI dongle laying around. I guess this will allow people to use TWO monitors with a Mini, which is a huge leap forward.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2009 - 3:00pm

I'll take one of each.

JLover (not verified) | March 02, 2009 - 3:31pm

Might make good PC desktop replacements for my office.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2009 - 3:39pm

Just wanted to know if the updated iMac would be coming with LED backlit like its current 24 inch monitor.

Jimmy (not verified) | March 02, 2009 - 3:50pm

Seems like a modest update to me. There's got to be something else to the new Macs. That said, I do like the memory increase to 8 GB on the iMac.

The question is, will this update be enough to keep people switching to Mac?

Jimmy

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2009 - 5:50pm

DDR3 implies a different chipset and an entire main board redesign.

There may not be much to this update in most minds... the average user doesn't really understand things like bus speeds and memory bandwidth... most believe that GHz (and maybe core-count) is the only number that describes performance.

Of course, all of us here know much better, and ask lots of questions when we hear about a specific machine.

Joel (not verified) | March 02, 2009 - 4:14pm

I am not sure if I am correct, but I have read that the iMac from late 2008 handles 6Gb of memory. I thought I saw that in a OWC advertisement. To be honest I run PhotoShop on 4Gb with out a problem, and 6 Gb would be more than enough.

Joel

kevin (not verified) | March 02, 2009 - 4:48pm

Check the specs on the Apple site, it IS only up to 4Gb.
OWC does, however, sell RAM above 4Gb for the Mac Pro, but that's the only system (for now) that has overcome the 4Gb canopy.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2009 - 6:09pm

currently, all the unibody macbooks can surpass that 4GB "canopy."

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2009 - 5:39pm

I would love to have a 20 or 22 inch model with a higher screen resolution. How about 1920 by 1200 px for both? I am surprised nobody wants higher resolution on iMacs…

Hard-Hat-Mac (not verified) | March 02, 2009 - 6:07pm

Come on Apple! bump the specs, but make a one more thing on the 24th and do a iMac Touch? key board and mouse are still an option, but if you want you can touch your computer!

Hard-Hat-Mac

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 02, 2009 - 6:20pm

The Mac Mini. What's up with it? Is it a low-end machine for people who have a keyboard, mouse and monitor?

Hell no! Normal people don't need two video outs, 5 USB buses, or a single FireWire device.

But now The Mini has quickly evolved into the hacker's machine. Have a Mac? Great! Now buy another! Which one? Well, how about this CHEAPER one.

The only people I know with a Mini also own another Mac. It's the second computer for the rest of us.

I bet it's easier to open, and continues to have a socketed processor. A killer addition would be an ExpressCard slot and an variant without an optical drive.

Zedd (not verified) | March 03, 2009 - 1:01am

I don't care about the logicboard upgrades, in a year and a half we are stuck with the same old 2.66-3.06ghz CPUs? Lame. No quad-core = no sale from me.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 03, 2009 - 1:56am

so the pictures and video from last week were right?

Onteo (not verified) | March 03, 2009 - 2:06am

I have an iMac 24" 2.16 core 2 duo with 4GB Ram and nvidia 7600GT and I run photoshop, aperture and 4 or 5 apps more at the same time and I have no big troubles.

If there is no quad core at 3Ghz with a good graphic card and 8GB support I won't upgrade for sure.

9to5Mac Noob (not verified) | March 03, 2009 - 3:04am

The New Zealand store is down!!

Coords (not verified) | March 03, 2009 - 3:29am

As I write this, the Apple sore is being updated! YES!