Low End Mac Reader Specials

Memory To Go Special: MacPro 8 Core 8GB kit $232 / 4GB kit $116 / 2GB kit $72. New Macbook 2GB DDR3-$65. HARD DRIVES available -- Free shipping / LIfetime warranty.

Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free Tryout: www.typestyler.com

LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, iMac's, Apple Batteries and Apple A/C Adapters. Also Great prices on Used Apple Computers. Call 1-800-941-7654 Click Here.

Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.

Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.

Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.

Mac Musings

The Summer of Macs: Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and iMac Overdue for an Upgrade

Dan Knight - 2007.05.30 - Tip Jar

del.icio.us Bookmark in del.icio.us

Apple launched its Intel transition with the iMac and 15" MacBook Pro in January 2006. It finished the transition with the release of the four-core Mac Pro in August 2006. Between those endpoints came the Mac mini (Feb.), 17" MacBook Pro (April), and 13" MacBook (May).

Upgrades

The iMac moved to Intel Core 2 Duo processors in September and hasn't been updated since.

The Mac mini dropped its Core Solo and got a bit faster in September. It's the only remaining Mac not using Core 2 technology.

The 15" and 17" MacBook Pro when Core 2 in October, where they remain to this day.

The 13" MacBook moved to Core 2 in November and received a speed bump in May.

Apple added an 8-core option to the Mac Pro in April.

Mac mini

Apple introduced the Mac mini in January 2005, and there were two updates in its first year, one in July and an unannounced speed bump in September. The Intel version was introduced in February 2006 and updated in September. As we approach the nine month mark, it's overdue for an upgrade.

If Apple doesn't discontinue the Mac mini, we can expect it to adopt the Core 2 with its next revision. If Apple follows form, we can anticipate the next revision will have 1.66 GHz and 1.83 GHz CPUs and very likely include larger hard drives. We may see 1 GB of RAM standard, something Apple just adopted in the MacBook.

I think it's more likely that the next generation Mac mini (or its replacement) will have 1.83 GHz and 2.0 GHz Core 2 CPUs, which will still leave it as the slowest Mac on the market.

iMac

15-inch iMac G4The iMac has come a long way since 1998, when it was a 15" 233 MHz G3 machine with 32 MB of RAM and a 4 GB hard drive. It was updated twice a year on average through tray-loading and slot-loading G3 versions, the "iLamp" G4 models (15", 17", and 20"), and the G5. The Intel iMac debuted in January 2006, and it was updated in September. Nine months later - like the Mac mini - it's past due for an update.

Rumors are the 17" iMac will be discontinued. We speculate that Apple is going to simplify the iMac line with two sizes - the top-end 24" iMac we already know and either the current 20" iMac or perhaps a 19" model with the same screen resolution. We expect this model to retail for $100 more than the current 17" iMacs.

In terms of speed, we expect the usual 167 MHz bump, so the entry-level iMac (still with integrated graphics) will run at 2.0 GHz, the next step up at 2.16 GHz, and the top-end 24" iMac at 2.33 GHz. We expect to see 1 GB of RAM standard on the smaller iMac.

MacBook Pro

The pro MacBooks were introduced in January and April. They migrated to Core 2 in October. That's nearly eight months ago, and we'd say they're due for an update. Frankly, we don't expect more than a speed bump, which would give us 2.33 GHz and 2.5 GHz models. With the MacBook at 2.0 GHz and 2.16 GHz, we wouldn't expect any less.

Mac Pro

The Mac Pro was the pinnacle of Macintosh design last August, and the customizable design makes it easy for Apple to simply add new upgrade options rather than announce a whole new model. Apple has already phased out the 160 GB hard drive option and added an 8-core option.

When Apple revises the Mac Pro, we expect Bluetooth will be a standard feature, 2 GB of RAM will be standard, and there may be a speed bump to 2.83 GHz if Apple can also provide 3.16 GHz 4-core and 8-core upgrade options.

The 2.0 GHz Mac Pro, always a poor value in comparison to the faster versions, should be replaced by a 2.33 GHz or even 2.5 GHz model.

Except for bumping the CPU speed on the core model from 2.66 GHz, Apple could do all of this without changing the model number. Because of this, we don't see Apple rushing to release a new Mac Pro. Maybe in August, on it's first anniversary.

The Summer of Mac

In short, we can expect Apple to upgrade the iMac and MacBook Pro models any day now - probably as the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June. An updated Mac mini or, perhaps more likely, Mac mini replacement, may also be unveiled at WWDC.

June should be an exciting month. LEM

Dan Knight has been using Macs since 1986, sold Macs for several years, supported them for many more years, and has been publishing Low End Mac since April 1997. If you find Dan's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.

Recent Mac Musings

Links for the Day

Recent Content on Low End Mac

Recent Deals

About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts

Entire Low End Mac website copyright ©1997-2009 by Cobweb Publishing, Inc., unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved. Advice presented in good faith, but what works for one may not work for all. Please report errors to .
  LINKS: We allow and encourage links to any public page as long as the linked page does not appear within a frame that prevents bookmarking it.
  Access our RSS news feed at http://lowendmac.com/feed.xml.
  Email may be published at our discretion; email addresses will not be published without permission, and we will encrypt them in hopes of avoiding spammers. If you prefer your message not be published, mark it "not for publication." Letters may be edited for length, context, and to match house style.
  PRIVACY: We don't collect personal information unless you explicitly provide it. For more details, see our Terms of Use.
  Low End Mac is an independent publication and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Apple Inc. Apple, the Apple logo, Macintosh, iBook, iMac, eMac, iPod, iPhone, PowerBook, MacBook, MagSafe, Mac Pro, Apple TV, and AirPort are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. Additional company and product names may be trademarks or registered trademarks and are hereby acknowledged.


Have a question?
Ask an expert!

Navigation

Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Video Cards
Email Lists
InfoMac's Low
End Mac Forum

Favorite Sites

MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
   Museum
DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
   Mac FAQ
Abandonware
   Petition
Mac vs. PC Info

Affiliates

The Apple Store
Mac Connection
MacMall
TechRestore
MacResQ
ExperCom
Crucial Memory
batteries.com

Advertise

All of our advertising is handled by BackBeat Media. For price quotes and advertising information, please contact at BackBeat Media (646-546-5194). This number is for advertising only.

Open Link

Problems viewing this page with Internet Explorer 5.5 or 6? It works fine in other browsers, including IE 7. We recommend Firefox for those using Windows, as it is standards based and more secure than IE 6 (and earlier). More LEM visitors use Firefox than any other browser.