Oh… my… gawd. After a drought of Mac news I never thought would pass, Apple has announced it will be holding a Mac related event. I’m practically foaming at the mouth to find out what it is. There have been so few Mac product updates, I started getting twitchy. Sure, having a Mac I bought stay top of the line for almost a year feels good, but it makes the Apple fan in me nervous.
From Macworld:
Apple will gather select press at its company headquarters in Cupertino, Calif. next week for what it said would be a presentation focused on the Mac.
The presentation will take place on Tuesday August 7, 2007 at 10:00 am at Apple’s Town Hall, a facility that has been used to launch several products in the past including the very first iPod.
Terse, just like Apple’s recent software updates. So, now that we know something will be announced, it’s time to start the speculation. I won’t be eating my socks if I’m wrong, but I expect a new iMac (and hopefully form factor). I know you guys are eager to correct me, so put your commenting rep on the line.
oh wow! it looks like apple insider was spot on. they even got the date right!
they claim it's the new iMac and iLife... can't wait!
A new iMac would be cool, but since I'm not in the market to buy a new computer, I'd like to see an announcement on iLife. Particularly interested in Garageband. This is a great little application with lots of potential. It just needs a few enhancements.
New iMacs in aluminum enclosures seems like the safe money.
I'd like to see new eight-core XServes in two unit enclosures. Or, an XBlade system where eight swappable machines can be configured in a four to six unit enclosure. Sort of like the XRaid, but with machines rather than drives. But, Apple would probably not hold a special event for the lowly XServe.
My guess is a new iMac with a coupon for Leopard if you buy before october. Probably same specs as the current MacBook Pro, but with better hard drive and not mobile video. People have been talking about a metal iMac, but I hope they go with white and black for consumer configurations, and a couple metal models for prosumer models with tricked out specks...a trasition product between the consumer and pro lines so to speak.
Perhaps a demonstation of iLife '08 to be shipped with Leopard, and perhaps iWork '08 too, concentrating on Spreadsheat and better word processing.
And for one more thing: I wish a headless prosumer iMac, but probably the introduction of a razor-thin flash based computer that is insanely thin. Ultra-portable. ultra-portable!
Since I have a MacBook from Nov. 2006 and my wife got the latest edition of the 20-inch iMac in January, I am most excited about software (however, I do not doubt in the slightest the iMac rumors).
I mostly want a new iWork, as those are my most used apps next to Safari, Mail, and iTunes. iLife would be okay, but I only currently use iPhoto. If iWeb is radically overhauled and picks up some RapidWeaver qualities, I may start using that, too.
Lastly, I would like to see some enhancements and a 50% price reduction in .Mac. I haven't used the service beyond my 60-day trial as of yet, but there are some features I wouldn't mind having. The price is a bigger thing for me with .Mac than exciting new features. But without a price reduction, there is no way I could convince my wife to let me subscribe to something that costs $100 a year.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I wouldn't mind a bluetooth version of that super-slim iMac keyboard that has been running rampant in the rumor mill. :)
A Mac related event? What's that? ;)
New iMacs of course, and perhaps a preview or even an early release of iWork 08-with a spreadsheet app. These are given.
Predictions:
An 803.11n Airport Express Base Station, and an upgraded Airport Base Station with 1GB Ethernet and two USB ports (for disk and printer).
A PowerBook Nano... very small, with an iPhone like touch screen AND Bluetooth, detachable keyboard. It will introduce a revolutionary, new built in DVD burner. (Schizoid laptop/tablet computer.)
A new Mini Home Xserve. The Mac Mini keeps its price point, with a faster CPU and lots of new SATA storage options, including a mini SATA RAID.