Apple to hold 'Back to the Mac' event on October 20th

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
51,850
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Last edited:

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
51,850
7,365
136
Wishlist:

Verizon iPhone 4G/LTE
Touchscreen iMacs
OS X 10.7
iPad with Cameras
7" iPad
iChat with Facetime
iWork '11
iOS-based desktop OS (App Store, for example)
AppleTV apps (Angry Birds + Magic Touchpad for HDTV!!)
11.6" Macbook Air
iPhone XL (4.1" for people with larger hands)
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,165
1,809
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The 11.6" Air would be good only if it was priced between the iPad and MacBook IMO.
 

Kmax82

Diamond Member
Feb 23, 2002
3,008
0
0
www.kennonbickhart.com
Wishlist:

Verizon iPhone 4G/LTE
Touchscreen iMacs
OS X 10.7
iPad with Cameras
7" iPad
iChat with Facetime
iWork '11
iOS-based desktop OS (App Store, for example)
AppleTV apps (Angry Birds + Magic Touchpad for HDTV!!)
11.6" Macbook Air
iPhone XL (4.1" for people with larger hands)

I think we'll definitely get...

- New version of OS X (I'm betting it's 11.0 though and not 10.7)

.. and I think we'll probably get...

- Touchscreen iMacs
- iWork '11
- New Macbook Air

I don't think there will be any mention of iPhones/iPads..
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
51,850
7,365
136
The 11.6" Air would be good only if it was priced between the iPad and MacBook IMO.

$799 would be ideal. Or $699 :D

I've been eyeing an Acer Aspire TimeLineX, the 11.6" with the i5 chip. That'd be the perfect little tote-around laptop - just enough of a computer to not be a hassle like a netbook, better for general computer usage than an iPad (thanks to the keyboard), and small enough to carry around easily.
 

Kaido

Elite Member & Kitchen Overlord
Feb 14, 2004
51,850
7,365
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I think we'll definitely get...

- New version of OS X (I'm betting it's 11.0 though and not 10.7)

As restrictive as an iOS-based operating system sounds, I think it'd be a really great idea for the general population. More than half the people I know (mostly non-nerds) now have iPhones or iPod Touches. I see more and more Macbooks on campus every day. We're integrating iPads at work. It's easy and straightforward to purchase and use apps on the iOS platform, and it has a good ecosystem for apps, games, music, movies, etc. I mean, imagine purchasing an iOS-based iMac for your parents or grandparents:

"Help, how do I load up this software?"

"Just go into the App Store and purchase Office 2011 for Mac"

Add in a touchscreen and it'd be cake! :biggrin:
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,165
1,809
126
As restrictive as an iOS-based operating system sounds, I think it'd be a really great idea for the general population. More than half the people I know (mostly non-nerds) now have iPhones or iPod Touches. I see more and more Macbooks on campus every day. We're integrating iPads at work. It's easy and straightforward to purchase and use apps on the iOS platform, and it has a good ecosystem for apps, games, music, movies, etc. I mean, imagine purchasing an iOS-based iMac for your parents or grandparents:

"Help, how do I load up this software?"

"Just go into the App Store and purchase Office 2011 for Mac"

Add in a touchscreen and it'd be cake! :biggrin:
Of course, there is no Office 2011 for the iPad and there are no current plans for it either. As far as I'm concerned, for a working computer for the general population, if it doesn't support Office, then it's not really viable.

The iPad is currently targeted and designed as a net appliance, and much more so than the many nettops and netbooks out there. For iOS to do what you want, it'd have to significantly increase its scope. That may happen, but I don't think it will happen this year or even next year.
 
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scootermaster

Platinum Member
Nov 29, 2005
2,411
0
0
Wishlist:

Verizon iPhone 4G/LTE
Touchscreen iMacs
OS X 10.7
iPad with Cameras
7" iPad
iChat with Facetime
iWork '11
iOS-based desktop OS (App Store, for example)
AppleTV apps (Angry Birds + Magic Touchpad for HDTV!!)
11.6" Macbook Air
iPhone XL (4.1" for people with larger hands)

I think what's realistic is:
1. Preview of new MacOS. 10.7
2. New Macbook Air
3. iChat with Facetime
4. iLife 11

Is that enough for an event? Where's the "pop"? Unless this Macbook air is like $600 and really revolutionizes things, I don't think there's a lot of meat there.

The touch screen iMac is a decent bet, but what doesn't sit well with me is I feel like it'd be a pre-announce, and I don't think Apple would do that to iMac sales, you know? Like "Hey! In February, you can get one of these...so don't buy one until then!". And I honestly think we would have heard more in the pipeline if these were imminent. (Placing orders for 20" touchscreen panels isn't something you can slip by someone). Same with iPad stuff (there's no reason, with all the new retail partners selling the iPad, for them to say "hey, in 4 months there'll be a better one!). Also, of course, it's not Mac related. IPhone stuff doesn't make a lot of sense at a Mac event.

So what does that leave? Obviously not new Mac Pros. I've been hoping for a slight bump for the MBP, and prayyyyyyying the upgraded resolution becomes standard (there's a precedent for this). It's hard to reconcile my desires with what's reasonable, but it IS coming 6+ months since the refresh, and doing something before Sandy Bridge gives them time/justification to do a SB refresh in, say, May or something, instead of what happened last time (which probably didn't effect Apple's bottom line, but people were going crazy waiting for Arrandale, and 10+ months is probably too long to do again).

So maybe a slight processor upgrade bump, using the newer Arrandale chips, higher rez and a bigger HD? Seems like a decent bump.

Or maybe it really is just a 10.7 preview, iLife, iChat and MBA. But that doesn't seem like enough.

Thoughts?
 

OBLAMA2009

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2008
6,574
3
0
why would you want a touchscreen imac. that would be a little tiring to be holding your arm up all day. in what way would a touch screen be better than a mouse
 

TheStu

Moderator<br>Mobile Devices & Gadgets
Moderator
Sep 15, 2004
12,089
45
91
why would you want a touchscreen imac. that would be a little tiring to be holding your arm up all day. in what way would a touch screen be better than a mouse

There was a patent that Apple filed, showing an iMac with a redesigned stand that allowed it to be layed horizontal on a desk. No holding your arm up now.
 

blackdogdeek

Lifer
Mar 14, 2003
14,453
10
81
There was a patent that Apple filed, showing an iMac with a redesigned stand that allowed it to be layed horizontal on a desk. No holding your arm up now.

i also think the touch screen would only augment mouse/keyboard input, not replace it.
 

bigrash

Lifer
Feb 20, 2001
17,648
28
91
I think what's realistic is:
1. Preview of new MacOS. 10.7
2. New Macbook Air
3. iChat with Facetime
4. iLife 11

Is that enough for an event? Where's the "pop"? Unless this Macbook air is like $600 and really revolutionizes things, I don't think there's a lot of meat there.

The touch screen iMac is a decent bet, but what doesn't sit well with me is I feel like it'd be a pre-announce, and I don't think Apple would do that to iMac sales, you know? Like "Hey! In February, you can get one of these...so don't buy one until then!". And I honestly think we would have heard more in the pipeline if these were imminent. (Placing orders for 20" touchscreen panels isn't something you can slip by someone). Same with iPad stuff (there's no reason, with all the new retail partners selling the iPad, for them to say "hey, in 4 months there'll be a better one!). Also, of course, it's not Mac related. IPhone stuff doesn't make a lot of sense at a Mac event.

So what does that leave? Obviously not new Mac Pros. I've been hoping for a slight bump for the MBP, and prayyyyyyying the upgraded resolution becomes standard (there's a precedent for this). It's hard to reconcile my desires with what's reasonable, but it IS coming 6+ months since the refresh, and doing something before Sandy Bridge gives them time/justification to do a SB refresh in, say, May or something, instead of what happened last time (which probably didn't effect Apple's bottom line, but people were going crazy waiting for Arrandale, and 10+ months is probably too long to do again).

So maybe a slight processor upgrade bump, using the newer Arrandale chips, higher rez and a bigger HD? Seems like a decent bump.

Or maybe it really is just a 10.7 preview, iLife, iChat and MBA. But that doesn't seem like enough.

Thoughts?

I agree. I think they'll just preview 10.7, iLife, the MBA and a slight hardware upate to the laptop lines.

People seem to have super high hopes for these events, and that's why everytime you read these thread after the events, all you hear is dissapointment. Trust me, Apple is not going to reveal an "iphone XL", appletv apps, or even a Verizon iphone (yes, I want that last one).
 

scootermaster

Platinum Member
Nov 29, 2005
2,411
0
0
I agree. I think they'll just preview 10.7, iLife, the MBA and a slight hardware upate to the laptop lines.

People seem to have super high hopes for these events, and that's why everytime you read these thread after the events, all you hear is dissapointment. Trust me, Apple is not going to reveal an "iphone XL", appletv apps, or even a Verizon iphone (yes, I want that last one).

This is me just getting my hopes up, only to be dashed -- seeing as I've been in the laptop market for over 3+ years, and haven't found one I really liked -- but both MacRumors and Applieinsider think there's a decent chance the MBP get a modest "value" bump (not a refresh).

If that happens, I'm in (and will thereby guarantee a mid January, epic Sandy Bridge refresh. Sigh).
 

silverpig

Lifer
Jul 29, 2001
27,703
12
81
I think what's realistic is:
1. Preview of new MacOS. 10.7
2. New Macbook Air
3. iChat with Facetime
4. iLife 11

It'll be more like:

1. Preview of new OS 10.7 - release date 1 year from now
2. New Macbook Air - smaller, but no USB
3. iChat with Facetime - only works on iMacs (no macbooks)
4. iLife 11 - Dropping Numbers support

Apple always gives you something totally awesome with one or two major omissions or flaws.
 

OBLAMA2009

Diamond Member
Apr 17, 2008
6,574
3
0
There was a patent that Apple filed, showing an iMac with a redesigned stand that allowed it to be layed horizontal on a desk. No holding your arm up now.

hmm, i would think it would then be awkward to look at the screen and to reach it if the screen was large
 

Eug

Lifer
Mar 11, 2000
24,165
1,809
126
Apple's answer to touch on a desktop was their desktop trackpad. ie. No touch screen iMac.
 

tokie

Golden Member
Jun 1, 2006
1,491
0
0
Preview of 10.7
iLife 11
iWork 11
Possibly new MacBook Air

That's all folks, move along...
 

Janet55

Banned
Aug 23, 2010
11
0
0
Nice to hear! I&#8217;m hoping we get some news not only on some new hardware for the Mac Pro, but some software updates for all the apps in Final Cut studio, especially a much needed update to DVD Studio Pro, then I don't need use the iFunia DVD ripping software and have a hard time. Some of us still author for optical media, not everything can be delivered via the web all the time.
Chance for a native Blue-ray burner Apple?
Ya, I know, I won&#8217;t hold my breath!
Still, this is great news & I look forward to see what Cupertino has in store for 2011