Why No New Mac Models Until Next Year?

One of the most disappointing headlines I’ve read recently had to do with Apple squashing the rumor that new Macs were on the way. Why? And, why not?

The why is easy. I want a new Mac, preferably a quad core iMac or a new MacPro. The why not? Apple probably doesn’t have much waiting in the wings for Macworld so they need the new Macs to wait until January.

Think about it. Apple just launched the 3G iPhone this summer, so we should not expect anything worthy of a huge blockbuster announcement at Macworld.

Apple just launched a completely new line of Mac notebooks—from Air to Pro. They’re faster, sturdier, come better graphics, and, with the exception of the MacBook, have new and better features. Oh, and a higher price tag.

The new MacBook line comes with a fancy new DisplayPort video connector and a huge improvement in graphics performance.

The Mac mini hasn’t been refreshed in what seems like years, but is likely to see 2009 without a Firewire port, better graphics performance.

Ditto for the iMac, in need of a speed bump, perhaps a quad core Intel CPU, and better graphics. Ditto for the MacPro, also in need of the DisplayPort connector.

All those Macs with new DisplayPort connectors require new displays. The new 24-inch LED Cinema Display is about to hit Apple Stores so we are likely to see new displays at Macworld in January.

So, why isn’t Apple giving us new Macs now, during the height of the holiday shopping season? Probably because those Macs—the Mac mini, iMac, and MacPro—are not big holiday season sellers.

All the better reason to wait until Macworld. Remember, Mac OS X Snow Leopard isn’t likely to see space on the Apple Store shelves until later in 2009, but what a better way to showcase some of the performance features than on new Macs with better graphics, better displays?

Here I am a few months away from Macworld and I’m already making some predictions. No new notebooks, of course. No new iPhone makes sense. No new iPods.

Macworld will be about Macs with a preview of Snow Leopard which will run only on Intel CPU’s.

I look for a full on refresh of the rest of the Mac line—from software to hardware.

Newer, faster iMacs will debut, along with a revised Mac mini, as well as a MacPro—all capable of handling the new DisplayPort technology. And, of course, new LED displays, probably 20-inch, 24-inch, and 30-inch models.

What else will show up at Macworld in January? Probably not much. I have my wish list, but it carries items that are left over from each of the past five Macworlds. What’s on your list?