21" iMac + iPad VS 27" iMac?

[asdfasdf32]

Hello everyone.
I have about + - 1600 pounds budget for my new computer- I have been waiting for over 4 months now for a refresh of either iMac or Macbook Pro, but it seems like i wont hear a thing about this till April? I am really sick of waiting and finally thinking of just pulling the trigger now - (after reading hundreds of threads and it seems like there wont be any 'major' change anyway...)
so with this money and 15% student discount, i may be able to get either a 21" iMac plus an ipad or a 27" iMac? I am finding this really difficult to decide as i would like a bigger screen(altho im not that fussed about this) and alot more powerful hardware, but on the other hand, i get an iPad.

The thing is that, i already own an iphone 4, so i am not too sure if im going to use iPad so much tho- is it that useful ? what can i use it for?

Please help me out, give us your opinion!
Thank you very much for your time- hope you all have a great day

 

[theking79]

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Don't buy yet, especially if you want an iPad, iPad refresh is rumored to be coming quite soon.

I'm in the same position as you waiting for an iMac refresh, but I'm going to wait and get it before my 3rd year at university, it will be worth it.

 

[asdfasdf32]

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Don't buy yet, especially if you want an iPad, iPad refresh is rumored to be coming quite soon.

I'm in the same position as you waiting for an iMac refresh, but I'm going to wait and get it before my 3rd year at university, it will be worth it.

Well, it seems like there isnt going to be a major change for a new iMac anyway tho- is there? my plan is to get an imac first and wait for an iPad 2 when it comes out-( if i chose to get these instead of a 27"). OR, im just wondering- is there a promotion or some kind, that if i buy both an iMac and an iPad at the same time,do i get more discount or something? thanks for your reply btw!

 

[theking79]

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Don't buy yet, especially if you want an iPad, iPad refresh is rumored to be coming quite soon.

I'm in the same position as you waiting for an iMac refresh, but I'm going to wait and get it before my 3rd year at university, it will be worth it.

Well, it seems like there isnt going to be a major change for a new iMac anyway tho- is there? my plan is to get an imac first and wait for an iPad 2 when it comes out-( if i chose to get these instead of a 27"). OR, im just wondering- is there a promotion or some kind, that if i buy both an iMac and an iPad at the same time,do i get more discount or something? thanks for your reply btw!

No one knows really how big the update will be, the new intel processors will probably be put in, and the graphics card will probably be updated as usual.

If you really need an iMac now buy one now, but if you don't I would recommend waiting and getting the 27".

 

[Mikey7c8]

There should be a major change for both in the next few months. As the other poster mentioned only buy one now if you really need to. In the case of the iMac it is an evolutionary change though, nothing revolutionary.

 

[ruvil]

There should be a major change for both in the next few months. As the other poster mentioned only buy one now if you really need to. In the case of the iMac it is an evolutionary change though, nothing revolutionary.

From where do you get that the iMac should get a major change? As far as i have seen from the other threads and rumours, there won't be much of a change. Some HW upgrade etc...

The iPad on the other hand is something completely different, that one i am sure will get itself a significant upgrade.

My recommendation: Buy the iMac now and wait for the iPad

 

[revelated]

Hello everyone.
I have about + - 1600 pounds budget for my new computer- I have been waiting for over 4 months now for a refresh of either iMac or Macbook Pro, but it seems like i wont hear a thing about this till April? I am really sick of waiting and finally thinking of just pulling the trigger now - (after reading hundreds of threads and it seems like there wont be any 'major' change anyway...)
so with this money and 15% student discount, i may be able to get either a 21" iMac plus an ipad or a 27" iMac? I am finding this really difficult to decide as i would like a bigger screen(altho im not that fussed about this) and alot more powerful hardware, but on the other hand, i get an iPad.

The thing is that, i already own an iphone 4, so i am not too sure if im going to use iPad so much tho- is it that useful ? what can i use it for?

Please help me out, give us your opinion!
Thank you very much for your time- hope you all have a great day

My opinion?

27" iMac is for raw power. Do you need raw power? Or do you just need a basic desktop? Answer that question first, because here's the deal.

If you get an iMac - either iMac - with a solid state drive, I GUARANTEE YOU that nothing released this or next year will surpass it. Especially if you get the 27" iMac with a solid state drive. It'll run circles around anything else released.

As for the iPad, my suggestion is this: if you have an iPhone 4, skip the iPad. For you, the only real difference would be screen real estate. I'd consider it a waste of money. Personal opinion.

So...my call: get the high end 21" iMac, throw in a 256 SSD, max out the RAM. That beast will last you some years.

 

[asdfasdf32]

My opinion?

27" iMac is for raw power. Do you need raw power? Or do you just need a basic desktop? Answer that question first, because here's the deal.

If you get an iMac - either iMac - with a solid state drive, I GUARANTEE YOU that nothing released this or next year will surpass it. Especially if you get the 27" iMac with a solid state drive. It'll run circles around anything else released.

As for the iPad, my suggestion is this: if you have an iPhone 4, skip the iPad. For you, the only real difference would be screen real estate. I'd consider it a waste of money. Personal opinion.

So...my call: get the high end 21" iMac, throw in a 256 SSD, max out the RAM. That beast will last you some years.

Oh Thank you very much for your reply-
Well i will be using it mainly for photoshop/AutoCad/indesign /(often heavy files which my current laptop cannot deal with) and some games- So i do need a good one thats going to last for a while,(future proof? lol)

Would you be so kind and tell me whats so good about SSD? i thought it was simply a bit quicker hard drive-(and ridiculously expensive for its capacity ? lol)
So iPad wont be much of use for me then as i thought!

 

[AppleNewton]

Solid State Drives or Flash drives have no moving parts and are not standard mechincal drives that have to park and have less wear and tear over time. Similar to iPads and iPhones where the storage is on flash/solid state storage. Allowing faster access and performance.

Once you see how well an SSD works...you'll never go back, I haven't.


One thing you may keep in mind is that if youre only gettin the 27" iMac for display size and dont need uber powerful machine as you mentioned a 21" might suit you fine.
You can get a low-end to mid-range 27" iMac in the refurb store, some that cost the same as the 21" iMacs which allows you to pick up an iPad if you so desire as well.

 

[skiltrip]

Solid State Drives or Flash drives have no moving parts and are not standard mechincal drives that have to park and have less wear and tear over time. Similar to iPads and iPhones where the storage is on flash/solid state storage. Allowing faster access and performance.

Once you see how well an SSD works...you'll never go back, I haven't.


One thing you may keep in mind is that if youre only gettin the 27" iMac for display size and dont need uber powerful machine as you mentioned a 21" might suit you fine.
You can get a low-end to mid-range 27" iMac in the refurb store, some that cost the same as the 21" iMacs which allows you to pick up an iPad if you so desire as well.

+1.

Apple just repopulated the refurb store last night, so they have a pretty huge selection of 27" models. You can get a current i3 for just over 1400US or if you want a (still very capable) Core 2 Duo you can get one for 1269US.

 

[revelated]

Oh Thank you very much for your reply-
Well i will be using it mainly for photoshop/AutoCad/indesign /(often heavy files which my current laptop cannot deal with) and some games- So i do need a good one thats going to last for a while,(future proof? lol)

Would you be so kind and tell me whats so good about SSD? i thought it was simply a bit quicker hard drive-(and ridiculously expensive for its capacity ? lol)
So iPad wont be much of use for me then as i thought!

As stated, if you don't need the screen size, go for the 21". Solid state drive will make the performance of the machine top notch compared to comparable machines. If I were you, I would skip the iPad completely. Just me though.