A good time to get a new desktop?

[GuyInTheBack]

So for the last 4 years I've had a Macbook Pro for college (the old all-silver ones) and I've loved it. It's what turned me into a Mac guy (god, how people choose Windows I'll never know).

It's always served me well and still does...mostly but it's worn down quite a bit. It's on it's last year I"d say.

It spent months at time turned on 24/7 doubling as my TV as well.

Considering I'm about to start law school (which will involve a LOT of writing) in my own first apartment I'm thinking of getting a desktop with a big-ass screen since I won't have to move it all the time.

This will happen around Christmas ideally. Now I'm not up-to-date on Mac trends and release rumors; Is there another desktop rumored to come out within the next year or is the current/ latest system out the peak of the line for another long while or should I wait (and if so for what)?

I don't want to replace this one for another 6-7 years ideally so I want the best desktop available (assuming I can, y'know, afford it).

Thanks in advance!

 

[alust2013]

Now would not be the time to buy a Mac Pro. However, there is absolutely no reason for you to buy a Mac Pro. For the work you do, any of the current line of iMacs will last you quite a while. So for your uses, I would suggest a 27" iMac, with base specs, or the 3.1GHz upgrade if you game at all. The iMac was released fairly recently and with a Sandy Bridge quad, has the newest hardware out there. You could also go with one of the recently released minis, which are cheaper, but will last a good while for moderate use, and you can get your own screen. What's nice as of late is that the newest processing technology is rapidly outpacing the need for faster processors in daily tasks like word processing, internet, video, and even stuff like photo editing. (video encoding, editing, heavy number-crunching will never be able to get enough) This reduces the need to buy a new computer every couple years to prevent it from being slow.

 

[DisMyMac]

Please google law school scam and reconsider everything.... Plan carefully if you do go, or else your next Mac had better last 30 years or even the rest of your life.

 

[GuyInTheBack]

Now would not be the time to buy a Mac Pro. However, there is absolutely no reason for you to buy a Mac Pro. For the work you do, any of the current line of iMacs will last you quite a while. So for your uses, I would suggest a 27" iMac, with base specs, or the 3.1GHz upgrade if you game at all. The iMac was released fairly recently and with a Sandy Bridge quad, has the newest hardware out there. You could also go with one of the recently released minis, which are cheaper, but will last a good while for moderate use, and you can get your own screen. What's nice as of late is that the newest processing technology is rapidly outpacing the need for faster processors in daily tasks like word processing, internet, video, and even stuff like photo editing. (video encoding, editing, heavy number-crunching will never be able to get enough) This reduces the need to buy a new computer every couple years to prevent it from being slow.

Woah, that was a lot of information. I've been way out of the loop.

I misspoke; I was definitely thinking an iMac with a big screen (I love the lack of tower). I guess my question is; is there a new update on the iMac around the corner (1-year or so) or are the current models top of the line for a while?

Embarrassing Newb question: What's the difference in performance/usage between iMac and Macbook Pro if you can give me a few examples?

Please google law school scam and reconsider everything.... Plan carefully if you do go, or else your next Mac had better last 30 years or even the rest of your life.

I truly appreciate the concern, but I'm good. Business Law and trade policy is actually my field of interested rather than practice so I'm not going into it for the clerk job at the end.

And erm, there are a handful of schools above the Law School bubble, I'll leave it at that.

 

[GuyInTheBack]

A shameless bump, yes absolutely.

 

[stevendphoto]

Just bought the near-top-of the-line 27" iMac (check out B&H) I did not get the SSd model, but coming from a Mac Pro Tower (1st Gen 3.0 Dual-Core), I am very happy with it...!

Quote for an old Humphry Bogart Movie: "I don't need no stinkin' Tower"...

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It's been awhile since I was in law school but you don't want or need a desktop. You need a 13" MBA and a 27" monitor. You are also going to want a copy of Windows 7 and Parallels or VMWare Fusion too b/c the legal profession is very biased against Mac. A lot of s/w is PC only

 

[GuyInTheBack]

Just bought the near-top-of the-line 27" iMac (check out B&H) I did not get the SSd model, but coming from a Mac Pro Tower (1st Gen 3.0 Dual-Core), I am very happy with it...!

Quote for an old Humphry Bogart Movie: "I don't need no stinkin' Tower"...

What was the difference for you? Is it just in the aesthetic and space saved?

Why didnt you get the SSD model, may i ask?