Buy now or wait (iMac i7)

[Racingboy]

hello everyone, I'm new and have always used Windows computers. Now I'm tinking about ordering an iMac.
I've searched a lot about the new iMac's. Now I'm hesitating to order an iMac 27" i7. I've read a lot of topics with problems about the screen and ticking harddrives. Does everyone has these problems or are that indivudual cases?

Sorry for my English...

Thx everyone!

 

[kb27973]

hello everyone, I'm new and have always used Windows computers. Now I'm tinking about ordering an iMac.
I've searched a lot about the new iMac's. Now I'm hesitating to order an iMac 27" i7. I've read a lot of topics with problems about the screen and ticking harddrives. Does everyone has these problems or are that indivudual cases?

Sorry for my English...

Thx everyone!

I bought a 27" i5 iMac yesterday. Got it running and connected to internet in 5 minutes. Wonderful. Started to play with it and noticed these flickers. The first few times I ignored and then I googled and found that other people were having the same issue. I'm going to return it today. Other than this small issue which Apple will fix it's a fantastic machine.

 

[5630745]

i7 all the way. I think, with the benchmarks starting to come in, it's worth the extra cash today, even more so down the road.

 

[FocusedOne]

I think you have to take some of the feedback about the i7 with a grain of salt - even though there seem to be a lot of complaints, this board represents a tiny fraction of all new iMacs sold. And the dissatisfied minority will always be louder than the satisfied majority - people sitting at home, content with their new, awesome machines.



This same kind of thing happened on AVS Forums when I bought a Pioneer Pro151-FD Elite a year and a half ago... people hyper-analyzed it until they 'found' issues. I actually did get one with a couple dead pixels, returned it, and the replacement was perfect. And I still maintain that it is the best TV I've ever owned.

 

[ma2ha3]

wait til imac have blu ray burner and usb 3.
imac unlike other company is not upgradable
therefore it is dinosaur in a few month time.
MP if you are rich, but i know, i know, imac 27 is stunning beauty, i am too love the idea of having it. i have a 30 inch, oc PC icore7 with 12GB of ram, bluray recorder, gtx 285 and intel SSD. I also want imac 27. my pc will crush imac 27 performance like an empty can. But it will not even touch the beauty of imac 27. I want one imac 27, but i really would like wait a bit longer.

hello everyone, I'm new and have always used Windows computers. Now I'm tinking about ordering an iMac.
I've searched a lot about the new iMac's. Now I'm hesitating to order an iMac 27" i7. I've read a lot of topics with problems about the screen and ticking harddrives. Does everyone has these problems or are that indivudual cases?

 

[msbenn67]

Buy Now

I too was hesitating but I have to say that the concern was unwarranted. I ordered the 27" i7 which I received yesterday. After hours of use it is flawless. No flickers, blackouts, noisy hard drive. It runs and looks fantastic. I believe someone else noted that this forum only represents a small percentage of total iMac customers. Overall I think the iMacs are solid builds. Order it and relax.

 

[Racingboy]

I'm happy

Just ordered an i7 with printer. It will be sent within the next 5 - 7 workday's. First seen than believe...

 

[Badger^2]

thats going to be a long wait.

And then you will say wait for Purpleray and USB 4, and then Redray and USB 5, and then Greenray and USB 6 and then it will be 2025.

wait til imac have blu ray burner and usb 3.
imac unlike other company is not upgradable
therefore it is dinosaur in a few month time.
MP if you are rich, but i know, i know, imac 27 is stunning beauty, i am too love the idea of having it. i have a 30 inch, oc PC icore7 with 12GB of ram, bluray recorder, gtx 285 and intel SSD. I also want imac 27. my pc will crush imac 27 performance like an empty can. But it will not even touch the beauty of imac 27. I want one imac 27, but i really would like wait a bit longer.

 

[robotkiller]

wait til imac have blu ray burner and usb 3.
imac unlike other company is not upgradable
therefore it is dinosaur in a few month time
MP if you are rich, but i know, i know, imac 27 is stunning beauty, i am too love the idea of having it. i have a 30 inch, oc PC icore7 with 12GB of ram, bluray recorder, gtx 285 and intel SSD. I also want imac 27. my pc will crush imac 27 performance like an empty can. But it will not even touch the beauty of imac 27. I want one imac 27, but i really would like wait a bit longer.

Incorrect.

 

[kb27973]

i7 all the way. I think, with the benchmarks starting to come in, it's worth the extra cash today, even more so down the road.

Yeah, it's the one I wanted to begin with. When I called on the phone the rep told me they had them in store. Didn't believe it so I asked 3 times. Affirmative, affirmative, affirmative. Took off work went to the store and they only had i5's. To make it up to me they gave me 10% off the purchase price and no-restock fee if I wasn't satisfied. How could I lose? So I took home the i5 with 8GB ram. Like I said above beautiful, but mine had the screen issue. Took it back today and I think I'm going to online order the i7. But I'm going to lose my 10% off which is kind of a bummer.

 

[Jiten]

wait til imac have blu ray burner and usb 3.
imac unlike other company is not upgradable
therefore it is dinosaur in a few month time.
MP if you are rich, but i know, i know, imac 27 is stunning beauty, i am too love the idea of having it. i have a 30 inch, oc PC icore7 with 12GB of ram, bluray recorder, gtx 285 and intel SSD. I also want imac 27. my pc will crush imac 27 performance like an empty can. But it will not even touch the beauty of imac 27. I want one imac 27, but i really would like wait a bit longer.

The BTO versions of last year's iMac (3.06 C2D) seem to still do quite ok in most benchmarks even a year after. I can imagine the i7 becoming mid-range at the end of 2010. Not so bad as it will be a dinosaur. If you want dinosaurs I have a bunch of G4 Macs to sell you.

Although BR is debatable, you may be spot on about USB 3 but then again, it will probably take at least 2-3 years for the whole industry to catch on (USB devices will be available widely and cheaply) by that time those who purchased todays iMac will probably be upgrading again anyway.

 

[53x12]

I can imagine the i7 becoming mid-range at the end of 2010. Not so bad as it will be a dinosaur.

Says who? The i7 will still be the top of the line CPU for the iMac in 2010. If anything you might see a slight CPU speed bump to the i7-870 @ 2.93 which will be a much smaller performance increase compared to the i5. The i7 will still be the top of the iMac for some time.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Every product release brings the same story:

1) The Waiting to Ship Threads
2) Then the OMG it's amazing threads for the first 24-120 hours.
3) Then a few complaints start trickling in.
4) Following this, someone starts a completely worthless poll
5) Then everyone gets their panties in a wad and if you were looking at this forum for the first time, you would think that Apple's products were absolutely terrible.

That's pretty much the cycle. We're currently wrapping up Stage 4 and beginning to enter Stage 5.

Bryan

 

[EasyRider]

wait til imac have blu ray burner and usb 3.
imac unlike other company is not upgradable
therefore it is dinosaur in a few month time.
MP if you are rich, but i know, i know, imac 27 is stunning beauty, i am too love the idea of having it. i have a 30 inch, oc PC icore7 with 12GB of ram, bluray recorder, gtx 285 and intel SSD. I also want imac 27. my pc will crush imac 27 performance like an empty can. But it will not even touch the beauty of imac 27. I want one imac 27, but i really would like wait a bit longer.

USB 3.0 is not going to show up on a mac till 2011 at the earliest, not worth waiting for.

Apple does need to add Blu-ray support and possibly their own extrernal burner... and make it work with TV. Is it worth waiting for? No. People have been waiting for this for about 2 years now.

That is an impressive PC.

 

[Bye Bye Baby]

Personally I am going to wait. I have an iMac (specs below) and it is going fine, even though I do love the new 27" and i7.

I'll wait until i7 becomes a regular feature in iMacs. That way I'll still get to sell my iMac for a good price and pick up a great new computer for a price that is not over the top.

 

[ma2ha3]

no i will not say such things. usb3 is only a couple of months and blu ray already here, in japan blu ray 50gb re only cost about 9 euro each. it will only get cheaper. blu ray already here, usb 3 around the corner, that why i said imac 27 will be obsolete very soon, i stand correct.

And then you will say wait for Purpleray and USB 4, and then Redray and USB 5, and then Greenray and USB 6 and then it will be 2025.

 

[hakr]

I think I will wait until my local Apple store has a few I7's in stock...then I'll buy one and have them run it in for me at the store for half a day before I take it home.

 

[fobfob]

Oh boy, where to begin with this thread.

And the dissatisfied minority will always be louder than the satisfied majority - people sitting at home, content with their new, awesome machines.

Exactly. All the people without problems are actually using their machines and living rich and fulfilling lives. The ones with problems and the ones that love to gloat have gathered here to discuss it ad nauseam.

wait til imac have blu ray burner and usb 3.

If you need blu-ray on your computer, then OK I agree that's worth waiting for (or don't get a Mac). You have got to be kidding about USB3. You actually have to get some devices to support it (and need it) first. So if your iMac is a dinosaur in a few months, so is EVERY OTHER USB device you own. I know for one I'm going to crush my Canon 5DII under a bus the minute USB3 comes out because it doesn't support it. Think.

imac unlike other company is not upgradable

I can upgrade the drive easily enough, or plug in an external blu ray. The only thing holding us back is the support in OSX. NEXT. Regarding USB3, what exactly are you going to use it for? Storage? Apple wants you to buy a Mac Pro for that anyway. Don't buck the system! Oh and why do we need USB3 for storage anyway, we already have eSATA which is faster than any current or emerging drive technology. Since iMac doesn't have eSATA, by your definition it is already a dinosoar. What is so special about USB3? It's a red herring.

therefore it is dinosaur in a few month time.

Macs hold value. What other PC holds value? Thus, at $supposed_obselence_date you will still be able to sell it and put that money towards a new machine.

That's pretty much the cycle. We're currently wrapping up Stage 4 and beginning to enter Stage 5.

Thanks for the LOL. This forum needs it of late.

 

[fobfob]

One more thing. I've observed (at least in my country) that the best time to buy Apple products to maximise value, is on the day of release. Sure, Rev A products might have problems, but that is what warranty is for.

Why do I say this? Because Apple (at least around here) doesn't tend to discount, and product updates are relatively infrequent given the pace of change in the industry as a whole. Thus, the best value is gained at introduction. You get to maximise its use over the period in which it is most relevant technologically. Then you sell it and move on to the next new model.

Another problem that this avoids is the standard "OMG!!!11!! I just bought an iXxx last month and now Apple just brought out a new one that's much better, what can I do?". If you buy at the beginning of the product cycle, the chance of this happening is very low indeed.

Of course there are exceptions. Apple might bring out a new model quickly (Ipod Mini->iPod Nano), or dramatically drop the price (MacBook Air, iPhone 2G). But that is where you have to make a value decision. If the deal is too rich, don't buy.

 

[53x12]

I'll wait until i7 becomes a regular feature in iMacs. That way I'll still get to sell my iMac for a good price and pick up a great new computer for a price that is not over the top.

Not sure you can have your cake and eat it to in this situation. Not sure I am following how you can sell your old model 24in iMac for a "good price" and hope to get the new i7 for a good price? Once refurbs start coming out, people aren't going to want to pay premium for an old 24'' when they can have a nice new iMac for the same price as what you are probably going to try and sell yours for. The best time to have sold your 24'' iMac was before the new ones were released for getting the most of your money back. Now you will be getting less.

no i will not say such things. usb3 is only a couple of months and blu ray already here, in japan blu ray 50gb re only cost about 9 euro each. it will only get cheaper. blu ray already here, usb 3 around the corner, that why i said imac 27 will be obsolete very soon, i stand correct.

Not to sound mean, but you are being really dense right now. You do not "stand correct" because USB will not be out in computers until the end of 2010 or early 2011. Tell me why you need USB 3? You don't is the right answer. Now if Light Peak was right around the corner that would be a different issue, but even LP is further out. USB3 is basically worthless at this point based on its intended purpose and will be superceded by LP. You really need to drop this one big guy.

 

[solman]

hello everyone, I'm new and have always used Windows computers. Now I'm tinking about ordering an iMac.
I've searched a lot about the new iMac's. Now I'm hesitating to order an iMac 27" i7. I've read a lot of topics with problems about the screen and ticking harddrives. Does everyone has these problems or are that indivudual cases?

Sorry for my English...

Thx everyone!

There is a lot of chatter, polls, etc. about DOA's, screen problems, HDD etc. As a cautious consumer, a wait would be a good idea... hopefully a brief one.

We can only hope that Apple techs are at the factory in Shanghai, as we speak, combing the production lines with magnifying glasses to solve this QC blunder.

My hope is that it's only QC. If it's an engineering problem, Video Card too hot for this motherboard, etc. etc. then we have some REAL issue better known as Rev. 2 with actual internal engineering/part changes.

I feel for you as many others, myself included, are in the same predicament.

 

[fobfob]

There is a lot of chatter, polls, etc. about DOA's, screen problems, HDD etc. As a cautious consumer, a wait would be a good idea... hopefully a brief one.

If you actually need the computer, then to break even following your advice, this "wait" you speak of would have to be less than 2 weeks, which is how long I guess it would take to get a Mac fixed by Apple, at the most.

If you wait any longer than 1-2 weeks, then you are actually losing out, because you are living without the computer that you need for longer than you would if there is a fault, which is extremely unlikely anyway.

We can go further and ask what the chances are that Apple will fix these production issues in 1-2 weeks from now. If the answer is 'unlikely' then you are better off buying the computer rather than waiting. Again, assuming you actually need it.

 

[5630745]

Yeah, it's the one I wanted to begin with. When I called on the phone the rep told me they had them in store. Didn't believe it so I asked 3 times. Affirmative, affirmative, affirmative. Took off work went to the store and they only had i5's. To make it up to me they gave me 10% off the purchase price and no-restock fee if I wasn't satisfied. How could I lose? So I took home the i5 with 8GB ram. Like I said above beautiful, but mine had the screen issue. Took it back today and I think I'm going to online order the i7. But I'm going to lose my 10% off which is kind of a bummer.

Thanks for the reply!