Buying advice - now or wait ??

[AppleinJapan]

Sorry guys and gals, Im sure that this topic has been posted many times on Macrumours but I really do need HELP...

My old Imac is dying and I would like some advice on a replacement. I have an ibook G4 1.07 Ghz that i use for email, web browsing and I connect it to my TV so I can watch Australian DVDs (oh im in japan).

So im looking for a desktop replacement to do make DVDs of my photos, draw comics using a Wacom tablet, maybe start a simple 3d project.

So I dont know whether I should get a mac mini or the 17inch Imac...I won't play games (i have an X-box and PS2) but will use Photoshop elements, iDVD, cheap simple 3d software like Carrera 3d basic.

Price is a big issue as well as the fact that this will be my desktop for the next 3 years...so should I go with A mini core duo with 1gb ram then upgrade it to 2gbs in the future (and maybe replace the core duo chip) or get a 17inch Imac with 1mb ram then upgrade the ram to 2gbs later ???

or wait till OS X 10.5 comes out (when is it ?)

Thanks

 

[iamhammill]

Do you have a keyboard, mouse, and monitor already? If you have all of these I would recommend a Mini. It seems that if you don't, the iMac is the much better deal.

I think the Mini would handle what you planned on doing though.


Jake.

 

[®îçhå®?]

The iMac is better than the mac mini in the sense that it can process information faster. It is a lot better than the mini if you are a serious designer/ drawer. As Jake says, it depends if you have a monitor/keyboard/mouse and what budget you have. An iMac will last you longer before having to upgrade so this would be my buy.

 

[count chocula]

get a 17inch Imac with 1mb ram then upgrade the ram to 2gbs later ???

i know its just a typo, but the one mb of ram made me laugh.