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Can't Wait anymore!

P

pilotimperial

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Feb 11, 2011
9
0
Hi guys, I need some words of wisdom here.

I can't help it, I have decided to buy now. After a couple of trips to the Apple store and getting my hands on the product, I have made up my mind on getting the imac now. I am contemplating the refurb 27' i3 3.2 Ghz. This one fits my budget very smoothly. However, for future proofing reason, I am also looking at the refurb i7 quad core 2.8 Ghz.

My use of it would be:
Word processing (a lot of it)
Web, emails ...
Movies
Gaming (very rarely)
Programming (which, in perspective, will likely to increase in intensity...)

So my question is that 27 imac a good purchase? Would you please give me an approximation of the life expectancy of such machine (the i3 27' one)?

I currently have a late 2009 MBP 2.26Ghz Ghd C2D that I plan on upgrading either later this year or in early 2012. So does this give a good margin to just go for the i3 imac?

Any input would be much appreciated!
 
Yeesh, if you can't wait that badly, don't spend the money. Instead, plunk down 500 for a refurbished 24" ACD and hook it up to the mbp. It'll be like an iMac exactly.
 
I would try and wait.

I am just like you I have been waitting to get the NEW i7 Sandy Bridge setup. for about 2 months now. For what I can say if you cant wait I would go for the i7 just do to it being faster and will have a little longer life than just the i5.

I beleve that the system refresh will be out soon but I have nothing to base that on, just that the rest of the PC World is Already using Sandy Bridge and only Apple is a bit behind, at the same point only apple will have Thunderbolt this year.

As for me I am looking for the Sandy Bridge for I cant change computers anymore like I used to so I am going to have to live with what I buy for many Years to come and knowing that it is comming out sometime soon I have to wait.

I dont really see the need for thunderbolt at this point but two years from now you might be really glad that you have it.

If it helps you are not alone, Many of us are waitting. its just sorta sucks that Apple doesnt give any idea of when it is going to be out. So you have to play a game of chance to see when to by. I guess I would say you waited this long why not a little longer. at same time it could be 2 months from now. and you would have been using your new FAST Imac. Time will tell.
 
The general rule of thumb is that if YOU NEED IT now then buy the current, but if you can afford to wait (looks like you may be able to last a couple of months) then wait for the update.
 
I Say fu*k the Update !!!

Get tje imac 27 Ultimate NOW!!!! like i did. Just get it with 16 gb ram, 2,93 ghz Quad and both a 256 gb SSD AND a 2 TB HDD and you have very little use for Thunderbolt and Sandy Bridge.

My next iMac will have Ivy Bridge 6 core CPU and 32 GB ram.

I play on my PS3, so have little use for 6950 versus 5750 gpu to be honest - GO FOR IT NOW !!!

Yeajhhhh !!!!!

----
Vh/Regards
Claus - TapaTalk on my Ip4
 
Guys thansk for the input, I really appreciate it.

scottp78 said:
If it helps you are not alone, Many of us are waitting. its just sorta sucks that Apple doesnt give any idea of when it is going to be out. So you have to play a game of chance to see when to by.
Click to expand...


This is so true. I mean this is so frustrating guys, I don't know how you can cope with it. Apple should have some mercy on its customers, I love the company but I have never been in a position where I had to wait for the release of a new machine. I remember 2 years ago when I switched to :apple: and went for the late 2009 MBP, it was a couple of months before their refresh and I really did not care at all.

Now that I am set on Mac, I have to deal with waiting lol. I don't mind waiting but not that kind of waiting Apple is making us do. I would rather be told the refresh is for 2030 than just waiting in the dark. (I'm sorry if I'm b******g right now, I just can't take it)
 
pilotimperial said:
I mean this is so frustrating guys, I don't know how you can cope with it.

...

(I'm sorry if I'm b******g right now, I just can't take it)
Click to expand...


It's called patience and discipline. There are some of us that can overcome the reptilian part of our brain and there are many who cannot.
 
pilotimperial said:
Guys thansk for the input, I really appreciate it.




This is so true. I mean this is so frustrating guys, I don't know how you can cope with it. Apple should have some mercy on its customers, I love the company but I have never been in a position where I had to wait for the release of a new machine. I remember 2 years ago when I switched to :apple: and went for the late 2009 MBP, it was a couple of months before their refresh and I really did not care at all.

Now that I am set on Mac, I have to deal with waiting lol. I don't mind waiting but not that kind of waiting Apple is making us do. I would rather be told the refresh is for 2030 than just waiting in the dark. (I'm sorry if I'm b******g right now, I just can't take it)
Click to expand...

I think the diffrence this time around is that it is not just a Bump in speed, if it was I would have bought already and be happy! It is a change in CPU from a first gen two a Second Gen. That is a big difrence why! Also Not that it is for me but the Thunderbolt Port. If you buy now you dont get it and if you wait most likely you do.

Being for me my job has so many cut backs that I know what I am making now will not allow me to buy anoter system for some time so I want the new one so that it will last me longer!! When I used to build my own PC I could just update a few parts for a few $100 and be faster. With MAC you cant do that and you are paying more for it!

I dont know about you but it does help to just talk and complain about it with others in the same situation and wait together. One day soon I am sure we will all be happy!!!
 
scottp78 said:
I think the diffrence this time around is that it is not just a Bump in speed, if it was I would have bought already and be happy! It is a change in CPU from a first gen two a Second Gen. That is a big difrence why! Also Not that it is for me but the Thunderbolt Port. If you buy now you dont get it and if you wait most likely you do.

Being for me my job has so many cut backs that I know what I am making now will not allow me to buy anoter system for some time so I want the new one so that it will last me longer!! When I used to build my own PC I could just update a few parts for a few $100 and be faster. With MAC you cant do that and you are paying more for it!

I dont know about you but it does help to just talk and complain about it with others in the same situation and wait together. One day soon I am sure we will all be happy!!!
Click to expand...

I don't agree with you when you say it's a whole new CPU. Maybe the tech on paper is new, but the speed advantage of an i7 2,93 ghz Quad core I just bought and the new Sandy bridge i7 quite frankly IS NOT that big of a step in terms of speed gain. I also build pc's and frankly I would have stayed with my i7 920 if not for SATA 3. That's the only real advantage where you will see the real benefits of the new chipset.

You will not see real CPU and ram speed gains before Ivy Bridge is here in late 2011 early 2012 in my honest opinion. I'm going from triple channel ram to dual channel with Sandy bridge. This is not what I call groundbreaking new technology.

Wait for Ivy bridge and X68 chipsets, this is the real upgrade to X58 - not p67 to be honest.

The new i7 2600k runs at 3.4 GHz and frankly is not that much different from an i7 970 cpu. Both are quad core and the i7 2600k is frankly just a minor upgrade in speed, nothing more.

Only SATA 3 makes Sandy bridge interesting in my view.
Wait for Ivy Bridge !!!

----
Vh/Regards
Claus - TapaTalk on my Ip4
 
All Depends on your use of the System!

CHSeifert said:
I don't agree with you when you say it's a whole new CPU. Maybe the tech on paper is new, but the speed advantage of an i7 2,93 ghz Quad core I just bought and the new Sandy bridge i7 quite frankly IS NOT that big of a step in terms of speed gain. I also build pc's and frankly I would have stayed with my i7 920 if not for SATA 3. That's the only real advantage where you will see the real benefits of the new chipset.

You will not see real CPU and ram speed gains before Ivy Bridge is here in late 2011 early 2012 in my honest opinion. I'm going from triple channel ram to dual channel with Sandy bridge. This is not what I call groundbreaking new technology.

Wait for Ivy bridge and X68 chipsets, this is the real upgrade to X58 - not p67 to be honest.

The new i7 2600k runs at 3.4 GHz and frankly is not that much different from an i7 970 cpu. Both are quad core and the i7 2600k is frankly just a minor upgrade in speed, nothing more.

Only SATA 3 makes Sandy bridge interesting in my view.
Wait for Ivy Bridge !!!

----
Vh/Regards
Claus - TapaTalk on my Ip4
Click to expand...

That is not true!! I have used it on the pc side and with HD Video Rendering was almost 20 % faster!!! That is MAJOR!!! when you are talking about Redering Large HD FILES!!! And yes you noticed I am not talking about the Built in Video for that for most people doesnt mean anything!!! It All Depends on what you are doing with the system. This new Prossessor was Disigned with Rendering in mind!! if all you are doing is making MP3's ya your right you wont really notice anything! If you are making multi HR Movies in HD. You will notice a LOT!!! I ALSO AM Comming from an i7 with x58 Chipset!! Not everything is in MHz anymore hasnt been that way in some time now!! as for tripple Memory and such Apple doesnt do any of that!! They dont even do dual channel.
 
Last edited:
Buing now vs later!

scottp78 said:
That is not true!! I have used it on the pc side and with HD Video Rendering was almost 20 % faster!!! That is MAJOR!!! when you are talking about Redering Large HD FILES!!! And yes you noticed I am not talking about the Built in Video for that for most people doesnt mean anything!!! It All Depends on what you are doing with the system. This new Prossessor was Disigned with Rendering in mind!! if all you are doing is making MP3's ya your right you wont really notice anything! If you are making multi HR Movies in HD. You will notice a LOT!!! I ALSO AM Comming from an i7 with x58 Chipset!! Not everything is in MHz anymore hasnt been that way in some time now!!
Click to expand...

Also if you look! At Apple's MBP with the mobile Sandy Bridge at 2.0/2.2 they are Faster than the Basic Mac PRO with 2.8 quad.

Sure saying your waitting for somthing in 2012. Yea a year + from now sure there will always be fast and faster Down the road! We are talking now! And to Spend $2000 + on out dated tech vs what is Avl. Now makes no sence. Yes apple sells a lot to people who dont know tech (Mom and Pa's) that walk in and buy right now! Not even knowing what Sandy Bridge even is! But if you do know you would know that waitting make sence when you can walk into a Local Store and buy the chip already and a Motherboard that can use it.

Being that they are now selling a system in there apple stores with the new tech and are telling people about it! You have to guess that the rest of there line up will get it sooner than later!
 
Wait

Like others have said, WAIT if at all possible. The Sandy Bridge performance is a major leap. If you absolutely HAD to buy today I'd buy a new MBP and maybe get a larger display if you need it. I am in the exact same boat----dying for the new iMac to come out and I'm waiting. If you look at the benchmarks the lower clocked MBPs are faster than the higher clocked current version of the iMacs. The only way I'd be happy with a current gen iMac would be if it was a gift and even then I'd sell it the day the new ones were available.
 
I'll wait

Thanks guys for bringing me back to reason. The frustration was just too overwhelming earlier when I woke up this morning.
 
pilotimperial said:
Thanks guys for bringing me back to reason. The frustration was just too overwhelming earlier when I woke up this morning.
Click to expand...

For what it's worth, having a top end 2010 iMac, and my new top end 2011 MBP 17"... It's worth waiting if for only the Sandy Bridge. I don't regret my iMac purchase at all, it is my workhorse, it's what I use exclusively for my business every day (unless I am away, reason for the MBP :p ) It's an amazing, wonderfully powerful, beautiful machine. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat if I were at that point in time again. But, after having a chance to put the MBP through it's paces, aside from the lack of drive space, it noticeably outperforms my iMac on processing tasks. These little SB processors are absolute beasts. If the MBP is this good with them, I can't wait to play with a new iMac when they come out :p

(but for anyone that needs to get an iMac now, the 2010 is by no means a slouch, and it's not a regrettable purchase. If you have to have it, you have to have it. But if you don't, SB alone will make them worth the wait!)
 
pilotimperial said:
Thanks guys for bringing me back to reason. The frustration was just too overwhelming earlier when I woke up this morning.
Click to expand...

I bet you just want to toying up with iMac .. yeah they're gorgeous and huge man .. but you woke up today just to think that you WANT an iMac on your study room, like RIGHT NOW .. that's a bad sign dude

Just hold on, if you want to touch iMac right now, just go to nearest Apple Store, playing nice with the attendant and have 10 minutes session with iMac .. you'll feel better and have your Mac-gasms released :D

Nothing wrong with being patient, unless you had the NEED for iMac, you need it for job, you need it do something only can be done on iMac, you need it to earn some money, then go ahead, get one now .. today !! lol

Happy waiting man
 
iZero said:
For what it's worth, having a top end 2010 iMac, and my new top end 2011 MBP 17"... It's worth waiting if for only the Sandy Bridge. I don't regret my iMac purchase at all, it is my workhorse, it's what I use exclusively for my business every day (unless I am away, reason for the MBP :p ) It's an amazing, wonderfully powerful, beautiful machine. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat if I were at that point in time again. But, after having a chance to put the MBP through it's paces, aside from the lack of drive space, it noticeably outperforms my iMac on processing tasks. These little SB processors are absolute beasts. If the MBP is this good with them, I can't wait to play with a new iMac when they come out :p

(but for anyone that needs to get an iMac now, the 2010 is by no means a slouch, and it's not a regrettable purchase. If you have to have it, you have to have it. But if you don't, SB alone will make them worth the wait!)
Click to expand...

Do you think that Sandy Bridge has real noticeable improved performance? Or maybe because your iMac has more apps installed and after some time they become slightly lagged compared to your newer 2011 MBP?

Or did you actually remember the day you bought your iMac, when it's fresh? It wasn't really as fast as newer Macbook Pro?
 
pilotimperial said:
Guys thansk for the input, I really appreciate it.




This is so true. I mean this is so frustrating guys, I don't know how you can cope with it. Apple should have some mercy on its customers, I love the company but I have never been in a position where I had to wait for the release of a new machine. I remember 2 years ago when I switched to :apple: and went for the late 2009 MBP, it was a couple of months before their refresh and I really did not care at all.

Now that I am set on Mac, I have to deal with waiting lol. I don't mind waiting but not that kind of waiting Apple is making us do. I would rather be told the refresh is for 2030 than just waiting in the dark. (I'm sorry if I'm b******g right now, I just can't take it)
Click to expand...

Apple may not tell us when the update's coming, but we're not really as much in the dark as it may seem. If you look at the Buyer's Guide, the iMac gets an update every 7 to 11 months, and the 7 month mark was February. So it could happen anytime between now and June, but no later (and I'd bet money on that, as I said in another thread). Worst case is you wait 3 months, that's nothing unless you absolutely need it right away. I went through the same thing last year, I waited a couple extra months for the 2010 update. It may be hard now but you'll forget about those couple months once the day comes, and you'll be glad you waited.
 
iSayuSay said:
Do you think that Sandy Bridge has real noticeable improved performance? Or maybe because your iMac has more apps installed and after some time they become slightly lagged compared to your newer 2011 MBP?

Or did you actually remember the day you bought your iMac, when it's fresh? It wasn't really as fast as newer Macbook Pro?
Click to expand...

It's a real noticeable difference. I was curious after buying my MBP and after backing everything up, did a clean install on my iMac. I'm not saying it is replacing or ever will replace my iMac, but I am saying that if it kicked the MBP up that much, I am excited to see the difference it will make when SB gets into the 2011 iMacs.
 
I disagree that it is a waste, you really have to evaluate your needs. I just bought the base 21.5 inch imac for 1499 and bought additional ram to upgrade myself. I used my student discount and it was a bit cheaper. The current iMacs can fully handle all of my needs. Sure, it isn't the fastest or best desktop on the market, nor is it the best iMac. It covered what I needed. I wanted a new iMac (didn't need it), and I decided it was worth the investment to go ahead and buy it. I have zero regret over my purchase.
I did a lot of what you did as in going to the apple store and playing with the iMacs, and then I decided it was time. I bought it and love it.
I know the update is coming soon and I looked at what I would lose. I realized that a faster processor is just more excess for me. The only thing I think I miss out on is a better gpu, but that is a moot point for me. I play some games but don't need top end for me. I know thunderbolt will be on it as well, but I really don't see that being a huge upgrade until a year or two from now and I upgrade every 3 years or so. By the time it becomes big time or mainstream I will be ready to upgrade again.
 
Finchj05 said:
I disagree that it is a waste, you really have to evaluate your needs. I just bought the base 21.5 inch imac for 1499 and bought additional ram to upgrade myself. I used my student discount and it was a bit cheaper. The current iMacs can fully handle all of my needs. Sure, it isn't the fastest or best desktop on the market, nor is it the best iMac. It covered what I needed. I wanted a new iMac (didn't need it), and I decided it was worth the investment to go ahead and buy it. I have zero regret over my purchase.
I did a lot of what you did as in going to the apple store and playing with the iMacs, and then I decided it was time. I bought it and love it.
I know the update is coming soon and I looked at what I would lose. I realized that a faster processor is just more excess for me. The only thing I think I miss out on is a better gpu, but that is a moot point for me. I play some games but don't need top end for me. I know thunderbolt will be on it as well, but I really don't see that being a huge upgrade until a year or two from now and I upgrade every 3 years or so. By the time it becomes big time or mainstream I will be ready to upgrade again.
Click to expand...

If you had waited for the update, you would've had the option of buying the 2010 model at a discount from resellers who are clearing their inventory. So you could have at least saved money on the same iMac you have now by waiting a little longer, even if you didn't want to go for the new model. But maybe that's not a big deal to everyone, so as long as you're happy.
 
LOL! some people make me laugh! all they are waiting for is the "new" CPU, which 99% of them won't benefit at all.
 
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