Delete i7-order and order the cheapest 27"?

[Hj12345]

Hm, I have started to change my mind a little bit and wonder if you experts can help me in two minds. In the main job I uses the computer to type is the most resource-efficient programs you can think of: surf the web, listening to music, sometime edit a movie I have, viewing tv-shows, and simpel programming etc.

I ordered an iMac 27" with i7 - crazy or what? now I begin to realize that my iMac 27", standard (for 1699 dollar), can satisfy my needs very well, it feels like it well enough for me. Indeed, there is no Quad processor in this machine, not the best graphics card, but it does not feel that I need this for my needs.

The difference in price with student discount is more than 6000 SEK (800 dollars here in Sweden) between the current order I have and the cheapest 27", and I can find is a big difference. I am essentially looking for is a stable display for my movie/tv-viewing, and as I understand it is same shade in all the iMac 27 "models, right?

How would you have done if you had the same needs as I have?

+Delivery time is much shorter than the i7, at the time of writing it is not known even when the i7 comes.

 

[johnrs]

There are quite a few threads where people have questioned the need for a i5 or an i7

One way I look at it is not to look at what I am running today, but look at what I could be running this time next year. The C2D is a good CPU and will work well but like most things its days are numbered. When I get my i7 I am looking to keep it for a good few years so I am future proofing my investment as much as poss.

I don't do anything fantastic & this will be my first iMac, but I am thinking ahead a little.

 

[Shivetya]

I would buy the base.

None of your requirements show a need for even an upgraded video card, let alone a quad processor system.

Save the money for your retirement

 

[dwd3885]

There are quite a few threads where people have questioned the need for a i5 or an i7

One way I look at it is not to look at what I am running today, but look at what I could be running this time next year. The C2D is a good CPU and will work well but like most things its days are numbered. When I get my i7 I am looking to keep it for a good few years so I am future proofing my investment as much as poss.

I don't do anything fantastic & this will be my first iMac, but I am thinking ahead a little.

if you're going to think about it that way, think about it like this, "Will I want blu-ray, light peak and usb3 next year this time?" Answer: Yea, probably so. So the i5/i7 computer you buy today won't be more future proof than the c2d one because of those reasons.

 

[SOLLERBOY]

I have been thinking the same nut I don't see the upgrade from my 2.0ghz worth me planting down £1400 when I can have something much better for a couple hundred more. I am going to University in sep next year and will need tons more computing power then so I will stick with the i5.

 

[53x12]

if you're going to think about it that way, think about it like this, "Will I want blu-ray, light peak and usb3 next year this time?" Answer: Yea, probably so. So the i5/i7 computer you buy today won't be more future proof than the c2d one because of those reasons.

However you never know for sure when those items will ship on a Mac. There will always be something new around the corner. Might as well buy a cheap Acer and wait for this God of a computer for Apple to release then.

 

[SOLLERBOY]

if you're going to think about it that way, think about it like this, "Will I want blu-ray, light peak and usb3 next year this time?" Answer: Yea, probably so. So the i5/i7 computer you buy today won't be more future proof than the c2d one because of those reasons.

True, however those technologies will probably not reach the imac line until early 2011 or so, even later for the cheaper models. I'm no expert but apple isn't going to include light peak or usb 3 on cheaper models at the same time as more expensive ones. Like this line up of imacs for example, quad core is only in the most expensive imac, next revision most if not all will have an i5 or i3. The revision after that is probably when apple will consider adding expensive newer technologies. Just my opinion.

 

[Jiten]

I think the OP made a wise choice. The money that you save will serve you better elsewhere in an investment or probably you next big Mac purchase. I do understand why people future proof and that is their choice but I do not see really the value of doing it especially when your needs do not need horsepower. I can understand if you are an industry professional who needs to run the latest version of Photoshop or Final Cut Pro to push tons of pixels or a gamer who wants the most powerful Mac to run his game smoothly. Other then that all the power and money is wasted.

The thing is, if you want gaming it is probably more practical to get a 360, PS3 or build your own rig. And even most industry professionals I've know tend to stick to older versions of their professional apps or hardware because it works for them. In fact I knew a few hobbyist friends (who dabble in high-end video editing and motion graphics) who have more powerful setups the those who actually do it for a living.

 

[chp5592]

I too am debating between Core 2 model and Core i5 (or i7) model. There are no benchmarks right now comparing the two. But I think this article helps which compares the Mac Pro with 2.66 Nehalem processor versus the older iMac with 3.06 Core 2. They are very comparable processors, the core i5 is almost identical to the server type 2.66 chip used by the Mac pro, including the turbo mode (but not hyperthreading).

http://www.macworld.com/article/139507/2009/03/macpro2009.html

Basically, for overall performance, the advantage seems to be about 15 to 20%. If you are doing major video encoding or Mathematica type stuff, the advantage maybe almost 100-150%!!!

So if you do lots of video encoding, it seems waiting fore the Core i5 or i7 makes sense. I think (since I don't do a whole lot of video encoding stuff) will probably get the Core 2 model...

 

[iWoz]

Hm, I have started to change my mind a little bit and wonder if you experts can help me in two minds. In the main job I uses the computer to type is the most resource-efficient programs you can think of: surf the web, listening to music, sometime edit a movie I have, viewing tv-shows, and simpel programming etc.

I ordered an iMac 27" with i7 - crazy or what? now I begin to realize that my iMac 27", standard (for 1699 dollar), can satisfy my needs very well, it feels like it well enough for me. Indeed, there is no Quad processor in this machine, not the best graphics card, but it does not feel that I need this for my needs.

The difference in price with student discount is more than 6000 SEK (800 dollars here in Sweden) between the current order I have and the cheapest 27", and I can find is a big difference. I am essentially looking for is a stable display for my movie/tv-viewing, and as I understand it is same shade in all the iMac 27 "models, right?

How would you have done if you had the same needs as I have?

+Delivery time is much shorter than the i7, at the time of writing it is not known even when the i7 comes.

The longer I wait the more I contemplate the same thing

 

[ma2ha3]

One way I look at it is not to look at what I am running today, but look at what I could be running this time next year. The C2D is a good CPU and will work well but like most things its days are numbered. When I get my i7 I am looking to keep it for a good few years so I am future proofing my investment as much as poss.
I don't do anything fantastic & this will be my first iMac, but I am thinking ahead a little.

usb3 , end of 2009, end of 2010, the shop will be stuff full of usb3 product, none you can use on your imac.

when br-re disk is dirt cheap, you will not be able to use on your imac.

looking ahead for a few years? in one year your 27inch imac will be obselete.

 

[topmounter]

Not obsolete for his stated needs/wants... only obsolete if he needs/wants the absolute latest/greatest kit. Personally, I would take a pass on the i7 and save the dough. As an example, instead of buying the new 27" iMac, I bought a 3.06 GHz 24" refurb and saved enough to buy a refrurb 24" ACD.

 

[ma2ha3]

Not obsolete for his stated needs/wants... only obsolete if he needs/wants the absolute latest/greatest kit. Personally, I would take a pass on the i7 and save the dough. As an example, instead of buying the new 27" iMac, I bought a 3.06 GHz 24" refurb and saved enough to buy a refrurb 24" ACD.

well a mac pro will not be obsolete. buy a pci card usb 3, buy a blu-ray drive, similarly pc never would.

usb3 is around the corner. blu-ray is overdue, all it need is apple and sony to come up with a deal, bam all apple computer will have blu-ray burner option.

all i am laughing are people who claim they are thinking for a few years ahead for an imac, what a joke. their brain cannot think a week ahead.

 

[SOLLERBOY]

well a mac pro will not be obsolete. buy a pci card usb 3, buy a blu-ray drive, similarly pc never would.

usb3 is around the corner. blu-ray is overdue, all it need is apple and sony to come up with a deal, bam all apple computer will have blu-ray burner option.

all i am laughing are people who claim they are thinking for a few years ahead for an imac, what a joke. their brain cannot think a week ahead.

Apple don't need to "strike a deal" with sony, they are already Directors of the blu ray association.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc_Association

 

[topmounter]

It's not the Blu-Ray hardware that's the issue, it's the HDCP implementation (rather a lack thereof) in OS X that's the issue.

There will always be something new "coming soon" that will cause purchase-paralysis in some people. I got my fill of being out on the bleeding edge of the price-performance curve building my own gaming PC's (latest 3D card, latest Mobo, latest Proc, OC'ing, etc.). It's just not worth the trouble to me anymore, for the most part I just stick with the fully-baked stuff now and save myself a lot of headaches and money.

 

[gr81mgbgt]

This is what i did. I canceled mine and im going to the apple store this weekend. I'm coming from an 1998 HP 1.3 ghz 128mb ram and 50gb hard drive desktop..... SO the 3.06 Base 27" is more than enough and a BIG jump from what i had, cant wait to get it!

 

[neonkru]

well correct me if i'm wrong. i understand that usb3 should be a good feature to have however, if you think that way you will never buy a new computer because something new is almost there. same was with hdmi, same was with LED screens blablabla. about the blu ray don't the 27 imac can be used as a standalone display? i guess that alone solves it. however you could still plug in an usb blu ray external drive, it would just work i guess

 

[tunerX]

well correct me if i'm wrong. i understand that usb3 should be a good feature to have however, if you think that way you will never buy a new computer because something new is almost there. same was with hdmi, same was with LED screens blablabla. about the blu ray don't the 27 imac can be used as a standalone display? i guess that alone solves it. however you could still plug in an usb blu ray external drive, it would just work i guess

That's why people should not buy a new computer until November of 2012. That way when the world ends the following month they will not have to worry that it will be obsoleted.

 

[Agentmckay]

usb3 , end of 2009, end of 2010, the shop will be stuff full of usb3 product, none you can use on your imac.

when br-re disk is dirt cheap, you will not be able to use on your imac.

looking ahead for a few years? in one year your 27inch imac will be obselete.

Please not hardly... I already have a blu-ray drive hooked to my 27" and you don't need any additional hardware to playback blu-ray. The current video card will playback 1080p content with no problem, heck the 27" native resolution is higher then HD. usb 3 is just starting and current usb standards will be around for a long time to come.

 

[topmounter]

usb3 , end of 2009, end of 2010, the shop will be stuff full of usb3 product, none you can use on your imac.

when br-re disk is dirt cheap, you will not be able to use on your imac.

looking ahead for a few years? in one year your 27inch imac will be obselete.

#1 - USB 3.0 peripherals are backward compatible with USB 1.1 and 2.0

#2 - Nvidia confirms Intel won't back USB 3.0 until 2011

 

[iWoz]

hmm Im so tempted to just go pick the c2d 27'imac this weekend

for me theres £215 difference in the price between c2d and i5

£1160.14 with Uni discount - c2d
£375.14 with Uni discount - i5

Bearing in mind I want this to last for atleast 3/4 years

I use iTunes/Office/ some photo editing/ Downloading music/ Watching Films/Using Eyetv/ probably installing windows 7 via parallels or VMWare
Will I really use the quad core technology to it's potential. I understand the "future proofing idea" But I cant see it not lasting me 3/4 years on c2d.

But then again I have the money to wait for the i5, I might just be getting impatient.

 

[Kronie]

Yes you should cancel and buy the base model. If for no other reason that I will get my i7 that much sooner.