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Get a 27in iMac now, or wait for 2017 refresh.

Nate.

Nate.

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 7, 2012
174
108
Chicago, IL
As far as performance, I'm going to upgrade the SSD myself as well as the RAM so really the CPU/GPU would be the only improvements for me and with that I think I'll be fine. My main concern I guess is if it had a different exterior design (besides color) that may be better, or any other main features that I might miss out on.

Of course I could also just sell the model I buy now and then get it, but do you guys think I should wait out the (estimated) 3 months and just see where we're at then or would it not really make a difference.

I'd be getting a refurb for $1500 from the Apple Store, too, if that makes a difference. Just the base model 27".

For some reason though after getting the new MBP I can't stop thinking if I should wait or just go for it now as it could just be a minor refresh this time around.

Anyone have advice?
 
Well, I'm waiting for the 2x (or so) GPU boost and the 2TB SSD. It depends on what you prioritize.
 
If the next iMac goes the way of the MacBook Pro, there may be less friendly ports. You may wind up buying a bunch of adapters. I needed one now and bought now. There will always be updated models that come out later on. I keep computers for a long time and usually buy top spec units. I still have an old 17-inch MacBook Pro in the house. I have taken it apart a couple of times to make repairs, but it keeps on working. My daughter uses it for email, general internet stuff, as well as school work, and it is great. We rarely do gaming on our Macs, and photo and video editing is easily accomplished on the current top spec iMac. Take care.
 
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If you keep waiting for a speculated next model you're never going to be able to buy an iMac.
Just buy one now and be happy with it. It's extremely capable and looks great too. I don't see a reason to wait.
 
It's probable the next iMac will be completely redesigned and thunderbolt 3/USBc only. If you're comfortable adapting or buying new devices wait for it. Otherwise the maxed 2015 27" is a great value, it will connect natively to everything around. Still the best i7 in class available. Incredible display. Personally, I think the wait will be longer than most as apple may be waiting for intel to drop new gen processors.
 
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There is no bad thing that imac get all usb-c !! Its a desktop, so if you need usb or sd card you buy a little dock that you can even put in front of you for easy acces. So i really hope for 4x tb/usb-c ports, amd vega, only fusion drive and ssd up to 2T, 64 gb ram. And it seems that the imac and the 12 macbook will be the first to come next year. So i guess in 3 months
 
Nate. said:
For some reason though after getting the new MBP I can't stop thinking if I should wait or just go for it now as it could just be a minor refresh this time around.
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This sounds like you already have the new MBP. A new iMac is likely to have T3/USB-C connectors like the new MBP, so is this matching set important to you? The other questions are: do you need to buy a new machine now or can you wait? In the former case there is no choice but your new MBP might be able to bridge the time until new iMacs are available. Only you know your exact circumstances and it is virtually impossible for strangers to guess them and apply to a choice such as this. The current iMac is a good machine, so it's difficult to make a bad decision.
 
If you don't have a burning need for the iMac, why buy now? At the very least you'll get the 2015 model cheaper if you don't like what apple rolls out.
 
I'm looking to replace a 2009 mini. I've always resisted AIOs, but I'm pretty resigned to the mini's fate. I'm waiting until March, since I (obviously) keep my machines a long time and I might as well try to get one that has USB-C since that is where the industry is heading. Expecting to see only iMacs in the next refresh, so that's what I'll get. Not too worried about dongles for my current stuff, since once you set up a desktop there is no need to carry the dongles around.
 
I was like you...totally undecided. Buy now, or wait for 3,6,9 or who-knows-how-many months for a refresh.

FWIW, I'm running a late 2010 MBA 11" hooked to a 24" Dell monitor.

"The new one will have USB-C!! The new one will be faster!! The new one will be newer!!" Then I realized that I have exactly two things attached to my MBA, besides the monitor: A set of external speakers via 3.5mm jack, and a Logitech keyboard/mouse dongle (which uses USB-A of course!!).

Both my Pixma Pro-100 printer and color laser AIO are wireless. And my old MBA is running Sierra.

Don't get me wrong, my MBA has definitely slowed down (I see that darn beachball way more than before, haha!!) and it's getting a bit frustrating doing simple photo/video edits (and forget editing 4K from my drone, that has to be done on my iPad Pro 12"). So again, what to do??

My decision? I just now ordered a late 2015 27" iMac, i5 3.3, 8GB, M395, 2TB Fusion. Ordered from B&H to save tax. I'll buy AppleCare from the Apple Education Store to save $30 over B&H. I'll be upgrading the RAM with OWC's kit to save the scandalous amount Apple charges for 32GB. Done and done.

The new rig will easily do what I need it to do for a long while. And by then, who knows what Apple will have cooked up??

OP, good luck with whatever decision you make. IMHO, Either way you can't really go wrong.
 
I agree, I too think that dongles and adaptors are less of an issue with desktops. Also it would be nice to have USB-C/Thunderbolt connectivity for a myriad of reasons.
 
With all of the negative press lately on Apple's desktop demise I am thinking they may "pull the trigger" earlier on some updates.
 
Was planning on returning my 15" tb mbp and ordering a maxed 27" iMac .. but the gpu is gonna be so much better on the update whenever the hell thay is
 
I am somewhat in the same boat... I have the choice of maybe getting a loan for a new iMac now, or saving up my money until March 2017. How do we know the iMac refresh is happening in March?
 
buy the March imac model !!!! there are already rumours for imac and macbook. Probably the mac mini and mac pro will be updated at WWDC or autumn
 
Fiachers said:
How do we know the iMac refresh is happening in March?
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We don't.

People are expecting a March rollout, but we have no idea if that will be the case. I remember back in 2011, when waiting for the expected refresh of the MBP. Everyone said, January, then March. We finally saw the refresh in June.
 
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maflynn said:
We don't.

People are expecting a March rollout, but we have no idea if that will be the case. I remember back in 2011, when waiting for the expected refresh of the MBP. Everyone said, January, then March. We finally saw the refresh in June.
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What on earth is going on in Apple? I have given Apple so much latitude over the years with certain gripes I've had, while overall being quite satisfied, but this stuff with the Mac is pretty depressing and hard to quite understand.

I have strongly considered dumping the Mac for a PC, but the only thing that makes me hold on is macOS and the whole painless/integrated Apple experience.

If they screw the iMac and arrogantly charge insane prices, I'm gone. I'll miss Time Machine, screen sharing, etc., but I'm gone.
 
Sounds like you have the flexibility to wait until the first half of 2017. And, you would need to take out a loan to buy an iMac now. Two good reasons to save your money for a few months and then use cash to select from a wider array of options than you have now. These options should include the 2015 model at a reduced price, if that is still your first choice.
 
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Fiachers said:
What on earth is going on in Apple?
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From what I've read (somewhat unsubstantiated), is that they pulled people from the desktop team to work on the laptop team, to get the MBP out the door in 2016.

Also, for the 27" iMac what else could they do, its currently running Skylake, it would be a minor spec bump (with a potential GPU upgrade). True the 21" update would be more significant.

FWIW, Microsoft rolled out their brand new Surface Studio AIO, and its running Skylake, does not have USB-C and has a spinning hard drive. My point is their (Apple's) hands are tied to Intel's release schedule and Kaby Lake isn't due out until 2017
 
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Since usb-c is ready, since amd vega will be ready in January, since kaby lake for imac are ready from 5 of January,the ram is ready, ssd are ready, no redesign, so there is no point not to update in March the 12" Macbook and 21.5" and 27" imacs
 
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