i think, if you are going to wait until jan - you can wait until they update them in march.
All in all, a personal decision...
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Holding Off Until Mid-January To Get An iMac
- Thread starter donster28
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All in all, a personal decision...
very true. but i figure if you're going to wait that long then you may aswell wait another 2 months for an upgrade (and hope for the HD5000 series GPU).
We will more then likely see a Macbook Pro update before we see anything Imac. Apple will more then likely bring a refresh to the Mac pro's. In early 2010
Black Friday will give us a student like discount on certain computers but not all. $100 less off the original price. The discount will only last for a few hours so you'll need to be ready. Imac being so new it's hard to say If they will discount those. However, I think they will but again only for a few hours If they do.
Black Friday will give us a student like discount on certain computers but not all. $100 less off the original price. The discount will only last for a few hours so you'll need to be ready. Imac being so new it's hard to say If they will discount those. However, I think they will but again only for a few hours If they do.
Personally, I am going to wait until January - probably mid-January. Why?
1)I need to see good real life tests run - i5 vs i7, so I can decide which one I'm going to be ordering
2)So enough feedback is generated by users to decide if the risk of buying a flawed rev. A edition is worth it, or if the risk is too high
3)Any minor hardware/production modifications that might need to happen have a chance of happening
4)Workarounds, updates and firmware have a chance to be pushed out
5)Snow Leopard has had a chance to be baked a bit more - at least 10.6.2 will be out and feedback on that generated.
Why would I not wait any additional time for the next update? Because, barring unacceptable reliability problems, this current update is absolutely one worth buying - the next update will not happen so quickly (probably not until mid-year, and will not, IMHO, have as many new exciting things worth waiting for - I'm happy with what's here as it is. My only wishes are: SSD option - but if these drives become cheaper and bigger, I can in the worst case install them into the present iMac... and I don't believe the next update will have the SSD option at a reasonable price - 6 months is not enough time for the price/capacity point to move too much. All in all - THIS is the update to buy. Plus, I will have months of use, instead of waiting for the next update which I wager will be quite minor by comparison.
1)I need to see good real life tests run - i5 vs i7, so I can decide which one I'm going to be ordering
2)So enough feedback is generated by users to decide if the risk of buying a flawed rev. A edition is worth it, or if the risk is too high
3)Any minor hardware/production modifications that might need to happen have a chance of happening
4)Workarounds, updates and firmware have a chance to be pushed out
5)Snow Leopard has had a chance to be baked a bit more - at least 10.6.2 will be out and feedback on that generated.
Why would I not wait any additional time for the next update? Because, barring unacceptable reliability problems, this current update is absolutely one worth buying - the next update will not happen so quickly (probably not until mid-year, and will not, IMHO, have as many new exciting things worth waiting for - I'm happy with what's here as it is. My only wishes are: SSD option - but if these drives become cheaper and bigger, I can in the worst case install them into the present iMac... and I don't believe the next update will have the SSD option at a reasonable price - 6 months is not enough time for the price/capacity point to move too much. All in all - THIS is the update to buy. Plus, I will have months of use, instead of waiting for the next update which I wager will be quite minor by comparison.
Discounts on hardware are usually $50-200 depending on model. As I recall, they were pretty much in line with the education discount.
By January the new models should be in the refurb store - real savings there!
I bought my aluminum macbook last year on Black Friday after work at like 7:00pm. So, I don't think they have a time limit at apple for the Black Friday discounts. Also, I think my macbook was fairly new to the apple store when I bought it and I got 100.00 off.
You do have black Friday in Canada...as far as Apple is concerned anyway. They give everyone discounts on black Friday
I wish it was nationwide but Dec26th is our major Black Friday per say. And yes, I think Apple does discount stuff on the American Black Friday but not much. But every year, they tend to add things to the discounted line.
Exactly what I feel too. If I decide to wait for the next revision, then we're talking about waiting another month or two after that (so the bugs on the new updates are ironed out). I believe Mid-January is a perfect time to get these babies.
Exactly what I feel too. If I decide to wait for the next revision, then we're talking about waiting another month or two after that (so the bugs on the new updates are ironed out). I believe Mid-January is a perfect time to get these babies.
agreed... though i think by then most of the issues that will need working out will be with the i5/i7 since issues with the display are being looked at right now... or at least i would assume.
great mind think alike.
good idea.
HDV uses firewire, when usb3 is in full swing, no imac will have firewire, just like lower end macbook pro have no firewire. this maybe last imac with firewire. think about the possibility.
good idea.
HDV uses firewire, when usb3 is in full swing, no imac will have firewire, just like lower end macbook pro have no firewire. this maybe last imac with firewire. think about the possibility.
It's a scary thought indeed.
It's a fact: HDV editing is still faster than AVCHD editing even though you're still going to deal with tapes. The thought of firewire gone on iMacs will single handedly devastate my hobby.
I think this is a good idea as well. Waiting until then will only be 1.5-2 months tops after the early adopters get them which isn't that long but long enough to gather crucial real-world information about these Quad-core iMacs and let Apple (hopefully) work out the kinks.
I'd like to add this is easily the most substantial iMac refresh since at least the 1st generation Intel iMacs. All the refreshes since then have basically been speed bumps and the like. Now that Apple has redefined their iMac line I expect the next 3-4 refreshes to be something akin to all the refreshes between the late 2006 iMacs and these late 2009 iMacs.
The only thing of note you might gain by waiting 6-8 months for the next refresh is a better GPU. But unless you don't really need a new iMac soon and are incredibly patient waiting for Apple to do something really exciting with GPUs is a risky proposition and not worth it IMHO. Besides, for all of the "typical" users out there (like myself) the 4850 is still a decent GPU and should keep you happy for long enough.
I didn't mention stuff like Blue-Ray and SSD (if you care about these things) because it looks pretty likely that stuff like that can be added to these iMacs in the future one way or another. Actually, it still hasn't been completely ruled out that GPU will be user-upgradeable either (although I wouldn't count on it).
So yeah, these Quad-core iMacs are about as good as it will ever get with iMacs and should have the lasting power that no other iMac before them has ever had. The next two months should hopefully provide additional information to support this thinking making purchasing one in January a no-brainer (and possibly even at a discounted price in the refurb store).
-PN
I'd like to add this is easily the most substantial iMac refresh since at least the 1st generation Intel iMacs. All the refreshes since then have basically been speed bumps and the like. Now that Apple has redefined their iMac line I expect the next 3-4 refreshes to be something akin to all the refreshes between the late 2006 iMacs and these late 2009 iMacs.
The only thing of note you might gain by waiting 6-8 months for the next refresh is a better GPU. But unless you don't really need a new iMac soon and are incredibly patient waiting for Apple to do something really exciting with GPUs is a risky proposition and not worth it IMHO. Besides, for all of the "typical" users out there (like myself) the 4850 is still a decent GPU and should keep you happy for long enough.
I didn't mention stuff like Blue-Ray and SSD (if you care about these things) because it looks pretty likely that stuff like that can be added to these iMacs in the future one way or another. Actually, it still hasn't been completely ruled out that GPU will be user-upgradeable either (although I wouldn't count on it).
So yeah, these Quad-core iMacs are about as good as it will ever get with iMacs and should have the lasting power that no other iMac before them has ever had. The next two months should hopefully provide additional information to support this thinking making purchasing one in January a no-brainer (and possibly even at a discounted price in the refurb store).
-PN
I think this is a good idea as well. Waiting until then will only be 1.5-2 months tops after the early adopters get them which isn't that long but long enough to gather crucial real-world information about these Quad-core iMacs and let Apple (hopefully) work out the kinks.
I'd like to add this is easily the most substantial iMac refresh since at least the 1st generation Intel iMacs. All the refreshes since then have basically been speed bumps and the like. Now that Apple has redefined their iMac line I expect the next 3-4 refreshes to be something akin to all the refreshes between the late 2006 iMacs and these late 2009 iMacs.
The only thing of note you might gain by waiting 6-8 months for the next refresh is a better GPU. But unless you don't really need a new iMac soon and are incredibly patient waiting for Apple to do something really exciting with GPUs is a risky proposition and not worth it IMHO. Besides, for all of the "typical" users out there (like myself) the 4850 is still a decent GPU and should keep you happy for long enough.
I didn't mention stuff like Blue-Ray and SSD (if you care about these things) because it looks pretty likely that stuff like that can be added to these iMacs in the future one way or another. Actually, it still hasn't been completely ruled out that GPU will be user-upgradeable either (although I wouldn't count on it).
So yeah, these Quad-core iMacs are about as good as it will ever get with iMacs and should have the lasting power that no other iMac before them has ever had. The next two months should hopefully provide additional information to support this thinking making purchasing one in January a no-brainer (and possibly even at a discounted price in the refurb store).
-PN
You've summed it up quite well. Thanks for sharing.
thanks for your very logical post Pauly.
the same user of the SSD upgrade also reported that both CPU & GPU are not soldered onto the motherboard, meaning that us brave ones can upgrade it ourselves. just thought everybody would like to know that
the GPU for me isnt really a big issue, i dont game terribly much and if i do i can cope with using 'reduced' settings and resolutions. i really cant afford to wait for 6-8months because my CoreDuo MBP is really giving me pains as it goes so slow. trying to run multiple VMs just doesnt work. i need this quad core machine.
BluRay is an easy and cheap upgrade, about $200 for the slot-loading 12.7mm drive i suspect. SSD has already been done by another user from MR, another easy upgrade.
the same user of the SSD upgrade also reported that both CPU & GPU are not soldered onto the motherboard, meaning that us brave ones can upgrade it ourselves. just thought everybody would like to know that
the same user of the SSD upgrade also reported that both CPU & GPU are not soldered onto the motherboard, meaning that us brave ones can upgrade it ourselves. just thought everybody would like to know that
Great to know that. Now these babies are more attractive than ever! Good things come to those who wait.
Amidst all the issues on the initial i7 shipments, I am becoming more and more happy about my decission to wait.
I agree. If you are willing to wait, just wait for the Rev B. It would suck to buy it then a few months later a cheaper/better spec version is out that you could have had. If you can't wait, buy it now. Applecare is good for 1 year, you'll be fine. My i5 has no issues, btw.
I still haven't decided what I'm going to do but right now I'm leaning towards January or next revision. The only thing that might change that is if there's an exceptional Black Friday or Cyber Monday price. But that's pretty unlikely with Apple products.
Being an early adopter is usually not my thing and it's always worked out well for me that way.
-PN
Being an early adopter is usually not my thing and it's always worked out well for me that way.
-PN
Personally, am waiting for the next revision to see if they include a quad-core processor or at least an i3 in the 21.5" iMac. I love the form factor of the smaller iMacs but don't see why I have to settle for an older processor. The performance gap between iMacs in these new models is fairly wide. Unfortunately, the 27" machines are just too big for my taste and my desk. Until I get the machine that suits my needs, my credit card stays in my wallet.
If you don't need it, don't buy it... but otherwise it's a good time to buy!
Of course, if you don't need a new computer, why buy? On the other hand, if you could use one, I'd argue THIS is the revision to buy, if you want something as big as the 27".
If you wait on the next revision, what could you possibly gain from that revision? The chips are not going to get much faster - the i7 will be king of the hill in iMacs for awhile yet I suspect, looking at Intel's roadmap. Better GPU? To be honest the higher end ATI will handle pretty much anything. The only thing that I would like is an SSD option, but somehow I don't see it yet in the next revision... and in the worst case, you can put one in the current iMacs if you really want to. I'd also like more FW and USB access points, but we won't get them on the next iMac either... and easier access to the HDD, again, won't happen.
Folks, from a technical point of view, this is the revision to buy - the next one will not have anything much better at all. You could say it'll work out the bugs in this one, sure, but it will also introduce new bugs. I think it's wisest to wait until January (to work out possible bugs with screens and hard drive), and buy it then. That's what I'm doing.
Of course, if you don't need a new computer, why buy? On the other hand, if you could use one, I'd argue THIS is the revision to buy, if you want something as big as the 27".
If you wait on the next revision, what could you possibly gain from that revision? The chips are not going to get much faster - the i7 will be king of the hill in iMacs for awhile yet I suspect, looking at Intel's roadmap. Better GPU? To be honest the higher end ATI will handle pretty much anything. The only thing that I would like is an SSD option, but somehow I don't see it yet in the next revision... and in the worst case, you can put one in the current iMacs if you really want to. I'd also like more FW and USB access points, but we won't get them on the next iMac either... and easier access to the HDD, again, won't happen.
Folks, from a technical point of view, this is the revision to buy - the next one will not have anything much better at all. You could say it'll work out the bugs in this one, sure, but it will also introduce new bugs. I think it's wisest to wait until January (to work out possible bugs with screens and hard drive), and buy it then. That's what I'm doing.
Lol if I were going to get one I'd get one now, because then you'll be waiting for the next new release, which will be ages away since the new iMac has only just come out...
Amidst all the issues on the initial i7 shipments, I am becoming more and more happy about my decission to wait.
The logic is quite simple. You have identified this computer as one that fits your needs. Do you need it now or not? If not, don't buy. If so, buy. If there is a problem with it, get it repaired by Apple.
I really fail to see how these 'teething' problems, if they even exist* should have any bearing on a buy decision. Why? Because they all show up within a very short time of ownership. Well within the warranty period. The problems you need to worrry about are those that don't show up until after the warranty period. But you won't know about those until that comes around, by which time a new model will be here anyway.
* as for the teething problems, don't forget that as the first affordable Mac with quad core, these things have been super popular and Apple can't keep up with demand. Note the 3500+ post waiting to ship thread. Seriously folks, there has been a latent demand for quad core Macs for over a year, and people are jumping on these. So they've sold a bucket load. There is no way for us to know whether these problems are at a similar level to previous generation Macs in % terms, or whether there is a serious problem. To base your purchase decision on that is meaningless, considering that you presumably need a computer, and the problems that have been occuring show up very early and will be repaired by Apple.
EDIT: just realised that OldCorpse already said much of this.
I'm waiting (until January probably) purely for financial reasons at this point. Hands-on reviews and reports have confirmed what I already suspected - the Quad core iMacs are the best iMac revision ever. That said, I'm in full agreement that the next revision won't be anywhere near as dramatic. In fact, I'm guessing if the typical pattern continues the iMac line will see minor updates, every 6-8 months until 2012 when the next big change occurs.
This doesn't mean waiting for the next revision is a bad thing, especially if you don't really need to upgrade. It just means the next revision won't be ground-breaking or anything. Probably more likely something slightly better than what's already a phenomenal machine.
-PN
This doesn't mean waiting for the next revision is a bad thing, especially if you don't really need to upgrade. It just means the next revision won't be ground-breaking or anything. Probably more likely something slightly better than what's already a phenomenal machine.
-PN