iMac BuyersGuide cycle...?

[LZeppelinJ0]

Hey everyone, could use a little help, I'm in the market for a new iMac to replace my current system (an old PC).

The BuyerSGuide is suggesting to wait for until the next cycle of iMacs as it's been almost 160 days since the last update. Was wondering if anyone had any "inside" info on what the next iMac is going to bring to the table and when it could be expected because I don't want to purchase one now and have a shiny new iMac release a few weeks later causing me to sob like a little girl

I've checked a few posts but haven't concluded anything definitive, any help is appreciated

 

[Eidorian]

Any inside information would be on the front page of MacRumors.

I'd keep waiting unless your machine is completely dead.

 

[gazfocus]

Personally, apart from a graphics update, there's not really alot that the iMac can upgrade to. At best, the base model will probably be updated from 2GHz to 2.1 or 2.2GHz, the rest will be upgraded from the 2.4GHz to a 2.5 or 2.6Ghz, but if you need a computer now, I would go for one now (although I am waiting for them to be updated, but that's because I don't need one yet).

 

[Doctor Q]

Any inside information would be on the front page of MacRumors.

I concur, even without the wink. If there are rumors, news, leaks, etc. about an upcoming iMac model, you'll see it here.

I also agree that if you need a new iMac for something now (a project or an assignment), it's reasonable to get it now. If you want one "someday" but without a deadline, waiting will let you buy the latest and greatest, with two disadvantages: you won't have it between now and then, and new models might be subject to shipping delays.

There's a another tradeoff if Apple surprises us with some brand new iMac hardware/design feature: By waiting for the new model, you'll be the first on your block to have the new feature, but you'll also be getting "revision A" of that feature, which some people consider risky.

 

[ozfried2693]

I concur, even without the wink. If there are rumors, news, leaks, etc. about an upcoming iMac model, you'll see it here.

I also agree that if you need a new iMac for something now (a project or an assignment), it's reasonable to get it now. If you want one "someday" but without a deadline, waiting will let you buy the latest and greatest, with two disadvantages: you won't have it between now and then, and new models might be subject to shipping delays.

There's a another tradeoff if Apple surprises us with some brand new iMac hardware/design feature: By waiting for the new model, you'll be the first on your block to have the new feature, but you'll also be getting "revision A" of that feature, which some people consider risky.

i dont care!! i just ordered a 24" iMac! and i could not BE more excited
its 2.4GHz 1GB of RAM (i have another 1GB at home) and 320 GB HD i just ordered it 5 minutes ago and they said projected delivery jan. 25th to january 31st! so i hope its closer ot the 25th im beyon excited for this

 

[Doctor Q]

i dont care!! i just ordered a 24" iMac! and i could not BE more excited
its 2.4GHz 1GB of RAM (i have another 1GB at home) and 320 GB HD i just ordered it 5 minutes ago and they said projected delivery jan. 25th to january 31st! so i hope its closer ot the 25th im beyon excited for this

Congrats! You'll be ready to rock in a few days!

 

[LZeppelinJ0]

Sounds fair enough, and congrats on the purchase, that's a very big step indeed

No real pressing issue on getting a new iMac, I'd say May at the very latest so I'll play it out until then and see what happens! Keepin my fingers crossed.

 

[vtprinz]

i dont care!! i just ordered a 24" iMac! and i could not BE more excited
its 2.4GHz 1GB of RAM (i have another 1GB at home) and 320 GB HD i just ordered it 5 minutes ago and they said projected delivery jan. 25th to january 31st! so i hope its closer ot the 25th im beyon excited for this

To give you a little hope, I just ordered a refurb 24" iMac on Friday, and the projected ship date was 1/28-1-30 with a delivery date of 1/30-2/5. But to my surprise, it actually shipped that day (1/18), and is now supposed to show up on Thursday, 4 days before they said it would even ship to begin with!

 

[glocke12]

To give you a little hope, I just ordered a refurb 24" iMac on Friday, and the projected ship date was 1/28-1-30 with a delivery date of 1/30-2/5. But to my surprise, it actually shipped that day (1/18), and is now supposed to show up on Thursday, 4 days before they said it would even ship to begin with!

Im glad I have an apple store close to me, no waiting....

 

[ozfried2693]

To give you a little hope, I just ordered a refurb 24" iMac on Friday, and the projected ship date was 1/28-1-30 with a delivery date of 1/30-2/5. But to my surprise, it actually shipped that day (1/18), and is now supposed to show up on Thursday, 4 days before they said it would even ship to begin with!

lucky! do u know what the process is... mine is still not yet shipped

 

[roland.g]

Even though it has been 160 days or so, I can see the trend of iMac updates becoming somewhat less frequent. Not the 300+ days between the white 24" and the aluminums last August, but certainly 200+.

Personally I would expect the iMacs to get the Penryn update sometime in the spring, meaning late March at the earliest, and possibly as late as April or May. The MBPs will be the first to get them, and the MacBooks should be after. But remember that Penryn is just a speed bump, and since it is not a notebook, the power consumption of the 45nm CPU won't be a factor to the iMac. This is not to say it won't impact it, but the performance will be minimal, certainly not worth waiting for IMHO.

As far as a case redesign, though the form factor didn't change, the revision in August did change the case from white plastic to aluminum and glass, and while some see this as a stop gap until the next major revision of the All-in-one, I think it will last at least till 2009 or so. At that point we may see the integration of touch-screen or a touch-board into the desktop lineup.

The iMac is a great product right now. I would buy one and enjoy it. Otherwise you will most likely end up waiting several months for not much more.

 

[Nichod]

Even though it has been 160 days or so, I can see the trend of iMac updates becoming somewhat less frequent. Not the 300+ days between the white 24" and the aluminums last August, but certainly 200+.

Personally I would expect the iMacs to get the Penryn update sometime in the spring, meaning late March at the earliest, and possibly as late as April or May. The MBPs will be the first to get them, and the MacBooks should be after. But remember that Penryn is just a speed bump, and since it is not a notebook, the power consumption of the 45nm CPU won't be a factor to the iMac. This is not to say it won't impact it, but the performance will be minimal, certainly not worth waiting for IMHO.

As far as a case redesign, though the form factor didn't change, the revision in August did change the case from white plastic to aluminum and glass, and while some see this as a stop gap until the next major revision of the All-in-one, I think it will last at least till 2009 or so. At that point we may see the integration of touch-screen or a touch-board into the desktop lineup.

The iMac is a great product right now. I would buy one and enjoy it. Otherwise you will most likely end up waiting several months for not much more.

Well with penryn you'll be future proof. They are cooler and can expand to higher clock speeds.

 

[themoonisdown09]

Well with penryn you'll be future proof. They are cooler and can expand to higher clock speeds.

Future proof for a couple months or so until they come out with the Nehalem.

 

[signatus]

Future proof for a couple months or so until they come out with the Nehalem.

And in that case, only for a short period of time, until the new Westmere 32nm processors appear.

 

[signatus]

And in that case, only for a short period of time, until the new Westmere 32nm processors appear.

And a short time later, the new Gesher 32 nm microarchitecture processors will come to light....


So WTF, you'll never be future-proof when computer technologies are concerned. Companies don't want that people have the latest computers for more than a couple of months, so that the market is continuously ripe for new products. You know... geeks.

 

[themoonisdown09]

...you'll never be future-proof when computer technologies are concerned. Companies don't want that people have the latest computers for more than a couple of months, so that the market is continuously ripe for new products. You know... geeks.

That's exactly the point I was trying to make with my comment.

 

[gpercy]

I'm sitting on the fence ... currently happy with my white iMac 20 inch Core Duo ... but I do want to upgrade to the new 24 inch at some point. So I'm kinda waiting to see how this Buyer's Guide update clock pans out.

What do you think the chances might be that we see LED backlighting in the next iMac? Would that be too costly? Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't they using the LED backlighting in the 17 inch MacBook Pro and now the MacBook Air?

Curious to know what others may know or speculate.

Cheers!

 

[LZeppelinJ0]

I agree, you'll never be future proof. I work in the PC industry and we just recently got our 1600FSB Xeon processors and 780i 45nm chipsets w/ DDR3 support and we're already preparing for a jump to PCI-e 2.0 slots and G92 graphics units, even looking ahead to the 32nm processors and working with intel on getting first crack at these, even though we haven't even gotten the full range of 45nm desktop processors yet!

However I'd feel more comfortable, rather than future proof, buying at the refresh rather than buying at the possible end of a cycle, at least I'd not be sitting with a new iMac wishing I'd just waited another month or two

And very good question on the LCD backlighting. I'm sure the MacBook Pro and Air are LCD backlit which is oh so sexy, with any luck the next iMac refresh will have that option available.

Which brings me to another dilemma altogether on going with a Macbook Pro or iMac But I'll spare you all that discussion because it's already stressing me out haha!

 

[Leon Kowalski]

What do you think the chances might be that we see LED
backlighting in the next iMac? Would that be too costly?

Chances are good for LED backlights RealSoonNow, but there's
no tellin' whether RealSoonNow is 2 months or 2 years away.
Largely depends on when the cost "crossover point" arrives;
it won't be long 'til LCD is cheaper than CCFL.

LCD eliminates nasty chemicals and the high-voltage CCFL
power supply. Without the H.V. supply, we should finally
see full-range 0-100% display brightness control.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't they using the LED backlighting
in the 17 inch MacBook Pro and now the MacBook Air?

Only the MBAir and the 15" MBP -- the 17" MBP still uses CCFL.

LK

 

[bluedoggiant]

Err, get it now, they may only update the video card to be better than the macbook pro, right now they are almost the same, and cancel out the 2400xt. i dont think any processor or speed bumps, maybe make that 2ghz imac a 2.1, or 2.16, more likely 2.16, but thats it, imacs right now are nearly purrfect. may be an option for a 28 inch imac

 

[ArtTechFreak]

NEC has a 21" LED backlit LCD monitor and it goes for about $3k. Once LEDs start coming down in price more, you'll see things like iMacs and Cinema displays with LED backlights. That is probably a year or so off, though.

 

[LZeppelinJ0]

may be an option for a 28 inch imac

Now THAT would be worth the wait for me