iMac - Design Change Next Year?

[Caolan96]

Hi All,

I currently have an late '09 macbook pro 13",

I actually need alot more processing power now with the video/audio work i'm doing at school, and was thinking about a 21.5 imac, or 27 imac,

i know they were just updated, but keeping with the apple update cycle, my guess is there's going to be a totally new imac next year, i.e new design, new features (usb 3.0 maybe?), not just a processor/graphics bump.

if im going to be spending this amount of money on a computer, i want it to be the current generation i.e same design etc, for 2 years like i have with my MBP, i know it sounds stupid, but it's just how i am seeing as i dont have a lot of cash atm.

so guys, wait or buy now?

any advice would be appreciated.

thanks a bunch.

 

[Hellhammer]

iMacs just got redesigned a year ago (yes, I do count the form factor change as new design). It'll be at least 7-8 months till next update so just buy now, the waiting game is endless. There will always be something better, faster and cooler

 

[wessew]

My iMac G5 was still going strong after five years. I gave up before it did. For sure, anything you buy today which is up to date in terms of processor, hard disk, graphics card and memory should be OK for three to five years. Last month, we purchased a new iMac i7 2.93. We are not looking back and worrying about the next update. We are thoroughly enjoying our brand new iMac!

 

[Caolan96]

thanks for suggestions guys, i think i might go ahead and buy, still thinking about it, thanks a lot! :}

 

[Cavepainter]

Definitely buy if you can afford it. The imacs were recently updated quite significantly.. so I wouldn't hold my breath for a new one for probably around a year. In that year, you can learn and do quite a bit with one you buy now... think of the productivity you will lose not having what you need now.

Sell your old laptop. Put the money towards the new equipment.

Plus, these imacs are very usable computers that will provide more than adequate power for many users for a few years to come- that means decent resale value for your computer for at least a couple years if they do come out with a new and improved imac next year.

 

[Vylen]

new iMac is just going to be a block of glass.... called it here first.

 

[iKimm]

I love my new iMac i7 and definitely say buy now since they just did a nice update. Like Hellhammer stated... There will always be updates. You will end up never getting what you want because another update will be coming

I had my iMac G5 for almost 5 years & was very happy with it!!!

 

[Spike88]

Yes. Having USB 3.0 would be cool... But for majority of USB connected devices (re: Backup-UPS control cable, keyboard cable, printer cable, mouse cable, etc, etc) USB 2.0 is good enough. USB 3.0 would be great for external HDDs but using its FW800 port, its access speed is fast enough. With this in mind, I wouldn't wait for USB 3.0 to be available in iMacs. Simply "buy now" and use its FW800 port for faster external device access. Works for me...

Of immediate "next design" improvements, I would love to see the ability to use "larger size" fonts. Yes. One can change application font size using Tinkertool (and other "individual control" means) but even then, some font sizes / menu sizes cannot be changed. It would be great if Apple's next OS (or a patch to existing SL) would allow a simple Font/Menu size Change from a single control. Like in Win xx machines, one can select Normal or Large Size fonts and this change is applied across the board. No other "font adjusting" is required. Clean and simple....

To me, small fonts / smaller images on the higher DPI screens is an eye strain. Would be nice if they brought "single point" Font/Menu sizing back in. I was told previous MAC OS versions had this global change ability.

Long mumblings short.... I'd buy a mid-2010 iMac now. Wait 1 month or so and get a discounted machine from Apple Refurb store. Thus, saving enough dollars to purchase external HDD (connected via FW800 port) as well.

Good luck....

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