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iMAc now or wait a little while?

S

scooterguitar

macrumors regular
Original poster
Mar 7, 2008
227
0
I made the jump to try Apple and got a new 2.4 macbook last year. I haven't used it much basically due to the small size. I was and have used it strictly for music recording. I now am going to sell it and get an iMac; will also replace my :D
So, I am not hurting or in a huge hurry for my total switchover, but am itching. Is there any known worthwhile changes, etc. coming within the next few months I might want to wait for?
I have my macbook on a few local FS websites, but no interest other than scammers:mad: Imagine if it sells I'll order that same day! I'd hate to put it on fleabay, but I won't have any further use for it ya know. Apple doesn't happen to take trade-ins do they?
Thanks for any insight!
 
scooterguitar said:
I made the jump to try Apple and got a new 2.4 macbook last year. I haven't used it much basically due to the small size. I was and have used it strictly for music recording. I now am going to sell it and get an iMac; will also replace my :D
So, I am not hurting or in a huge hurry for my total switchover, but am itching. Is there any known worthwhile changes, etc. coming within the next few months I might want to wait for?
I have my macbook on a few local FS websites, but no interest other than scammers:mad: Imagine if it sells I'll order that same day! I'd hate to put it on fleabay, but I won't have any further use for it ya know. Apple doesn't happen to take trade-ins do they?
Thanks for any insight!
Click to expand...

There seems to be some issues with the new I-Macs atm such as Screen flickering, Yellow Tinge, Deal pixels, Noisy HDD's. I would wait a while till it is all sorted out mate.
 
You can't trade in with Apple, though, you can with PowerMax (they advertise all over this site). Additionally, you definitely should wait until the next revision (likely spring 2010) when they kinked out all the bugs (i.e. yellow tint, cracked screens, dead pixels). Additionally, I'm hoping the next iMac will have USB 3. While you don't need USB3 now, USB3 will make USB2 unusable and obsolete in a few years (just like USB 2 did to USB 1.1).
 
USB 3?

Are you serious? I highly doubt that it will be in the next model. It's a completely useless upgrade for the average consumer.
 
Ok, thanks! I'll try to hang tight!
FWIW, we got the basic iMac model at work the week before they changed to the wireless keyboard/mouse...it is working great and the inspiration for my 100% sure to be Windows free by this time next year!
 
Dr. Unk said:
USB 3?

Are you serious? I highly doubt that it will be in the next model. It's a completely useless upgrade for the average consumer.
Click to expand...
I don't think you seem to get my point. We (my family) are getting a quad core iMac to replace our 5+ year old iMac G5 soon. Do you believe that USB2 will still be good in a few years? Our iMac G4 has USB 1.1 and that has been unusable for a long time because devices are not compatible. It would be great if out iMac that is going to last us 5+ years would be able to use the devices we buy. Additionally, a few PCs are starting to ship with USB3, and there are plenty of USB 3 Hard drives now. As I said in my previous post, "While you don't need USB3 now, USB3 will make USB2 unusable and obsolete in a few years (just like USB 2 did to USB 1.1)."
 
I see your point of view.

You also have to consider that it's not only the computers themselves that need to be compatible, but devices as well. I just don't see the average consumer device (digital camera, mp3 player, cell phone etc...) going the 3.0 route anytime soon for two reasons.

1. Not many will buy it. The products will be more expensive and people will not have the hardware to use it.

2. There's no incentive to make the leap. Unless your working with HD video or many gigs of HD photography, the upgrade isn't worth the hastle.

Again, I see your point of view but I just want to point out that the devices will have to catch up to the computers as well. Unless your planning on getting new devices in the near future, I wouldn't worry about it. USB 3.0 is useless unless you have the the devices that need to use it. Of course, High end pc's will get the upgrade first, then maybe the imacs a year or two down the line (assuming Usb 3.0 doesn't die off). At that point, it'll probably be almost time for a new computer anyway.
 
scooterguitar said:
I made the jump to try Apple and got a new 2.4 macbook last year. I haven't used it much basically due to the small size. I was and have used it strictly for music recording. I now am going to sell it and get an iMac; will also replace my :D
So, I am not hurting or in a huge hurry for my total switchover, but am itching. Is there any known worthwhile changes, etc. coming within the next few months I might want to wait for?
I have my macbook on a few local FS websites, but no interest other than scammers:mad: Imagine if it sells I'll order that same day! I'd hate to put it on fleabay, but I won't have any further use for it ya know. Apple doesn't happen to take trade-ins do they?
Thanks for any insight!
Click to expand...

I'd say unless you can hold off for six months or so, this is a great time to jump in. With the extended holiday return period, you have a few extra weeks to decide if you like the computer or to get a replacement if needed. :)

Plus, there's no guarantee that the next model will have these issues corrected. As pointed out in the yellow tinge thread, some of these problems existed in the last iteration and continue to exist today...:(

Bird in the hand is worth two in the bush...as they say.
 
i was hoping to get one near release date, but my financial situation changed... had to get new tires and Bing cash back was offering 20% off ebay (bought 2 lenses) so my fun money was diverted away from the imac.

luckily, after hearing about all the problems i dont feel so bad about not having it. I will gladly wait for them to get their head on straight before i order. Since this will be my first apple computer, i want it to have the best shot at winning me over for sure.
 
Maserati7200 said:
I don't think you seem to get my point. We (my family) are getting a quad core iMac to replace our 5+ year old iMac G5 soon. Do you believe that USB2 will still be good in a few years? Our iMac G4 has USB 1.1 and that has been unusable for a long time because devices are not compatible. It would be great if out iMac that is going to last us 5+ years would be able to use the devices we buy. Additionally, a few PCs are starting to ship with USB3, and there are plenty of USB 3 Hard drives now. As I said in my previous post, "While you don't need USB3 now, USB3 will make USB2 unusable and obsolete in a few years (just like USB 2 did to USB 1.1)."
Click to expand...

All USB2 devices should work with USB 1.1, just slowly. Anyway I dunno if Apple will use USB3, I suspect they will go straight to light peek
 
Well, after seeing the HUGE 27" in person tonight, man...I think I want that one now! Just curious if it too big? I sit pretty close to my screen.
Now to sell my macbook!
 
The next release of the iMac is most likely going to be just a speed bump. The release after that (about a year away) might have USB 3, but don't hold your breath.
 
I'd wait a bit. I got an imac 21.5 on black friday from amazon for a stupid low price of 1049, free ship and no tax. It has the yellow tinge. Amazon sent me, on their nickel, a replacement today. It has the yellow tinge. I really am willing to try a third since they are paying all the shipping charges.

I called Apple and they wanted me to bring it in for repair or replace. Being without my new imac for a week is unacceptable.

So, I might ask Amazon about waiting a few more weeks before I try number three. I've got until the end of January now to return for full refund.

Having said all that, I'm only doing this because I don't want to have to pay the extra cash the imacs are now going for.
 
Well, apple seems to be updating their lineup every six months or so or sooner. The first revision this year was in March, the next was Oct.


This one may be different. It is not every day that Intel releases a new artichure, hasn't happened since 05. The Core 2 duo is on it's way out. Core Nehelem i7 and i5 and i3 are being released Jan 7. The low 45W Core 2 Quads are as cheap or cheaper as Core 2 duo which they are replacing. Not just for Apple, for HP, Dell, Lenovo, Gateway. I can't see Apple letting their competitors get new machines with better processors and Apple sitting idle. No way.

I don't see Apple waiting very long at all to refresh their processors. Two months or two months and a half at the very latest. Look for a late Feb or early March refresh. Core 2 Quads or i5 if the IGP is settled with Intel for the 21.5's. Look for these in the 21.5's with ion 2 for the base 21.5 and a 5 series ATI for the better 21.5. The 27's with Intel i7.

I would wait.

http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=37033&processor=Q9100&spec-codes=SLB5G

http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=Intel+Core2+Quad+Q9100+@+2.26GHz
 
Actually, I think they are making some changes, since the shipping time went WAAY UP.
Also, if you check places like Best Buy and just other authorized tech stores, in some areas they're totally sold out.

So, that could essentially mean that Apple may be backordering some of the new iMacs and make some newer ones that actually don't have those problems (Fingers crossed)
I think that you should be good to go after the holiday season. Like mid January sounds about right.
 
The time to buy Apple products is near the beginning of the refresh cycle. Apple prices don't go down, so every day after the new models come out they become "less of a bargain." Specs will always go up, so the old mantra of "if you need it now, buy it now" applies every time (except if you are little more than 2 weeks prior to a refresh).
 
Interesting feedback, thank you all.
Well, I think I can easily wait until mid January, maybe at least by then there might be some sort of precursor or clue to when the next will be out.
 
iamthedudeman said:
Well, apple seems to be updating their lineup every six months or so or sooner. The first revision this year was in March, the next was Oct.
Click to expand...

Apple has a fairly easy cycle for updating their iMacs and laptops. The cycle is roughly every six months for an update, but it usually alternates between a "design" update and a "speed bump" update. (The "design" can include any or all of the CPU, case, ports, etc.).

The iMac has just had the "design" update with the altered case and new i5 / i7 options, so the next update (around March / June) will almost certainly be just a "speed bump" update to slightly faster versions of the current machines. Apple rarely does two "design" updates in a row, so the next "design" update for the iMac is most likely to be around October 2010, at which point they might add USB3.
 
torana355 said:
There seems to be some issues with the new I-Macs atm such as Screen flickering, Yellow Tinge, Deal pixels, Noisy HDD's. I would wait a while till it is all sorted out mate.
Click to expand...

I haven't had any issues. I love when people who don't even have a new iMac much less one with problems give advice like this.

I upgraded from a mid-2007 24" iMac to the 27" i7 and I love this machine. I can't recommend it highly enough. I've had no issues with it whatsoever.
 
J&JPolangin said:
...thou shall not buy rev A hardware (of anything)... I made the mistake when I got my 1st gen iPod Touch 16GB and now ~2 yrs later, I have a row of dead screen...
Click to expand...

How many times are you going to post this to Rev A crap how many different threads? The late-2009 iMac is not a Revision A product.

Oh, and by the way, I have a perfectly functioning 1st gen 16GB iPod Touch as well. At least you're right about the 1G iPod Touch being a Revision A product though.
 
SaSaSushi said:
How many times are you going to post this to Rev A crap how many different threads? The late-2009 iMac is not a Revision A product.

Oh, and by the way, I have a perfectly functioning 1st gen 16GB iPod Touch as well. At least you're right about the 1G iPod Touch being a Revision A product though.
Click to expand...

...its a complete design change with new screens, mobo's, processor family, etc... I'd call that a rev A and look at the current set of issues being reported = screen "tinge", HDD noises, etc... I'll wait to spend my $$...
 
J&JPolangin said:
...its a complete design change with new screens, mobo's, processor family, etc... I'd call that a rev A and look at the current set of issues being reported = screen "tinge", HDD noises, etc... I'll wait to spend my $$...
Click to expand...

Not that I need to point it out but not everyone is experiencing these issues. Not choosing to buy one yourself is of course your own prerogative. It's still not a Rev A. It is an update to the major revision of August, 2007 when the aluminum iMac with it's glossy screen was born.
 
Revision A

SaSaSushi said:
Not that I need to point it out but not everyone is experiencing these issues. Not choosing to buy one yourself is of course your own prerogative. It's still not a Rev A. It is an update to the major revision of August, 2007 when the aluminum iMac with it's glossy screen was born.
Click to expand...

I hate to tell you, but these are revision A's. This is the FIRST 21.5 inch iMac and the FIRST 27 inch iMac, with all new architecture inside. If the screen sizes were still 20 and 24 inches, you would be right. But as it stands, these are revision A's and do suffer the dreaded revision A syndrome that has been an all too common occurence with Apple over the years.
 
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