With the price cuts on the Yonah chips coming next month and possibly new chips from Intel coming much sooner than expected, maybe we'll see some speed bumps sooner than we normally would with Apple. Do you think it would be wise to wait until after these price cuts on dual core chips happen (May 28th) before getting an Intel Mac?
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Is Now a Bad Time to Buy?
- Thread starter xflare
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every-time is a bad time to get a new computer, with new technology always right around the bend. I would recommend never getting a computer because something better will always come out shortly thereafter, so you wont get upset at it.
xflare said:
That is between you and your credit card. The quest to purchase the right product at the right time, with the chip speed, hard drive capacity and every feature you will reasonably need is like watching a dog chase its tail. The "best" on any given day will be replaced soon enough by something "better."
Retain your sanity and buy when affordability is there and you know your product will serve you well beyond the timeframe when it is declared by the masses to be obsolete in the technical sense.
Unless you have a pressing NEED to buy something this month, I would wait
for the Meroms, even if that means holding off through summer.
This is not intended to say that the Yonah configurations aren't any good,
but they are the first transitional processors and there have been a few issues
with logic boards and heat.
Hopefully the Meroms will not only improve performance, but also run more
efficiently.
Also the longer you wait, the more likely you'll be able to buy a system with Leopard pre-installed.
for the Meroms, even if that means holding off through summer.
This is not intended to say that the Yonah configurations aren't any good,
but they are the first transitional processors and there have been a few issues
with logic boards and heat.
Hopefully the Meroms will not only improve performance, but also run more
efficiently.
Also the longer you wait, the more likely you'll be able to buy a system with Leopard pre-installed.
never buy anything from apple, ever, in the next 6-12 months they are guaranteed to release something better and you'll have old equipment. It's best to simply never buy. 
seriously I can't believe how often this question is asked. Sometimes I think the people in these forums are just sitting there with their finger on the trigger playing chicken with themselves. "should I buy it...ohh I wanna....oh wait....no, I don't....better pull it....no wait..."
seriously I can't believe how often this question is asked. Sometimes I think the people in these forums are just sitting there with their finger on the trigger playing chicken with themselves. "should I buy it...ohh I wanna....oh wait....no, I don't....better pull it....no wait..."
That's right never buy a computer ever from anyone, it's all obsolete the minute you take it out of the box.
Unless, you have some work to do.
It's not a "bad" time to buy, but it's also not the best either.
It might help to know what you intend to do with your computer.
For Audio/Video and Photography professionals, this is not the best time to NEED a new system.
For students, wait for the cram and jam pre-school specials.
For Office workers, it just doesn't freekin matter.
FFTT said:
I don't think that the meroms will help with heat, intel says that they will run 20% faster but battery specs, and power usage will be the same. Heck, they even use the same mother board! So you will still burn your lap off but your programs will just run faster.
dornoforpyros said:never buy anything from apple, ever, in the next 6-12 months they are guaranteed to release something better and you'll have old equipment. It's best to simply never buy.
seriously I can't believe how often this question is asked. Sometimes I think the people in these forums are just sitting there with their finger on the trigger playing chicken with themselves. "should I buy it...ohh I wanna....oh wait....no, I don't....better pull it....no wait..."
To be fair, the OP's question was a little more targeted than "Should I wait"
Buying anything Apple is a stressful purchase. Apple's overpricing on most everything they sell makes you wanna get the most for your money and when you buy a new iMac for 2300 bucks after tax, ram upgrade etc. but then see a new one come out a month later for less money and more content, it sucks. Especially when a PC costs less than 2/3's of that with way more power and upgradability. Yeah, Mac OS rocks, and yes Macs look awesome, but I don't understand why everyone gives people a a hard time about when they wanna buy a Mac, do you rag on people who wanna get a car but would like to see what the new model is like before they buy? I don't want to ignite the fury of the Mac martyrs on here but understand the people who dont havea lot of Apple stuff (especially first time buyers) get freaked out when all everyone talks about on this forums is how great the new chips will be, and what lays ahead for Apple etc.
YES
NO
Pick one
You'll be proven right or wrong and perhaps both in a matter of months, depending on what yardstick you use.
NO
Pick one
You'll be proven right or wrong and perhaps both in a matter of months, depending on what yardstick you use.
All of us understand that buying a new computer is a major decision.
While we may jest on the subject of when to buy, most of our
recommendations are founded with a great deal of experience.
It's all a careful balance of needs, wants and timing.
Generally, you'll find good advice in these forums with good intent.
It's not just Apple making these decisions difficult.
Now the entire industry has to play a guessing game with a constant battle
for higher ground between Intel and AMD.
There are countless threads here advising people to wait for Rev "B" or
later if you can.
This is not new and those who buy the first cutting edge releases, soon
find that their purchases are leapfrogged within as little time as a few
months to a year.
The best advice anyone here can offer is to make a well informed decison.
While we may jest on the subject of when to buy, most of our
recommendations are founded with a great deal of experience.
It's all a careful balance of needs, wants and timing.
Generally, you'll find good advice in these forums with good intent.
It's not just Apple making these decisions difficult.
Now the entire industry has to play a guessing game with a constant battle
for higher ground between Intel and AMD.
There are countless threads here advising people to wait for Rev "B" or
later if you can.
This is not new and those who buy the first cutting edge releases, soon
find that their purchases are leapfrogged within as little time as a few
months to a year.
The best advice anyone here can offer is to make a well informed decison.
sikkinixx said:
Fair enough, it just seems a lot of the time people give the impression that it's never a good time to buy. When regardless of what apple releases you'll end up with a great computer.
Like many users on here say time and time again, I will say to you now: If the intel mac you are looking at right now will meet your needs, and you can afford it, and you need a computer, there is no better time to buy than now. There will truly be something new right around the corner, or a new promo, or a new design, etc. If you need the computer now, and the current intel Macs are up to speed with your computing needs, just get it.
If you need a computer for business or just don't have one right now then it's a good time to buy. However, if you don't really need one now or want to wait for a specific configuration that meets your need then do so. People keep saying everything goes obsolete and it's true, but there are times when it's actually worse than others. I think right now that is the time. These are the points...
1. Yonah is a stop gap chip for Intel just to cover itself for the early part of this year.
2. Merom is what they really were intended to use all along. 64-Bit, low power, low consumption. The next chip after Merom is a longer period of time away then Yonah to Merom which is only 6-8 months.
3. Leopard is also around the corner and you could get a system which has that as well in it.
If you wait now you can buy a Merom with Leopard Mac which of course will keep receiving bumps in speed, but you will still be on the longer lasting architecture for some time.
1. Yonah is a stop gap chip for Intel just to cover itself for the early part of this year.
2. Merom is what they really were intended to use all along. 64-Bit, low power, low consumption. The next chip after Merom is a longer period of time away then Yonah to Merom which is only 6-8 months.
3. Leopard is also around the corner and you could get a system which has that as well in it.
If you wait now you can buy a Merom with Leopard Mac which of course will keep receiving bumps in speed, but you will still be on the longer lasting architecture for some time.
dornoforpyros said:never buy anything from apple, ever, in the next 6-12 months they are guaranteed to release something better and you'll have old equipment. It's best to simply never buy.
seriously I can't believe how often this question is asked. Sometimes I think the people in these forums are just sitting there with their finger on the trigger playing chicken with themselves. "should I buy it...ohh I wanna....oh wait....no, I don't....better pull it....no wait..."
Well **** You
I can't believe what a bunch of arrogant c****s Mac users are.
xflare said:
To be fair we aren't all like that. Look at some of the other comments in this post. Swearing is never a way to accomplish anything, especially getting good advice.
I'd buy if I was in your shoes. The only difference with merom is 20% faster and 64 bit. If you really think you will use those then wait i guess but you are looking at a minimum of 2-3 months if not longer. I mean currently the macbooks will load safari on less than the first bounce and kick the crap out of most intensive apps you throw at it.
excalibur313 said:
Id say about 50% are looking at this thread lol.
Anyway what the hell is wrong with some people here, did they not even read the orginal post? It's a perfectly valid question as there are in some cases MASSIVE price cuts coming in a few weeks on the Yonah chips currently used in Intel Macs. We could see speed bumps very shortly.
I'd wait now, I still have this dodgy feeling that the current MBP is thrown out hastily to attract the suckers and make Apple some money, when the real meat is really in a form factor change later this year when the MBPs go 64 bit..
New architecture, all new look!
Then you will see all those losers around you with their antiquated "Aluminium oh so 2005" laptops while you sport around with your flash 64 bit CFBook!
New architecture, all new look!
Then you will see all those losers around you with their antiquated "Aluminium oh so 2005" laptops while you sport around with your flash 64 bit CFBook!
MacSA said:
Exactly. I think is a valid question especially for this point in time. Since there are some very rapid changes coming in the next few months which are faster than the last few years. Intel currently has about 5 different new chips coming in the next few years, however they are all 64-Bit and only one maybe two are for the laptop and small compact desktop kind; this is Merom and possibly a stretch in Conroe for the iMacs. After that it's all server and high powered desktop chips with Kentsfield and Woodcrest, however if you are not looking for a Powermac or server then don't worry about those.
So out of all the chips mentioned the Yonah appears that it will have a very quick exit. Don't know if Apple will keep it for the entire year though. IMO Apple should use Merom as soon as it's available to get back into the 64-Bit architecture as it's G5's are and all the rest of Intels chips will be. I know the software is not ready for 64-Bit yet, however the next few years there are going to be changes that will take advantage of 64-Bit especially since Intel and AMD are there. So yeah I think it's not a very good time to buy if you don't need a system at this moment. If you need something to get by and still be productive then a mini would be ok IMO.
Keep in mind Leopard is also coming possibly by late fall or Early 07, so if you want that bundled then that's something to consider as well.
MacSA said:
Exactly what I was thinking.
I swear people have been reading the title and not any of the posts. Folks have been pretty condescending. What a shame.
Isn't the point of this forum to ask about buying tips based on shared information, ideas, and guesses? You know: RUMORS!
xflare said:
haha, angry people are funny.
My point is no matter when/what you buy you end up with a great machine. I just get sick of peoples "fear" of buying the damn machine