is the top end iMac worth and extra £200 plus ?

[NStocks]

I really want to get an iMac, definitley the 24" one aswell. I was thinking seriously about getting the Top of the line one, but now I have seen that the iPhone 3G is avaliable on pay as you go, I also want one of those !

My quesion is, should I get the lower end 24" as is, without upgrading anything on it and save quite a bit of money, or get the graphics upgraded with it aswell. Is there much more of a difference between the 2 processors for what I will use it for :

Digital Photography, this will probablly be the main purpose so I will be using Adobe CS3/ CS4 when it comes out, Photoshop elements 7 when I get it.

Colege work, which is just word processing.
the whole iLife suite, Internet and whatever else I can find on a Mac.

The main reason I want the higher end one, is because it has the montevia type chipset, or at least I have heard it has anyway, and to be, this will probablly be more future proof

I CAN wait until mid October at the very latest, but I would realy like it before then, unless i get the iPhone before the iMac.

Thank you for advice, and comments,

NStocks

 

[maclover001]

The lower-end one will definitely be fine for your needs. In fact, evan the lowest-end iMac will be sufficient enough.

I'd say get the lower-end 24" iMac and get the iPhone, OR get a few goodies for the iMac like a Griffin PowerMate, or a set of Logitech Z4i speakers.

Hope I helped!
~maclover001

 

[NStocks]

do you think I should wait until they are refreshed, but I need to get one before November ( as all funds after that will be for my car, my 18th birthday !) Is it worth upgarding the graphics card at all, I mean is the ATI one good enough for future releases of photshop etc or would I wee a big difference .

I already have great creative speakers, but I'm sure I van spend my money on something else

Thanks for you're help, it's just the answer iwad looking for

NStocks

 

[feckonastick]

Just to throw another viewpoint in. I would say I'm in a similar situation to you, and I too want it to be as 'future-proof' as possible. Maybe you should ask yourself how long you will be keeping the imac for and how long your iphone. If like me the imac is to be an investment for many years, I would get the best one I could afford now, and I've noticed this advice on other threads.

After 12 months I find I get bored of whatever phone I have and lust after whatever comes next. In my opinion, mobiles just seem to be a disposable gadget, whereas the imac is so much more. Did I notice you on another thread about the 'Back to School' offer? Can you sell the Nano and start saving for the iphone? Put the car saving off for a month, ask Santa and family to contribute to an iphone fund and get it over Xmas.....IF....you could wait that long haha

Of course everything gets updated but there may be a bit of comfort knowing you'd spent that little bit extra at the time for the best you could afford. It's only my personal opinion though, and I'm sure others may disagree

At the end of the day whatever your imac has on the inside, I know it'll still put a big smile on your face I'm going to be coming from an old G4 imac. It's really starting to struggle with life in 2008, but I'd still take it over any PC.

 

[AlexisV]

The only reason to get the upgraded GPU is if you play games.

The only reason to get the faster processor is if you have money to burn. You simply won't notice the difference and you won't get your money back at resale.

Go for the best you can afford, sure. But futureproof wise, you'll get 5 or 6 years out of any current Mac.

Having said that, the best course of action is to sell after year 3, before the value drops off, and then upgrade to a new machine.

 

[Mark-Mac-Attack]

The only reason to get the upgraded GPU is if you play games.

The only reason to get the faster processor is if you have money to burn. You simply won't notice the difference and you won't get your money back at resale.

Go for the best you can afford, sure. But futureproof wise, you'll get 5 or 6 years out of any current Mac.

Having said that, the best course of action is to sell after year 3, before the value drops off, and then upgrade to a new machine.

There is indeed a sweet point of time/value that you can take advantage of.

 

[NStocks]

Just to throw another viewpoint in. I would say I'm in a similar situation to you, and I too want it to be as 'future-proof' as possible. Maybe you should ask yourself how long you will be keeping the imac for and how long your iphone. If like me the imac is to be an investment for many years, I would get the best one I could afford now, and I've noticed this advice on other threads.

After 12 months I find I get bored of whatever phone I have and lust after whatever comes next. In my opinion, mobiles just seem to be a disposable gadget, whereas the imac is so much more. Did I notice you on another thread about the 'Back to School' offer? Can you sell the Nano and start saving for the iphone? Put the car saving off for a month, ask Santa and family to contribute to an iphone fund and get it over Xmas.....IF....you could wait that long haha

Of course everything gets updated but there may be a bit of comfort knowing you'd spent that little bit extra at the time for the best you could afford. It's only my personal opinion though, and I'm sure others may disagree

At the end of the day whatever your imac has on the inside, I know it'll still put a big smile on your face I'm going to be coming from an old G4 imac. It's really starting to struggle with life in 2008, but I'd still take it over any PC.

I know exactlly what you mean, really I do! Here's my situation :

My current Phone, is on PAYG and I top up about £10 every month. When I got it I did'nt care about phones because they are all basically the same, and now it has a cracked screen. Since the launch of the iPhone 3G it's made me realize how usefull a smart phone is, and the way the the iPhone displays the internet very well aswell as all the other great features. Like if I was at college and needed to look for something on the internet, I could do it straight away, there are 2 computers in my room/area and a trip to the libary normally is awaste of time since the computers are all taken.

My PC which is custom built cost me £950 3 years ago this month, and although it not completley dead just yet, I really want a Mac before November since this is my birthday. Now I'm going to try and make this as short as possible : for my 18th I get a car £2,000 ish ir more. Then I have to pay for insurance petrol etc. this is before I have payed another £200 to pass my test, which will be in 6 weeks or so. This means that my car is payed for by family.

I know that the iMac will be an investment, but I won't be using it everyday since I now work. I will be keeping it for 3 years at least, because I plan on getting the Apple Care which last 3 years. The iPhone, I will keep for at least a year, because this is when the included 3G service runs out and you have to pay £10 a month, although I will still proabally use it after a year even if a new one comes out.

I have enough money to buy the base 24" iMac today, without selling my Pc, and monitor which is a 26" HD read samsung LCD. Then I can sell my iPod Touch, Phone, and iPod nano which would have cost me only £14 after rebate.

I'm still thinking wether or not to get the iPhone and spend the money on something else like camera gear etc.

Thank You

NStocks