My dilemma... Buy 2020 iMac with £550 employer contribution or wait for ARM and pay full whack?

[JRE2020]

Too many unknowns to say for sure. What type of tasks do you use the computer for? Is there any software you use that might not be fully compatible with Apple Silicon Macs on day one?

The iMac that is rumoured to be the first to transition over will be the smaller iMac (rumours suggest a 24" form factor). If you're looking at the larger iMac then you'll almost certainly be waiting to next year on the basis that the new 27" Intel iMac has just been released.

However if we're comparing the new rumoured smaller iMac on Apple Silicon vs. the current larger 27" iMac on Intel, then it's difficult to say. The baseline 27" starts at £1799, whereas the current Intel 21.5" starts from just £1099. So assuming that the rumoured 24" iMac is a compelling purchase (at least more so than the current 21.5" iMac) and starts from the same price or less, then the employer contribution may not actually count for much.

In addition, rumours suggest that the 24" iMac may be released by the end of the year, or it may be in Q1 next year. If it is released this year, then you could still use the contribution towards a new Apple Silicon iMac.

Personally I would wait until October to see what happens. Apple likely won't release a new iMac in November or December based on previous releases, so you should know what to do by the end of October. However, as always, if you need the machine now and it's for business purposes then you should buy it now.

Bear in mind that any Mac that's had a recent update is likely to be at the back of the list to switch to ARM. So if the 27" iMac doesn't switch until late 2021 or 2022, which ARM Mac would you get assuming the first Macs to make the switch will be ones which haven't been updated for a while?

I’d be happy with a 23/24 inch screen if that came first.

 

[JRE2020]

I'm an App developer and I've been thinking the same thing.
Leaning towards, wait and see, simply because you might have to hand back that $500 machine.
It 'aint yours. You are effectively renting it.
I'm hoping that the first commercial aMac out of Cupertino is a Mac Air type machine.
Something cheap and slick that I can test my iOS Apps on.
I'm not swapping my 2017 i7 4.2G iMac for a few more years. As long as it works as well as it does now I'm happy.

It will be mine to own and keep so that’s not a concern. I think i’ll sit tight fir a few months and if, come November, there’s no sign of the new machines, take the money and buy what’s currently available. I’ll effectively be getting a third off the current 27 inch which is pretty good.

 

[the8thark]

Thanks!

I think Rene Ritchie's advice is solid. I'm going it paraphrase it as I totally agree with it as well.

Do you really need a new intel iMac now? As in will your mission critical workflow come to a screeching halt if you don't rush out and buy that new intel iMac? If yes then go and buy it. If no then wait and get an ASi iMac.
Rene also says to wait as long as possible too.

Also when you do decide to buy, buy the best iMac you can afford and be really happy with it. 6 months after it's released it won't be bleeding edge anymore, but it'll comfortable be your daily workhorse for many years to come.

I think the short answer is buy a new iMac (or any Mac for that matter) when you really need it. Not when you feel like you want it.

 

[artfossil]

Worse. He’s gonna stare at it for years to come and see those thick, 1970s bezels.

Which I've never noticed. Too busy focusing on content. Just as I somehow managed with the 1984 "bezels" on my Apple IIc.

 

[dogslobber]

Which I've never noticed. Too busy focusing on content. Just as I somehow managed with the 1984 "bezels" on my Apple IIc.

Who remembers Phil Schiller standing on stage saying the back of our machines are better looking than the front of PC? Changed days...

 

[JRE2020]

I would take the money and buy now. If you are relying on this machine to make a living, I don't know that I would want to be one of the first guinea pigs to try out the new Arm Macs.

Just reading this again, surely Apple don’t release anything that might not provide a great customer experience or worse still not do what you want it to do? Or am I naive / missing something?!

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Just reading this again, surely Apple don’t release anything that might not provide a great customer experience or worse still not do what you want it to do? Or am I naive / missing something?!

Some say the first generation Arm Mac would suffer from issues. New technology and all that. Intel Macs, on the contrary, were solid and ripe products.

I disagree in general as Apple has shown that it can introduce new products that are working from day one. But of course, there is a possibility that the first new Arm Macs will have some childhood diseases.

IMHO, Arm Macs are not totally first gen as the type of chips is working in iPhones and iPads for years, and as additional T2-chips also already in Macs. Therefore, I for myself decided to wait for Arm Macs (but I do not have to buy this very year).

Your personal situation is, well, personal I think I would take the money and get a new machine immediately, because of grabbing the opportunity and because the 27" iMac is a great device and because I prefer bigger screens over smaller ones ;-) But everything you say about waiting a few months is perfectly reasonable.

 

[the8thark]

Some say the first generation Arm Mac would suffer from issues.

The main issues with the 1st gen intel Macs was the CoreDuo chips being 32 bit when Apple was in their change to 64 bit. Essentially depreciated on launch. The 2nd gen - Core2Duo were 64 bit and were supported by Apple for years and years.

I feel the 1st Gen ASi Macs will be pretty good. Apple already have then running in their research labs. Also the DTK existing gives the developers a sneek peak, so it's not totally new to those who matter.

 

[madeirabhoy]

Due to Covid and the need to work from home, my employer will contribute £550 to a new computer if bought before the end of the year. Given this should I buy the 2020 27 iMac just released and get £550 off or wait until the new design / ARM version is released and potentially have to pay the full price myself if it's not released until 2021?
PS. I don't know a great deal about tech but have been holding off buying a new iMac until the long talked about redesign is available.
Thanks!

realistically id expect two things

firstly I dont expect ARM machines to be much better on release than they would have been if they were intel.

secondly app makers will support intel until at least about 2024.

so whilst the idea of an ARM machine intrigues me, im not going to feel inferior with my 2017 iMac any time soon. if I was in a position of thinking of buying a new machine rather than needing to (I bought my 2017 model because id just been told my 2011 machine was dead) without a inducement then id prefer to wait but at £550 off id grab a machine now. bear in mind you can sell your machine second hand when the ARM machines come out, you will lose more than £550 but prob not hugely more, and you get to have a new machine between now and then.

 

[Seoras]

It will be mine to own and keep so that’s not a concern. I think i’ll sit tight fir a few months and if, come November, there’s no sign of the new machines, take the money and buy what’s currently available. I’ll effectively be getting a third off the current 27 inch which is pretty good.

No I think you mis-understood what I was saying. You might have to hand the DTK machine back to Apple, not your employer. You are effectively renting it from Apple, it remains theirs as you aren't allowed to open it up.
Check the T's & C's on the DTK. Apple had a DTK 15 years ago with the switch to Intel and they are applying the same terms this time. Worth googling for more information.

 

[Boil]

Due to Covid and the need to work from home, my employer will contribute £550 to a new computer if bought before the end of the year. Given this should I buy the 2020 27 iMac just released and get £550 off or wait until the new design / ARM version is released and potentially have to pay the full price myself if it's not released until 2021?
PS. I don't know a great deal about tech but have been holding off buying a new iMac until the long talked about redesign is available.
Thanks!

I'm an App developer and I've been thinking the same thing.
Leaning towards, wait and see, simply because you might have to hand back that $500 machine.
It 'aint yours. You are effectively renting it.
I'm hoping that the first commercial aMac out of Cupertino is a Mac Air type machine.
Something cheap and slick that I can test my iOS Apps on.
I'm not swapping my 2017 i7 4.2G iMac for a few more years. As long as it works as well as it does now I'm happy.

It will be mine to own and keep so that’s not a concern. I think i’ll sit tight fir a few months and if, come November, there’s no sign of the new machines, take the money and buy what’s currently available. I’ll effectively be getting a third off the current 27 inch which is pretty good.

No I think you mis-understood what I was saying. You might have to hand the DTK machine back to Apple, not your employer. You are effectively renting it from Apple, it remains theirs as you aren't allowed to open it up.
Check the T's & C's on the DTK. Apple had a DTK 15 years ago with the switch to Intel and they are applying the same terms this time. Worth googling for more information.

Check the entire thread, bro...

OP is not leasing a $500 DTK, his employer is offering to cover 550 pounds towards the cost of a new computer so OP can Work From Home...

The only way any Apple silicon Mac is in this convo is in regards to what MIGHT come out before the end of 2020, which is the time frame OP has to purchase a new computer with funds contributed by their employer...

 

[bousozoku]

Worse. He’s gonna stare at it for years to come and see those thick, 1970s bezels.

When I'm working on a machine, I'm looking at the display, not the frame around the display, nor the back, nor the sides and ports.

 

[iKrivetko]

If you need it now, buy it now.

 

[Yebubbleman]

Due to Covid and the need to work from home, my employer will contribute £550 to a new computer if bought before the end of the year. Given this should I buy the 2020 27 iMac just released and get £550 off or wait until the new design / ARM version is released and potentially have to pay the full price myself if it's not released until 2021?
PS. I don't know a great deal about tech but have been holding off buying a new iMac until the long talked about redesign is available.
Thanks!

The iMac that is most likely to make the jump this year is the Intel 21.5" iMac and it is rumored to be replaced by an Apple Silicon 24" iMac. If you're good with that, then maybe I'd wait to see that such an iMac DOES come out this year, and if not, go for the 27" Intel iMac. £550 is enough that it's almost worth it to get Intel now (especially since Apple is likely to keep producing Intel compatible releases of macOS for the standard lifespan of a 27" iMac [~7 years] for the just-released 2020 models).

 

[dogslobber]

When I'm working on a machine, I'm looking at the display, not the frame around the display, nor the back, nor the sides and ports.

Your peripheral vision can't fail to notice those bezels.

 

[Weaselboy]

Just reading this again, surely Apple don’t release anything that might not provide a great customer experience or worse still not do what you want it to do? Or am I naive / missing something?!

Clearly they would not intentionally, but I just don't think I would want to be the first out of the gate with a new platform like this for a Mac I rely on to make a living. For someone like me who just uses a Mac for entertainment and reading the news and forums, sure... I'd give it a try.

 

[JRE2020]

Check the entire thread, bro...

OP is not leasing a $500 DTK, his employer is offering to cover 550 pounds towards the cost of a new computer so OP can Work From Home...

The only way any Apple silicon Mac is in this convo is in regards to what MIGHT come out before the end of 2020, which is the time frame OP has to purchase a new computer with funds contributed by their employer...

Spot on.

 

[bousozoku]

Your peripheral vision can't fail to notice those bezels.

So, I'm working on some important photo or video, and I'm almost finished, and suddenly, I exclaim "OMG, the bezels are so hideous!" and I trash my work and buy a different computer with no money, since I didn't finish the project. ?

 

[dogslobber]

So, I'm working on some important photo or video, and I'm almost finished, and suddenly, I exclaim "OMG, the bezels are so hideous!" and I trash my work and buy a different computer with no money, since I didn't finish the project. ?

Thats up to you, but if you don’t see the bezels then see an eye doctor.

 

[d5aqoëp]

What if Covid-19 vaccine is suddenly widely available and your employer too suddenly withdraws the 550 quid offer?
Buying right now is the best possible thing. Plus you don't know how will Windows for Arm will run and most current apps will have compatibility issues out of gate with Arm architecture. You can still sell the mac you buy now next year and get all the money back.

 

[JRE2020]

realistically id expect two things

firstly I dont expect ARM machines to be much better on release than they would have been if they were intel.

secondly app makers will support intel until at least about 2024.

so whilst the idea of an ARM machine intrigues me, im not going to feel inferior with my 2017 iMac any time soon. if I was in a position of thinking of buying a new machine rather than needing to (I bought my 2017 model because id just been told my 2011 machine was dead) without a inducement then id prefer to wait but at £550 off id grab a machine now. bear in mind you can sell your machine second hand when the ARM machines come out, you will lose more than £550 but prob not hugely more, and you get to have a new machine between now and then.

What if Covid-19 vaccine is suddenly widely available and your employer too suddenly withdraws the 550 quid offer?
Buying right now is the best possible thing. Plus you don't know how will Windows for Arm will run and most current apps will have compatibility issues out of gate with Arm architecture. You can still sell the mac you buy now next year and get all the money back.

The offer won’t be withdrawn so that’s not a concern. I also don’t need to worry about Microsoft as I access office via a virtual desktop on the company’s network so it’s not run off the Mac per se. Selling a nearly new machine is a bit of a faff too and would rather avoid that.

 

[ascender]

A brand new iMac will last years and years and years... but I get the whole uncertainty about buying just now. If the machine belongs to you, there’s no real downside to buying it now as the £550 contribution means you could even sell it next year with little to no loss to you personally if a new iMac comes out and its something you want.

You could wait until October when things should be a bit clearer? Or even buy a refurb one in the meantime?

 

[Nebrie]

I decided to buy a new iMac 27 now and wait till next year to replace my MBP. The first reason being RAM (I doubt the AS Macs will have user replaceable RAM). I can save a lot of money buying my own RAM. The second reason being that the main advantage of AS is performance per watt - super important in a MBP, not nearly as important in an iMac.

 

[Benz63amg]

I decided to buy a new iMac 27 now and wait till next year to replace my MBP. The first reason being RAM (I doubt the AS Macs will have user replaceable RAM). I can save a lot of money buying my own RAM. The second reason being that the main advantage of AS is performance per watt - super important in a MBP, not nearly as important in an iMac.

Are you overlooking the fact that the new Apple silicone iMac will be a completely redesigned iMac? Probably edge less, perhaps ProMotion 120hz.. HDR anyone?

 

[anshuvorty]

My recommendation is that you should only buy the ARM-based Apple laptops for play. I doubt you will be able to get any productive or professional work done on these devices because they won't have legacy access to many things that we use today, that rely on x86-64.

So, if you are confident that you will be only using this product for play and for recreational use, then for sure, go buy it. Otherwise, buy a "legacy' Apple product (an Apple laptop that still is using Intel CPUs).