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

[Benz63amg]

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).

For play? The arm Macs will be completely redesigned and are the future of Apple computers

 

[cardfan]

For play? The arm Macs will be completely redesigned and are the future of Apple computers

Not at first. Expect more of an iOS netbook running iPad apps or struggling to emulate Mac apps. Forget windows. Expect it to be locked down.

Buy an intel this year and wait.

 

[Boil]

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).

The vast majority of folks, from a "work or professional" standpoint only need internet access (a browser) & Microsoft Office, both of which will be available Day One when the first Apple silicon Mac drops...

 

[Benz63amg]

Not at first. Expect more of an iOS netbook running iPad apps or struggling to emulate Mac apps. Forget windows. Expect it to be locked down.

Buy an intel this year and wait.

What about the display of the redesigned iMac? What if they release a ProMotion 120hz display with no borders that knocks the current 5k display of the iMac out of the water?

 

[mtngoatjoe]

It it wasn't for work, I'd go with Apple Silicon. But because you need it for work, I'd get an Intel machine.

As others have said, saving money on a refurbished model can be a good way to go. My Late 2012 iMac is still going strong!

 

[JRE2020]

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?

Yes, that’s a big part of my dilemma.

 

[actripxl]

Given this option I would take the contribution from my employer, for me that would equal almost $720 dollars off. There’s no way the next Mac is worth that much more in productivity to you.

 

[Jouls]

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

That was Steve Jobs when he introduced the original Bondi blue iMac in 1998. Great watch.

 

[dogslobber]

That was Steve Jobs when he introduced the original Bondi blue iMac in 1998. Great watch.

Schiller said the same when introducing the iMac at the Paris Expo.

 

[Spanky Deluxe]

Yes, that’s a big part of my dilemma.

At this point, just wait for the rumoured November event. See what they come out with then. If there’s a new iMac then great, if it’s just notebooks then maybe get the cheapest one so you can get it to best for nothing with the £550 contribution. If you’re buying a £2.5k computer and someone else is paying £500, you’re still spending £2000 of your own money. Chances are, a £2.5k Intel Mac will depreciate more than £550 in a year.

 

[OkiRun]

Given this option I would take the contribution from my employer, for me that would equal almost $720 dollars off. There’s no way the next Mac is worth that much more in productivity to you.

Yes ~
Take the money and run.
You will have a few years for AS to shake out. And you will have confidence all your current applications will still work for several more years.

 

[PepsiSmile]

I'd never buy first gen; let other people beta test for them. Hell, I bought a G5 in 2005 after the intel switch was announced. You could sell the intel iMac in a couple of years and get a decent amount of what you paid (- the 550) back, anyway.

 

[Brian Y]

It all depends on what you want from it. For me, personally:

1. I need to run Windows too, which, for now, makes any arm Mac a waste of space.
2. The golden rule, never buy a first-gen Apple product. Look back in history at nearly every first gen Apple product and you'll find most of them have fairly significant flaws. Buy in at gen 2 when it's been refined, and we actually know how the ecosystem, etc, is actually looking.