Should I buy an iMac now?

[Crell Vorlem]

Greetings,

I'm planning to purchase a new Mac desktop relatively soon in replacement of my aging Macbook Pro which currently is used as my primary computer. From what I've seen the 27" iMac would best suit my needs. I use a lot of power demanding applications such as the ones in Creative Suite CS5 and need them to perform well when handling big jobs. What I was wondering about is if now's a good time to buy one being that they were recently updated. I have an upgrade window of about 6 months to a year. Are there any promising features that are likely to emerge in the coming generations of iMacs that are worth waiting for? My primary concern is buying now and then have it replaced with something significantly superior soon after such as with USB 3.0 or Blu ray (both of which I'd very much welcome).

Thanks for your advice.

 

[3lionsbecks]

Honestly both of those 2 features could be in the next iMac. No one knows for sure. especially not now, so soon after a recent update.

I wouldn't hold my breath on the BluRay but you never know.

I guess you should wait if its a big deal to you....but I would personally just get it now since they are the newest of the Apple new.

If you want some of those other features you may have to go PC

 

[lobeyonekenobi]

The iMac has just been refreshed, so now is a good time unless you really want the things you mentioned.

USB 3.0 is a possibility but like 3lionsbecks said Blu-Ray doesn't look like it's ever going to come to any apple product, but you never know.

Good luck if you do choose to buy it, you won't regret it

 

[nobias]

Blue ray won't happen anytime soon. USB 3 is very likely but FireWire is more than enough for most people. Ssd and better gfx were enough for me.

Too bad my first 2 2010s were defective

 

[InvalidUserID]

One saying I often see here is "Buy it if you need it, if not, wait".

If your MBP isn't working well enough for you, I agree with the comments on getting the new iMac. It was just refreshed and has some nice options (i7, SSD, etc).

Personally, I have my early '08 MBP so I don't NEED an iMac though I'm wrestling with it trying to justify the spending.

 

[Thermonuclear]

If USB 3.0 were coming to the iMac soon, then it would already be on the Mac Pro today. An iMac eSATA port is much more likely, as is HDMI input (but not with HDCP copy protection). Furthermore, if Light Peak takes off soon like I think it will, USB 3.0 will be rendered superfluous as will most other external interfaces.

Blu-Ray may never appear on an iMac. There are already external BD solutions including Blu-Ray rippers and transcoders. However, Blu-Ray and its associated copy protection will appear on an Apple product as soon as Apple starts selling its own line of HDTV sets, maybe in another year or two.

 

[redshift1]

Greetings,

I'm planning to purchase a new Mac desktop relatively soon in replacement of my aging Macbook Pro which currently is used as my primary computer. From what I've seen the 27" iMac would best suit my needs. I use a lot of power demanding applications such as the ones in Creative Suite CS5 and need them to perform well when handling big jobs. What I was wondering about is if now's a good time to buy one being that they were recently updated. I have an upgrade window of about 6 months to a year. Are there any promising features that are likely to emerge in the coming generations of iMacs that are worth waiting for? My primary concern is buying now and then have it replaced with something significantly superior soon after such as with USB 3.0 or Blu ray (both of which I'd very much welcome).

Thanks for your advice.

Now might be a good time to purchase a 27 refurb. As enticing as the new models appear you can save 400-500 $ on a comparable machine minus the new cost inflation.

 

[iCaleb]

Blu-ray won't make it to any Apple products until Steve leaves the company.

I like Steve but he can be stubborn sometimes....

 

[zedsdead]

If you plan to wait, it could be 8-11 months on the long end, so be prepared for that.

 

[SiMBa37]

Blue Ray on a Mac, are you seriously waiting for this after what Jobs said about it?

 

[Cave Man]

My primary concern is buying now and then have it replaced with something significantly superior soon after such as with USB 3.0 or Blu ray (both of which I'd very much welcome).

No USB3 until Apple decides so, but you can play Blu-ray discs right now. It's a rather convoluted process, but essentially you open the disc with Make MKV and stream it to an appropriate app, such as VLC. You don't get the menus, but the movie plays just fine at 1080p and 5.1 DD or DTS (i.e., no HD audio or subs).

 

[Spike88]

Within the next few months, I can see iLife being updated, iWork being updated and possibly a few more updated drivers. Or, stabilation of a few existing drivers. Thus, it might be best to wait 1-2 more months BEFORE buying an new iMac...

For future hardware updates, I can see USB 3.0. Since PC/Windows is going down this path, I can see Apple following (or should follow). If one currently uses USB 2.0 for "low traffic flow" devices and uses existing FW800 for attached backup device, then future USB 3.0 would be a "nice to have". For example, why have "super fast" USB 3.0 for an attached printer or attached Backup UPS control cable? Existing USB 2.0 is "good enough" for these "low data flow" devices.

I too would like to see BluRay in the immediate future. If not internal Blu-Ray (from Apple Corp), then much "simpler" external Blu-Ray drive via 3rd party solution supplier. For example, 3rd party company makes a FW800 BluRay device that simply "plugs in" and it works. No Fuss - no muss for the basic end user (like myself).

I would also like to see a future 24.5" (??? screen) as well. Dump the current smaller 21.5" model and go with slighly larger 24.5" (for 16:9 ratio). And perhaps, increase the existing 27" to 30". To me, that's a simple case and monitor size adjustment. No change to its internals.

In the future, I can also see the new i7 chips being installed in the smaller size iMac (if 21.5" or perhaps a 24.5" box) as well. Currently, i7 isn't avaible in the smaller size box. Thus, forcing some folks to order the larger size box instead.

Hope these items help in your "buy now or later???" decission process...

.

 

[Cave Man]

For example, 3rd party company makes a FW800 BluRay device that simply "plugs in" and it works. No Fuss - no muss.

If by "works" you mean to play Blu-ray disc content, that will never happen until the Blu-ray Disc Association modifies its licensing terms. That means the Studios have to be on-board, and they have clearly shown no inclination to do so.

 

[Spike88]

If by "works" you mean to play Blu-ray disc content, that will never happen until the Blu-ray Disc Association modifies its licensing terms. That means the Studios have to be on-board, and they have clearly shown no inclination to do so.

Works like a "My Book for Mac "device. re: A basic user buys the My Book product, plugs it into the back of the Mac and it asks to install its provided drivers. After drivers are loaded, the product is "production ready". It may not "crack encryption" or burn Blu-Ray dics but should be able to perform simple reads (play Blu-Ray DVDs) - without fussing with conversion software...

Perhaps I'm dreaming in muti-color or smoking the wrong stuff. But to me, Blu-Ray for Playing should be a simple task. Simple to install and simple to use. Simple like with the "other" computer system platforms....

.

 

[panzer06]

Blu-ray won't make it to any Apple products until Steve leaves the company.

I like Steve but he can be stubborn sometimes....

So true. I'm about ready to see him go. This movement to mobile device focus and stubborn refusal to add basic features like esata, bdrom and hdmi is getting really annoying.

Now might be a good time to purchase a 27 refurb. As enticing as the new models appear you can save 400-500 $ on a comparable machine minus the new cost inflation.

This is a good idea. If a really better iMac comes along you can always sell it and move up. Macs are pretty good at retaining value.

Cheers,

 

[Cave Man]

The problem is the Studios object to what you're proposing and they have veto power on this. Code for Blu-ray decryption and HDCP detection must be in the OS kernel (the drive looks for this code), thus it's not going to happen because the kernel is off limits to all but Apple (i.e., "bag of hurt"). The same is true for Windows. Win XP service pack 2 came with this code, thus prior to XP SP2 one could not play Blu-ray discs.

 

[D'Illusion]

So true. I'm about ready to see him go.

Will Jobs' departure make any difference to the Apple outlook as a whole. Will he just be replaced with a cloned version of himself or will the next CEO start listening to Apple customers.

Answers on a postcard.

 

[PatriotInvasion]

I just bought my quad i5 27" iMac and love it! I was kind of into the whole Blu-Ray thing when they first came out back in October, but now, I don't really care.

I mean I have a 40" 1080p Sony BRAVIA with PS3 Blu-Ray in my living room. Would I really forgo watching a Blu-Ray on my coach so I could sit in front of my iMac for 2 hours to watch it? Probably not. I think most people want Blu-Ray just to see how native 1080p looks on the gorgeous iMac display...but once that novelty wears off, you would have paid extra for nothing.

Also, keep in mind that even if the 27" iMac had Blu-Ray, you'd STILL be stretching the video to fill the 2560x1440 screen! LOL

 

[Spike88]

I just bought my quad i5 27" iMac and love it! I was kind of into the whole Blu-Ray thing when they first came out back in October, but now, I don't really care.

I mean I have a 40" 1080p Sony BRAVIA with PS3 Blu-Ray in my living room. Would I really forgo watching a Blu-Ray on my coach so I could sit in front of my iMac for 2 hours to watch it? Probably not. I think most people want Blu-Ray just to see how native 1080p looks on the gorgeous iMac display...but once that novelty wears off, you would have paid extra for nothing.

Also, keep in mind that even if the 27" iMac had Blu-Ray, you'd STILL be stretching the video to fill the 2560x1440 screen! LOL

Its the same at my place as well. NO BluRay player within my doors. To me, even normal DVD media is too sensitive to damage. If a spec of dust falls on its surface, it can be damaged. For me, I'm big into USB media. USB sticks and external USB HDDs. And, I'm big into Media Players as well. Simply load a hi-def movie onto USB stick, stick into a media player (or computer USB port) and the movie plays. I love USB sticks because they are non-movalbe parts, their surface is protected (unlike CDs / DVDs) and they are very compact. USB sticks can take huge amount of abuse as well. re: Try shoving a CD or DVD dis into one's pants pocket and see what happens to it. re: "Scratch and burn". In the future, I can see all CD, DVD, BluRay disc media being retired (just like the older 8-track media) and being replaced with USB 3.0 storage stick devices. It's just a matter of time...

.

 

[TheBritishBloke]

Personally I'm waiting for the next revision for a couple of reasons.

1) I'm putting money aside each month to purchase an i7 27" and a 27" LED display. I will have the money ready by the next refresh.

2) possible USB 3.0. Adoption rates should increase over the coming months.

3) Im gonna get it on the back to school promotion, so I'd rather get an iPod touch with a retina display and camera

 

[PatriotInvasion]

Its the same at my place as well. NO BluRay player within my doors. To me, even normal DVD media is too sensitive to damage. If a spec of dust falls on its surface, it can be damaged. For me, I'm big into USB media. USB sticks and external USB HDDs. And, I'm big into Media Players as well. Simply load a hi-def movie onto USB stick, stick into a media player (or computer USB port) and the movie plays. I love USB sticks because they are non-movalbe parts, their surface is protected (unlike CDs / DVDs) and they are very compact. USB sticks can take huge amount of abuse as well. re: Try shoving a CD or DVD dis into one's pants pocket and see what happens to it. re: "Scratch and burn". In the future, I can see all CD, DVD, BluRay disc media being retired (just like the older 8-track media) and being replaced with USB 3.0 storage stick devices. It's just a matter of time...

.

Not even. Everything will be web based once bandwidths increase. Physical media is becoming old school.

 

[wirelessness]

Physical Media is so 2007.

 

[Spike88]

Not even. Everything will be web based once bandwidths increase. Physical media is becoming old school.

The problem is the ISP B/W providers are now "choking or metering" B/W usage. Thus, one pays as they use.

I can see "Wireless" for everhying. Great "white board" diagram. But in reality, I'm worried those ISP folks will "screw us" for every transmitted bit. Thus, why "portable drives" are now increasing from 500 to 1 TB to 2 TB to much more. To me, I still see physical media for "portability" to different computers and/or Media Servers. Thus, one doesn't need to pay for for another "down load" fee. Physical media (fixed or portable) is great local backup ability as well...

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[Cave Man]

In the future, I can see all CD, DVD, BluRay disc media being retired (just like the older 8-track media) and being replaced with USB 3.0 storage stick devices. It's just a matter of time...

While replacement of optical discs likely will occur, it won't for 10 or more years. You'll never see the Studios shipping content on flash media because it cannot be pressed, thus production costs for such would skyrocket.

Not even. Everything will be web based once bandwidths increase. Physical media is becoming old school.

I doubt it. The ISPs will want to get your money for the bandwidth. The cost of that will be added onto the cost of the purchased download. In addition, the Studios aren't too keen on such delivery because it takes the content out of their hands (to an intermediary). They don't like the iTunes Store, but they are biding their time until they can come up with something they can control.

Physical Media is so 2007.

That may be, but it will be with us for a decade or more. There is nothing on the horizon to replace it.

 

[panzer06]

While replacement of optical discs likely will occur, it won't for 10 or more years. You'll never see the Studios shipping content on flash media because it cannot be pressed, thus production costs for such would skyrocket.

I doubt it. The ISPs will want to get your money for the bandwidth. The cost of that will be added onto the cost of the purchased download. In addition, the Studios aren't too keen on such delivery because it takes the content out of their hands (to an intermediary). They don't like the iTunes Store, but they are biding their time until they can come up with something they can control.

That may be, but it will be with us for a decade or more. There is nothing on the horizon to replace it.

I agree with you!! I'm soooo tired of the "optical media is dead" argument.

It may be more than 10 years before greedy US ISPs offer anything near the speeds required for digital distribution at a cost acceptable to the mass market consumer. These digital disty fans also forget most people have no interest in knowing how to get movies over the Internet. Unless it's super fast and super simple (as fast as shoving the disk into the machine -- and just as simple) the general public will ignore it.

Cheers,