To buy or not to buy the iMac 27"?

[Jacob Wall]

Howdy,

I've already purchased an iMac 27", however now I am having second doubts. It has yet to be shipped so I can still cancel it, but the more I look, the more I feel like I should just wait for the refresh. According to the buyers guide we're looking for a refresh in around 27 days, now that's just based on arithmetic mean so I doubt it will happen in around 27 days for the fact that...

1) Apple has never released an iMac in either June or July.
2) From previous releases, if they're going to release it in the first two quarters of the year they do so in March or April.​

Do you believe I should go through with the order, trusting that Apple has fixed the problems 100%? Even though a refresh is this close, can you imagine them upgrading it that much besides a larger HDD/GPU?


Thanks!

 

[jlblodgett]

Doubtful that an iMac refresh is made in 27 days, as the Mac Pro is way out of date now.

If you are interested in buying an i7 iMac you should go ahead and do it now. Even if an update comes down, it isn't going to be substantially better.

 

[aiqw9182]

Unless you bought the Core 2 Duo model the only advantage you will have returning is paying less than before. There won't be many performance gains for the higher end quad core models.

I'd return it personally either way though just to get the most bang for my buck.

 

[Jacob Wall]

Unless you bought the Core 2 Duo model the only advantage you will have returning is paying less than before. There won't be many performance gains for the higher end quad core models.

I'd return it personally either way though just to get the most bang for my buck.

Howdy,


I purchased the i7 refurbished so it ran $1849.99 before tax/shipping. With that being said, if you were in my position would you still return it?

 

[Vantage Point]

If you examine buyers guide for iMac then what you may notice is the average number of days is meaningless. the pattern has been 11-8-11-8... months. So the next refresh would be 11 months after the last one in Oct setting a target date for September. Now, if you look at the Apples release pattern this year, everything seems to be overdue relative to previous years. for example, the MBP is typically 8 months and it was 10 months, the MP is well over a year since the last update and the MacAir seems to have missed a cycle. No one knows when the MP will be out but the iPad and new iPhones are more important.

So, unless you are willing to wait until the fall, I would hold pat with your iMac order. Also, my iMac is also a refurb, late March, and I just can't beat the price for the refurb and the peace of mind that comes from knowing everything was double checked. Lastly, the refurb look brand new in every way except the box. If you cancel now you will be kicking yourself all summer.

 

[rnb2]

As others have said, don't anticipate a refresh on the iMac until late summer, and even when it comes, it probably won't be a big upgrade. I got my i7 in early March, manufactured at the US factory, and it's just gorgeous, and blazingly fast. I would keep the order if I was in your shoes.

 

[albusseverus]

Apple is still releasing fixes for 27" iMac, long after Jobs wrote "that's behind us now", so I'd be wary of that model. If there's an inherent design flaw, and that's what it's beginning to look like, you'll be stuck with it for the life of the machine, unless you return it within 14 days.

I bought a 20" aluminium iMac. Every model Apple ever made had a screen with 3 bands of colour down the screen (too dark, medium, too light). Apple never admitted the fault, never replaced any screen. They just said it was a consumer machine, not for colour professionals. "Performs within spec." Touch luck if you're trying to touch up a photo or something.

I have to live with the 3 colour bands EVERY day—fine text breaking up at the bottom of the screen is just embarrassing and it leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth anyone who paid good money for such a machine. And Apple's response is to just close Discussion Forums once people have had a vent (too many posts, I saw as one excuse).

I tell this story because that's what it MIGHT be like with this model 27", flagship iMac or not. If you're 'fussy', and if you buy a Mac you probably appreciate quality, and the 27" ends up being one of these problems that Apple just denies and bluffs their way through, it will be a bitter experience for you, every day.

Check Apple's support Discussion Forums for issues with 27" iMacs before you decide, because just believing that Apple wouldn't make a dud, won't save you from daily regret. I got my 20" in 2007 and I didn't believe Apple would release the next 20" with the same screen, surely? I checked the 2008 and 2009 models in the shops, they all had the same screen with the same fault. That's 3 years Apple made these machines, with no shame.

I'd like to think this wouldn't happen to you. I'd like to think all those 27" owners out there won't suffer the same fate. Experience tells me otherwise. Think very hard about keeping the machine if it shows any negatives, because Apple don't fix 'em.

As for what else to buy, I have no good ideas. If you didn't buy a quad, I'd say get a mini and a 24" LCD. There's rumoured to be a Touch 22" iMac coming later this year, by the only source to correctly predict the iPad screen size. That would be worth waiting for, if it happens, and it seems possible but unlikely at the speed that Apple moves. Check Apple Discussion Forums for the 21", that's not a bad alternative, if it's 'good'.

As for me, my 20" died this week, just within Extended AppleCare, so I get some manner of satisfaction at the Genius Bar tomorrow… I hope. There's the big tip—set an iCal reminder for 11 months after your purchase date and grab that AppleCare with both hands!!

 

[Jacob Wall]

Apple is still releasing fixes for 27" iMac, long after Jobs wrote "that's behind us now", so I'd be wary of that model. If there's an inherent design flaw, and that's what it's beginning to look like, you'll be stuck with it for the life of the machine, unless you return it within 14 days.

I bought a 20" aluminium iMac. Every model Apple ever made had a screen with 3 bands of colour down the screen (too dark, medium, too light). Apple never admitted the fault, never replaced any screen. They just said it was a consumer machine, not for colour professionals. "Performs within spec." Touch luck if you're trying to touch up a photo or something.

I have to live with the 3 colour bands EVERY day—fine text breaking up at the bottom of the screen is just embarrassing and it leaves a very bitter taste in the mouth anyone who paid good money for such a machine. And Apple's response is to just close Discussion Forums once people have had a vent (too many posts, I saw as one excuse).

I tell this story because that's what it MIGHT be like with this model 27", flagship iMac or not. If you're 'fussy', and if you buy a Mac you probably appreciate quality, and the 27" ends up being one of these problems that Apple just denies and bluffs their way through, it will be a bitter experience for you, every day.

Check Apple's support Discussion Forums for issues with 27" iMacs before you decide, because just believing that Apple wouldn't make a dud, won't save you from daily regret. I got my 20" in 2007 and I didn't believe Apple would release the next 20" with the same screen, surely? I checked the 2008 and 2009 models in the shops, they all had the same screen with the same fault. That's 3 years Apple made these machines, with no shame.

I'd like to think this wouldn't happen to you. I'd like to think all those 27" owners out there won't suffer the same fate. Experience tells me otherwise. Think very hard about keeping the machine if it shows any negatives, because Apple don't fix 'em.

As for what else to buy, I have no good ideas. If you didn't buy a quad, I'd say get a mini and a 24" LCD. There's rumoured to be a Touch 22" iMac coming later this year, by the only source to correctly predict the iPad screen size. That would be worth waiting for, if it happens, and it seems possible but unlikely at the speed that Apple moves. Check Apple Discussion Forums for the 21", that's not a bad alternative, if it's 'good'.

As for me, my 20" died this week, just within Extended AppleCare, so I get some manner of satisfaction at the Genius Bar tomorrow… I hope. There's the big tip—set an iCal reminder for 11 months after your purchase date and grab that AppleCare with both hands!!

My old MBP died(HDD/Logic board both died together) the day before the applecare ended. Thank goodness I got a brand new MBP free from them. Thanks for spending the time writing that long post, I'll keep it into consideration. Seeing as I've got 14 days(as you noted) to choose, I'll get it. If I'm not absolutely convinced it's meant for me(As Apple says) then I'll return it.

 

[MMM.PWR]

You got a good deal, so I'd just keep it.

I myself am holding out on buying a 27" for one reason or the other [or both]

- Price drop (but you're already getting a good deal)
- Back to School Promotion (free iPod Touch)

About the [subjective] screen problem: Don't let that scare you off from getting the 27". It's a beautiful machine, and I believe the most prevalent issue now is the backlight bleeding, which varies from one screen to another. You can always call Apple and get a refund if it's faulty.

 

[Jacob Wall]

You got a good deal, so I'd just keep it.

I myself am holding out on buying a 27" for one reason or the other [or both]

- Price drop (but you're already getting a good deal)
- Back to School Promotion (free iPod Touch)

About the [subjective] screen problem: Don't let that scare you off from getting the 27". It's a beautiful machine, and I believe the most prevalent issue now is the backlight bleeding, which, again varies from one screen to another. You can always call Apple and get a refund if it's faulty.

Your first reason is quite valid, I'm not *too* worried about it though. As for the back to school promotion, let it be known that if you buy a refurb product(As of 2009) those don't count towards getting the free iPod/Touch.

 

[SamTheeGeek]

As long as you got an apple store near ya and apple care , you dont need to worry about the imac issues. I was gonna purchase the imac i7 27" but with all the issues flying around the internet and forums i couldnt risk it , in my location and country there is no official apple store , so i will be pretty much screwed if i ordered one from US and found out it got loads of problems :S its gonna be hard to ship back to US :S and it might take months

 

[Jacob Wall]

As long as you got an apple store near ya and apple care , you dont need to worry about the imac issues. I was gonna purchase the imac i7 27" but with all the issues flying around the internet and forums i couldnt risk it , in my location and country there is no official apple store , so i will be pretty much screwed if i ordered one from US and found out it got loads of problems :S its gonna be hard to ship back to US :S and it might take months

I got my tracking # three hours ago.


I live right next to an apple store, literally. It's right down the street, so that's not a worry. Thank you for convincing me to keep it. I appreciate everyone's help!

 

[washburn]

I got my i7 in early March, manufactured at the US factory, and it's just gorgeous, and blazingly fast. I would keep the order if I was in your shoes.

Hey

How did you get a US manufactured iMac? Is there a way? also, are they higher quality than Chinese made ones?

Thanks

 

[jaycee520]

If you examine buyers guide for iMac then what you may notice is the average number of days is meaningless. the pattern has been 11-8-11-8... months. So the next refresh would be 11 months after the last one in Oct setting a target date for September. Now, if you look at the Apples release pattern this year, everything seems to be overdue relative to previous years. for example, the MBP is typically 8 months and it was 10 months, the MP is well over a year since the last update and the MacAir seems to have missed a cycle. No one knows when the MP will be out but the iPad and new iPhones are more important.

So, unless you are willing to wait until the fall, I would hold pat with your iMac order. Also, my iMac is also a refurb, late March, and I just can't beat the price for the refurb and the peace of mind that comes from knowing everything was double checked. Lastly, the refurb look brand new in every way except the box. If you cancel now you will be kicking yourself all summer.

+1

 

[swee5420]

+1

+2