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To those purchasing a 2011 refresh, are you worried the one after will be a redesign?

K

Kendo

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Apr 4, 2011
2,362
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I know that there is never a good time to buy a computer and whatever you buy today will be obsolete tomorrow. However because computers are expensive investments that are usually replaced every few years, there are generally smarter ways on deciding when to make the purchase especially when it comes to Apple computers. Unlike a Windows PC which will have options for the latest component every month (especially if you build your own), iMacs come once every 8 to 10 months and design changes every 24 to 36 months. Similar to cars, though of course cars update every year and a major redesign every 4 to 5 years.

Looking at the history of Apple computers in general, a redesign is usually followed by 2 component refreshes. I feel the best time to have purchased an iMac was the July 2010 model since it was one hardware cycle after the redesign first came out so they could have fixed all the kinks that come along with a new redesign while still maintaining the same design for a few more years.

Unfortunately I haven't decided on buying an iMac until a few months ago so I am "stuck" with the May 2011 model. I still can't help but have that nagging feeling that the next model that comes out will be a hardware refresh. What would bother me more is if I passed on this model, waited 10 months for Ivy Bridge only to find out that there wasn't a hardware refresh, and then I would find myself in the same predicament I am in now.

Anyone else care about an impending design change knowing it might be coming in the next refresh? As for myself, I waited too long for this refresh and will definitely be purchasing it when it comes out (though I wish I would have thought of jumping on the Apple bandwagon back in July 2010).
 
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I know where you are coming from but in my case I just can't hold on any longer man ... I need an iMac and i need it in the next few weeks... As for the redesign .. Meh .. It's not as if the current look is crap .. Besides it applies more to portable devices like iPhones iPads and MacBook pros .. Making the iMac thinner or doing something to the bezel isnt going to mean anything ... People aren't going to see you carry it around ... I'm buying it for sandy bridge and thunderbolt simples
 
zombierunner said:
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I know where you are coming from but in my case I just can't hold on any longer man ... I need an iMac and i need it in the next few weeks... As for the redesign .. Meh .. It's not as if the current look is crap .. Besides it applies more to portable devices like iPhones iPads and MacBook pros .. Making the iMac thinner or doing something to the bezel isnt going to mean anything ... People aren't going to see you carry it around ... I'm buying it for sandy bridge and thunderbolt simples
Click to expand...

True. But when the 24" iMac first came out, people thought the design couldn't get any better and it did. Same with the iPhone and the original MacBook Air. Apple just has a knack for improving upon designs. It is their "history" that scares me knowing they are fully capable of making the current iMac look even better. :p

But then again who knows with the iMac. Apple kept the Mac Pro design since the Power Mac G5 in 2006.
 
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Tell you what wait till 2016 .... Apple will make iMacs that can transform into robots complete redesign .. That'd be the best time to buy .. Lol only kiddin ... I'm buying it after this refresh and then in 5-6 years time or when upgrade is necessary .. Whichever
is earlier ... Unless the world end on 21 dec 2012 lol
 
I know what you mean, but to be honest I'm not too bothered about the visual side, as an above poster commented on a portable its more relevant. What concerns me more is if something serious is changed/ added in relation to the hardware. Retina display doesn't overly worry me but I reckon that USB 3 may put in an appearance next year with the re-design. I didn't think it was going to be adopted for quite a while until read a story about intel offering support for it I think next year. I know Thunderbolt will more than be capable but honestly, at the moment there's nothing on the market, drives, enclosures or adapters. Also when there is, expect the old price to be USB3 X 2/3. Really hope I'm wrong on that as a RAID via TB is what I'm after. USB prices will always be cheaper as they got to market first and will sell shed loads more. The next year or so will be very interesting.
 
there could be a redesign next year according to rumors for a Retina display imac with 3200 resolution, who knows if its true but im buying this coming may 2011 refresh, i dont care anymore about waiting, had enough of it :D
 
Nah, the refresh is going to look better and be in a different world of computing compared to my e-Mac. Waiting the two or three months I have done is quite enough:)
 
Buy a computer when you need it and then don't look back until you need another one. I need an imac soon, so will buy this refresh. I will purchase another one when this one no longer serves it's purpose. I love the way the current ones look. They are gorgeous. What if you waited and then hated the new design...Not that apple makes ugly products or anything....
 
I am too planning too get the new may imac. But can anyone predict if when the may one comes out the re-design will come at the standard aprox: 9 months, or if it will come alot sooner? If it comes at an early point after summer, then i'll get it them, but if i have to wait nine months for the one after, i'll just get the may one.
 
I'm less concerned about the outside than I am about the internals. I almost bought last year but am glad I have waited for TB

In 3 years time, who knows if I'll ever buy another desktop again
 
Until the design of the iMac can mimic the functionality of a tower, I don't think an aesthetic redesign matters.

Meaning until Apple can make the iMac look gorgeous while also allowing more bays say at the bottom of the chassis to swap out not only RAM but the hard drives and graphics cards (I guess they'd have to make mobile cards swappable too), I'm not worried about a redesign.
 
I'll buy the 2011 iMac bc I'm not waiting another 9 months for things that might! happen. Also I can sell a 2011 iMac 2 weeks before the 2012 model comes out and only lose about $300

If you think about it, and the way Macs hold their value, after the initial purchase, you can sell your current one and buy a new model each year. This method will cost you less than a dollar a day to get a new Mac every year, minus the initial purchase.

On a side note, I have a 2003 dual G4 tower that works great with 10.5.8.
The only things that are painful to do on it are handbrake encodes and video editing. For most chores, web sufing, email, word, etc the difference is not noticeable compared to my two intel Macs. I might even sell it to a friends company to use as a web and email machine for their warehouse guys. No virus worries ;)
 
Kendo said:
when the 24" iMac first came out, people thought the design couldn't get any better and it did. Same with the iPhone and the original MacBook Air.
Click to expand...

This is a matter of taste however. There's plenty people saying they want a 24". What if you wait and find out that the redesign will offer 24" and 30" yet you wanted a 21"? Or if you waited to find out that the redesign will be black carbon and you so liked the aluminum? You can't be completely sure that the designs will keep improving to your taste.
As for the iPhone, I don't feel any urge to get a smartphone, but if looks were the only thing to go by, I'd take the older iPhone 3 instead of 4. I think black but that's not the point.
 
If one is constantly worried about the next new model, you'll drive yourself crazy. Especially with Apples tight lipped practice. You have no true idea of what's coming up.

Therefore I learn and monitor their upgrade cycles and do my best to time my purchase accordingly.

If I miss it, oh well:) There's always time to but after a new release.
 
I do hate thinking about what will happen after i drop my money on a new system but at the same time i have been using my MBP for a few years and its time to upgrade for sure. Plus the actual look of the system doesnt matter much to me.
 
I bought my iMac like 6 months ago, but I will tell you this;

The current design is beautiful.

Will the next redesign be beautiful? Yeah, I'm sure it will be, but that won't make your current iMac ugly, I promise.
 
I'll be getting an iMac, just not sure if it will be a 2011 or if the 2010's will drop enough to make me get one of those. I don't worry at all about the next cycle, just want to see what this one brings and make a decision from there.


Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk
 
I'm not worried, this is my first Mac. I will probably have this computer for the next decade, so I'm not worried about the next gen. Besides I'm doubting they will take away the optical drive, which I hope it stays, but the next time around it will definitely be gone. So I want my optical drive, I just hope that I don't end up having to buy a separate one for the new iMac.
 
I am proud to say that, I too am buying my first iMac!! I really hope they are as good as people make out :D

But regarding the redesign, if they do release it, you could always just sell the one you have an rebuy the newer model. As one of the users said above, they hold their value pretty well (from what i gather anyway). But I personally do not think the current design is bad at all. The screen has a stunning res, the chin is not an issue, and I can't think of anything worst than a touch screen iMac.

I think i will look to replace this one maybe 2014. Also, if you keep up to tabs with tech, there are some seriously cool technologies being developed at the moment. Read New Scientist as they sometimes do articles on them. The future is looking very interesting indeed!!! ;););););)
 
No I'm not particularly worried about the iMac design aesthetically.. I'd only be peeved if they designed the iMac to be upgradeable etc

I've noticed this only with Apple products, people are always worried about how something looks.. but I guess that's what people are paying for?

Tbh, I think, as an example.. if the iPhone gen 4 model was released as the Gen 3 and the Gen 3 model were to be released as the Gen 4 people would be all over that design simply because it's the latest most current model.. I never cared about what my computer looked like before I was introduced to the world of Apple.. I was always bothered about how it performed, especially in the long run.
 
The imacs on Apple.com and .ca are the new 2011? Or are they not out yet


Sent from my iPad2 using Tapatalk
 
Nope. I plan on buying a 27" on day one. If I don't like it for whatever reason, I'll simply return it (like my former 2011 15" MBP).

With that said, I really like the current design and my 2006, plastic Core Duo machine needs to be replaced badly.
 
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