I was just wondering how long do people usually keep their mac desktops until they refresh them....i have an iMac G5 (iSight) the ones that had a very short life cycle 'cause months later they moved to intel....anyway, its running fine and works great (i have noticed more apps crashing though) and the new iMacs are very tempting.....i was listening to the macworld podcast and they said most people who bought their iMacs then are starting to update and were comparing it to those iMacs (PowerPC's)....should i get a new one???
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updating to a new iMac...possibly.
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If it works OK for what you want to use it for, then no don't upgrade, its a waste of money, save it until you need to spend it.
is there any more you really need to say? if it is running fine and working great, don't bother with the upgrade until it stops running fine and working great.
is there any more you really need to say? if it is running fine and working great, don't bother with the upgrade until it stops running fine and working great.
dammit.....i thought someone might say that....well i definately have to get the new keyboard...i tried one out at the apple store and it was the best experience of all time (i am a virgin though)
Weeeeell, I think the answer is slightly more complex!
- Can you afford to upgrade computers regularly? If so, how regularly?
- While your current computer may be working fine, do you consider the performance just part of the Apple experience? Would you *like* to replace your white iMac with an aluminium one?
- While your current computer may be working fine, do you wish you could do a few things faster? Is there a game you might like to try but never had got around it it?
Etc etc.
Personally I think upgrading a computer every 3 years is a good schedule. I can't afford to buy the latest and greatest every time something comes out, but I find that 3 years is about the time when I start to notice things aren't as fast as they used to be - you buy a new bit of software and it's just a tad sluggish, or perhaps that fullscreen Quicktime movie isn't very smooth.
I also think that you can get complacent - you may think you don't need any extra speed, that everything is whizzy and fast, but then you jump on a brand new machine 2-3 years NEWER than your current one and the difference is instantly noticeable.
So I think you just need to add all these factors up - can you afford it, do you *want* a new one for performance or looks or both.
Personally I'd definately transition from a PPC to an Intel Mac, because it is quite a leap. Then settle in with your new iMac until say 2009-10 when it's time to buy the next one.
Just my thoughts. Hope that is of some use.
- Can you afford to upgrade computers regularly? If so, how regularly?
- While your current computer may be working fine, do you consider the performance just part of the Apple experience? Would you *like* to replace your white iMac with an aluminium one?
- While your current computer may be working fine, do you wish you could do a few things faster? Is there a game you might like to try but never had got around it it?
Etc etc.
Personally I think upgrading a computer every 3 years is a good schedule. I can't afford to buy the latest and greatest every time something comes out, but I find that 3 years is about the time when I start to notice things aren't as fast as they used to be - you buy a new bit of software and it's just a tad sluggish, or perhaps that fullscreen Quicktime movie isn't very smooth.
I also think that you can get complacent - you may think you don't need any extra speed, that everything is whizzy and fast, but then you jump on a brand new machine 2-3 years NEWER than your current one and the difference is instantly noticeable.
So I think you just need to add all these factors up - can you afford it, do you *want* a new one for performance or looks or both.
Personally I'd definately transition from a PPC to an Intel Mac, because it is quite a leap. Then settle in with your new iMac until say 2009-10 when it's time to buy the next one.
Just my thoughts. Hope that is of some use.
i might wait for the next iMac update then....hardware that is....something a little more revoulotionary unless my current iMac dies. i will be getting the new keyboard though. when do you think they will change the hardware again....this is the first iMac hardware update i have seen since i turned mac....how often do they change hardware (not just speed bumps), like im talking new generation iMac????
I'm somewhat in the same situation. I'm thinking about upgrading my desktop in my sig. to the new iMac. I was suprised at how much faster my MBP was than my dual power mac. My Power Mac works fine too and handles pretty much anything I throw at it, maybe a little slower than it once was, but nonetheless it gets the job done. The reason I am selling my G5 now is to get max value now. With Apple seeming to move slighty further away from the PowerPC, now I feel is the time to sell and upgrade, without shelling out too much out of pocket money. That's just me.
on second thought
i doubt the majority of new computer buyers ever really need a new computer. and you obviously want one. the question really is if you can afford to make a new computer purchase. if so, then knock yourself out. i'm bad, i know.
i doubt the majority of new computer buyers ever really need a new computer. and you obviously want one. the question really is if you can afford to make a new computer purchase. if so, then knock yourself out. i'm bad, i know.
Think you need to upgrade? what about me?!?
Well I currently run a 1.42ghz mini with 512mb of ram and the 32meg GPU. How do you think I feel? I havent upgraded yet because my computer works fine and pretty much does what I need, BUT it is starting to throw beach ball parties more and more. And games are not an oprtion at all really. I cant imagine how much of a speed difference there is between a 1.42 G4 with 512 RAM and 32mb GPU to a new 2.4intel iMac.
Trout
Well I currently run a 1.42ghz mini with 512mb of ram and the 32meg GPU. How do you think I feel? I havent upgraded yet because my computer works fine and pretty much does what I need, BUT it is starting to throw beach ball parties more and more. And games are not an oprtion at all really. I cant imagine how much of a speed difference there is between a 1.42 G4 with 512 RAM and 32mb GPU to a new 2.4intel iMac.Trout
Trout
1.0 G4 eMac, Radeon 7500 (32 meg).
Yeah.
I can get by with it, but when it comes to iPhoto (just getting near 10k photos) or iMovie/iDVD (or heck, Garageband or even iWeb with multiple sites), it's getting pretty long in the tooth.
Most recently though, trying to run an instant alpha on a photo in iWork '08, I think I've convinced myself it's finally time to save some money for an upgrade.
Base your upgrade on 2 factors... when you need more machine (i.e., when the machine starts getting in the way, intsead of smoothly doing what you want it to), and when you can get the best value out of your current hardware, if you plan on selling it. I've heard many people on this forum say that they buy with each new revision, selling the previous at a small loss - and by the time they hit 3 years, they're always running new hardware, and come out about even for cost with the rest of us.