Apple will eventually not let you replace RAM either. I bet they will integrate it on the motherboards on the iMac as well. Will suck big time.
lilo777 said:As far as I can tell it's working out quite well for them.
Who cares? The important thing is that it's not working so well for Mac users who are relegated to using rather inferior desktop computers.
Who cares? The important thing is that it's not working so well for Mac users who are relegated to using rather inferior desktop computers.
Wirelessly posted
And yet, more and more users each year decide to put up with this agony instead of dealing with Windows.
Lilo, it's Eastern. Shouldn't you be hunting with your parents for your eggs?
Apple will eventually not let you replace RAM either.... Will suck big time.
Ripping CD's is the only reason i could see wanting an ODD still. But even with that, i've not bought a physical CD in many, many years. I've probably used the ODD in my 2009 iMac maybe 5 times, tops.
Just get the Apple external superdrive and you'll be good to go.
Problem. Solved.
The biggest argument for "upgrading" a computer isn't what you might want to do a few years later - but what you want to have on day 1.
I'll agree with your premise that "2nd/3rd year" upgrades are fairly rare.
However, people who buy tower systems will often get options (AKA "upgrades") at the time of purchase. More memory, better graphics card (or even add a graphics card to a system with base integrated graphics), more/bigger disks, various PCIe cards (eSATA, GbE, RAID, ...), BD burner, ....
While some people do upgrade later, IMO the biggest argument for a mini/mid tower is the ability to configure the system you want from the start (and it's not relevant whether you get BTO options from the vendor or order what you want from Newegg and install it yourself).
I'm of the opposite camp. I almost always build DIY systems - although I do price compare with Dell/HP/Asus/... to check. (My current main desktop is a Dell XPS Core i7-940 - Dell's price was much better than I could build on my own, and it came with a great warranty.)
Your point about the mobo is a bit of hyperbole (I can't think of any reasonable cases where a graphics card upgrade requires a mobo upgrade (unless you have an ancient AGP mobo and want to put a PCIe x16 card in it)), but it's true in that if you jump to a CPU that needs a different chipset, you'll need a new motherboard usually you can't transfer your memory. (I did, however, just replace a mobo with a Q6600 CPU with a Core i7 mobo, and the DDR3 memory worked in the new mobo. Pleasantly surprised.)
One other point to consider on the upgrade scale, and one that I always follow, is to game the Intel release schedule.
This means
- Don't buy CPU X (and mobo X and memory X) right after announcement, three months later the prices will be much lower
- When you do buy, don't buy the fastest CPU X. The model two or three steps slower is much, much cheaper and almost as fast.
- Watch prices for CPUs, especially when Intel releases the new CPU X+1. Prices for even the fastest CPU X drop when X+1 shows up.
- Buy the fastest CPU X before Intel stops producing them.
If money is not a concern, yes - buy a new computer every year.
And I still don't understand why Apples with out-of-date components have resale value. Sheeple who can't afford new?
Why would I want to upgrade my computer... Oh, I don't know... maybe the hard drive would eventually go out (they do that, you know), and I would want to replace myself rather than pay Apple a forture to do so. Or the display. Or the video card. Or the RAM. When that happens, should I plop down $1500 for a new machine or $50-$100 for a new component? Maybe I need a bigger hard drive for my growing movie collection. Should I buy a new Mac for that? In your eyes, I should just shut up and buy a new Mac every year to further prop up that huge cash reserve they don't really know what to do with.
Apple should drop the disc drives. Steve would have.
Breaking news: macpro with thunderbolt coming in june. Sorry i know i made you feel like doo doo. Thats exactly how i feel when i just hear imac,ipad,iphone,iphone,iphone. i just need a new macpro with thunderbolt and im happy,if not i am really considering getting that promax computer. I saw the webinar and i was impressed. But till then i guess i have to wait till june for a rumor for a macpro.
Wirelessly posted
And yet, more and more users each year decide to put up with this agony instead of dealing with Windows.
Lilo, it's Eastern. Shouldn't you be hunting with your parents for your eggs?
Sure man, if you say so. Thing is, they don;t really offer anything else, unless you want to drop $2k+ on a Mac Pro, which is rumored to be discontinued soon. Even so, that Mac Pro is less upgradable than a PC is, that's for sure. OSX is quite picky with what hardware it likes and dislikes, based on personal experiences (Hackintosh).
Apple really needs to release a full size wireless keyboard with numeric pad.
Matte screen option is great! Finally.
And I still don't understand why Apples with out-of-date components have resale value. Sheeple who can't afford new?
lilo777 said:Wirelessly posted
And yet, more and more users each year decide to put up with this agony instead of dealing with Windows.
Lilo, it's Eastern. Shouldn't you be hunting with your parents for your eggs?
Speaking of agony. Have you updated Java on your Mac today? And yesterday? Happy Easter!