Apple Online Store Offering Refurbished Current-Generation 21" iMac, Shipping in 1-3 Days

[iSayuSay]

Originally Posted by Akarin

That is what I was wondering... iMac 2013 21" or iMac 2012 27". What would you recommend?

No brainer. Get the low end 27" at the least.
You get bigger screen
You get 7200 rpm HDD (yes it matters)
You get a bit better GPU
Most importantly?
You get accesible RAM door which is upgradeable by yourself, which also saves you tons money if you want to upgrade to 16 or 32 GB.

So really, there's only a few reason to get the high end 21.5" instead of the base 27".

[iGrip]

Originally Posted by mushroomtip

do you expect Apple to give you the physical SSD and install it for you at their cost ? you are not being forced to do buisness with Apple . you need to put things in perspective .

These guys are like the "hot rodders" were back in the day. Instead of getting the factory option, they would use third-party parts and try to get one better on the manufacturer's engineers. But too often, the results were disasterous.

[bobenhaus]

Originally Posted by HenryDJP

Not true. iMacs (at least for 27") have Intel quad core desktop processors and desktop-class hard drives not found on the Macbook Pros.

Yeah thats why the hdd is 5400rpm's and the video card is a mobile version. hmm..

[AppleScruff1]

Originally Posted by mushroomtip

do you expect Apple to give you the physical SSD and install it for you at their cost ? you are not being forced to do buisness with Apple . you need to put things in perspective .

I would expect to pay the difference in cost between the two drives, not 5 times the difference.

[buysp]

Come on Australian refurb store i have my credit card ready!
My neighbour threw out their 21.5" 2.9GHZ 16GB 1TB Fusion iMac box and i picked it up (from the dumpster) with a view to purchasing a refurb (resale value will be better in the future with a box even though the serial number won't match)
I think i'm a sad case LOL

[coolspot18]

Originally Posted by Corrode

Obviously the jump from 5400rpm to SSD is huge but is the jump from 5400 to 7200 that big?

It depends on what you're doing, but it can be noticeable.

Originally Posted by buysp

My neighbour threw out their 21.5" 2.9GHZ 16GB 1TB Fusion iMac box and i picked it up (from the dumpster) with a view to purchasing a refurb (resale value will be better in the future with a box even though the serial number won't match)
I think i'm a sad case LOL

Yeah, a bit shady.

[macnerd93]

Originally Posted by linuxcooldude

More money for better/more hardware has been the part of retail as far as I can remember. Its up for the user to decide if its within his budget or if its worth it.

but you still don't get it LOL. Did you read my original comment?

the old iMac mid 2011 was £999 & perfect in every way for my needs

The new one starts NOW at £1099 lacks optical drive, slow hard drive, no firewire, SD card slot now on the back, no easy upgradable ram

to get the 2012 iMac to similar specs as the previous gen with Apple care, an external superdrive added, and a thunderbolt to firewire adaptor) It would cost me almost £1,325.00

I got the 2011 iMac the day after the 2012 iMac announcement for £978 brand new with Apple Care thrown in. The money I saved went to 32GB RAM for it and I'm also gonna get a Thunderbolt SSD. With the new model you are paying more for something which is far less feature wise.

[linuxcooldude]

Originally Posted by macnerd93

but you still don't get it LOL. Did you read my original comment?

the old iMac mid 2011 was £999 & perfect in every way for my needs

If you read my comment:

More money for better/more hardware has been the part of retail as far as I can remember. Its up for the user to decide if its within his budget or if its worth it.

[HenryDJP]

Originally Posted by bobenhaus

Yeah thats why the hdd is 5400rpm's and the video card is a mobile version. hmm..

I did say 27" and it does not have a 5400rpm drive. And the GPU being a mobile version doesn't qualify the 27" as having the "guts of a laptop" as you so incorrectly stated. Thanks.

[MacConvert2011]

Originally Posted by chrisrosemusic1

There isn't bugger all in the UK store as it stands atm.

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You're essentially bettering the iMac by doing this anyway. I was going to get an iMac but opted for another MBP. I'll get an external monitor and a USB hub and it's a desktop when it needs to be.

I currently own an iMac and will do the same when it comes time to upgrade.

[Adam22]

Originally Posted by Four oF NINE

Agreed.. I went with SSD for my new 13" MacBook

So it was not retina MacBook Pro ?

[Adam22]

Originally Posted by MacConvert2011

I currently own an iMac and will do the same when it comes time to upgrade.

Is there an external monitor that looks as good as the 27" iMac 2012 monitor? Because I'd do that too get a rmbp 15" and get an external monitor

[MacConvert2011]

Originally Posted by Adam22

Is there an external monitor that looks as good as the 27" iMac 2012 monitor? Because I'd do that too get a rmbp 15" and get an external monitor

[yadmonkey]

Originally Posted by MacConvert2011

Image

I wouldn't buy that thing unless they update it with USB 3.0 and the new design or drop the price. A new design is almost certainly coming soon with the new Mac Pro.

[Four oF NINE]

Originally Posted by Adam22

So it was not retina MacBook Pro ?

Yes, it's a 13 inch MBP, but not a retina, I'm not sold on that yet..

It wasn't available when I bought mine anyway.. Mine is pretty much a straight up replacement for my older 13 inch MacBook Black Mac from 2006.

[Adam22]

Originally Posted by MacConvert2011

Image

That's 1000 though and it's the old design with USB 2.0 anything else? Just as good out there?

[HoopTrundler]

Originally Posted by HenryDJP

I just love ridiculous posts like this. Gotta love MR for thinking they are Apple's only customers. . Did it ever occur to anyone here that the majority of Apple's customers, maybe, just maybe, are normal everyday people that aren't geeks, they don't give a rats butt about a 5400rpm drive or the GPU, or the SSD vs. the Fusion drive or the fact that screen is molded together? PUULLEESE! Get over yourselves. Maybe these people decided to upgrade to the 27". Oh yeah, that's a thought? . I'll bet more people that don't frequent here telling of all their returns/exchanges are getting work done on their iMacs.

I'll bet people that don't frequent here would like to watch a DVD on their computer.

[macnerd93]

Originally Posted by linuxcooldude

If you read my comment:

More money for better/more hardware has been the part of retail as far as I can remember. Its up for the user to decide if its within his budget or if its worth it.

But it's not worth it because its not better hardware its been made substantially worse

[linuxcooldude]

Originally Posted by macnerd93

But it's not worth it because its not better hardware its been made substantially worse

As long as customers base their decision on price we will always have cheaper, outdated hardware.

Another reason why Apple refurbs do so well, lower price, but outdated hardware.

I think the 21.1" iMac is more geared towards regular consumers, where the 27" iMac is more for Prosumer/professionals/power users.

[HenryDJP]

Originally Posted by HoopTrundler

I'll bet people that don't frequent here would like to watch a DVD on their computer.

Yep and I'll bet they'd love to watch a DVD on their iPad or iPad mini or Macbook Air, but it ain't happening and they are still buying them and enjoying them right out of the box, unlike some people here who can't allow themselves one day of enjoyment on their new baby without picking it apart for what it does, does not do, could do better, should've been, needs to have, will never be. Honestly, why buy these Apple products if you're dissatisfied from jump street? There are other products on the market. Apple doesn't have to be apart of everyone's lives.

[linuxcooldude]

Originally Posted by macnerd93

But it's not worth it because its not better hardware its been made substantially worse

In light of new information, Seagate is discontinuing its 2.5 7200 RPM drives. This is in light due to the direction the technology is headed. The speed difference between 5200 to 7200 is not as great as 5200 RPM to SSD flash/fusion drives. They plan on keeping the 2.5 5200 RPM drives on budget systems.

Perhaps one reason Apple does not offer 7200RPM drives on some of their iMacs.

[macnerd93]

Originally Posted by linuxcooldude

In light of new information, Seagate is discontinuing its 2.5 7200 RPM drives. This is in light due to the direction the technology is headed. The speed difference between 5200 to 7200 is not as great as 5200 RPM to SSD flash/fusion drives. They plan on keeping the 2.5 5200 RPM drives on budget systems.

Perhaps one reason Apple does not offer 7200RPM drives on some of their iMacs.

why fit a laptop drive into a desktop computer? The previous gen uses a 3.5''.

[linuxcooldude]

Originally Posted by macnerd93

why fit a laptop drive into a desktop computer? The previous gen uses a 3.5''.

More then likely the thinner body design would not allow a drive of that size. Heat is also an issue. With an SSD the thinness and speeds much faster then a 3.5' 7200RPM, it would solve both problems.

[SeaFox]

Originally Posted by macnerd93

why fit a laptop drive into a desktop computer? The previous gen uses a 3.5''.

Gotta make the new iMac thinner ya know. Cause that extra 1 mm of thickness removed is so worth changing over to laptop drives, even though its well known that 3.5 drives are more reliable than the smaller mechanisms. Who cares about reliability, users can't replace the drives themselves anymore anyway with the new hotness glue-together designs.

[macnerd93]

Originally Posted by SeaFox

Gotta make the new iMac thinner ya know. Cause that extra 1 mm of thickness removed is so worth changing over to laptop drives, even though its well known that 3.5 drives are more reliable than the smaller mechanisms. Who cares about reliability, users can't replace the drives themselves anymore anyway with the new hotness glue-together designs.

so glad I got the previous generation the day after the announcement back in October. The money I saved went towards 32GB RAM for it LOL.

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Originally Posted by linuxcooldude

More then likely the thinner body design would not allow a drive of that size. Heat is also an issue. With an SSD the thinness and speeds much faster then a 3.5' 7200RPM, it would solve both problems.

why make it so thin though. Now I love apple as you can probably tell by my signature. I can understand a laptop being made thinner, but the concept to a ultra thin iMac? It saves no space at all, its not upgradable really anymore now its more like an oversized iPad and Apple hope you just throw it away if the hard drive fails or whatever in a couple of years.