Same boat
I'm pretty much in the same boat. I've been ready to buy an iMac since January, but held off, seeing that iMacs refreshed after an average of 270-odd days (suggesting an upgrade was then imminent).
Then Intel processor was delayed. A disappointment there, but okay. Then Ivy Bridge hit, but word came that Apple would take its time and update at WWDC. Fine. Then WWDC came, and went.
At this point I'm not sure what to do.
My current iMac is pretty long in the tooth. I brought it in September of 2007, right after an update. I'm a stickler about this. A piece of technology is like a piece of fruit - it starts going bad as soon as it comes off the vine. To get the best value you've got to get in while the thing is fresh.
Plus, I brought my first iPod ten days before a major update and it killed me. Lesson learned.
So timing is critical in this decision and it seems there's no good answer.
The iMac is way overdue for a generational update. But when? It's suggested there will be an update "next year". What does that mean? April 2013? August?
Are we looking at >700 days between updates? Is Apple gently informing us that the "Post-PC" world has dawned? Are they legitimately still in the desktop business?
My money and I are still in the desktop market, and will be for some time. Is a break with Apple coming? When is it time to get out? And what to do then?
So do I buy now? No.
Wait for a major update? Unapealing. My machine is old. I want to play Minecraft, for God's sake.
Wait for the minor Ivy Bridge update? Also unappealing. If I went for that now I'd be sweating the days until a big redesign hit. If that had come out yesterday I don't know that I would have gone for it.
Wait for Windows 8 and join the darkside? I keep reading they actually tried this time. Maybe. But I've been a Mac guy since '91, so probably not.
Hackintosh? Honestly, it may be beyond my technical skills, but there is definitely something appealing there. This bears further investigation, at least.
A refurb might cut it. I'm not seeing any great deals currently.
A used machine? Meh. But I'll keep an open mind.
I would prefer to give Apple my money. As I have done so many times in the past.
But it seems our windows of opportunity are not lining up.
Any options I'm missing?