27inch iMac purchase Help!

[iWoz]

hmm Im so tempted to just go pick the c2d 27'imac this weekend

I need to go to an Apple store on Sunday as my girlfriend is getting the new macbook, I was going to wait for the i5 and save up money till it comes out, but im thinking now do I really need the more powerful chip?

for me theres £215 difference in the price between c2d and i5

£1160.14 with Uni discount - c2d
£1375.14 with Uni discount - i5

Bearing in mind I want this to last for atleast 3/4 years

I use iTunes/Office/ some photo editing/ Downloading music/ Watching Films/Using Eyetv/ probably installing windows 7 via parallels or VMWare
Will I really use the quad core technology to it's potential. I understand the "future proofing idea" But I cant see it not lasting me 3/4 years on c2d.

Some advice?

Maybe from someone who has the c2d model already?
__________________

 

[velocityg4]

As I replied in another thread. Get the Core i5 model. It is a superior CPU and will have a much longer useful life than the Core 2.

Normally I recommend the cheaper models. But in this case I never would.

 

[mac-ho]

I'm waiting for the quad also. I was in the Apple Store yesterday. I knew the dual would fit my needs. I also knew in a few months I would wish I had waited for the quad. Waiting time go's slower than Having time. Regretting Time bugs me the most!

 

[Dozer_Zaibatsu]

Similarly, I'm wondering whether I should wait, myself. Mac stuff always seems to rush in with changes right after an initial lineup change. Anyone think there's a value to wait until after New Year's to buy an i5 for any price drops or deals or the like? Anyone have Spidy Sense tingling?

I suppose I can wait, although my P4 computer is literally wheezing from age. (CPU fan held on by rubber bands -- still runs Win7, fingers crossed...)

 

[velocityg4]

Similarly, I'm wondering whether I should wait, myself. Mac stuff always seems to rush in with changes right after an initial lineup change. Anyone think there's a value to wait until after New Year's to buy an i5 for any price drops or deals or the like? Anyone have Spidy Sense tingling?

I suppose I can wait, although my P4 computer is literally wheezing from age. (CPU fan held on by rubber bands -- still runs Win7, fingers crossed...)

The revised iMac was just released and is a major update. Based on Apple's previous update cycle's I would not expect any changes to the iMac for at least 6 months but seems to be around every 8 months. Even then the update will be likely be to a slightly faster Core i7 1156 from the i5. Unless Intel introduces a cheap low power mobile quad core to stick in the 20".

The only moderate update I see to the 27" by then would be a Radeon 5850 with possibly 1GB VRAM.

There will not be any price drops until a new iMac is released. I can't even recall the last time a Mac has dropped in price without a line update. Though I am fairly sure it has happened once or twice in the last 10 years. It was a bit more common in the era of Mac II's.

If you need a new computer and the current iMac satisfies your needs buy now otherwise wait.

 

[MacKiddyWiddy]

core i5 for sure... much more futureproof in my opinion