best option for buying then reselling iMac

[wuubb]

G'day all,
So I have been interested in buying an iMac. While I dont need one right now, it would certainly be a big help so that I dont have to keep running Pro Tools and Sibelius on my Surface.

I was going to wait for the whole "new iMac (with or without retina display) with broadwell processors and all sorts of new awesome stuff" iMac, but that keeps seeming like its getting pushed further and further into the future.

So my current plan is to buy the base iMac while they still have the edu discount and then sell it when the new ones come out and put that money towards the new one. However, I would like some advice on what the best plan is so that I can get the most of my money back when I resell it. Also, some advice on the best way to resell it (i.e. eBay, etc.).

Thanks,
Wuubb

Oh, and BTW, my budget isnt bottomless like some peoples, I'm a 16 year old high school student with a summer job, so keep in mind the more I have to pay upfront in this, the longer its going to take me to have enough money to buy it etc.

 

[fa8362]

That's a bad idea unless you don't mind losing a few hundred dollars.

 

[bobright]

Patience young one. Don't buy one only to sell it even if you have to wait a year just wait. You'll lose probably 4-500 plus dollars when you factor in taxes and ebay fees if you go that route.

 

[wuubb]

Is it still a bad idea to get a refurb one for even cheaper than a student discount?

I mean, is the next generation of iMacs going to be that much better? I know broadwell is supposed to give a really good power usage drop, but thats not as important in a desktop as in a mobile device right?

Like whats the best case scenario and worst case scenario for what the next generation of iMac will look like, cause if the next gen isnt that much better, I may just buy a refurb and use it through college.

I can be patient, but its easier when I know how much my patience will pay off, thats all.
Thanks,
Wuubb

 

[Neodym]

Is it still a bad idea to get a refurb one for even cheaper than a student discount?

Actually refurbs are usually considered a good idea.

broadwell is supposed to give a really good power usage drop, but thats not as important in a desktop as in a mobile device right?

In an anemic desktop like the iMac it's quite important from my pov. Power usage drop = less heat = positive effect on component aging and more thermal headroom (e.g. for a more powerful GPU).

Alternatively (with GPU staying in the same class) the system may need less mechanical components like fans, which can fail and cost money and space in the enclosure that could be put to better use.

Like whats the best case scenario and worst case scenario for what the next generation of iMac will look like, cause if the next gen isnt that much better, I may just buy a refurb and use it through college.

If the iMac gets refreshed this year, it'll probably just get a small speedbump like the 15" rMBP's. Might see a better GPU (nVidia 8xx, though the higher end 8xx are not Maxwell unfortunately, but still Kepler, which means no heat reduction for the high end) and perhaps SSD becoming standard.

Except for ultimate high-end games I'd expect a refurb to easily be up to the task of accompanying you throughout college.

 

[wuubb]

If the iMac gets refreshed this year, it'll probably just get a small speedbump like the 15" rMBP's. Might see a better GPU (nVidia 8xx, though the higher end 8xx are not Maxwell unfortunately, but still Kepler, which means no heat reduction for the high end) and perhaps SSD becoming standard.

Except for ultimate high-end games I'd expect a refurb to easily be up to the task of accompanying you throughout college.

The only 4 games that I play currently are Star Trek Online, Space Engineers, Trainz 2012 and Borderlands 2, although I may branch out later. Do you think the 775m will be able to handle those or should I get the 780m?

Also, if the iMac does get refreshed, Its probably going to be right after they end the student discount sale? To make people pay full price? I could totally see Apple pulling something like that...

 

[Neodym]

The only 4 games that I play currently are Star Trek Online, Space Engineers, Trainz 2012 and Borderlands 2, although I may branch out later. Do you think the 775m will be able to handle those or should I get the 780m?

I am not much into gaming and thus can't evaluate those. Regarding the graphic cards: There are quite some discussions about the benefits of the 780 vs. the 775. For sure is that it offers twice the VRam and thus has more reserves for future games (though most of today's games are absolutely fine with the 2GB of the 775). Many gamers play at reduced resolution instead of native iMac resolution even with the 780m, as the performance is still not enough for all games to run in 2560x1440 with full details and max quality.

Speaking of performance, the 780 is said to have an advantage of somewhere along 5-15% over the 775. If you buy new, you have to decide whether that's worth it to you. With refurbs you don't necessarily have a choice anyway...

Also, if the iMac does get refreshed, Its probably going to be right after they end the student discount sale? To make people pay full price? I could totally see Apple pulling something like that...

A discount sale is often to empty warehouses for new products to come. Perfectly economic thinking and in no way limited to Apple. By the way as a student you still get discounts compared to "normal" prices, even after the Sale is over.

 

[wuubb]

By the way as a student you still get discounts compared to "normal" prices, even after the Sale is over.

When I called Apple to ask about how to qualify for the student discount I was told it ends September 9th. Could they have been referring to something different?

 

[Truthfulie]

When I called Apple to ask about how to qualify for the student discount I was told it ends September 9th. Could they have been referring to something different?

Education discounts apply all year. In addition to the education discount, they offer $100 Apple Store gift card program during the 'back to school season' which is what the Apple rep was talking about.

 

[wuubb]

Education discounts apply all year. In addition to the education discount, they offer $100 Apple Store gift card program during the 'back to school season' which is what the Apple rep was talking about.

Oh, gotcha. That makes sense. Well, at least now I dont feel pressured to buy I can wait till more info comes up.

Thanks for the help everyone!
Wuubb