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Buyers Outlook for 2008-2009. Penryn iMacs Soon, Nehalem in 2009

What do you think?

I know that everyone has their own opinions (as is obvious by the remarks in this thread), but I was just curious about what you all think.

I use a mac at work and I want to buy one for home now. iMacs are $999 at the apple refurb store. If I bought this one, I would buy some more ram from newegg. I don't care about the processor like so many others. If the new model had upgraded ram (2gb) and ran at the same price($1199) then I would just assume wait for the new one. So, how likely do you think it is that they will bump the base ram up to 2gb and keep the same price?

Just curious what you all think. If you have any other ideas about possible new features besides the processor that the next imac might have, let me know.

And, by very soon are we talking April 15th, 22, 29, etc? I know that there is no way to know, but the post started actually said that he "has it on good authority" that new imac will be released "very soon." Any elaboration corroboration or is this just speculation based on normal product release times?
 
Hebriewyn said:
I know that everyone has their own opinions (as is obvious by the remarks in this thread), but I was just curious about what you all think.

I use a mac at work and I want to buy one for home now. iMacs are $999 at the apple refurb store. If I bought this one, I would buy some more ram from newegg. I don't care about the processor like so many others. If the new model had upgraded ram (2gb) and ran at the same price($1199) then I would just assume wait for the new one. So, how likely do you think it is that they will bump the base ram up to 2gb and keep the same price?

Just curious what you all think. If you have any other ideas about possible new features besides the processor that the next imac might have, let me know.

And, by very soon are we talking April 15th, 22, 29, etc? I know that there is no way to know, but the post started actually said that he "has it on good authority" that new imac will be released "very soon." Any elaboration corroboration or is this just speculation based on normal product release times?
Click to expand...

My guess would be that ram, except in maybe the low end, would come with 2gb standard. They did that with the Macbooks, and they, like the iMac, are consumer machines. I dont know about any other things they might change though.
 
Thomas2006 said:
This is off the top of my head but we might see new cinema displays after the notebooks move to the Montevina platform because it will support DisplayPort. It wouldn't make sense for Apple to release cinema displays supporting DisplayPort before the notebooks can use them since that might cause more people than normal to wait for the notebooks to get Montevina.
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Isn't HDMI better?
 
Safari's feeling snappier already.

BTY, there are no more refurbished iMacs for sale on the UK site.

Has the 'limited time period' ended?
 
Why not?

I obviously assume that a normal user plays with office, ilife and iwork.
If your life is ripping and encoding DVDs 24/7 then don't buy a mac.

Andrea
Click to expand...

I use my G5 iMac to create DVD's constantly and rendering a full DVD in one hour instead of six is quite appealing. Are you suggesting that a windows machine is preferable? I am truly curious as to why you suggest a Mac is less than ideal.

Thanks, Josh
(I hear Nehalem and I salivate...)
 
Feral Mac said:
I use my G5 iMac to create DVD's constantly and rendering a full DVD in one hour instead of six is quite appealing. Are you suggesting that a windows machine is preferable? I am truly curious as to why you suggest a Mac is less than ideal.

Thanks, Josh
(I hear Nehalem and I salivate...)
Click to expand...
Processing power is cheaper over on the Windows/DIY side. Handbrake is lightning if you build you own box. I'll admit that the operating system is rather lacking though compared to OS X.

Digital Skunk said:
Dag on it Eidorian!!!!!

You just know where all the deals are don't you? :p
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I just bought my own Q6600 for $189. My minitower comes in around just under $700 but most of the components were bought back last year. Dell offers a good deal if you need a farm of Q6600 based towers for desktop crunching.
 
Off Topic

4/11/2008 Shipped MB 2.4 2GB/250/SD WHT + PAR/XP PRO

OH BOY OH BOY OH BOY!!!!!

NEW HAPPY MAC OWNER COMING UP!!!!! Ordered today from MacMall, shipped this afternoon - should be here Tuesday

:apple::D:D:D:D:D:D:apple::apple::apple::apple:

Did I forget to mention this is my first MAC - so now I am officially a family member
 
theBB said:
What do you mean? They have a table indicating which motherboards have Quickpath. Besides, Anandtech has information along those lines as well. Of course, if you prefer to keep your hopes alive for a miracle, it is up to you.
Click to expand...

Sure we're talking about the same Wikipedia article on the Nehalem microarchitecture?

There is a table listing the different variants of the CPU, and the mobile CPUs are listed with a Dual channel DDR3 800/1066/1333 memory controller. Wikipedia also says this:

Wikipedia:Nehalem(microarchitecture) said:
Some (if not all) variants will utilize the new point-to-point processor interconnect, the Intel QuickPath Interconnect, replacing the legacy front side bus.
Click to expand...

In other words they don't really know if it will be with every variant, which of course contradicts their table unless that's not a table of every variant. If Anandtech has more details on it though, could you please link to the article so that I know I'm not overlooking something?

Sebastian
 
Eidorian said:
Processing power is cheaper over on the Windows/DIY side. Handbrake is lightning if you build you own box. I'll admit that the operating system is rather lacking though compared to OS X.

I just bought my own Q6600 for $189. My minitower comes in around just under $700 but most of the components were bought back last year. Dell offers a good deal if you need a farm of Q6600 based towers for desktop crunching.
Click to expand...

I know, their servers are a dream as well, the ones that are in tower config that is. Just imagine a full sized tower stuck to the side of another tower. The mid range has been offering 32GB of RAM and Octo Core for the past three years of so... at a premium price of course. Now the prices are quite reasonable.
 
Digital Skunk said:
I know, their servers are a dream as well, the ones that are in tower config that is. Just imagine a full sized tower stuck to the side of another tower. The mid range has been offering 32GB of RAM and Octo Core for the past three years of so... at a premium price of course. Now the prices are quite reasonable.
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All that I'm going to say is that a quad core with monitor for under $800-1,000 isn't that hard to find anymore before any rebates. Fry's Electronics had retail box G0 stepping Q6600 processors on sale for $189. I had to pick one up to replace my dual core.

Apple is really hurting in the consumer desktop market since they don't have a quad core to fill the gap from Mac mini to Mac Pro. The mobile Core 2 Extreme QX9300 for Montevina is over a $1,000 for the processor alone. A desktop counterpart is between $200-250. Building the iMac on Intel's mobile platforms got us the iMac Core Duo in a pinch at MacWorld 2006 but it locked us in to expensive processors when compared to Intel's desktop line. Imagine what it'd be like if Apple had waited for Core 2 Duo (Conroe) in July-August of 2006 instead?
 
Eidorian said:
All that I'm going to say is that a quad core with monitor for under $800-1,000 isn't that hard to find anymore before any rebates. Fry's Electronics had retail box G0 stepping Q6600 processors on sale for $189. I had to pick one up to replace my dual core.

Apple is really hurting in the consumer desktop market since they don't have a quad core to fill the gap from Mac mini to Mac Pro. The mobile Core 2 Extreme QX9300 for Montevina is over a $1,000 for the processor alone. A desktop counterpart is between $200-250. Building the iMac on Intel's mobile platforms got us the iMac Core Duo in a pinch at MacWorld 2006 but it locked us in to expensive processors when compared to Intel's desktop line. Imagine what it'd be like if Apple had waited for Core 2 Duo (Conroe) in July-August of 2006 instead?
Click to expand...

Why can't they just switch the processors with the next update? From laptop processors to desktop? Or would the size change dramatically, or have cooling issues, like with the G5?
 
I've said it before and I'll say it again-- the Intel switch took all the fun out of product updates. They're as predictable as the motion of the planets and no matter what you do they'll always be average because Intel is the yardstick. Every generation can only be marketed as "None more faster than the fastest Intel CPU".

Timing your Mac buys aren't nearly as important now as it used to be. Each generation will be in the range of 5-12% faster than the earlier one. The difference will hardly be noticeable. Intel doesn't want hot-spots in their sales-- they want a nice, steady progression, which is what they've devoted their lives to. That's also why we get such a long roadmap with Intel-- they don't care if we know what's coming because when it gets here, it will be 5-10% faster than what came before it.

Basically that means that if Apple wanted to depreciate old technology, they'd have cut the price of their hardware by $100-200 by the next update. I'm not sure that's worth all the whingeing it would cause among people who bought right before the price drop.

Choosing when to buy based on Intel generations is pointless-- make your decision on peripheral changes. BluRay makes much more of a difference than Nehalem ever will.

Delaying a purchase for an enclosure redesign is just plain silly. It's a tool, the case is secondary. If the current generation was malformed and ugly, it might be different... Besides, it's the early adopters of enclosure designs that seem to have the most trouble.
 
Looks are EVERYTHING ...

Analog Kid said:
Delaying a purchase for an enclosure redesign is just plane silly. It's a tool, the case is secondary.
Click to expand...

Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea which site you're on? ;)

I wouldn't say it's secondary, I'd say it's one of the primary reasons to purchase a Mac (apart from Mac OS of course) because they're, for want of a better word, beautiful. In the design stakes they beat the vast majority of the PC competition easily. It's the first thing people notice and talk about; ask any "casual" computer user and they won't have a clue about the advantages and features of the operating system or hardware specs but they will be able to link Macs with a cool brand image and elegant design.

The minimalism of the Mac Mini.
The aluminium thinness of the MacBook Pro and Air.
The industrial design of the Mac Pro.
The elegance of the Cinema Displays.

(And, yes I am one of those people who'd happily pay the premium for the ACD's cos they just look so goddamn gorgeous and match the exsiting Mac hardware, and the keyboards and mice, so well.)

Analog Kid said:
If the current generation was malformed and ugly, it might be different...
Click to expand...

Like technology, design moves on. People get bored and fed up of looking at the same thing. Why do you think so many websites are redesigned every few years and why corporations come up with new logos? Apple need to keep redesigning and bring us new striking ideas to stop products looking stagnant and letting the competition (slowly) catch up.

Not only that but redesigns are just the kind of thing that drives Apple's more hardcore fans to sell up and re-buy. The MBP / Powerbook design still beats everything else but it's been used for too long and there are MANY on this site who can't wait to get their wallets out in anticipation of something new ... myself included. :D
 
Neutral Gamer said:
Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea which site you're on? ;)

I wouldn't say it's secondary, I'd say it's one of the primary reasons to purchase a Mac (apart from Mac OS of course) because they're, for want of a better word, beautiful. In the design stakes they beat the vast majority of the PC competition easily. It's the first thing people notice and talk about; ask any "casual" computer user and they won't have a clue about the advantages and features of the operating system or hardware specs but they will be able to link Macs with a cool brand image and elegant design.

The minimalism of the Mac Mini.
The aluminium thinness of the MacBook Pro and Air.
The industrial design of the Mac Pro.
The elegance of the Cinema Displays.

(And, yes I am one of those people who'd happily pay the premium for the ACD's cos they just look so goddamn gorgeous and match the exsiting Mac hardware, and the keyboards and mice, so well.)

Like technology, design moves on. People get bored and fed up of looking at the same thing. Why do you think so many websites are redesigned every few years and why corporations come up with new logos? Apple need to keep redesigning and bring us new striking ideas to stop products looking stagnant and letting the competition (slowly) catch up.

Not only that but redesigns are just the kind of thing that drives Apple's more hardcore fans to sell up and re-buy. The MBP / Powerbook design still beats everything else but it's been used for too long and there are MANY on this site who can't wait to get their wallets out in anticipation of something new ... myself included. :D
Click to expand...
Not to put too fine a point on it, but have you considered just keeping your old machine and buying a painting or something?

I do appreciate Apple's design, but mostly because it's solid and functional. People complain about the Mac Pro design, but I find it pretty close to perfect. It is solid, reliable and quiet. I'm not willing to sacrifice any of that just for the sake of changing something. Same goes for the MBP-- it's a solid design that makes my machine more reliable. I really hope Apple doesn't change anything until there's a technical reason to do so.

I don't see anything being much more timeless than brushed metal. Maybe oak.
 
The Power of Art (and Sarcasm)

Analog Kid said:
Not to put too fine a point on it, but have you considered just keeping your old machine and buying a painting or something?
Click to expand...

Ah, but my friend, my current surroundings are already fitted with furniture, art and other items that adequately relax me and make me feel comfortable. Sticking an ugly or over familiar computer into the mix would be detrimental to the whole atmosphere. The look and feel of the computer I use makes a difference to how I work and how I feel.

When I used to have a MBP, I couldn't help but just stopping and looking at it everytime I walked past it. It was a piece of art in itself. Whether on my lap, on my desk or on my sofa in the early morning glow of sunlight from the windows. I bowed down in its presence and felt a God like sense of emotion when touching the shining, smooth coolness of its aluminium exterior while whispering sweet nothings to it.

It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. That's the power of art. Breathe it in, my friend, breathe it in. Like a painting I accidentally sold, I can't wait to relive those emotions, magnified, when buying its successor. :apple:
 
kinless said:
I've been grateful for the MR Buyer's Guide for several years. It's what helped me strategically plan for the jump from my old 1998 Beige G3 to my new 2008 Mac Pro (8-core). I figured I was caught up in the "keep waiting" routine long enough.
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I've already sent Joe a private message on this, but thought I'd use his mention of a very, very "vintage" Mac as an opportunity to point out that, given the stability and reliability of the hardware, such equipment as this should not be considered totally worthless.

I own / run / maintain a server on just such a system. It's actually a 1997 model year PowerMac G3 Desktop, 266MHz OC'd to 300MHz (woo hoo!). I've repurposed it as a very solid Debian Linux-based file and web server. Isn't it cool to know you can run the current version of Apache on 10 year old hardware? And it actually works just the way it should, too!
 
Analog Kid said:
Choosing when to buy based on Intel generations is pointless-- make your decision on peripheral changes. BluRay makes much more of a difference than Nehalem ever will.
Click to expand...
I'm with you. BluRay support is big. I'm waiting for hardware HD decode support in the Mini (X4500, probably June '09, which means it will also have Nehalem) since I think they make great HTPCs. FW3200 support would also be nice, as would DisplayPort (those are probably Pro-only features, though).
 
bigwig said:
I'm with you. BluRay support is big. I'm waiting for hardware HD decode support in the Mini (X4500, probably June '09, which means it will also have Nehalem) since I think they make great HTPCs. FW3200 support would also be nice, as would DisplayPort (those are probably Pro-only features, though).
Click to expand...

Apple is a part of the Blu-Ray Disc Association, so wouldnt they want to get these in their machines ASAP, even though they also push digital formats? I think they would want to make money any way they could
 
what?

What the Fk? I just bought my mac pro 8 core why can't they wait to perfect the solution to how fast they go without updating every 6months to a year. This blows!
 
andy721 said:
What the Fk? I just bought my mac pro 8 core why can't they wait to perfect the solution to how fast they go without updating every 6months to a year. This blows!
Click to expand...

Why does it blow? You have a blazing fast machine, that will last for a long time! It will be a beast for a long time, and since technology is always being updated and improved, why not make it last as long as you can, so you get the most bang for your buck? Then when you need a new Pro (or equivalent) you can buy the best one available!
 
Neutral Gamer said:
Ah, but my friend, my current surroundings are already fitted with furniture, art and other items that adequately relax me and make me feel comfortable. Sticking an ugly or over familiar computer into the mix would be detrimental to the whole atmosphere. The look and feel of the computer I use makes a difference to how I work and how I feel.

When I used to have a MBP, I couldn't help but just stopping and looking at it everytime I walked past it. It was a piece of art in itself. Whether on my lap, on my desk or on my sofa in the early morning glow of sunlight from the windows. I bowed down in its presence and felt a God like sense of emotion when touching the shining, smooth coolness of its aluminium exterior while whispering sweet nothings to it.

It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. That's the power of art. Breathe it in, my friend, breathe it in. Like a painting I accidentally sold, I can't wait to relive those emotions, magnified, when buying its successor. :apple:
Click to expand...
:D Well stated... I think you've convinced me.
 
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