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Good time to buy iMac?
- Thread starter poonnapat
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There have been only one rumor... Last time there were dozens of rumors for over 6 months.
Arrandales are out in early 2010 so update is expected is first quarter of 2010
Always buy if you need it now. However, if there is an Apple event soon, it is always wise to see what turns out.
it is always a good time to purchase an iMac, I love my 2.8 Extreme, cannot wait until I replace it, with a new one (1 more year to go). The current line up of iMacs is awesome.
I love my iMac. I think it's a great machine for a great price. I've got the 24" 'base model' with 4GB memory, 640GB hard drive etc. The only thing I could see really changing is the processor that I'd care about but to be honest, we're at a point where (at least for my usage) processors are that good that there's not been much speed bumpage in the past few years.
My old Windows desktop (nearly 3 years old I think) is a 2.4Ghz Core 2 Duo... my iMac is a 2.66. Yes, there's a new generation of chips out now/coming to Mac soon, but the jump isn't anywhere near as significant as such things used to be.
My old Windows desktop (nearly 3 years old I think) is a 2.4Ghz Core 2 Duo... my iMac is a 2.66. Yes, there's a new generation of chips out now/coming to Mac soon, but the jump isn't anywhere near as significant as such things used to be.
I know it's a bit late, but my Internet Provider was playing up even worse than usual and I could post a reply at the weekend.
Personally I'd probably wait for at least the release of Snow Leopard to save a (small) amount of money and pain installing the new OS ... of course by then it's September and you might then want to wait for the new iMacs towards the end of 2009 / early 2010.
Personally I'd probably wait for at least the release of Snow Leopard to save a (small) amount of money and pain installing the new OS ... of course by then it's September and you might then want to wait for the new iMacs towards the end of 2009 / early 2010.
If you get anything now, it would probably make you feel less remorse later when the inevitable new iMac comes out, if you went for the 3.06 w/4850.
The one thing I know that would tick me off is if they came out with a quad core iMac within 6 months of a purchase. Potentially we're getting close to that point now (using Feb 2010 as a new release date). I'm dithering myself and can't really decide between the Mac Pro quad 2.66 and the iMac 3.06. But the low end Mac Pro is soooo overpriced for what it is, it would be a hard nut to swallow.
I'll probably just wait a couple months for Snow Leopard at this point and see if any of the multi core technology in it actually amounts to anything.
The one thing I know that would tick me off is if they came out with a quad core iMac within 6 months of a purchase. Potentially we're getting close to that point now (using Feb 2010 as a new release date). I'm dithering myself and can't really decide between the Mac Pro quad 2.66 and the iMac 3.06. But the low end Mac Pro is soooo overpriced for what it is, it would be a hard nut to swallow.
I'll probably just wait a couple months for Snow Leopard at this point and see if any of the multi core technology in it actually amounts to anything.
Blu-Ray is going to be a while off. Quad-Core, either it's happening soon, or at least a year away.
Do we honestly believe Quad cores are soon coming to the iMac? The reason I ask is that jump in power would hurt sales of the MacPro if apple didnt raise the price of the iMac to compensate?
Or do you just think the top range iMac will see quad cores?
I'm also waiting before buying my iMac, but I dont plan to wait beyond september, I was hoping for a refresh with the new OSX, but we're drawing near to that time now and the rumours seem to be fizzling out not picking up. Then again no one saw the macpro refresh coming in June...
Or do you just think the top range iMac will see quad cores?
I'm also waiting before buying my iMac, but I dont plan to wait beyond september, I was hoping for a refresh with the new OSX, but we're drawing near to that time now and the rumours seem to be fizzling out not picking up. Then again no one saw the macpro refresh coming in June...
Hmm, if the top-end iMac was to get quad core, it would probably get the 2.66GHz quad core processor in the current Mac Pro, and the Mac Pro might get a higher clock speed so Mac Pro sales won't hurt. Might happen, but I doubt it. Arrandale will be in all iMacs by next year.
I think the iMac case would melt should they try and put a Xeon Processor in it
Mobile chips are used in the iMac, which means Clarksdale is the only current choice. I think on the high end it tops out at 1.73. Then there is that Turbo boost thing of 1 core which I heard tops out at 2.8.
I expect Apple to do a simple price reduction (as rumored) for Christmas, then do a real upgrade once Arrandale comes out.
I think the iMac case would melt should they try and put a Xeon Processor in it
2.66GHz Bloomfield is 130W so iMac would really smelt
Did you mean Clarksfield? They are too expensive. 2GHz is over 1000$
Arrandales are coming Q4 '09 so it's possible that we'll see an update before the end of this year
My guess is August/September, but will be a small update. Price drop with new (hopefully faster) graphics options. There isn't much more they can do at the moment with them. Also new iPods due out soon.
I think Apple generally releases new iPods and updated iMacs in August.
I think Apple generally releases new iPods and updated iMacs in August.
Only faster GPU again? Apple already did that in March so they can't update only GPUs and use the same CPUs in three generations