A student spending $2800 on a toy? Mom and Dad must be loaded. I had a frisbee.
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How do you justify your lavish spending on a fully-loaded 27"
- Thread starter MagicThief83
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A student spending $2800 on a toy? Mom and Dad must be loaded. I had a frisbee.
The best way for me to justify it is that it will last me several years.
It's an amazingly powerful machine now, in 3 years it will be powerful and in 5 years it'll still be pretty good.
Just wish the apple care would last longer than 3 years...
It's an amazingly powerful machine now, in 3 years it will be powerful and in 5 years it'll still be pretty good.
Just wish the apple care would last longer than 3 years...
That's true, my Early 2008 iMac has given me close to 5 years of trouble free computing and it was the standard low end 24" model. The only thing ive done to it is upgrade the HDD from 320gigs to 1TB then to 2TB's (It is still working perfectly fine btw). If i keep my 27" im hoping it will last 6 years.
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I like it when Applecare runs out as i get to pull the sucker apart and upgrade the HDD ect.
My last purchase was a Mac Mini with no monitor, keyboard or mouse as I still had those from my Power PC tower. In that 3 years, I bought a cheap monitor from Comp USA, and bought a Magic Trackpad. I'm still using my wired keyboard with the numeric keypad.
I make decent money, plus I have student loan money left over this semester as I am working on degree #3.
I don't think my order was extravagant since I didn't opt for the 768k SSD. In hindsight, I should have stuck with the i5. I just got caught up in the heat of the moment.
I make decent money, plus I have student loan money left over this semester as I am working on degree #3.
I don't think my order was extravagant since I didn't opt for the 768k SSD. In hindsight, I should have stuck with the i5. I just got caught up in the heat of the moment.
Apple has always been the master of the "step-up" game when it comes to their computers. You may start looking at the base model, but before you know it you've spec'd out a top of the line machine (with an equally stunning price tag). However, I think they've outdone themselves with the latest iMac.
To begin with, you can't even add your own memory to the 21.5", so the extra $200 for 16GB of ram is almost a given. Want one of the sexy new fusion drives? Sorry, it's only available on the higher spec'd 21.5" and since there is no clear path to upgrade later, you have to buy it now. All of a sudden your "base model" iMac is $1,949!
To begin with, you can't even add your own memory to the 21.5", so the extra $200 for 16GB of ram is almost a given. Want one of the sexy new fusion drives? Sorry, it's only available on the higher spec'd 21.5" and since there is no clear path to upgrade later, you have to buy it now. All of a sudden your "base model" iMac is $1,949!
I ordered a pretty well set up 27" with Applecare for $2800, after an EPP discount (actually ended up getting an education discount instead because the EPP discount isn't in effect yet). Since it's going to be used mostly for my photography business, it's a bit easier to justify than if it were just for personal use. The way I look at it, the cost is about the same as one of my camera bodies - but I spend WAY more time in front of the computer than I do behind the camera. And the more capable my computer, the less time I spend editing, which means more time for my personal life, or more time to take on additional work (and thus make more money). That's how I justify the lavish spending
My configuration is going to be as following:
27" i7/ 3TB Fusion Drive/ 2GB NVIDIA Graphics Card/ 8GB RAM (will upgrade to 32GB myself). This machine without the RAM upgrade will come to AED 10,999.00 (US $ 2,995.00).
I am currently waiting for my 13" MBA i5/ 8GB RAM/ 128Gb SSD as I will not buy the iMac until next summer. (I don't want to play guinea pig for the first generation iMac & fusion drive).
I am justifying these purchases as I am in video editing and photography and I am making money on the site with my hobby, that is financing these expenses.
However, these are not my only expenses in the coming year 2013. I will have to invest in a GoPro Hero3 for actions shots (automotive video shots) as well as in a new DSLR.
The entire cost that I am predicting will be around US $ 6,250.00 for all of the above (excl. the MBA). All of this is supposed to help me deliver better content and in the long term pay for all this equipment.
I justify this as the faster and better equipment will shorten the time I need to edit & process the videos which will allow me to create more content in shorter time!
And all of those purchases are being estimated to be used for 3-5 years.
cheers
27" i7/ 3TB Fusion Drive/ 2GB NVIDIA Graphics Card/ 8GB RAM (will upgrade to 32GB myself). This machine without the RAM upgrade will come to AED 10,999.00 (US $ 2,995.00).
I am currently waiting for my 13" MBA i5/ 8GB RAM/ 128Gb SSD as I will not buy the iMac until next summer. (I don't want to play guinea pig for the first generation iMac & fusion drive).
I am justifying these purchases as I am in video editing and photography and I am making money on the site with my hobby, that is financing these expenses.
However, these are not my only expenses in the coming year 2013. I will have to invest in a GoPro Hero3 for actions shots (automotive video shots) as well as in a new DSLR.
The entire cost that I am predicting will be around US $ 6,250.00 for all of the above (excl. the MBA). All of this is supposed to help me deliver better content and in the long term pay for all this equipment.
I justify this as the faster and better equipment will shorten the time I need to edit & process the videos which will allow me to create more content in shorter time!
And all of those purchases are being estimated to be used for 3-5 years.
cheers
I went for a fully loaded iMac 27" with 3TB Fusion and have 32GB Ram sitting waiting for it arriving. Including Ram from Crucial it came to just under £2270 which is actually a third of my annual salary (work part time in a school so did at Least get an Educational discount)
I use my present iMac around 30 hours a week and this will replace it. I well expect it to last at least 5 years so will work out at around 30p an hour, and it will still be worth something at the end of five years. It will probably be my best value item I have ever purchased. I think of my £10,000 motorbike which is over five years old. I rarely get out on it more than once a month for an hour or so. However a 4 week tour around Europe in 2010 with my 11 year old daughter on it has justified it in my mind
However the main justification for my iMac (by far the most expensive computer I have purchased) is that it will just bring a smile to my face every time I use it My present 2009 iMac is great in most respects but sadly lacking when I use one of my favourite games, X-Plane 10. That will be one of the very first things I try out on my iMac when I get it. I hope it turns out looking as as I hope.
I use my present iMac around 30 hours a week and this will replace it. I well expect it to last at least 5 years so will work out at around 30p an hour, and it will still be worth something at the end of five years. It will probably be my best value item I have ever purchased. I think of my £10,000 motorbike which is over five years old. I rarely get out on it more than once a month for an hour or so. However a 4 week tour around Europe in 2010 with my 11 year old daughter on it has justified it in my mind
However the main justification for my iMac (by far the most expensive computer I have purchased) is that it will just bring a smile to my face every time I use it
My present 2009 iMac is great in most respects but sadly lacking when I use one of my favourite games, X-Plane 10. That will be one of the very first things I try out on my iMac when I get it. I hope it turns out looking as as I hope.
I haven't bought a 27" but I have spent more than $4000 Aus this year on MacBook Air, ipad4, iphone5, and usb3 drive, Logitech keyboard, various cables, etc. So, chipping in on the justification theme:
1. No longer supporting children, so no one will starve or go without shoes, they earn more than me now.
2. Low patience threshold for technology that can no longer do what I need it to do or isn't reliable, I'd rather use a quill and communicate by telepathy or carrier pigeon than deal with computer problems. And if the computers don't work, I can't and then I will starve and go without shoes.
3. Live in rural area in Australia, the nearest major city is 1000km round trip, and so technology is more than just work tools and amusement, it is my portal to ... Well, the world, and far flung friends and family in various countries.
4. I love the new possibilities that new gear offers. As you can see from my sig, I don't update annually, it's disruptive and time-consuming setting up, sorting out bugs, as well as the research before spending thousands. And it was even more time-consuming as I was changing my whole Internet and phone situation too ... From landline and temperamental satellite broadband, to all 3G-based Internet and iPhone.
5. It is all tax deductible, whereas food isn't, so it is easier to justify to my accountant at least, a new iPad (when my old one isn't all that old and still works perfectly) than other expensive things I like ... real chocolate, New Zealand wine, organic coffee.
6. Most of all ...it is what I do all day, create and learn things via technology, and technology made it possible for me to stop roaming around the world and living in cities when I no longer wanted to do that, and do everything I wanted to do from here ... middle of nowhere Australia.
1. No longer supporting children, so no one will starve or go without shoes, they earn more than me now.
2. Low patience threshold for technology that can no longer do what I need it to do or isn't reliable, I'd rather use a quill and communicate by telepathy or carrier pigeon than deal with computer problems. And if the computers don't work, I can't and then I will starve and go without shoes.
3. Live in rural area in Australia, the nearest major city is 1000km round trip, and so technology is more than just work tools and amusement, it is my portal to ... Well, the world, and far flung friends and family in various countries.
4. I love the new possibilities that new gear offers. As you can see from my sig, I don't update annually, it's disruptive and time-consuming setting up, sorting out bugs, as well as the research before spending thousands. And it was even more time-consuming as I was changing my whole Internet and phone situation too ... From landline and temperamental satellite broadband, to all 3G-based Internet and iPhone.
5. It is all tax deductible, whereas food isn't, so it is easier to justify to my accountant at least, a new iPad (when my old one isn't all that old and still works perfectly) than other expensive things I like ... real chocolate, New Zealand wine, organic coffee.
6. Most of all ...it is what I do all day, create and learn things via technology, and technology made it possible for me to stop roaming around the world and living in cities when I no longer wanted to do that, and do everything I wanted to do from here ... middle of nowhere Australia.
Neither myself or I drive. Sure we are paying for public transit but it is better than maintaining 2 cars. When you do not have payments on two cars, auto insurance, gas, parking, and so on a computer for each of us every few years is suddenly quite affordable.
About the only time a car would help is going to an out-of-town restaurant. Usually someone who has a car is with us though.
About the only time a car would help is going to an out-of-town restaurant. Usually someone who has a car is with us though.
If you're serious, you sound pathetic. This "student" you're referring to is a full grown man with his own professional career that was self made. Mom and dad spared (actually deprived is a better word) the golden spoon growing up and didn't give me a penny (of the $2800) growing up nor now, to spend on my wonderful brand new toy (they didn't even buy me a frisbee!). The $2800 that I spent is money I hustle and bustle for (I help save people from dying), and I think I have a right to determine how I spend my own hard earned money. I'm back at the university trying to better myself, hence my eligibility for a student discount. Even then, I'm still not comfortable spending the $2800 (almost of half of what some here have spent on their brand new toy) and that's because I come from humble beginnings and don't like to splurge unnecessarily. Yet, life is short and sometimes you just have to treat yourself to a brand spanking new toy! Now go play with your frisbee little boy!
I do web development, graphic design and a little iOS development, as well as amateur photography and play around with videos here and there. I have been using a bottom of the line base model 24" 2008 iMac for over 4 years now, and while it was ok back then, it's DRAGGING now... I'm trying to do way too much with it at once. I planned on upgrading last fall but didn't want to buy a 6 month old iMac when new ones were "just around the corner" (and we all know that corner turned out to be 3 or 4 corners).
When I got my iPhone last year I decided to get a developer account, and while I haven't done much myself with it, what I learned on my first app got me a contract job that led to 2 more, so half my income this year came from that.
When I'm working I need a lot of things open for testing, and strongly dislike switching windows from front to back over and over to see everything, so I just ordered a thunderbolt display (which is currently acting as a big black mirror on my desk for the next 4 weeks) and also have a samsung 1920x1200 25" monitor.
I opted for the 27" with i7, 680MX gpu and 1TB fusion drive and I also have 32GB of ram in my desk drawer waiting. My workflow should DRASTICALLY improve, and this machine should still feel fast in 4 years unlike my current iMac. I went with 1tb fusion to keep app and OS load times way down, and thinking of doing an external USB3 or TB 512GB SSD for my 150GB aperture library (which will continue to grow)
I can completely justify my purchase, because it's 100% a business purchase (I'd be content with a macbook air for personal use, or maybe even just my iPad). I will even admit it might seem overboard having two 2560x1440 displays + 1920x1200 and everything maxed out, but after living with a base model all this time, I want to make sure the only thing keeping me from getting work done (and getting paid) is myself
When I got my iPhone last year I decided to get a developer account, and while I haven't done much myself with it, what I learned on my first app got me a contract job that led to 2 more, so half my income this year came from that.
When I'm working I need a lot of things open for testing, and strongly dislike switching windows from front to back over and over to see everything, so I just ordered a thunderbolt display (which is currently acting as a big black mirror on my desk for the next 4 weeks) and also have a samsung 1920x1200 25" monitor.
I opted for the 27" with i7, 680MX gpu and 1TB fusion drive and I also have 32GB of ram in my desk drawer waiting. My workflow should DRASTICALLY improve, and this machine should still feel fast in 4 years unlike my current iMac. I went with 1tb fusion to keep app and OS load times way down, and thinking of doing an external USB3 or TB 512GB SSD for my 150GB aperture library (which will continue to grow)
I can completely justify my purchase, because it's 100% a business purchase (I'd be content with a macbook air for personal use, or maybe even just my iPad). I will even admit it might seem overboard having two 2560x1440 displays + 1920x1200 and everything maxed out, but after living with a base model all this time, I want to make sure the only thing keeping me from getting work done (and getting paid) is myself
My iMac totals $2,600.
I justify it by saying I waited more than 3 years for it.
First the Intel chips used were dated in the 2010 model.
Second there was no USB 3 in the 2011 model.
Now, well. I do not want to wait anymore. I want 27-inch, Core i7, Fusion Drive and GTX 680MX. I'll add the 32GB myself as it will only cost me $100-150 to DIY.
Yes, there is the much ballyhooed Retina Display (4K I reckon) for 2013 but it would mismatch my Dell U2711.
I just wish they kept FW800 or even kept the old design!
I justify it by saying I waited more than 3 years for it.
First the Intel chips used were dated in the 2010 model.
Second there was no USB 3 in the 2011 model.
Now, well. I do not want to wait anymore. I want 27-inch, Core i7, Fusion Drive and GTX 680MX. I'll add the 32GB myself as it will only cost me $100-150 to DIY.
Yes, there is the much ballyhooed Retina Display (4K I reckon) for 2013 but it would mismatch my Dell U2711.
I just wish they kept FW800 or even kept the old design!
Holy s h i t! $5600! Almost double of what I paid! What are your configurations dude? And I thought $2800 was breaking the bank. Did you not qualify for any discounts?
Justify? I used (VERY) hard earned cash to purchase it, in which it will hopefully make it LESS hard to earn more cash. In short, my job depends on it. The slower the computer, the less work I can take on and the more I have to contract out.
I think I'm also going to wait for full blown reviews of both models, and also videos of gaming performance on the 21.5" before I make a firm decision. I'm almost 95% sure I'm sticking with the 27" because it will serve its purpose well, but I feel like I can make due with a fully loaded 21.5", then I may just stick to that.
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I've also pondered spending large amount on a souped up 27' but for me its never been worth it.
The way i look at it is this: In the UK a fully loaded 27' is currently £3697 (w. AppleCare) If i buy that and keep it for 5 years the cost is only on average £739 per year, that doesnt look like alot on paper now does it? However, your hardware support will run out after 3 years and there is no guarantee of full software support for the full term of ownership. After a few years even the best computers will start to show their age too. What if you want to play a game in 4 years time and your old GPU isnt up for it?
Thats just my take on it though, i'm sure that doesn't bother a lot of people but id prefer to stay away from the expensive BTO upgrades, spend half as much and replace twice as often. It negates the issues i've already mentioned and your resell values are that much higher.
The way i look at it is this: In the UK a fully loaded 27' is currently £3697 (w. AppleCare) If i buy that and keep it for 5 years the cost is only on average £739 per year, that doesnt look like alot on paper now does it? However, your hardware support will run out after 3 years and there is no guarantee of full software support for the full term of ownership. After a few years even the best computers will start to show their age too. What if you want to play a game in 4 years time and your old GPU isnt up for it?
Thats just my take on it though, i'm sure that doesn't bother a lot of people but id prefer to stay away from the expensive BTO upgrades, spend half as much and replace twice as often. It negates the issues i've already mentioned and your resell values are that much higher.
I don't think we need to be hostile/judgemental or defensive in answering this question. After all, we don't have to justify expenditure to anyone here. Isn't the question more about our reasons for buying these things, and how we use them?