With the announcements potentially hinting that a new iMac won't be announced later today and it could be as far away as early 2021, I'm curious to know how long you think a current iMac would last.. Let's say a 21.5", 6-core i7, 32gb ram, 1tb SSD?
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How long will the current iMac last if bought now?
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I want to buy one (the intel version). To be honest, how this has tended to go as a developer is that the tooling takes time to catch up. It's not been a good idea historically to jump to a new platform before someone else acts as a beta tester (casual users). It's better to wait for vendors to move over to native arm first. My guess though is about 4 years and no longer before the machine starts becoming really legacy.
How long will the current iMac last? Configure it robustly and it should last many years.
Answer these questions: 1) Do you need to ride the bus right this moment, today and beyond? Or, 2) Will you only ride the bus when the shiny new model appears sometime in the future?
Technology is like that. If it is a vehicle that you must use now, right this moment, make your best choice from what is available now.
Answer these questions: 1) Do you need to ride the bus right this moment, today and beyond? Or, 2) Will you only ride the bus when the shiny new model appears sometime in the future?
Technology is like that. If it is a vehicle that you must use now, right this moment, make your best choice from what is available now.
If the OP can survive on legacy apps the it should last for at least a decade. I'm still using a 2011 iMac as a daily driver.
However if you want the latest of the latest apps, then you'll need to look back in time. To see how long Rosetta anduniversal Binaries stuck around before being discontinued post the PPC to intel move. The best we can do is assume Rosetta 2 and UB2 will stick around for the same length of time.
My wild guess is about 5 years, maybe a bit more, if you need to stay current with apps. If you are willing and able to work on an app version that's a year or two old, you can probably squeeze a little more, and by that time you'd probably be wanting a new computer anyway.
Figure that Intel iMac's are likely to be around for at least a year. I strongly suspect that ARM will go into the laptops first since that's where the big power vs performance wins are. After the last Intel iMac, I think we can expect to see universal binary releases of all but the most obscure new apps for at least 2 years and maybe 3.
Figure that Intel iMac's are likely to be around for at least a year. I strongly suspect that ARM will go into the laptops first since that's where the big power vs performance wins are. After the last Intel iMac, I think we can expect to see universal binary releases of all but the most obscure new apps for at least 2 years and maybe 3.
My current iMac is nearly 5 years old. I bought a MBP 16 for portability and I thought I would sell the iMac and simply get an external monitor for the laptop. But the 5 year old iMac is awesome, and the screen is still best in class and performance in FCP X is still extremely strong editing 4K footage. So for now, I use both.
Short answer: You should be able to get 5 years of useful work on an iMac. Maybe more depending on usage. I would go for the 27" with SSD if you can and upgrade the RAM yourself later (super easy). 16MB is enough for most uses.
One caveat: the iMac will likely be updated between now and October. We will see.
Short answer: You should be able to get 5 years of useful work on an iMac. Maybe more depending on usage. I would go for the 27" with SSD if you can and upgrade the RAM yourself later (super easy). 16MB is enough for most uses.
One caveat: the iMac will likely be updated between now and October. We will see.
According to Wikipedia Apple announced transition to Intel in 2005 and released Mac OS X v10.6 "Snow Leopard" on August 28, 2009 as Intel-only, removing support for the PowerPC architecture. It is also the last Mac OS X version that supports PowerPC-based applications,[4] as Mac OS X v10.7 "Lion" dropped support for Rosetta on July 20, 2011."
It means that Apple stops making Intel Macs in 2022, macOS stops support Intel in 2024 and Rosetta in 2026. Probably it all will happen faster this time.
It means that Apple stops making Intel Macs in 2022, macOS stops support Intel in 2024 and Rosetta in 2026. Probably it all will happen faster this time.
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I’m in the similar situation as OP. However I’m looking at purchasing my first iMac.
My school of thought is perhaps buy in month or so and in 4 or 5 years time upgrade again. Not sure. Still researching.
My school of thought is perhaps buy in month or so and in 4 or 5 years time upgrade again. Not sure. Still researching.
I too am in the same boat. Given Apple's transition back in 2005, and the fact that they're quiet about supporting Intel Macs into the future, I'm probably gonna hold off, and possibly get a PC instead (ughhhh). The idea of spending close to $4k on a new iMac that will only get 4 years of support isn't cool.
Well my budget wasn’t that much. , about 2 to 2.5k. But I’d also be concerned if I was spending that much like you are.
I agree , I have a 2013 showing some supply issues . So I about to buy a refurb iMac pro NOW lol . Plus I'm still on mojave due to stability for recording
Are you doing audio/music stuff mostly? I am, and I feel like I have very little options at the present moment, given what this announcement.
Yes I run MOTU DP10 and their hardware , but I am also waiting on the new Motu M4 interface as my old Traveler will be lost in the wash soon . I figure the bas iMac pro refurb would work well for time until the "NEW" macs get stable etc etc . At this point I need to keep going into what I'm doing . I am also starting the Youtube thing for Bass guitar product reviews . So the iMac pro has more TB3 and better FaceTime cam and of course cooling . Just going to be much faster and better all around compared to my 2013 iMac now . I ham now running 32gig ram and never have issues there and also run an internal ssd I bought included in my 2013 config . I spent the $$$ on that feature back then lol . If I pull the trigger like this week , I just don't visit the apple site for a long time after . lol Been there done that before . Although apple told me today I can send it back in the 14 day window . So if something becomes appealing then I could swap . The main thing is now .... I am venturing into this new business thing and need a stable and reliable mac now . My 2013 has been awesome until this blacking out power shut of thing going on lately .
I pulled the trigger on a new intel iMac today. I'm not interested in being a beta tester right now. Someone else can do that while I'm busy getting work done. I'll waddle into the water when the transition issues are worked out.
If you could you should have waited for the next Intel iMac coming soon, maybe in September or sooner. Apple will release one last update to Intel iMac soon.
I think Intel support will last rather longer than just a few years. Not least because the market penetration of Intel Macs is hugely greater than it ever was in the PowerPC-and-prior era.
If it doesn't, the folks that have just spent a king's ransom on a new Mac Pro are going to be VPO-ed...
If it doesn't, the folks that have just spent a king's ransom on a new Mac Pro are going to be VPO-ed...
Yeah I was just thinking about how they must be feeling right now. Businesses don't really like uncertainty.
If they're going to be doing a refresh on the current iMac within the next few months then I'll probably get one of them knowing that it'll work for what I need for the next 5 years or so then get an ARM after that when I have no choice
I am thinking about what I want to do next. My mid 2010 iMac running 10.13.6 will need to be replaced this year in order for me to continue to work from home using Citrix. Hopefully we will get a refreshed Intel iMac. If not, I might get a refurbished one or maybe a Mini. At this point I am not interested in a 1st gen Arm computer.
If I am desperate I can try to get Windows 10 to work but Windows 10 is horrible.
If I am desperate I can try to get Windows 10 to work but Windows 10 is horrible.