Is now a good time to purchase an iMac?

[njmax]

I know they just updated them in March but I'm wondering if they're going to get the quad core or core i7 processes anytime this year?

Also, starting June I believe is the going back to school promotion. Basically you get an ipod or touch for free after rebate, right? Can you still get the $100 student discount off?


thanks

 

[njmax]

If I buy now, can I get the Snow Leopard upgrade for free?

I read somewhere that if you buy a mac within 30 days of the announcement for the new OS, you can upgrade for free. Is that correct?

Assuming it will be announced June 6, that means if i buy now I can has upgrade for free?

 

[PurdueBio]

you should search the forums, both of these questions have been answered, many, many, many, many times over.

but for the heck of it...iMacs are not expected to have quad core processors until next year

 

[ditzy]

If I buy now, can I get the Snow Leopard upgrade for free?

I read somewhere that if you buy a mac within 30 days of the announcement for the new OS, you can upgrade for free. Is that correct?

Assuming it will be announced June 6, that means if i buy now I can has upgrade for free?

There's no guarantee that Snow Leopard will be announced on June I think you meant 8. So I'd wait, if getting Snow Leopard for free is very important to you.

 

[Sebby]

The iMac is a great machine for a lot of people. That doesn't mean it'll suit everyone, I admit.

 

[michael.lauden]

if you want to play games it's as simple as CrossOver, and if you want to BootCamp/VMware.


trust me if i can play games on my Mac mini with a 1.66GHz Core Duo, i'm sure you'll be fine with a 2.93 Intel Core 2 Duo. that's roughly triple the processing power. and the GMA 950 definitely sucks haha.


i don't think there is a bad time to buy an iMac. the new model they have out (especially the 24") is absolutely BEAUTIFUL. my girlfriend's mom has one. and man that thing is breath taking.


pair it up with an Apple Wireless Keyboard (or DiNovo Edge), and a Logitech MX Revolution

how can you seriously not want that

 

[iMacmatician]

I know they just updated them in March but I'm wondering if they're going to get the quad core or core i7 processes anytime this year?

I don't think they will get quad-core until maybe 2011 and Nehalem until 2010.

 

[blackhawk08]

I know they just updated them in March but I'm wondering if they're going to get the quad core or core i7 processes anytime this year?

Also, starting June I believe is the going back to school promotion. Basically you get an ipod or touch for free after rebate, right? Can you still get the $100 student discount off?


thanks

I am using my 5 YO pc and will continue to do so until next year or until this computer dies. The reason being is because I believe apple will switch the LCD screen on the iMac to LED (yeah i know, theres not that big a difference but still, they switched the cinema displays and the notebook displays to LED, all that remains is the iMac) And also snow leopard and a quad core would be nice as well

 

[njmax]

I'd actually prefer an LCD screen.

 

[mstam]

I am using my 5 YO pc and will continue to do so until next year or until this computer dies. The reason being is because I believe apple will switch the LCD screen on the iMac to LED (yeah i know, theres not that big a difference but still, they switched the cinema displays and the notebook displays to LED, all that remains is the iMac) And also snow leopard and a quad core would be nice as well

I'm also gonna wait for my next iMac purchase until they accommodate a 4GHz Quad core CPU, 30" OLED screen, 12 speed BD writer and swappable 1TB SSD for under $2000.

 

[PurdueBio]

I'm also gonna wait for my next iMac purchase until they accommodate a 4GHz Quad core CPU, 30" OLED screen, 12 speed BD writer and swappable 1TB SSD for under $2000.

Well I hope you like the machine you use now...a lot...because you will not be upgrading for at least...never

 

[mstam]

Well I hope you like the machine you use now...a lot...because you will not be upgrading for at least...never

Just kidding of course. Maybe Apple IMO introduces a LED display in the future but doesn't make sense to wait for it because it won't make any noticeable difference except for the life expectancy of the monitor.

Another big improvement could be the use of RGB LEDs for each LCD pixel but that's very costly so expect Apple to switch directly from LED backlit LCDs to OLEDs.

 

[sn00pie]

I would definitely purchase the iMac right now. The only thing they lack in my opinion are LED displays...but the current displays are very good as they are.

 

[MacAndy74]

I love the glossy screen. Makes me realize how good I look every time I use my computer.

Right! iMac's are beautiful machines, very fine indeed. I have also never had any of the problems that IWantItThatWay - Seems he or she like to troll.

As for the questions asked by the OP.

1) If I had to guess, I would say that the next iMac update will bring Quad-Core processing.

2) It's likely that Snow Leopard won't be out until Aug - Oct time frame or at least that's my best educated opinion.

 

[300D]

Assuming it will be announced June 6

Snow Leopard might be announced on 6/6, but it won't start shipping/selling until much later. Most likely between August-November.

 

[spencecb]

If you want a new iMac, get one. No sense in waiting around for something better, because there will always be something better just around the corner.

I just bought a 24" iMac 2.93 and couldn't be happier. The thing is fast as hell, and I think it is pretty future-proof.

Just one word of advice, if you can afford it, at least get the nVidia 120. Having a dedicated GPU will make all the difference in the world. Especially when planning for the future. Not only will games and video editing be more pleasent, OS X Snow Leopard will take advantage of the idle GPU to help speed up the system overall.