Is There Any Point in Waiting?

[captjon]

I read somwhere that if I buy now,I will probably only get 12 months use from it before the Software updates overtake the machines capability,and I would need to get another Mac just to keep up.

Would someone please comment on this and hopefuly help me make a decision.I really don't know what to do.

I'm still using a late 2006 iMac as my main desktop at home. It does everything i need to except run gephi at a decent speed, but i rarely need to use that outside the office (where i have a Mac Pro). My iMac as 4GB RAM and runs Snow Leopard without a problem.

That said, i'll be buying the new iMac when it comes out, and i'm starting to use my MBP more at home, particularly as MobileMe is about to be phased out.

 

[inhalexhale1]

Hi All

Like most of us I was waiting for the upgrade that never happened.

I don't have a Mac at the moment,never had one,but the main reason for wanting it is to run Logic Pro 9.

I read somwhere that if I buy now,I will probably only get 12 months use from it before the Software updates overtake the machines capability,and I would need to get another Mac just to keep up.

Would someone please comment on this and hopefuly help me make a decision.I really don't know what to do.

Thanks

Alan

If you're waiting for an upgrade, you fall into 1 of 2 categories.

Category 1
You’re a professional or student, and you current PC/Mac situation is causing a loss of money or inability to do work. If this is you, buy now.

Category 2
You’re a hobbyist, and your current PC/Mac situation is causing nothing more than personal-life distress (want to play games at higher settings/can’t check Facebook/want make music/Just...can't....wait..../etc.) If this is you:

Sub-Category 1
You’re a patient person. Patiently wait.

Sub-Category 2
You’re an impatient person. Impulsively buy now.

Unacceptable Choice
Impatiently wait, and cry about it the whole time.

*Note: If you buy a 2011 iMac, it will not be obsolete in 12 months.

 

[Roller]

I'm waiting at least until ML. If Apple wants to capture the back-to-school market, they'll have to release by mid August.

 

[Badger^2]

I'm waiting at least until ML. If Apple wants to capture the back-to-school market, they'll have to release by mid August.

In the olden days waiting for the newest OS made a ton of sense -- since it cost $129 for OS X.

with ML only going to be $20, who really cares.

 

[JamSandwich]

In the olden days waiting for the newest OS made a ton of sense -- since it cost $129 for OS X.

with ML only going to be $20, who really cares.

I think people are waiting for Mountain Lion because there's some expectation the new systems might ship in tandem with the launch of the new OS... much like the "latest" minis did... not so they don't have to pay for ML (which would be a free upgrade to anyone who bought a system today, right?)

Maybe I'm misunderstanding the meaning of your post?

 

[bobright]

Yes because it wll be comletely revamped or they would have gave us a small spec bump like the Mac Pro and it's going to be badasss. I've been waiting years contemplating on a Mac purchase so I can wait longer it'll be worth it....like finally getting in the pants of that amazing girl that finally gives it up once it drops.

 

[tekno]

I want to buy one as a gift for my partner whose birthday is early August. If they haven't released new ones by then, I think I'll had to get them something different.

This is one of the most frustrating things about Apple - never knowing when the new version will come out. And every day that goes by, the current one becomes less and less value for money.

When is the new OS X due?

 

[JustMartin]

Yes because it wll be comletely revamped or they would have gave us a small spec bump like the Mac Pro and it's going to be badasss. I've been waiting years contemplating on a Mac purchase so I can wait longer it'll be worth it....like finally getting in the pants of that amazing girl that finally gives it up once it drops.

It'll be a small spec bump. Tim Cook said there was something awesome late next year for professional users and I don't think he was just referring to Mac Pro users.

 

[Confuzzzed]

If you're waiting for an upgrade, you fall into 1 of 2 categories.

Category 1
You’re a professional or student, and you current PC/Mac situation is causing a loss of money or inability to do work. If this is you, buy now.

Category 2
You’re a hobbyist, and your current PC/Mac situation is causing nothing more than personal-life distress (want to play games at higher settings/can’t check Facebook/want make music/Just...can't....wait..../etc.) If this is you:

Sub-Category 1
You’re a patient person. Patiently wait.

Sub-Category 2
You’re an impatient person. Impulsively buy now.

Unacceptable Choice
Impatiently wait, and cry about it the whole time.

*Note: If you buy a 2011 iMac, it will not be obsolete in 12 months.

Best answer I have seen on these boards for a while. Love the 'cry about it the whole time' advice. LOL

Yes, your machine will not be obsolete in 12 months time, whatever the computational load of Logic Pro 9 which I am not at all accustomed to. It's one of the main attractions to Macs if I am honest. My 2005 mac mini still runs as fast today as it did the day I bought it (albeit re-housed in the caring hands of my in-laws now)!

 

[necromorph]

I want to buy one as a gift for my partner whose birthday is early August. If they haven't released new ones by then, I think I'll had to get them something different.

This is one of the most frustrating things about Apple - never knowing when the new version will come out. And every day that goes by, the current one becomes less and less value for money.

When is the new OS X due?

I agree with your sentiments. On or around the 10th of July ml will be released.

----------

If you're waiting for an upgrade, you fall into 1 of 2 categories.

Category 1
You’re a professional or student, and you current PC/Mac situation is causing a loss of money or inability to do work. If this is you, buy now.

Category 2
You’re a hobbyist, and your current PC/Mac situation is causing nothing more than personal-life distress (want to play games at higher settings/can’t check Facebook/want make music/Just...can't....wait..../etc.) If this is you:

Sub-Category 1
You’re a patient person. Patiently wait.

Sub-Category 2
You’re an impatient person. Impulsively buy now.

Unacceptable Choice
Impatiently wait, and cry about it the whole time.

*Note: If you buy a 2011 iMac, it will not be obsolete in 12 months.

*Note: If you buy a 2011 iMac, it will not be obsolete in 12 months.

That's absolutely correct. It's obsolete now.

 

[asimmd]

Reading these coments it struck me that no-one has yet mentioned the price factor.

Not having had a Mac before, I don't have a clue about Apples pricing policy,but what is the possibility of the new iMac being priced so high that we all wish we had just bought the current model anyway?

Alan

 

[theSeb]

Reading these coments it struck me that no-one has yet mentioned the price factor.

Not having had a Mac before, I don't have a clue about Apples pricing policy,but what is the possibility of the new iMac being priced so high that we all wish we had just bought the current model anyway?

Alan

Nah, normally the prices remain the same. Unless they put in a high-resolution "retina" display. Then you might see a price bump. But, that only means that 2011 models in the refurb store will only get cheaper when the 2012 models come out so you'll be able to choose. I don't think it's wise to buy a 2011 model at this point in time.

 

[tekno]

I agree with your sentiments. On or around the 10th of July ml will be released.

I'm not terribly au fait with all these annoying internet faces. Does that face after your comment mean your suggestion of 10th July is unlikely?

 

[necromorph]

I'm not terribly au fait with all these annoying internet faces. Does that face after your comment mean your suggestion of 10th July is unlikely?

That particular face is precisely that a face sticking out a tongue. It's used by me when I'm in a good mood or when i am being friendly. Now that you ask I'm not sure I ever use those annoying internet faces properly

Simple answer I'm not sure.

 

[forty2j]

In the olden days waiting for the newest OS made a ton of sense -- since it cost $129 for OS X.

with ML only going to be $20, who really cares.

Mostly I agree with this. But if Apple has the hardware ready for a July 10 ship, and ML is shipping on July 25, then it would be silly for them to produce, say, 500k units with a Lion image and then switch the production to Mountain Lion. With that narrow a window it's more likely they'd just hold it for two weeks, ship it with ML, and have one less model to worry about with Lion drivers etc.

----------

When is the new OS X due?

"July" is the official answer. No exact date. If the lag from last year's WWDC to Lion is exactly the same from this year's WWDC to Mountain Lion, then it will be July 25. Some of us are expecting, or at least hoping, that it will be sooner.

 

[karpich1]

In my case, I'm waiting 1-2 months.

I getting ready to switch BACK to Apple. My current Windows PC works "well enough" that it does what I need.

Meanwhile, I'm moving into a new house soon. And I'd like to set up a Mac in my office/den area.

So I'm going to wait... but not forever. I'm moving in about a month, and will probably only wait a little over a month unless I hear something more solid about a Summer/Fall release.


But if you're old computer is dead and you're just using your Cellphone/Tablet to browse the net... endlessly pining away for a refresh to replace your dead computer...

Then I recommend just biting the bullet and getting one now.

 

[necromorph]

In my case, I'm waiting 1-2 months.

I getting ready to switch BACK to Apple. My current Windows PC works "well enough" that it does what I need.

Meanwhile, I'm moving into a new house soon. And I'd like to set up a Mac in my office/den area.

So I'm going to wait... but not forever. I'm moving in about a month, and will probably only wait a little over a month unless I hear something more solid about a Summer/Fall release.


But if you're old computer is dead and you're just using your Cellphone/Tablet to browse the net... endlessly pining away for a refresh to replace your dead computer...

Then I recommend just biting the bullet and getting one now.

I don't understand why you would move back? Stick with the pc and avoid apples dogma.

 

[karpich1]

I don't understand why you would move back? Stick with the pc and avoid apples dogma.

I'm not doing a full switch-back to Apple. I still need to get into Windows for my job and the occasional gaming.

Plus, I want a nice big-ol' All-In-One machine.


I started using a MacBookPro at work, and I'm finding there are a lot of things I like about OSX. It's not perfect... I'm not thrilled with how they did a couple of the Expose things, but I like it.

So at least this way I can hop back-and-forth easier.


So no, I'm not a died-in-the-wool Mac Zealot, but I like some of the stuff they do.

 

[Liquinn]

I'm not doing a full switch-back to Apple. .

What's a full switch to Apple mean?

 

[Billywiz1307]

I would only ever buy a new apple product quite close to the release date. It's about price for me, when you're shelling out a couple of grand for a laptop, I want it to be at the leading edge of its capability for the longest possible time.

 

[karpich1]

What's a full switch to Apple mean?

Due to work requirements, I'll have to run Windows (via Bootcamp) for various Microsoft Visual Studio work and the like. So I envision myself being in Windows maybe 1/4 or 1/3 of the time.

But when I'm just relaxing and browsing and playing some casual games, I'll be in OSX.

As opposed to some people that I know, that decided to do everything they could to only run OSX and not boot into Windows anymore.

----------

If you're waiting for an upgrade, you fall into 1 of 2 categories.

Make that 3 categories

3 - You're waiting to switch to Apple, but if you're going back to Apple you want the most bang for your buck


Though I hate car analogies, it's like buying a car.

• You want to buy a brand-new SUV (for whatever reason / need).
• Your current/old sedan is running well enough for now.
• And you know "next year's model" is just around the corner.

Do you wait for the next year's model of SUV's to come out?

Or do you just buy it NOW, even though your sedan is still able to get you to work and back.

 

[gagaliya]

now those in the know are saying the release of the new iMacs is imminent.

"those in the know" have been saying that for the last 6 months. They dont know anything more than we do, just filling space for their articles.

A broken clock is right twice a day.

 

[forty2j]

"those in the know" have been saying that for the last 6 months. They dont know anything more than we do, just filling space for their articles.

A broken clock is right twice a day.

Those June/July rumors that were floating around back in April that we dismissed out of hand because they didn't match our desires are looking really good right now.

We had been basing our "any day now" predictions on the already-released AMD GPUs. The Nvidia rumors and the June/July rumors go well with each other.

 

[mcpix]

I'm probably unique, but I also look at the "limitations" of the latest computer. There have been several times over the years, that I have purchased a particular computer because it will run several different operating systems.

For instance, my current laptop is a 2009 MBP. It will run Leopard, Snow Leopard, Lion and eventually Mountain Lion. At the time I purchased it, I still needed to run Photoshop CS 1 occasionally (Leopard only).

The 2011 iMacs will run Snow Leopard, Lion, and ultimately Mountain Lion. If you have some favorite apps that require rosetta, you might want to stick with the 2011 models. The new 2012 iMacs will probably only run Mountain Lion (depending upon when they are ultimately released).

 

[ctdonath]

Having three disparate options/uses of equivalent justification (Mini vs. notebook vs. desktop), and the MBP-R being cool/capable/new enough, I'm just gonna go ahead with scraping up the funds and buying whichever is newest at the moment I've got $2200 in hand. Then I will stop looking at new Mac stuff lest I get terribly depressed.