I'm not talking about migrating just one machine over to Apple, but a small network of Windows machines with a substantial amount of data. The MacBook Pro is totally out of the running for my needs as a central repository-- the most obvious failing is that it has less than half the disk capacity I've said I need!
Almost every response has failed to acknowledge the main point of the thread, which is that Apple's failure to refresh the iMac has affected not just my iMac purchase but many others. I'm not going to be buying iPads, iPhones, more MacBooks, TimeCapsule and AirPrint printer until I feel confident about the main aspect of the migration.
I started out with a G4 mini. I loved it. I then got my hands on a 2008 white Macbook. I loved it even more. One by one, I replaced all the windoze boxes in my house with Mac minis. I switched off the last pain in the a$$ windoze box just over 2 years ago and I've never been happier.
I like what you're trying to do but there's no reason to do it all at once and you are not obligated to go "all Apple." For instance, I had a Time Capsule which died and I wound up getting it replaced by Apple for free... sans my data. I never got that data back again. I had an Airport Extreme as my router and wifi and an Airport Express as an extender. The Express started overheating and actually slowing down the network. Then the AEBS started slowing down. No firmware updates for almost a year so I decided to invest in a third party wifi access point and use the AEBS only for the guest network. I also invested in third party NAS boxes. I use Synology boxes. That solves all my storage problems. I have a DS212J and a DS112J. These are a much better value than a Time Capsule. The only caveat is that it is possible for a TC to save local caches of Apple software updates so you don't have to download them 6 times for 6 Macs.
My most recent Apple purchase is a late 2011 MBP with "hires" display. It's 1680 x 1050. It seems insulting to call that "hires" when these days you can get a 1080p monitor for $99. So I now have my hires MBP sitting next to a 1080p display and that row of 30 pixels really doesn't make a difference. Did Apple rest on its laurels and fail to compete on display resolution? No. If you want more resolution, there is always the Retina Macbook Pro. I was interested in saving money so I bought the Oct 2011 model new in box last month for $900 off the original price from Microcenter. I popped in 16 GB of RAM and I'll pop in a 512 GB SSD as soon as they hit 50 cents a gigabyte. I've already put SSD in all our older Macs. I'm very happy with all my purchases (except the 1st Gen Time Capsule).
I'm (almost) completely delighted with my (almost) all-Apple household. The main point is I didn't try to do it all at once and I didn't buy Apple gear for things where there was no clear Apple advantage. In your situation, I suggest grabbing a Mini now if you need one and wait for the iMac refresh before getting one. I suggest an AEBS as a router but be prepared to add an access point someday if it gets the slow wifi flu. I have found the AEBS to be absolutely the best router I've ever had when it comes to being immune to Comcast's bullcrap. I went through a string of routers before the AEBS and all of them required resetting as often as weekly and as seldom as monthly. I've only reset the AEBS a couple of times when I was investigating the slow wifi issue. I now have D-link and TP-link access points. One was $79 and one was $35. I used to get a constant litany of tech support requests from family members. "Dad I can't print" and "Dad the internet is down." Now I never hear that. Ever. That's what an all-Apple household is all about. Total Cost of Ownership is lower because I'm almost never fixing stuff.
For best results, watch the MR buyers' guides before you buy any Apple gear. If it says "buy now" you are safe. If it says "mid cycle" or "don't buy" I suggest you hold off unless you want the unpleasant surprise of reading about a new model while you are taking yours out of the box. This is what happened to me when I got my 2008 Macbook. I wound up taking it back to get the newer Penryn model and back then I had to pay restocking.
As for Apple giving up on the desktop, I don't think that's true or we wouldn't have seen a retina Macbook Pro this year. They are selling an ecosystem where you have an excellent music store, easy to use phone and tablet and a computer that is always in sync without you having to think about it. While Apple hasn't given up on the desktop, it is fair to say they are beginning to view the desktop as something they have to keep around to support sales of iThings. Oh well. I don't care about motive as long as they treat me right.
