So I'm ready to buy a Mac Pro tower or Pro laptop. But I'll literally scream if new models are introduced weeks later. Which always happens to me
Somebody...SOMEBODY out there MUST know SOMETHING...
I'm thinking the new pro's will be released with "Leopard Inside"...makes sense, right?
Well, There is one advantage in buying the current model. It has proven to be a very reliable and stable machine.
If you buy the current one, you can rest with confidence that you are getting a very well refined machine, and one with little to no problems.
I'm not going to tell you that the new model will be any worse. But, there is the unknown.
The new model could come out, and be every bit as reliable and stable and perfect as the current model.
Or, it could come out, and be a big disappointment.
I purchased my Mac Pro just last month. I waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. And, finally decided it was time to actually get some work done instead of waiting.
And, the decision was made easier by looking at Apple's recent trends.
1) The latest iMac revision was anything but impressive. It got a big uglier (to my eyes), and in some ways felt like a bit of a downgrade. I will admit, that I was really tempted by it because of it's glass screen (I've always longed for a LCD panel with a glass screen cover). And, I think it is otherwise a fine machine. But, I don't really care for it's new color scheme. I would buy it anyway (since looks are secondary to me). But, it really isn't a major improvement over the last model in my personal opinion. You're opinion may be different, and that's fine. I'm just basing things on how I personally like or dislike them.
2) iLife '08. That one was really, really sad. The only reason I use a Mac instead of a PC is iLife. iLife '05 and iLife '06 are literally the only thing that kept me loyal to the Mac. I would otherwise be fine with either a PC or Mac. But, iLife tipped the scale in Apple's favor for me. But, with iLife '08 being delivered with a version of iMovie that is completely useless for my application, I was really disappointed. So, while I have iLife '08, I am using iMovie '06. Not really worth the wait for a new version to me. I regret having longed for the new revision of iLife. It was definitely not worth the wait.
3) The new iPod Nano. I really struggled with whether to buy the last generation iPod Nano (the aluminum one). I had a first generation Nano that was damaged so easily that simply taking it out of it's packaging and turning it on scratched it (I was one of the early adopters). So, I was really disappointed with it. I was going to return it, but my wife said she wanted it instead (she plastered it in protective film to keep it from getting worse).
So, fast forward to about 3 months ago. I have an iPod connection in my truck. And, I wanted to know it would work with the iPod I planned to get. So, I struggled with the buy now or wait.
I opted to buy now (so I could get one that would work - figuring that the OS X based models would likely not work with my iPod adapter in the truck.
I figured the upcoming model would likely make me wish I had waited. But, the assurance that I had a model which didn't run an incompatible OS for my interface was important (my truck's radio directly controls the iPod, so a new OS on the iPod would likely break that).
Then, Apple releases the new iPod Nano. And, sure, it plays videos. But, I don't play videos. And, I don't like the idea of watching videos on a little screen. And, I don't like the idea of buying videos to watch on it when I already have a DVD for said video (although I know I can illegally??? hack my movies to play on the iPod). But, since video is not really a concern for me, I could care less about that feature.
So, that leaves me with the form factor of the new iPod. And, while I would still buy it (because it's functional), I just don't find it's new form factor remotely attractive or interesting. If I didn't have an iPod, then sure I'd still buy it (because it would work). But, if I had to chose between the current model and the new one based on looks, I'd chose the old model.
You see, the trend I am observing, is that the new revisions are either going backwards in respect to the things I like or care about, or just standing still in those respects.
Yes, the new iMac is a little faster. Yes, it has a glass covered screen (which I really like). But, it is less attractive, and it's not a compelling upgrade / improvement. Sure, I'd still buy it. But, I wouldn't say it is any better than the model it replaces. In some respects I would say it's worse.
The new iPod Nano has video, but that isn't a feature I need. So, that leaves the only change that is noticeable to me being it's looks. And, it's just not very nice looking to me.
The iLife '08 revision could have been skipped entirely by me. It offers absolutely no value over iLife '06 for my uses. If they had never released iLife '08, I would have absolutely nothing lost. My needs are still being met by using the older iMovie '06, and ignoring the presence of iMovie '08. And, the iPhoto '08 improvements are a joke. The whole turning everything into "Events" is not really so automatic. And, doing it manually might as well just be done the same way as before. It's automatic mode turned 11 years worth of digital photos ranging from my wedding, to my mother-in-law's wedding, to ultrasounds of my daughter, to all our vacations, to various snaps here and there (which amounts to literally thousands of different days and occasions) into a mere 20 events. Things that are literally months apart are being grouped into the same "event". Not very useful. And, if I go and sort it manually, then what use is the feature to me. None (that's a lot of sorting - which I can do just as effectively by sorting by date and scrolling through the pictures).
To sum it up, just buy what you want. At least if you buy what you see now, you can be sure you like it (unless you don't like what you see now).
If you wait for the next model, then what if you don't like it? You've waited and lost productive time anticipating something that was a let down.
What if the new model's much better? Well, that happens with computers. I've watched lots of computers I've owned be replaced with new models. It happens.
But, if you purchased a machine that met your needs, then you should still find it just as useful to you tomorrow as it is today.
