Quandary (Refurb, Mini, New)

[Miggsman]

Any opinions, insight, criticism valued and appreciated...

PC user with Mac history. Typical use. Internet w/ streaming videos; word processing; Excel; PPT. Not much of a gamer. Lots of music, photos, and videos. Sync and stream to Apple TV, iPhones, and iPad.

*Education discounts applied*

OPTION 1
$1,360 + $560 = $1,550 + $370 = $1,920
Refurbished iMac 27-inch 3.1GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
4GB memory
1TB hard drive
8x SuperDrive
AMD Radeon HD 6770M graphics with 512MB memory
$120 Apple Care
$70 Crucial 16 GB (8GBx2) [20 GB total upgrade]

OPTION 2
$1,600 + $190 = $1,790 + $370 = $2,160 (13% > 512MB Refurb)
Refurbished iMac 27-inch 3.1GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
4GB memory
1TB hard drive
8x SuperDrive
AMD Radeon HD 6970M graphics with 1GB memory
$120 Apple Care
$70 Crucial 16 GB (8GBx2) [20 GB total upgrade]

OPTION 3
$1,095 + $1,070 = $2,165 + $370 = $2,535 (32% > 512 Refurb / 17% > 1 Refurb)
New Mini 2.6GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
4GB memory
1TB Fusion HD ($225 upgrade)
$100 Apple Care
$70 Crucial 16 GB (8GBx2) [20 GB total upgrade]
$740 Dell U2713 (27”)
$60 Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750
$70 Logitech Wireless Performance Mouse MX
$30 Samsung SE-208AB/TSBS USB 2.0 External DVD-Writer

OPTION 4
$2,205 + $220 = $2,425 + $370 = $2,795 (46% > 512 Refurb / 29% > 1 Refurb / 9% > Mini)
New iMac 27-inch 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5
8GB (two 4GB) memory
1TB Fusion HD ($225)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX with 1GB
$120 Apple Care
$70 Crucial 16 GB (8GBx2) [24 GB total upgrade]
$30 Samsung SE-208AB/TSBS USB 2.0 External DVD-Writer

$190 Refurbished 2TB Time Capsule
$120 Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Student 2011 - Single License
$60 iWork
$370

 

[mlh324]

I went option 1 with the intentions in using it the same way as you. refurb + RAM upgrade + 2TB TC for roughly the same price as a base 2012/13 model. What do you miss out on? A thinner display, a better graphics card, and a little processor bump. None of those were deal makers/breakers for me.

 

[Miggsman]

After thinking it over and over..and reading this forum over and over...I, like you, can only justify option 1. The other options are great, but I don't see the cost-to-value for my needs.

I've been driving myself crazy comparing the 512MB GPU to the 1 GB GPU on the refurb. I just don't think the extra 512MBs are worth $250.

Two things are hanging me up. One, will the refurb price go down on Friday with the new release? Two, the mac mini option is pricey, but once I own the peripherals I can upgrade in the future with just a new mac mini for 50% the cost of a new iMac.

Does anyone else feel guilty about focusing so intensely on one's own wants during the Christmas season? Especially with so many others having great needs?

 

[mlh324]

Good plan. I'm using mine as a 2nd TV so the display brilliance won out and made my decision easy.