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Unboxing of the Early 2009 NVIDIA iMac, Early Benchmarks

what the heck to do?

I have read every dang post on this site it seems and I am still not sure what to do. I, like many others, have been waiting for this "update" to the iMac line up. I am now stuck with trying to decide whether to march down to my local store and pick up a 3.06G and hoping they have the ATI card or just wait? I have an 03 1.25G powerbook g4 that will not edit AVHD video... this is my main aim -but I am looking for a good price point. 2.93 with the ATI card? 3.06 with the ATI card? Or just get an older model with whatever graphics card they offer. How long till the next "update"? I wish there were a hard and fast rule I could use for video editing / photoshop work (all hobby) that would help me decide.
 
Changed My Tune - Trade FW400 for USB OK?

QCassidy352 said:
Thanks (I just realized I could look that up on apple's imac page :eek: ). Lose the only FW 400 and gain a 4th USB? That's not a good trade, IMO.
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Before yesterday, I would have agreed with you, but then I came across an article at Barefeats that demonstrated why Apple swapped the FW400 for USB - the conclusion: the new USB controller is almost as fast as FW400. In speed tests, there is now little difference between FW400 and USB with the NVidia chipsets. I haven't looked any further so I don't understand why, but the new USB controller(s) appear to be marginally, if even noticeably, slower than FW400. I am assuming that the shift to NVidia across the board means all newer Macs come with the same speed benefits to USB.

This is not good for those with lots of FW400 gear, but it at least shows some reason why Apple changed up their ports and now only include FW in the "800" variety. Only FW800 is noticeably faster than USB in the current Mac lineup. I would like to know, however, if the speed of the new USB controller is sustained or just burst speed (the latter being the biggest critique of USB of which I am aware).
 
MacRumors said:



140835-2009-03-04imac-8.jpg_425.jpg


Engadget has posted an unboxing gallery of the new iMac. Externally, there is not much different in the new machine with the exception of a FireWire 800 port and mini DisplayPort.

Article Link: Unboxing of the Early 2009 NVIDIA iMac, Early Benchmarks
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Its "difference"

Yes I am a little typo bitch
 
jimterry said:
I have read every dang post on this site it seems and I am still not sure what to do. I, like many others, have been waiting for this "update" to the iMac line up. I am now stuck with trying to decide whether to march down to my local store and pick up a 3.06G and hoping they have the ATI card or just wait? I have an 03 1.25G powerbook g4 that will not edit AVHD video... this is my main aim -but I am looking for a good price point. 2.93 with the ATI card? 3.06 with the ATI card? Or just get an older model with whatever graphics card they offer. How long till the next "update"? I wish there were a hard and fast rule I could use for video editing / photoshop work (all hobby) that would help me decide.
Click to expand...


Jim, you are not able to walk into an Apple store right now and pick up a new iMac with the ATI card. They won't be out for 4 - 6 weeks or whenever the next version of OSX is out.

In my humble opinion you would be very well suited to try and get one of the previous model 3.06 Ghz 24" iMacs. Either from a VAR or there is one in the :apple: refurb store right now for $1,899. It is a beauty of a beast machine for that price, even after Tuesdays "updates".

It gives you (standard) a 500 GB hard drive and the Nvidia 8800 GS which is still a very good 512MB dedicated video card - in the imac arena at least. It will eat the photo/video editing you do up and spit it out. It's even nicer if you put 4GB of RAM in it vs the 2GB it comes with stock ( you can pick up 4 GB DDR2 iMac kits for about $50 - $65 with shipping right now from crucial, OWC and others). Just my 2 cents.

For what it's worth I pulled the trigger on the machine I'm suggesting to you only a week ago and have decided to keep it vs return it for a newer model - simply because the only model that is better than this one again, won't be out for 4-6 more weeks. That being said if you are willing to wait a bit longer and spend some more money, the 3.06 GHz machines with the ATI HD4850 card will indeed be the best iMacs on the block. Not to mention future proof you a good while longer.

Good luck with your decision and let us know what you purchase!
 
I've always generally agreed with the direction Apple goes with their hardware initiatives. Getting rid of the floppy drive. Trying to let go of the CD Drive etc .. but getting rid of the number pad? why? to save a few inches of space on a desk? Apple is literally turning off a large segment of the business market, & average mac consumers that appreciate a number pad for fast numerical number crunching.
 
ok so i been reading this thread and find it very interesting cause i feel that it is a necessity that i get the imac ... i mean it just has a lot of features things that i really want and have been looking for

im very excited about this and i appreciate all the detail information to help me make a choice thanks a ton
82(2).gif
 
thanks itommyboy

Thanks itommy. Went to the apple store and it is just as you said... the ATI card is a 4-6 wk wait. I am leaning toward getting a new machine although I have been looking at that 3.06 at the refurb area of the online store. I just can't see not waiting... heck I have waited this long what is a little longer. Thanks for the help.

jt
 
No problem glad I could help. For what it's worth I think your making a smart move - as you said what's a few more weeks at this point and that ATI 4850 iMac will be a screamer for a long time.
 
Been hunting the refurb store for a long time for a 3.06Ghz 2008 model. Given that the machine was a BTO the only place you could have ordered it from was Apple.

Is there anywhere else where you can buy these refurbs from in the UK?
 
lucab1982 said:
Been hunting the refurb store for a long time for a 3.06Ghz 2008 model. Given that the machine was a BTO the only place you could have ordered it from was Apple.

Is there anywhere else where you can buy these refurbs from in the UK?
Click to expand...

You could try cancom!
 
boss1 said:
I've always generally agreed with the direction Apple goes with their hardware initiatives. Getting rid of the floppy drive. Trying to let go of the CD Drive etc .. but getting rid of the number pad? why? to save a few inches of space on a desk? Apple is literally turning off a large segment of the business market, & average mac consumers that appreciate a number pad for fast numerical number crunching.
Click to expand...

When did they get rid of the number pad ? I still see it on Apple.com and can still get a keyboard with it free on the purchase of an iMac or Mac Pro, like before...
 
People buying from Apple stores would be in for an unpleasant surprise when they realize the desktop computer they bought does not have num keypads. What was Apple thinking!

Geesh, Apple, some people do non-artistic work with your computers!
 
Yeah, thanks for the advice, I'll wait for the ATI 4850 too!

Finally this is what I decided to do, too, thanks everyone for helping us to decide.

I, too, have waited that much and can wait a little longer to buy an iMac I will be proud of for a long time and not just half-heartedly like, wondering if I made the right purchase or not

itommyboy said:
No problem glad I could help. For what it's worth I think your making a smart move - as you said what's a few more weeks at this point and that ATI 4850 iMac will be a screamer for a long time.
Click to expand...
 
ppnkg said:
no full keyboard for the desktop line? Are they nuts?
Click to expand...

It means to me that I now have to build in the cost of a new keyboard into the purchase price. Might as well get the mini then, buy the keyboard and monitor that I want.

Sometimes Apple makes some silly choices...
 
It has been established by this point that the apparent price hike on iMac models in the UK is not actually a price hike and more like apple adjusting for changes in currency values. I'm willing to accept that now that I've had a few days to calm down and do the maths for myself.

What I'm wondering, however, is what happens if the pound begins to regain its value (I know, a big 'if' in the current climate) and reaches the levels it used to be at compared to the US$? Will Apple be conscientious enough to re-adjust UK prices or will we be stuck with these high prices for the next 11+ months until the next iMac refresh?

On the one hand, apple hasn't seemed to be too bothered in the past when it has benefited from currency discrepancies (when the $ was 2 to 1 against the £, prices stuck). On the other hand, it seems very possible that apple desktop sales will plummet in the UK as most consumers are just going to see higher prices without much to show for them.
 
Geetus said:
On the one hand, apple hasn't seemed to be too bothered in the past when it has benefited from currency discrepancies (when the $ was 2 to 1 against the £, prices stuck). On the other hand, it seems very possible that apple desktop sales will plummet in the UK as most consumers are just going to see higher prices without much to show for them.
Click to expand...

So long as the consumer sees value in the product being offered by Apple they should be ok. Though if economies continue to get worse, even if value is seen there is no gurantee that people will be willing to spend that much money and may default to a cheaper alternative for two years or more until confidence returns.
 
I hate that the high end mini is still only 2.0 ghz, if only it came with the 2.26 processor standard, that would seem trully a step forward compared to the low end mini.
I can´t decide between the minis since hd or ram can always be upgraded so the higher mini doesn´t seem that appealing to me. It's price is just too close to the lower end iMac, wich seems a better investment for the money.

Newbie question; is the 128 mb graphic card on the lower model a real difference to consider compared to the 256 mb card? Why should I consider the 256 mb card? Previous Mini had only 64 mb card so new 128 mb already doubles it.
If you were to choose between 2.26 ghz/128 mb grapchic card mini (upgraded lower mini) or a 2.0 ghz/256mb graphic card what would you choose?
 
DirtyHarry said:
Newbie question; is the 128 mb graphic card on the lower model a real difference to consider compared to the 256 mb card? Why should I consider the 256 mb card? Previous Mini had only 64 mb card so new 128 mb already doubles it.
Click to expand...
There's no difference between the "cards". If you only have 1GB RAM the GPU will only use 128MB. If you have 2GB or more it will use 256MB, so you can get the 1GB mini and upgrade later.
 
lhammer610 said:
It means to me that I now have to build in the cost of a new keyboard into the purchase price. Might as well get the mini then, buy the keyboard and monitor that I want.
Click to expand...

Or, you could buy it online and get it with the numeric keypad for the exact same price. You haven't been paying attention, have you?
 
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