What should I do?

[forty2j]

Should I get myself a 2012 MBA (base model) so I would have a Mac to keep me waiting the new iMac?

No.

You should get a 2012 MBA if you need a thin, portable computer that runs OS X but doesn't need to do terribly demanding tasks. You shouldn't get it just to scratch the "first Mac" itch. If an iMac is the one you really want, the 2012's are coming, likely 4-6 weeks.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Depends on when apple release and what your use is. From what you plan to do with it any Mac would be capable. Remember if apple are awash with 2011 stock, no executive is going to say new model out in a few weeks. I am personally waiting for a 2012 speed bump with ML. Major redesign in 2013 (but I don't want to wait for that!)

 

[chrismarle]

No.

You should get a 2012 MBA if you need a thin, portable computer that runs OS X but doesn't need to do terribly demanding tasks. You shouldn't get it just to scratch the "first Mac" itch. If an iMac is the one you really want, the 2012's are coming, likely 4-6 weeks.

Yeah I know I should not buy one but I'm honestly tired of waiting. I'm waiting since december to get a Mac and since April, everybody is saying "yeah, in 2-3 weeks" but it's the same story every weeks. It's a tough situation for sure and I'm so excited about what I've seen at WWDC about OS X 10.8 that I don't know how much longer I can wait. It has been 7 months that I'm waiting....

 

[forty2j]

Yeah I know I should not buy one but I'm honestly tired of waiting. I'm waiting since december to get a Mac and since April, everybody is saying "yeah, in 2-3 weeks" but it's the same story every weeks. It's a tough situation for sure and I'm so excited about what I've seen at WWDC about OS X 10.8 that I don't know how much longer I can wait. It has been 7 months that I'm waiting....

If it doesn't matter to you which model you own and you want something to drool over right now, the rMBP is probably your best bet. The MBA is best appreciated by frequent travelers.

Edit: Note that the expected ship time of the rMBP is approaching the expected launch of the iMac. However, it's possible you'll find one in a store.

 

[Bug-Creator]

Honestly, if you want to buy a desktop buy a desktop, a laptop won't be a good substitute.

This leaves you at following choices:

- buy a current iMac specced out to the point that will last you for several years

- buy a (current) base model iMac to keep you running till the next update and than upgrade (swalloing up some small loss)

- buy a used/refurbed iMac at better than base model spec, might even last you for more than till the next update (and even if not replacing it with a 2012 iMac won't generate that much of a loss)

- buy a current well-specced iMac and swallow up some big losses when the 2012 hit the store

- buy an expensive (and slower) laptop + monitor which will generate even bigger losses if you go for an iMac later on.

But ....

For the apps you listed (lightweight web use) you could easily do as I did last year (shortly after then 2011 iMacs came out).
Buy the base 2010 21" iMac and be happy for years
Yep it's 2 year old tech, but sofar I had no performance issues for normal desktop use. I would advice this route even more as you will be new to OSX and while most users "stick" with it some might still not find it to their licking.

 

[Hakone]

It's worth noting that it would seem too much to announce a full lineup revamp in one event. I think they wanted to create buzz on their Laptop line and leave that as the focal point of the hardware announcements.

Perhaps they'll reveal at least a spec bump for the iMac during fall, maybe alongside the announcement of the new iPhone?

I mean imagine if they announced a full reveal of all new Macs in one show. It wouldn't make good business sense.

I too am in the market for the new iMac or Mac Mini. I hope what they reveal is worth the wait.

 

[ctdonath]

After much mulling, I'd decided the choice was between a Mac Mini, MacBook Air 13", and iMac 27" - wildly different, but justifications for each carried about the same weight. Decided on the iMac as it very unlike my then-newish iPad, the Air lacked power, and the Mini would drive the rest of the family nuts when they wanted to watch TV and I wanted to code.

Six months later, no iMac. Major non-iMac announcement precludes a major iMac announcement anytime soon.

Now MBP-R arrives. Tired of waiting. Options changed.

MBP-R + 16GB is about the same price as the bumped-up 27" I wanted. Clock rate is close enough to not fuss. 4x the RAM. 1/4 the storage, but far faster, and bulk of data served well with external portable drives - accelerated by USB3 (@1TB is about $100). Pixel count about the same. Most of the benefits of the Air without encroaching on the iPad's domain. HDMI port means no-hassle use of HDTV. SD port a la MBA 13". Not the vast real estate of the 27", but about the same shoehorned into a messenger-bag-sized clamshell.

Time to liquify some assets. Craigslist & eBay, here I come. Someone interested in an antique "Naval" katana? (most are at the bottom of the sea...)