What to do? Buy imac or not?

[kahornshoej]

Hello guys and girls may you can help me out.

Rigt now I have a 21" late 2013 256gb ssd 16gb i7. Still running smooth.

I have been waiting and saving for an iMac upgrade. Now the 2019 upgrade is finally is here im thinking about ordering the following:

27" i5 9. generation
8 Gb ram
580x
512 gb ssd.

Price in Denmark: 3060 usd at educationstore. Im a teacher.

Well, for me its a lot of money and the specs are probably overkill. But I want my purchase to last many years. 5-10 years.

And that's where my concern comes in. Im thinking; what if the redesign comes at the next update? Will I have buyers remorse? I know it's a difficult question to answer. But what would you do in my situation?

Im really debating what to do. I just love new tech and I have been waiting so long and my wife has given me the go ahead. My old iMac is running fine for my needs, but man I would love that 27" screen.
I can probably sell my current iMac for 680usd.

 

[adamk77]

 

 

[idktbh]

don't buy. there will be a substantial refresh/redesign in September.

 

[Whackintosh]

don't buy. there will be a substantial refresh/redesign in September.

September seems rather soon for a refresh, let alone a redesign, no? What makes you think this?

 

[chabig]

Im thinking; what if the redesign comes at the next update? Will I have buyers remorse?

We really can’t help you. You don’t have a computer problem.

 

[BigBoy2018]

don't buy. there will be a substantial refresh/redesign in September.

I think thats completely wrong.

They are clearly on a 2-year update schedule.
But obviously if he can wait until september and find out you’re wrong he can always buy the current model at that point.

 

[kahornshoej]

We really can’t help you. You don’t have a computer problem.

You're right. It's in my mind. I think i´ll just pull the trigger on that config. I love the current design. Theres 99% chance the next will be even better, but who knows what and when but Cook.
Besides I look at the iMac as a piece of design furniture.
[doublepost=1553295068][/doublepost]

I think thats completely wrong.

They are clearly on a 2-year update schedule.
But obviously if he can wait until september and find out you’re wrong he can always buy the current model at that point.

I think so too. The iMac Pro will properly dictate what the iMac get as upgrades.

Besides I have been looking at he Macbook Pro prices and the iMac seems like a bargain in comparison.

 

[ondert]

September seems rather soon for a refresh, let alone a redesign, no? What makes you think this?

He probably thought about Navi gpu and maybe the next intel cpus. I expect the same like macbook pro's Vega gpu update but can't be sure after I saw how lazy Apple is.

 

[robgendreau]

If the current machine is running smoothly, why buy a new one?

The iMac line is rather dated, so why not wait until it gets more than minor tweaks. Stuff like the T2 chip, all SSD, thinner bezel, HDR, faster refresh on the monitor, etc etc.

 

[EightyTwenty]

If the current machine is running smoothly, why buy a new one?

The iMac line is rather dated, so why not wait until it gets more than minor tweaks. Stuff like the T2 chip, all SSD, thinner bezel, HDR, faster refresh on the monitor, etc etc.

OP would be going from 21.5” 1080p monitor to a 27” 5K monitor. That is a pretty massive improvement, and much more important than things like HDR or T2.

 

[candyman]

So, I bought a “new” 27” iMac (3.8 i5) two days before they announced the update as the HD in my 27” 2013 model decided to take a dirt nap and I needed an immediate replacement (it is my freelance work machine).

So for almost the past week I have been using it and the screen is absolutely fantastic. The 5k is so much crisper and sharp and colors are awesome. Had already purchased extra ram so I am running 40GB in it and it flies on many heavy duty tasks in Photoshop.

You will not be disappointed in taking the plunge to a new iMac. Sure, you could hold out for another redesign model, but why not live for today and enjoy a great machine now?

That “new” 2017 iMac I just bought 5 days ago is going back to Apple this weekend so I can trade up for the actual new 2019 model, and on this one, I’m opting for the 1GB SSD, as well as sending back and swapping out for the newer speed ram to get this machine to 40GB as well.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

I can tell you only why I am not buying right now and that is the looming idea that Apple may switch 2020 to its own designed ARM based CPUs for the Mac. I don‘t think they use the A series but rather design a specific CPU for Macs. If that happens the support for the machine 5-10 years) won‘t happen because next iterations of MacOS will most probably not support Intel based Macs.

So I personally wait and see until all new products and more clarity around the switch are there. E.g. I also want to know more about the promised modular Mac Pro which might be very interesting if the entry level version is not already priced sky high.

 

[dimme]

I can tell you only why I am not buying right now and that is the looming idea that Apple may switch 2020 to its own designed ARM based CPUs for the Mac. I don‘t think they use the A series but rather design a specific CPU for Macs. If that happens the support for the machine 5-10 years) won‘t happen because next iterations of MacOS will most probably not support Intel based Macs.

So I personally wait and see until all new products and more clarity around the switch are there. E.g. I also want to know more about the promised modular Mac Pro which might be very interesting if the entry level version is not already priced sky high.

I am starting to think the same. I have a 2015 iMac that runs great. I did/do want to upgrade NOW, but with the arm rumors and the new Mac Pro coming I too may wait. I am holding off my final decision until I see so info from fixit and barefeets.

 

[BigBoy2018]

I can tell you only why I am not buying right now and that is the looming idea that Apple may switch 2020 to its own designed ARM based CPUs for the Mac. I don‘t think they use the A series but rather design a specific CPU for Macs. If that happens the support for the machine 5-10 years) won‘t happen because next iterations of MacOS will most probably not support Intel based Macs.

So I personally wait and see until all new products and more clarity around the switch are there. E.g. I also want to know more about the promised modular Mac Pro which might be very interesting if the entry level version is not already priced sky high.

Its funny, the looming switch to apples arm chips is exactly the reason I WILL be buying one of these.
If you’re right, these are among the last great intel macs and I’m not interested in being part of the likely sluggish, incompatability-prone transition.
I have a wealth of macos intel software that works just great.
No interest in waiting 2-3 years before I can get my workflow even vaguely back to where it is now.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Its funny, the looming switch to apples arm chips is exactly the reason I WILL be buying one of these.
If you’re right, these are the last great intel macs and I’m not interested in being part of the likely sluggish, incompatability-prone transition.
I have a wealth of macos intel software that works just great.
No interest in waiting 2-3 years before I can get my workflow even vaguely back to where it is now.

Also a good aspect. My worries are around Aperture which I have to say goodbye in case of ARM.

 

[EPHS612]

don't buy. there will be a substantial refresh/redesign in September.

I believe this early 2019 5k iMac will become a classic: No T2 Chip problems, most importantly: 5K display with No AMOLED screen burn in (I anticipate Tim Cook to foolishly adopt amoled for next iMac display.) User Upgradeable RAM to 64GB.

 

[Lankyman]

don't buy. there will be a substantial refresh/redesign in September.

Which September though?

 

[BigBoy2018]

Which September though?

Exactly.
His supposition that there will be a new redesigned iMac this september is laughable.

 

[Fishrrman]

I doubt that were going to see any more "redesigns" or new releases of the iMac this year.
Next year, there's a good chance of that.
But NOT this year.
The iMac apple has already dropped on us for this season...

 

[EightyTwenty]

I can tell you only why I am not buying right now and that is the looming idea that Apple may switch 2020 to its own designed ARM based CPUs for the Mac. I don‘t think they use the A series but rather design a specific CPU for Macs. If that happens the support for the machine 5-10 years) won‘t happen because next iterations of MacOS will most probably not support Intel based Macs.

So I personally wait and see until all new products and more clarity around the switch are there. E.g. I also want to know more about the promised modular Mac Pro which might be very interesting if the entry level version is not already priced sky high.

Even if they switched to ARM tomorrow, they would likely support Intel machines for at least the next 6-8 years.

No way are they going to screw over people who bought their computers in 2019.
[doublepost=1553468041][/doublepost]

I doubt that were going to see any more "redesigns" or new releases of the iMac this year.
Next year, there's a good chance of that.
But NOT this year.
The iMac apple has already dropped on us for this season...

It seems they are on a *minimum* 2-year update cycle for desktops now. Moore's law hit a brick wall about 6 years ago and there just isn't enough reason for yearly updates any longer. I highly doubt you see anything new for the iMac (even a spec bump) until 2021.
[doublepost=1553468253][/doublepost]

Its funny, the looming switch to apples arm chips is exactly the reason I WILL be buying one of these.
If you’re right, these are the last great intel macs and I’m not interested in being part of the likely sluggish, incompatability-prone transition.
I have a wealth of macos intel software that works just great.
No interest in waiting 2-3 years before I can get my workflow even vaguely back to where it is now.

Exactly. And full Windows 10 compatibility.

 

[JustMartin]

I can tell you only why I am not buying right now and that is the looming idea that Apple may switch 2020 to its own designed ARM based CPUs for the Mac. I don‘t think they use the A series but rather design a specific CPU for Macs. If that happens the support for the machine 5-10 years) won‘t happen because next iterations of MacOS will most probably not support Intel based Macs.

So I personally wait and see until all new products and more clarity around the switch are there. E.g. I also want to know more about the promised modular Mac Pro which might be very interesting if the entry level version is not already priced sky high.

If you don’t need a computer this year,, next year or even the one after, that’s a good approach. Personally, I’m not expecting any kind of ARM based Mac before 2021 and it’s going to be longer for the serious working stations

 

[xxray]

Well, for me its a lot of money and the specs are probably overkill. But I want my purchase to last many years. 5-10 years.

Why not not upgrade the specs so much and save the money for a future iMac you would get in 5 years? I have the base 2010 27" iMac (no upgraded specs) and it's still decently usable 9 years later. As you start to reach the top end of performance, you get less performance per dollar. You will be spending more money for a much smaller performance increase. If you just spend less on upgraded specs now and buy a new iMac (after you buy a new one now) sooner than you're currently planning, you'll get a better value.

 

[dimme]

I think I will upgrade but I am waiting for some reviews and benchmarks so I can decide which options to get.

 

[BigBoy2018]

I think I will upgrade but I am waiting for some reviews and benchmarks so I can decide which options to get.

Keep in mind when the geekbench scores come out that they’ll be skewed by the turbo boost numbers of each machine.
So for instance, if you have a 3.0ghz processor that turbo boosts to 4.3ghz and then a 3.7ghz processor that turboost to 4.5ghz, the geekbench scores are going to look very close.
But for sustained peak use (like encoding or converting a big video file, the 3.7ghz machine will outperform the 3.0 machine a measure more than what the geekbench scores would suggest.

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Even if they switched to ARM tomorrow, they would likely support Intel machines for at least the next 6-8 years.

No way are they going to screw over people who bought their computers in 2019.
[doublepost=1553468041][/doublepost]

Well I do remember the last time Apple changed CPUs when I had just bought my iMac G5 and I think after one OS update it was Intel only (if I remember correctly) . Back then I updated my computer a lot more frequently and it wasn‘t such an issue. For sure they didn‘t support PowerPC for 6-8 years.

It may be different this time in case they keep Intel Macs around, but I kind of doubt it.