Which 27" iMac is best for a non-profit photojournalist?

[Wombat Slayer]

Hey all! I would love some advice from some Mac vets about which system would be best for my needs.

I'm a non-profit photojournalist, traveling the world, editing lots of DSLR pics and now getting into some serious HD videography (I cover social justice issues like hunger, poverty, sex trafficking, etc.). For now, I'm stuck with a 2011 13" MBP for my on-the-road editing, but I'd like a better Mac workstation when I'm back in the U.S.

So, video/design work (FCP X, Lighroom 3, Photoshop CS5) is my primary focus. My budget allows for around $2100 max, and I'm ok with waiting another couple of months for the right refurb system if need be.

Which do you think would be the best investment for the next 2-3 years of my work?

• NEW 2012 iMac 27" - 2.9 GHz Core i5 ($1799)
• NEW 2012 iMac 27" - 2.9 GHz Core i5 w/ 1TB Fusion Drive ($2049)
• NEW 2012 iMac 27" - 3.2 GHz Core i5 ($1999)
• REFURBISHED 2011 iMac 27" - 3.4 GHz Core i7 ($1789)
• REFURBISHED 2012 iMac 27" - 3.2 GHz Core i5 ($1799?)

Would the Fusion Drive really help me tackle photo/video stuff as much as the price would indicate? How much better ARE the new iMac specs from last year's models? Enough to get a slower processor and still spend more?

I'd really appreciate your input. Thanks!

 

[glitch44]

I believe the Fusion Drive would be the best upgrade (in terms of real-world benefit to your workflow) so I'd recommend:

NEW 2012 iMac 27" - 2.9 GHz Core i5 w/ 1TB Fusion Drive ($2049)

 

[medi.freak]

if you know anyone in higher education you'd get it for a lot less, you know... and the Fusion Drive would appear pretty cheap then too.

 

[53x12]

if you know anyone in higher education you'd get it for a lot less, you know... and the Fusion Drive would appear pretty cheap then too.

Yup, rather than $2,049 it would be $1,699. Good savings there.

 

[Wombat Slayer]

if you know anyone in higher education you'd get it for a lot less, you know... and the Fusion Drive would appear pretty cheap then too.

Hmm... I might. Good idea. But, question: Do you mean having them buy it with some sort of teacher discount and having me pay them back, or something else?

I believe the Fusion Drive would be the best upgrade (in terms of real-world benefit to your workflow) so I'd recommend:

NEW 2012 iMac 27" - 2.9 GHz Core i5 w/ 1TB Fusion Drive ($2049)

So do you think having a Fusion Drive would be a bigger leap in performance than moving from a 2.9 GHz i5 to a 3.4 GHz i7 processor?

 

[glitch44]

Hmm... I might. Good idea. But, question: Do you mean having them buy it with some sort of teacher discount and having me pay them back, or something else?



So do you think having a Fusion Drive would be a bigger leap in performance than moving from a 2.9 GHz i5 to a 3.4 GHz i7 processor?

My recommended upgrades for "bang for your buck" performance leaps are:
1) Fusion
2) Memory (do it yourself on the 27")
3) Processor

I'm no expert, that's just my opinion. Certainly if you can afford all three, the full system will be best, but that's the order I think will improve your workflow. If you can only afford two of them, then I'd go Fusion and Processor and do the memory later when you have the money, since it's the only thing that's user upgradeable.

 

[medi.freak]

Hmm... I might. Good idea. But, question: Do you mean having them buy it with some sort of teacher discount and having me pay them back, or something else?

that will most certainly work, but Apple is normally pretty laissez faire with the discount, so it might even work if you claim that you are buying for a student you know...

 

[doobybiggs]

Yup, rather than $2,049 it would be $1,699. Good savings there.

how does that math work?

I thought student discount was $100