Okay, comparing the 2012 iMac to bumping the specs of the lowest end pro up a bit ...
After being dissapointed (to say the least) with the new iMac's lack of expandability (not that it was great before) I am looking at whether the new mac pro (extrapolating specs a bit) when it is released would be the better option than the new iMac.
For comparison I would be getting a top-of-the-line (screen size, CPU, GPU) iMac hopefully with aftermarket upgrades to the SSD and memory. I am comparing it to a base mac pro plus a display.
Price: for the iMac I am looking at close to 4,000 ... for the pro I am 4,000 to maybe 5,000. I can also hold off some of the pro's cost until later rather than have it all hit at once (like the SSD).
SSD: Aftermarket is what I would do as it is better than apple's drive. The one I want (OWC) has not been confirmed to work yet and if it does a tech would need to do it and I could only use a blade SSD if I wanted to keep an internal HDD. Meanwhile a 3.5 SSD would have no problem in the pro ... and I can get it later if need be. Simmilar cost for both.
HDD: Only one main drive in each and the stock one will do. Also a drive for time machine (would be nice if internal, but can not do that in the iMac) and 2 rotating externals for full backups. So the same cost with both.
Memory: I would use base for each and buy aftermarket if I want more. Although with the iMac it makes more sense to do it right off and with the pro I can see if it is needed.
CPU: Already the pro wins on speed and I doubt it will get slower.
Screen: A 27" is a must ... and I would have that with either one.
GPU: The top one for both. With the pro I can always swap it out for a newer one later but not so with the iMac.
Timing: Right after the holidays is not exactly the best time to buy a new system as my discretionary funds are lower than normal. They would be built back up again by the time of the pro's release.
In addition to a current upgradability I like the fact that I can take components from an old pro and use them on whatever the model after it brings. So does my analysis that the pro would be a better deal sound right?
After being dissapointed (to say the least) with the new iMac's lack of expandability (not that it was great before) I am looking at whether the new mac pro (extrapolating specs a bit) when it is released would be the better option than the new iMac.
For comparison I would be getting a top-of-the-line (screen size, CPU, GPU) iMac hopefully with aftermarket upgrades to the SSD and memory. I am comparing it to a base mac pro plus a display.
Price: for the iMac I am looking at close to 4,000 ... for the pro I am 4,000 to maybe 5,000. I can also hold off some of the pro's cost until later rather than have it all hit at once (like the SSD).
SSD: Aftermarket is what I would do as it is better than apple's drive. The one I want (OWC) has not been confirmed to work yet and if it does a tech would need to do it and I could only use a blade SSD if I wanted to keep an internal HDD. Meanwhile a 3.5 SSD would have no problem in the pro ... and I can get it later if need be. Simmilar cost for both.
HDD: Only one main drive in each and the stock one will do. Also a drive for time machine (would be nice if internal, but can not do that in the iMac) and 2 rotating externals for full backups. So the same cost with both.
Memory: I would use base for each and buy aftermarket if I want more. Although with the iMac it makes more sense to do it right off and with the pro I can see if it is needed.
CPU: Already the pro wins on speed and I doubt it will get slower.
Screen: A 27" is a must ... and I would have that with either one.
GPU: The top one for both. With the pro I can always swap it out for a newer one later but not so with the iMac.
Timing: Right after the holidays is not exactly the best time to buy a new system as my discretionary funds are lower than normal. They would be built back up again by the time of the pro's release.
In addition to a current upgradability I like the fact that I can take components from an old pro and use them on whatever the model after it brings. So does my analysis that the pro would be a better deal sound right?