11-17-2011, 03:45 PM

Excited with my new 21.5" base model iMac. I have lurked on this forum for a little while and finally put my new potential buyers apprehension to rest. I debated whether or not to wait for the next iMac refresh. Living so close to an apple store I have used the one to one project time to set up and get help with transferring my files properly. The main reason for my purchase is necessity. My old pc laptop is/was on the blink. It would consistently crash after being on for only 15 minutes.

Somewhere in the process of having my old lap top in the apple store for purposes of data transfer, the problem has been corrected. My old laptop works fine, again.

In anticipation of the imminent iMac refresh, should I return my iMac? I am well within the 14 day return window. In fact, I am writing this post on my old computer. An iMac will be in my life whether now, or in the near future after the refresh. What would you do?

11-17-2011, 03:50 PM

Originally Posted by jertronic

In anticipation of the imminent iMac refresh, should I return my iMac? I am well within the 14 day return window. In fact, I am writing this post on my old computer. An iMac will be in my life whether now, or in the near future after the refresh. What would you do?

Hard to say. No one (outside of Apple) really knows when new imacs will be released.

But since your laptop is now working...it would seem less important to have a 2nd computer (the new iMac)...if you really don't need it...and you're able to wait until new iMac's are released.

HTH,

- Nick

11-17-2011, 06:28 PM

If you have anywhere near the luck that I have then keep the iMac. I'd sign the paperwork, get home, and the laptop would spontaneously combust before my eyes.

Had a similar dilema with a Dell laptop and a new tower - my decision was made for me when they both died. For two weeks they would take it in turns to shut down or freeze.

This is why I'm paranoid about every aspect of getting a Mac - Lion, external hard drives, connecting to a Virgin router, FCPX. Every search I've done online has included many people raging at stuff not working. The good folk here have pointed out that these people are the noisy minority but I'm still wary.

So, if ever I get my iMac 21.5" - and it works with my router and a GTech external hard drive - then it ain't going anywhere!

11-17-2011, 06:29 PM

i would wait, whats the point getting an expensive computer and after couple of months it will be outdated. The iMac refresh should be in march sometime.

11-17-2011, 07:45 PM

Thanks for reply upon reply everyone. The unknown puts one at a disadvantage. Apple's brilliant marketing and strategic planning is a large reason for their success. I played the waiting game for the iphone 4S suffering a full 4 months using a motorolla flip phone from 2005 while I waited. Ironic that now I might be faced with the same test of will power.

The iMac that I currently own makes my plight less painful. I can't lose.

A) I keep it and love it, and even if a refresh comes in February, this iMac will last for many years while performing like a champ.

B) I return it and play the apple waiting game again. So long as my old laptop doesn't break I become the proud owner of the latest Liquid Metal iMac in an unknown number of days.

gotta love it!

11-17-2011, 08:56 PM

Originally Posted by jertronic

The unknown puts one at a disadvantage. Apple's brilliant marketing and strategic planning is a large reason for their success. I played the waiting game for the iphone 4S suffering a full 4 months using a motorolla flip phone from 2005 while I waited. Ironic that now I might be faced with the same test of will power.

The iMac that I currently own makes my plight less painful.

I think that one of the deciding points could be (return vs. not return)...is what sort of features are you expecting to see in a new iMac...making it worth the wait?

Generally speaking...desktop computers are pretty much a "mature" technology...and don't "evolve" nearly as quickly as cell phones. So holding out for a new iPhone probably has/had more merit/payoff...than waiting for the next iMac.

Food for thought,

- Nick

11-18-2011, 09:11 AM

There will always be a "new" or refreshed version of anything coming down the pipe. At some point you'll need to make the leap or you'll always be waiting for the next best thing. If I were in your shoes, I would keep my new iMac and love the thing!

11-18-2011, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Malik786

i would wait, whats the point getting an expensive computer and after couple of months it will be outdated. The iMac refresh should be in march sometime.

Every computer is outdated within a couple of months. Have been for well over 20 years and will be for the foreseeable future.

jetronic: So what, you have a new computer sitting on your desk already that you're enjoying using?

And you're willing to take it back and not have a new computer to use for the next 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 months or however long it is until the next update is released?

Answer that question and you have your answer, regardless of what the opinions are of anyone here.

11-18-2011, 11:38 AM

If everyone lived by this logic - then there'd only be a 4-6 month window that's valid for buying a particular computer - as after that - the refresh would always be 'imminent'. You've already been given some good advice - just sit back and enjoy having a nice machine.

11-18-2011, 11:57 AM

I think that probably any benefits we are likely to see will be driven by Moore's Law.

ftp://download.intel.com/museum/Moor...es_Law_2pg.pdf

11-20-2011, 08:56 AM

I've seen 3 generations of processors since I bought my iMac and haven't seen any great reason to upgrade yet. You'll be fine with what you have now. The current generation of the Core i5/i7 SandyBridge was already a major upgrade, the IvyBridge may be less of an upgrade. There is something about a Tick/Tock upgrade cycle to Intel processors, where one brings performance/architecture upgrades while the other brings form factor (i.e. making it smaller) upgrades. Basically, you make it smaller in one cycle, then you add more to the chip in the next, you shrink all that down, and add even more... Sandy Bridge added a video codec hardware processor to the chip plus a host of other changes.

11-20-2011, 09:48 AM

And the iPhone 5 may be even better!

I couldn't hold out for the 5. I finally bit the bullet and got a smart phone on my plan and got the 4s.

Dawn

Originally Posted by jertronic

Thanks for reply upon reply everyone. The unknown puts one at a disadvantage. Apple's brilliant marketing and strategic planning is a large reason for their success. I played the waiting game for the iphone 4S suffering a full 4 months using a motorolla flip phone from 2005 while I waited. Ironic that now I might be faced with the same test of will power.

The iMac that I currently own makes my plight less painful. I can't lose.

A) I keep it and love it, and even if a refresh comes in February, this iMac will last for many years while performing like a champ.

B) I return it and play the apple waiting game again. So long as my old laptop doesn't break I become the proud owner of the latest Liquid Metal iMac in an unknown number of days.

gotta love it!