09-01-2007, 12:28 PM

I hear this a lot when I tell people I'm preparing to buy a new computer:

"Why buy a new computer when, as soon as you buy it, it's going to be obsolete? There's always something newer and better around the corner."

Have you heard the same thing? What is your response?

09-01-2007, 12:32 PM

You have to realize that is always going to happen. I bought my macbook over a year ago and it is not considered obsolete, but I did put upgrades in it like RAM and HDD.

09-01-2007, 01:17 PM

Yes indeed. The newest and best Mac is ALWAYS just around the corner! In fact the newest and best *any computer* is ALWAYS just around the corner. It is called "technology progress". Computers are always getting bigger, faster and better. Keeps things fun.

09-01-2007, 03:26 PM

Originally Posted by bombat67

I hear this a lot when I tell people I'm preparing to buy a new computer:

"Why buy a new computer when, as soon as you buy it, it's going to be obsolete? There's always something newer and better around the corner."

Have you heard the same thing? What is your response?

Most people who say this don't actually understand or fully comprehend the concept of the word "obsolete". In short, just because a newer or updated model of something comes out, does not automatically make the previous model(s) 'obsolete'. It simply makes the previous model... well... older, since it was the previous model. Older does not equate to obsolete.

In the case of Apple, and the majority of the updates they make... a mere 100-200 Mhz increase in CPU speed, a few GB more of HD space, increase to base model RAM, etc is hardly a reason to wait. The effects of such improvements are minimal and marginal at best. And if you waited, you only ended up wasting another six months with no new system. "Waiting for Leopard" is also a weak excuse, since one can always purchase the OS later and run it on the machine they just bought yesterday. Sure, you would save the cost of buying the OS separate, but when you factor in that some people have been waiting for over 6 months now, is it really worth 6 months or more of your time to save a mere $130? I don't think so.

Also, people who really live and die by that rationale would never actually buy anything, since their logic dictates that no matter when they buy their machine, a new version is coming which would render their purchase useless, thereby making the process of buying a computer an exercise in futility.

So, all one should do is simply assess his needs for a computer first, then buy the best model currently available to meet those needs. Being mindful of possible advancements is a good thing, just don't obsess over it and play the silly "waiting game" that so many do.

09-01-2007, 04:36 PM

Originally Posted by D3v1L80Y

... Also, people who really live and die by that rationale would never actually buy anything, since their logic dictates that no matter when they buy their machine, a new version is coming which would render their purchase useless, thereby making the process of buying a computer an exercise in futility.
...

That's so good I'd almost make it my signature! (But I think it's a bit too long.)

09-01-2007, 05:10 PM

When I knew I had to get rid of my PowerMac G4 I went through this sort of thing.

My original plan was to borrow a PowerMac G5 until Leopard came out, then buy a MacBook Pro and save myself the £60 cost of Leopard(and possibly have upgrades and other stuff [like iLife 08 just came out]).

When it came down to the logistics of it; transferring everything from the G4 to the G5, buying a new monitor, moving the G5 down to the other end of the country, running Windows through emulation for a couple months (I'll probably need Windows for my Uni course), then transferring everything to the MBP and sending the G5 back... the £60 (potentially £115 with iLife 08, but I used iLife 06 so rarely anyway I wouldn't have bothered) seemed like a bargain, plus I'd have a faster machine for the first couple of months of Uni.

I'm glad I bought my MacBook Pro when I did; for one thing it's gonna be a heck of a lot easier getting it to it's new home than a PowerMac.

09-01-2007, 07:16 PM

thanks for the responses.

Personally, I'm not worried that when I buy a new 24" iMac this fall, that it's going to be obsolete. I've personally owned two Macs before this purchase: the first (14 years ago) a Quadra 660 AV that had a 256 mb hard drive and 16 mgs of RAM, then seven years ago I got a G3 iMac DV that has worked just fine. (Last year I got my wife a Macbook because she had a really crappy old Windows machine. But I can't use it as much as I'd like to)

So I know that I'll be jumping light years ahead of where I used to be. I know you folks understand the difference between a Quadra, G3 iMac and the new G5 iMacs. But sometimes it's hard explaining that to people who aren't as computer savvy.

So I'll be noting some of your posts the next time I get into a conversation with the luddite types who don't get 'it.'

09-02-2007, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by mac57

Yes indeed. The newest and best Mac is ALWAYS just around the corner! In fact the newest and best *any computer* is ALWAYS just around the corner. It is called "technology progress". Computers are always getting bigger, faster and better. Keeps things fun.

Or its called Capitalism!