wait for Lion or get the newly updated iMacs now?

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So now that the newly updated iMacs are out with quad-core and updated graphic cards, would you just get one or would you actually wait until Lion is available? Apple's website says that Lion will be available in the summer. If I get the new iMac now, how much do you think Apple will charge to update Snow Leopard to Lion when it's released?
 

Raz0rEdge

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No pricing has been announced for Lion yet, but group wisdom and history seems to indicate that it'd be around $129 since Lion is indeed a full OS upgrade like going from 10.3->10.4->10.5..Snow Leopard, at $29, for a minor upgrade to Leopard..

If you want to buy the iMac now, no reason to wait..I, however, doubt that you'd get a discount to upgrade to Lion when it does release in the Summer..

Regards
 

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So now that the newly updated iMacs are out with quad-core and updated graphic cards, would you just get one or would you actually wait until Lion is available? Apple's website says that Lion will be available in the summer. If I get the new iMac now, how much do you think Apple will charge to update Snow Leopard to Lion when it's released?

If you want or need a new iMac, I would buy it now. We really don't know for sure exactly when in the Summer Lion will be released nor what the price will be. There's a lot of speculation regarding the price....

But even if it sells for full price (around $129.00) it will be well worth it for the new features it offers. Of course if you don't need a new iMac right now, then it might be prudent to wait.
 
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I'm actually kinda contemplating something similar. I'm planning on buying a new iMac next year around this time, so when Lion is released this summer, do I go ahead and get a copy for my current machine, or just wait until I get a new computer? Decisions, decisions.:)
 
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Do you need a new computer now?
Yes: Buy iMac now and get Lion when released
No: wait until you need a new computer.
 
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Stretch is right!

But for me, I'll wait for Lion. Why you say? Well as you know Lion will support TRIM which is important for Solid State Drives (SSD). But wait! Apple supports TRIM on its current OS X. Yes it does, however you must buy Apple's SSD for it to work correctly. (Apparently Apple's SSD have TRIM built-in (firmware))

So my thought is to get Lion, tear apart the iMac with iFixit's help and put in a SSD I want. Fortunately I can wait to see if it's worth it. Also, I'm looking forward to benchmarks on Photoshop CS5.
 
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I'd say buy it now. I had to make the same decision last week about buying a macbook pro for my girlfriend, in the end I decided that it doesn't make sense to keep waiting for the next new thing, I'll just upgrade when its released. Just buy it now and begin enjoying the machine.
 
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however you must buy Apple's SSD for it to work correctly. (Apparently Apple's SSD have TRIM built-in (firmware))

Apple does not produce SSDs. Some other company makes the SSDs for them, most likely Intel. This means you will be able to purchase an SSD separately from Apple, and most likely for a significant discount compared to Apple's ridiculous markup on hard drives and memory.
 
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Apple does not produce SSDs. Some other company makes the SSDs for them, most likely Intel. This means you will be able to purchase an SSD separately from Apple, and most likely for a significant discount compared to Apple's ridiculous markup on hard drives and memory.

Very true, but replacing or adding a drive to an iMac is not an easy task.
 
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Very true, but replacing or adding a drive to an iMac is not an easy task.

I too and now ready to buy a new iMac, and I was also thinking about getting an SSD to run Adobe and my editing software on top of a regular HD. Ive been pricing them out and all I really need is a 64gb SSD, but Apple is only offering the 256gb for and extra $500. Anyone know how difficult it would be to install an SSD? I have already changed out my HD on my old Powerbook G4 and also an old PC so I know computer basics.
 
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I've taken apart a G4 iBook, G4 Powerbook, G5 iSight iMac, G4 style Mini, and Alum 24in iMac. The iMacs were by far the hardest to take apart. With the Alum iMacs, you have to take off the glass front, without cracking/breaking/chipping. Once the glass is off, you have to get the screen off. Which involves numerous hard to reach screws. Once the LCD is "free" you have to lift it off far enough to reach under and disconnect the display cable.

Once the screen is off, its pretty much easy going until you have to put everything back together. Then you have to deal with the heavy screen and getting it back into place and screwing in the hard to reach screws. All while keeping dust off the screen and back of the glass.

It doesn't sound that hard reading it/typing it out but the screws that are holding the LCD in are hard to reach and if you drop one underneath the screen you have to take it back out. And the screen, especially the 27in model is heavy. Very awkward to hold it and disconnect the display cable.
 

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I posted this probably a month or so ago in a similarly themed thread but since I haven't been able to contribute much this week (partly due to drowning in work but mostly because by the time I get in here, everyone else has already answered most of the threads :) ) I may as well throw my $0.02 in here.

I don't see any real logic in gating a hardware purchase based on the availability of an OS. If you're in the market for a new computer - then buy that new computer and do so close to the time of HW upgrade - at least you'll have the latest and greatest for a few months. :) Don't forget, Lion is likely to have bugs when released - there's a fantastic and stable OS available now. I'm considering running Lion on a separate partition or drive while I get used to it and while it stabilizes.

But let's say you do wait - and Lion comes out in the fall. There's a good chance you'll be right back here wondering if you should wait until the next HW refresh materializes and pretty soon...you may find yourself paralyzed by an endless do-loop. I'd imagine that by late summer or early fall - all the buzz will be about the "complete redesign" of the next MBP. I personally would never gauge a purchasing decision on an OS release - but that's just me. Hardware refresh - yes. Software - no.
 
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I decided in January that I'd wait to buy until it came with Lion installed on it. Nothing hurt, and I got lucky enough that Apple did a great hardware refresh. I'd say hold off unless you currently have no other machine to use right now.
 
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I decided in January that I'd wait to buy until it came with Lion installed on it. Nothing hurt, and I got lucky enough that Apple did a great hardware refresh. I'd say hold off unless you currently have no other machine to use right now.

Won't be any more hardware upgrades to iMacs or MBPs before Lion comes out. If you need one now, get it now. If you want one now, get it now.
Logically, if you're even asking about it right now then you probably want a Mac so just get a Mac.
 

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