Buy now? or wait?

Ok so this is my first post on the mac forums and I have a few questions

First off, as most people in my generation I am a PC user, but I know the pros and cons of owning a mac or switching to a mac.

I am a senior in college and a lot of employers require the ability to use a mac and pc in my field. I also believe that apple's market share can only grow in the future and in the next generation(s) the mac user-base can only increase.

So I have decided to buy a macbook pro to replace my thinkpad to serve 2 purposes, 1. to learn the mac world and 2. just to try something new.

So to my question(s):

Is now the right time to buy a macbook pro? or should I wait till 9/9/09 for the keynote? (the reason I ask is because the "deal" for a free ipod touch ends 9/8, but I don't want to order a macbook and the next day have a new refreshed hardware line popup)

Are the 3rd party programs like parallel and vmware suitable to run windows games in? or would I be better off using bootcamp?

Does anyone have monitor specs for the macbook pro 17inch's screen? (refresh rate/brightness etc...)

DTG said:

Is now the right time to buy a macbook pro? or should I wait till 9/9/09 for the keynote? (the reason I ask is because the "deal" for a free ipod touch ends 9/8, but I don't want to order a macbook and the next day have a new refreshed hardware line popup)

Are the 3rd party programs like parallel and vmware suitable to run windows games in? or would I be better off using bootcamp?

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If the machine works for you now, what does it matter if there was a refresh? The event on Sept. 9 is expected to be about the iPod anyway as alluded to by the tag line, "It's only rock and roll, but we like it.". See here.

For games, you don't really have a choice - you have to use Boot Camp to run games.

Yeah I hear that the 9/9 event is about a new ipod touch and not so focused on the macbook line, but I like having the newest stuff out lol.

I'm curious to why the deal ends a day before the event. It could just be because a new ipod touch line is being introduced but it could also be that they are going to refresh the macbook line in some way.

DTG said:

Is now the right time to buy a macbook pro? or should I wait till 9/9/09 for the keynote? (the reason I ask is because the "deal" for a free ipod touch ends 9/8, but I don't want to order a macbook and the next day have a new refreshed hardware line popup)

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I would say that the fact that the iPod touch deal ending on 9/8/09 & the "keynote" on 9/9/09 is not coincidental!!

But like you said...the keynote may only be iPod focused & and not related to any new computer hardware. But who knows sometimes.

My thought back to you is...what's more important...a new latest & greatest computer or an iPod?

- If you buy now you get a currently selling laptop & free iPod Touch.
- If you wait till 9/9/09...if there is a new computer hardware announcement ...no free iPod, but then you get the option of buying the "next" latest & greatest Apple Computer...which may or may not be immediately available for sale...or feature-wise may not be better!
- if there is a new computer hardware announcement...that could also mean some nice discounts on the older stuff.

Roll the dice...and see what happens!

- Nick

Well I have an Iphone but a free ipod touch isnt a bad thing lol.

The scenario im worried about is them yanking the deal and not releasing new hardware or updates to the macbook line.

But I think I am gonna wait to get screwed lol.

Do you want a free iPod only to find out they've improved it in some way?

It's probably unlikely they'll do anything with the Macbook, because it's pretty perfect as it is, and it was updated in June. I know because that's when I bought mine and I've rolled the Apple dice several times that came up snake eyes. Bought a mini and 3 months later they added more RAM, faster proc and built in wireless/bluetooth. My wife rolled a 7 for that one. Bought a Macbook second gen and a few months later they got LED screens, faster procs, and a chipset that allowed double the RAM of what mine could do. Both my wife and I rolled snake eyes on that one. Oh well.

Next roll was a seven since I got a new Macbook right after Apple stuffed a bunch of goodies in it, like backlit keyboard, this brilliant trackpad, put back firewire (and 800 at that!), the aluminum unibody, an SD slot and called it a 'Pro'. Wife likes hers just fine as is, so no dice throw for her this time.

Whattya say? Wanna play the Apple Dice Game? It's fun if you have enough cash to throw around, even if you lose. You still get a great computer.

Wait..... Are you saying that since I bought a MacBook Pro on 8/30/09, I get a free iPod touch? This is the first I have heard of it. What do I need to do to get my iPod?

Thanks

spicolli1976 said:

Wait..... Are you saying that since I bought a MacBook Pro on 8/30/09, I get a free iPod touch? This is the first I have heard of it. What do I need to do to get my iPod?

Thanks

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You're kidding right! This deal I believe is for the "educational" market only:

Back to School: Buy a Mac, get free iPod touch - Apple Store (U.S.)

- Nick

walkerj said:

Whattya say? Wanna play the Apple Dice Game? It's fun if you have enough cash to throw around, even if you lose. You still get a great computer.

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Great answer dude...I like it!!!

- Nick

Thanks for the info. This was the first I had heard of it, so I wasn't kidding.

spicolli1976 said:

Thanks for the info. This was the first I had heard of it, so I wasn't kidding.

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Are you a student or in the education area?...if so...good that you stopped in!!!

- Nick

I am only a student of life now. No more formal schooling.

spicolli1976 said:

I am only a student of life now. No more formal schooling.

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Well then...also no free iPod!

- Nick

In the technology world, if you're always waiting for the next update, you'll be waiting forever.

Buy the machine you need when you need it and it will continue to serve those needs long after the next generation model is eclipsed.

Buy now, why wait?

Truer words have never been spoken

pigoo3 said:

Well then...also no free iPod!

- Nick

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