While I was checking out the $1,699 27 iMac at Best Buy, a customer said there may be a new version coming out very soon for the same price. I don't want to buy this computer right before a new upgraded version is released. Does anyone have any info on this?
Thanks !!!
Comments
... I don't want to buy this computer right before a new upgraded version is released...
Then you'll never buy another computer again. There's ALWAYS a better model "just around the corner".
That said, most people seem to thing the MacBooks are due for an upgrade very soon (this month?)... the iMacs probably not until the end of summer. But none of us outside of Cupertino really knows.
I'd bet a new model is due late April or by July at the latest.
For the sake of a few months. I'd wait. And maybe they'll drop that ancient core2 duo cpu and make quad core computing on the Mac reasonably priced which it currently is not. Shockingly not.
Plus, you'll probably be able to get a better gpu as standard.
And who knows, they may even trim the price. But don't hold your breath on the last point.
At the least, you should get more for your money, which can be the case. Unless Apple decide a 'side grade' with negligible improvements. Something which is not beneath them.
Lemon Bon Bon.
The problem is, although there are i3 and i5 32nm chips they can use, a 32nm i7 won't be out until Q3 with the i7-970, which might be a Gulftown 6-core with 2 cores disabled.
Plus, the i3 and i5 32nm chips are only dual core not quads. So they can't change the top end model but the 3 lowest iMac models including the base 27" can switch from a Core 2 Duo to a Core i3 or i5 32nm. The i3 doesn't have turbo-boost nor hardware virtualization so i5 is a better choice.
If they went for the 3.2GHz Core i5-650 for example, they would bundle it with a better GPU that can switch off to give overall lower power consumption. This chip gives hardware virtualization and turbo-boost to 3.46GHz. It's definitely a good update to wait for.
Only problem really is there's nothing else coming until Sandy Bridge Q1 2011 so they might hold it back for a while until the MBP goes 32nm, pretty much on Tuesday. I think the Mac Pro will update on Tuseday too up to the 6-core Xeons to give 12 CPUs.
That takes care of the Pro line and in time for NAB this week where Apple are rumored to release a 64-bit Final Cut Studio with a little more than what they put in FCS3. They could bump the consumer line - iMac, Mini and Macbook in May before the iPhone in June but they could hold that consumer line back until afterwards for the back-to-school season.
Given the Intel schedule Marvin outlines above, seems reasonable to start looking for new iMacs in the fall, which isn't exactly "very soon." However, as Marvin points out, this update bodes to be a good one, so might be worth waiting for.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/2832
i5-750S (2.4GHz) i7-860S (2.53GHz)
Given all of the above I'd simply go for a midrange machine. Either I5 or I7 based.
Dave
While I was checking out the $1,699 27 iMac at Best Buy, a customer said there may be a new version coming out very soon for the same price. I don't want to buy this computer right before a new upgraded version is released. Does anyone have any info on this?
Thanks !!!
I won't say that you wouldn't benefit in some way from getting an updated version if it came out reasonably soon, but honestly, I just got a 27 " iMac with the i7 quad core processor and that thing is smoking fast. I guess it depends on what you are seeking to be better in an upgraded version.
Just to overlay some history on that very informed analysis, over the past 4 years or so iMac updates have ranged between 7 and 11 months. The last update was on Oct. 20, so by that pattern the earliest update would be late May and the latest would be September.
Given the Intel schedule Marvin outlines above, seems reasonable to start looking for new iMacs in the fall, which isn't exactly "very soon." However, as Marvin points out, this update bodes to be a good one, so might be worth waiting for.
It is already May, still no news of the new 27" iMac ?
We really have to wait until Sep ?
We really have to wait until Sep ?
If statistics is of any use here, then this cannot be ruled out. There are two recent examples with update intervals of 11 months. Since the last update was on October 2009, we may see the next one around September 2010 if this is repeated. The fact that we had two updates during 2009 makes me feel that this is quite probable now.
Could there be an update on screen like 30'' ?
Or may be a SSD update. And who know what we cannot think know... But for me these are the decision points.
Any rumor or insider info about this? or even a speculation
The processor argument is iffy with Apple now looking at AMD for potential supplies of parts. Any speed increase to the integrated graphics alone will be worth more than the CPU horsepower. Again, it is a question of how long you can afford to wait.
As a counter point to my earlier argument, Apple could update the iMacs to new GPU's right now. Frankly that would make the machines much better values as GPU's have a bigger impact on user perceptions than some give them credit for.
The issue for the potential buyer is the wait worth it. I'd say no if you don't currently have a usable computer. On the flip side though if your computing resources are old, creaky or nonexistent than buy now. Just buy enough i86 cores to power GCD into thee next few years. By that I mean at least 4 threads. On the iMac that means stepping up a model or two.
Dave
The sparkling iPad / iPhone spectacular sucks all the rumour hunting editorial oxygen these days, which makes sense, and the ho humming of computer line updates just have to keep themselves warm in the afterglow.
When the macbook does update it will have considerably better graphics than both the base model iMac and the mini. Add that to the mostly i5 i7 macbook pros and you'd have to expect the iMacs to move soon(ish).
Right now everyone is working their a** off at Apple looking at October, November, December, they'll be planning to move at least 5 million units of iPads internationally in that quarter alone, and maybe 25 million units of iPhone 4Gs internationally in that quarter alone.
MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini, I forsee, will just be minor updates through this whole year, where they happen.
I don't think there's been a single rumour about the next revision of the iMac yet, but then there hasn't been any rumours about the macbook either and it's obviously about to update...
The MacBook vietnam leak seemed a pretty good rumour/ leak. I expect that to go official in 12 hours.
The MacBook vietnam leak seemed a pretty good rumour/ leak. I expect that to go official in 12 hours.
I figured that was less like a rumour/leak and more like one of those CONFIRMED moments that used to happen on sites like this.