Getting An iMac--Now or Two Months Down?

[S. Gomez]

A little while ago I posted a thread asking for advice in choosing whether to get a new MacBook or a used iBook as a new computer. That's been superseded now by my decision to go with a desktop computer--specifically the new iMac model. I've been working all summer, saving up the pennies, and I'm literally five dollars away from my goal.

However, I now have a slightly different problem: do I buy now or wait for the new Leopard OS in October? I'm leaning towards the former, if only because I'm hesitant to trust my current computer (a five-year-old Dell PC running Ubuntu) for that much longer; I've heard Apple usually releases their announced stuff towards the end of the given time-frame, so it would probably mean a wait of about two months. I'll admit I haven't been following it quite so closely, but it doesn't sound as if Leopard would offer a huge advantage for me other than it being "new and improved". Advice would be helpful.

Another thing I'm wondering: do Apple retail stores offer the same educational discount that you get online? If they do, it would be nice to be able to get my Mac as soon as I pay for it rather than wait for it to be shipped. (I live in Vancouver, Canada.)

 

[Marc]

S. Gomez said:
A little while ago I posted a thread asking for advice in choosing whether to get a new MacBook or a used iBook as a new computer. That's been superseded now by my decision to go with a desktop computer--specifically the new iMac model. I've been working all summer, saving up the pennies, and I'm literally five dollars away from my goal.

However, I now have a slightly different problem: do I buy now or wait for the new Leopard OS in October? I'm leaning towards the former, if only because I'm hesitant to trust my current computer (a five-year-old Dell PC running Ubuntu) for that much longer; I've heard Apple usually releases their announced stuff towards the end of the given time-frame, so it would probably mean a wait of about two months. I'll admit I haven't been following it quite so closely, but it doesn't sound as if Leopard would offer a huge advantage for me other than it being "new and improved". Advice would be helpful.

Another thing I'm wondering: do Apple retail stores offer the same educational discount that you get online? If they do, it would be nice to be able to get my Mac as soon as I pay for it rather than wait for it to be shipped. (I live in Vancouver, Canada.)

Given that Apple have just release their new models I don't think you're really going to gain anything holding off other than saving a few $$$ on the upgrade to Leopard.

Any maybe not even that if Apple are anything like Microsoft in that if you by the old version just before the new version comes out you get a free upgrade

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Waiting for Leopard might not be a bad idea.

 

[StolenThunder]

I'm buying a new iMac also, but I'm definitely waiting until Leopard. However my decision is a little easier as I'm away travelling for most of September so wouldn't be buying then anyway. I'll only really have four weeks to wait.

Tiger is a good OS so you wouldn't be doing yourself a disservice by buying now, and there's no requirement to upgrade as soon as it comes out anyway. Most Mac users won't be for a while after all.

As for the education discount, the answer is "probably" from what I've seen. However your Apple Store will know best. Remember that depending on where you are educated you may get a different discount: if I buy using the Apple HE Store from my university network I save ~14%, the standard Education Store discount is ~7%.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

on a semi-related note, the new iMacs are really sexy. The thin keyboards are pretty cool.

 

[S. Gomez]

On the above note, how long are the cords for the wired keyboard and mouse?

 

[StolenThunder]

I think the Apple way is "Not Ever Quite Long Enough"? That's the impression I got reading a few reviews. Using them in a store they seemed to be fine but I guess it depends what you are doing with them.

 

[Marc]

StolenThunder said:
I think the Apple way is "Not Ever Quite Long Enough"? That's the impression I got reading a few reviews. Using them in a store they seemed to be fine but I guess it depends what you are doing with them.

I'm thinking of getting a mini to replace my Pentium D 805 system. I can run both OS X and Vista, it's small and quiet and hopefully won't generate as much heat. The video is a bit sucky but then I don't generally play games and it might do okay for MS Flight Sim and X-Plane.

As for the waiting for Leopard, reading the thread on another board some argue that waiting for a couple of revisions is will be the best approach. Other's say it's not Windows so the initial version should be pretty stable.

 

[StolenThunder]

Yeah, I guess that's the debate with any OS. I think I'll get Leopard because anything major will likely be fixed quickly and I'm unlikely to stretch my system enough to run into anything minor.

 

[S. Gomez]

StolenThunder said:
I think the Apple way is "Not Ever Quite Long Enough"? That's the impression I got reading a few reviews. Using them in a store they seemed to be fine but I guess it depends what you are doing with them.

I need them (the keyboard and mouse) to sit on a shelf, with the iMac standing on a level just above them; the cords would have to stretch back and up to connect to the machine. I could always see about drilling a nice round hole in the top shelf and running the cords through that.

I've been going on Mac forums as well, and something I was seeing yesterday was a reminder that Leopard isn't really going to be a "major" revolution, but more a "minor" revision; also, that aside from wanting the very latest and greatest, there's no reason not to get a machine with Tiger. I'm still really on the fence...

 

[StolenThunder]

Just looking about the 'Net, it seems that the cable is quite short.

But, all you need is a USB extension cord and you're sorted? (ETA: Just looking and there's some sort of notch thing going on with Apple USB? I don't know - for this you need someone that owns an Apple currently, I'm not up with all the little things). The mouse can just be connected to one of the keyboard USB ports.

There's nothing really about Leopard that makes me go wild (I'm just waiting because I really do want the latest and greatest )- it looks quite as if the choice is yours.

 

[S. Gomez]

^You know something? You're right. There's not much in Leopard that I desperately need (though there's plenty to raise eyebrows and nod your head at); Time Machine looks like it's supposed to work with an external hard-drive, which I don't have and can't afford right now; tabbed browsing in Safari would be nice, but non-essential; I almost don't need Quick Look at all. Mom's got Tiger on her iBook, and looking at it there I think it would suit me fine. I can get Leopard down the road if I want--and I think I'll still have a bit of money coming in to do so.

Oh, and I'm going to have my grandpa drill a 2" hole in this shelf; he just bought a drill press and he's dying to use it. But we'll see when I get it...

 

[D Man]

Tabbed browsing exists in the current edition of Safari, so don't worry about that.

 

[StolenThunder]

And Safari can always be updated independently.

 

[S. Gomez]

^Thanks to both of you. Good to know, especially since...

I got it!

20" widescreen is a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be.

 

[Marc]

S. Gomez said:
^Thanks to both of you. Good to know, especially since...

I got it!

20" widescreen is a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be.

yes but it can be nice

I've just got a 22" wide screen.

The guy who owns my ISP is a reported to be a huge Mac fan and his personal machine is a Dual Proccessor Power Mac with 2 30" Apple Cinerama monitors!

 

[StolenThunder]

S. Gomez said:
^Thanks to both of you. Good to know, especially since...

I got it!

20" widescreen is a lot bigger than I thought it was going to be.

I had given some thought to a 24" model but my flatmate has a 2407 Dell Monitor and it's just so overwhelming! I couldn't justify it. 20 is nice. It will make my current 16.1 look quite poor!

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

Stone_Cold_Sisko said:The thin keyboards are pretty cool.

Have you used one? How does it feel (to you)?

 

[S. Gomez]

I'm not the person asked, but I'm using one right now. It's different, but I can type pretty much as fast as I could before (I'm sort of a speedy hunt-and-peck person). It can be a little harder to feel the keys sometimes which means it's just a little easier to make a typo, and you have to make sure to press the spacebar firm enough or else the spacedoesn'tappear.

It still serves its function as well as any other keyboard should, though it is a different sensation which may take a little getting used to. But it's fine, really. And I should note I have a wired one.

 

[Stone_Cold_Sisko]

Babaganoosh said:

Stone_Cold_Sisko said:The thin keyboards are pretty cool.

Have you used one? How does it feel (to you)?

I used one at Best Buy for a couple of minutes (not exactly the most extensive testing) but it felt fine, like a keyboard. Note, your hands will be basically at desk level because of the thin form factor. The buttons seem similar to the buttons on the Macbooks.