New iMac, Macbook, Mac Mini

[Tarekith]

As long as they get better battery life and more charges than the removeable ones (which they do), then I could care less. It's $125 to replace the battery if anything goes wrong later down the road, and considering a new battery is at least $100 on it's own, seems fair to me.

[pulsoc]

I am VERY tempted by the 21" iMac, purely as a family computer mind you. Have got my white MB for music-making which is tied up by other people's internet use, too.

Not sure if we really need £950-worth of new machine right now, though!

For a family puter I would think a mini would be more than enough. Through a (ever cheaper) 20" generic monitor and you have a killer savings.

[Locktopus]

I just got a new iMac. It's pretty nice, super fast, lovely screen. Loving all that space.
The new mouse is a bit odd but much better than the old mighty mouse. The scrolling is great but can't get the hang of the 2 finger swipe.

Just in the process of reinstalling everything... yawn...

[polyslax]

I recall reading posts by some of you hardcore Apple rumor followers - you guys knew that an iMac update was imminent. Tell me... how soon are the Core2 processors going to be updated in the MacBook Pros? It seems like it should be soon. Those things are getting pretty old. Are we going to get i7 thingies in the notebooks soon?

::sighs:: Quadcore 13" MacBook Pro with Expresscard...

Just read this at Macnn today:

The latest beta seed of Mac OS X 10.6.2 has references to new Apple portables, a Spanish site has found today. Entries exist in the 10C531 build that make references to "MacBook Pro 6,1" and MacBook Pro 6,2," neither of which exists in the market. Current MacBook Pros range between 5,1 and 5,5.
The move from 5 to 6 in the naming scheme points to these being significant revisions rather than minor refreshes. Both may be signs of early preparation for MacBook Pro portables unofficially expected at the start of 2010. Apple is likely to be one of the earliest adopters of Intel's upcoming Arrandale processors, which in January should bring the Core i5/i7 architecture to more power-efficient dual-core chips that would fit in a thin-and-light notebook's enclosure and require a new underlying platform.

[Hidden Driveways]

...bring the Core i5/i7 architecture to more power-efficient dual-core chips that would fit in a thin-and-light notebook's enclosure and require a new underlying platform.

Thanks Paulie. I'm not familiar with i5/i7 architecture. Are these going to be faster, or just more power-efficient? Are we talking battery life and heat, or speed and processing power? No quad-tops?

[muthafunka]

Expresscard on the 15" or the 27" and I'd have been in. Current 15" w/Ecard driving a Dell 30" and (finally) UAD Solo so no rush....still, would've been nice.

[speak_onion]

Let's discuss this 27" iMac and RAM. They want $1400 to upgrade from the stock 4GB (2x2GB) to the max 16GB (4x4GB). That's a lot of $$. I know Apple always charges a ton to still extra RAM at their factory, but even what I've seen for aftermarket RAM that is compatible is way pricey (http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts. ... ate%202009). So, I guess these 4GB modules are just really expensive? Do I have no other option?

One idea that I had is to just get 4x2GB from Apple (for $200), and live with 8GB for a while (better than the 2GB I have now!) and then hope the price of the 4GB modules comes down and then I do the upgrade in a year or so. Does that make any sense?

[Hidden Driveways]

...live with 8GB for a while (better than the 2GB I have now!) and then hope the price of the 4GB modules comes down and then I do the upgrade in a year or so. Does that make any sense?

That makes a lot of sense.

live with 8GB

I think you'll survive!

[polyslax]

One idea that I had is to just get 4x2GB from Apple (for $200), and live with 8GB for a while (better than the 2GB I have now!) and then hope the price of the 4GB modules comes down and then I do the upgrade in a year or so. Does that make any sense?

Exactly... this is how it's done for normal folks. You need to find the sweet spot, and that sweet spot will shift as newer, more dense modules are introduced.

Normally I would suggest that you don't buy ram upgrades from Apple. You could probably source that ram for half the price (or get more ram), but frankly it's getting cheap enough now that it might not be a big deal to you.

[speak_onion]

One idea that I had is to just get 4x2GB from Apple (for $200), and live with 8GB for a while (better than the 2GB I have now!) and then hope the price of the 4GB modules comes down and then I do the upgrade in a year or so. Does that make any sense?

Exactly... this is how it's done for normal folks. You need to find the sweet spot, and that sweet spot will shift as newer, more dense modules are introduced.

Normally I would suggest that you don't buy ram upgrades from Apple. You could probably source that ram for half the price (or get more ram), but frankly it's getting cheap enough now that it might not be a big deal to you.

No sense in wasting $100. I'll get the add'l 4GB from Crucial and put it in myself. According to Apple's support documents, it's really easy. I added RAM to my G4 ibook (whoa, way back when) and it was easy.

Thanks for advice; I feel good about this.

Also re: "I think you'll survive!"

[Earwax69]

From another forum:

They are utilizing the mobile i5/i7 parts they developed for the mobile market.
The problem is they arent equivalent. Apple is advertising the 2.8 quad as 2.8 when its only 2.8 in burst (several cores off) When all cores are engaged its like 1.6 per core if I remember correctly.

Apple buries these facts and always have. The previous imacs weren't using desktop parts either. It's not like this is new.

Why do you think you've been getting SO-DIMMS in the imacs?

Quite a bit letdown if its true.

[ThrowAway]

Changing ram in imacs is easy, RIDICULOUSLY EASY!!!!! If you can operate a screw driver and stick a memory card in a digital camera you can change out your ram in an imac.

[Earwax69]

Ho shit, just now on Engadget:

http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/29/27-i ... ce-issues/

27-inch iMacs having performance issues?