Spring for a new Mac Pro...now a good time?

[C.H.Haskell]

Ok mac people with the inside dirt...should I wait or do it now? I need one asap but I will wait if something is around the corner.

cheers.

[Bruce Allen]

Intel's i7 is around the corner. Approx 20% faster for given clock speed (depends on what you're doing).

I'm sure that will be in Mac Pros by Jan at the latest. It will be released sometime in Q4, Sept is the earliest rumor I've heard.

In anticipation of this, Intel chip prices have plummeted. Mac prices have not plummeted to match, so they are a really bad deal relative to PCs in general at the moment. Check dealnews.com if you want some examples.

However, since Red workflow still sucks on PC (no quicktime playback, difficult to import sound, etc), I say if you have the need... get the Mac now.

Maybe see if you can score a good deal on a 2nd-hand one or something? But then I am a cheapskate when it comes to buying things that devalue quickly (that's a good thing, right?).

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

[GlennChan]

Something is always around the corner!!

I think the cheapest way to get a Mac that I saw would be to get a student developer discount (or maybe buy used). Next would be to buy refurbished (Apple is quite good here as they'll test the Mac and make sure the unit has all the cables and everything).

I bought my Macbook Pro refurbished. I'm happy with it.

[Noah Kadner]

Best time to buy is close to when you need it for a project. There will never be the *final* Mac or any other computer that will get you set forever. Changing out a computer every couple of years for a faster one is pretty much the cost of doing business.

Noah

[C.H.Haskell]

I am not concerned with the cheapest mac cause I have mac genius in the family, 25% off which is great but he does not know any rumors. I am upgrading business as usual but if one is to drop 5k, might as well get the latest offerings. Thanks for the feedback.

[Harva Raj]

sorry if its off topic.

is it a good idea to buy a refurbished xserver and use it as a editing workstation? what are the pitfalls anyway?

[Bruce Allen]

sorry if its off topic.

is it a good idea to buy a refurbished xserver and use it as a editing workstation? what are the pitfalls anyway?

Your hearing?

I dunno, maybe the new ones are quieter. The one in our server room makes a heckuva din.

Also not too sure what kind of graphics card you can fit in there... Or video IO card.

Bruce Allen
www.boacinema.com

[Ethan Cooper]

It's never a good time to buy technology. Do it if your old stuff doesn't make you money anymore, or if you can make more money faster with the new item.
________
BRAT

[Harrison Diamond]

Intel's i7 is around the corner. Approx 20% faster for given clock speed (depends on what you're doing).

I'm sure that will be in Mac Pros by Jan at the latest. It will be released sometime in Q4, Sept is the earliest rumor I've heard.

Listen to Bruce here. Nehalem (i7) not only improves performance per clock, but will offer faster clock speeds, an eliminates the front side bus, and integrates the memory controller. Overall performance will be a noticeable improvement. I'd wait.

[Zack Birlew]

Well, the biggest rumors are that new iPods (don't know which) and new Macbook/Macbook Pros will be released soon (September is the rumored month). As far as Mac Pros go, you should be good to go as far as the rumor mill is concerned. But hey, even I've been surprised how quickly Apple updates their computers.