[ndtechie05]

im going to be getting a new powermac/display for college soon. i was wondering if i should wait until macworld to see if they release new configurations, or if i should go with it now?

-Brett

[osxisfun]

if you need it now. your best to buy it now.

If you can wait. I would bet donuts to dollars we will see at least a speed bump.

This is just a guess. As you will also have to factor in the whole

"announced in jan. ship in march" thing which could really screw up your studies if you need it.

[Leonard]

I wouldn't assume an update in January. Look at last year, there wasn't an update until June/July (a whole year). And even if there is an update, it will likely take you a month or two to get your hands on the new hardware.

[OzarkMtn]

I don't think there will be any "speed bumped" machines. There are enough problems getting the current configurations built and out the door. People got burned last time they assumed that by waiting they would get the 3.0 GHz machine.

Do yourself a favor and start enjoying your new machine as soon as possible.

[takai]

But if there isnt a speedbump there is likely to be a price drop. Thats how it has usually been in previous years over here in Aus.

[Superchicken]

With the new single 1.8 I doubt we'll see a 2.7 or anything any time soon. That said, it's awkward because now is not the normal time to do anything to the PowerMacs. That said they added superdrives to the PowerBooks shortly after updating em so... yah who knows these days.

[chris v]

IBM is just now starting to get up to speed with producing the 2.5. I sincerely doubt that there will be new Powemacs annnounced before next March at least.

[bradleykavin]

with the trouble they have been ahving with 90nm technology, i doubt any speed boost in the g5 within six months..maybe a dual optical drive though..but they wouldnt release that untill they had more to release it with..id think

[UnixMac]

PCI Express maybe, or some other minor architecture change, but 2.5Ghz is about as fast as a PowerPC can get for a little while. Production of the 2.5 has been difficult to say the least for IBM with the .90n process... it's not going to get any smaller anytime soon.. so speed is not going to be on the horizon.

look for dual core systems mid next year, shipping later in '05.

I say get your machine now.

[Dog Like Nature]

Originally posted by UnixMac:
PCI Express maybe, or some other minor architecture change

Well, that's pretty major if you ask me! No one did though....

[badtz]

personally, i'm waiting for ...


SATA II
PCIe
4 HD bays

[UnixMac]

Originally posted by Dog Like Nature:
Well, that's pretty major if you ask me! No one did though....

it is major, yet, but it wasn't an issue for me in so far as I keep my computers no longer than 4-5 years.. and in that time, I don't think PCIe is going to get that far ahead of AGP8X, since the problem isn't in the bandwidth of the AGP Bus, but with the output of GPU's...

Next machine will likely be a PCIe with SLI graphics... in '09.

[SierraDragon]

It almost always pays to wait until MacExpoSF if you can. Best is to go to the show with credit card in hand. Even when January upgrades are not significant price deals usually are.

GPU improvements are likely in January, but - unlike the old tech G4 laptops - a maxxed out G5 desktop rocks as configured right now, so there is no major reason to wait to buy a G5 tower.

Some folks here have expressed an affinity for G4s in comparison to G5s. I strongly disagree, even though laptop engineering constraints may yet force me to buy another G4 laptop if a G5 PB is not announced by January.

[UnixMac]

Originally posted by SierraDragon:
It almost always pays to wait until MacExpoSF if you can. Best is to go to the show with credit card in hand. Even when January upgrades are not significant price deals usually are.

GPU improvements are likely in January, but - unlike the old tech G4 laptops - a maxxed out G5 desktop rocks as configured right now, so there is no major reason to wait to buy a G5 tower.

Some folks here have expressed an affinity for G4s in comparison to G5s. I strongly disagree, even though laptop engineering constraints may yet force me to buy another G4 laptop if a G5 PB is not announced by January.

Surely a PB G5 is the next "big announcement" but you may have some compromises in speed and size of the laptop. I doubt whether the 1" thick thing will hold out, and the speed may be more like 1.6Ghz than 2.5... it's coming though... I'm sure of it.

[eddiecatflap]

pci-express is bound to emerge in the next revision

by c. feb 04 , there should be a few compatible cards on the market

if you want a 'future-proof' ( joke ) system or as near as dammnit , i say wait for the next rev.

[art_director]

here's another way of looking at it,,,

you're in college. the high end powermacs are more than what you will ever need in this school year. heck, same can be said for the low end.

[siMac]

Originally posted by art_director:
here's another way of looking at it,,,

you're in college. the high end powermacs are more than what you will ever need in this school year. heck, same can be said for the low end.

A much needed dose of reality there, thanks.

T-Shirt Slogan:
I've been working my ass off for the last eight years and all I got was this crappy iBook.

[balls]

Originally posted by siMac:T-Shirt Slogan:
I've been working my ass off for the last eight years and all I got was this crappy iBook. [/b]

I like that

[Bookie]

Heck, with educational pricing, you can get the 1.8 singleton for $1350. It'd be hard to feel cheated at that price even if they do crank out new iron in January.

[CatOne]

Originally posted by ndtechie05:
im going to be getting a new powermac/display for college soon. i was wondering if i should wait until macworld to see if they release new configurations, or if i should go with it now?

-Brett

Even if there were a faster machine, based on the way things have gone with the past couple releases, it wouldn't be possible to get it until April or May. You want to wait 6 months?

I just ordered a dual 2.5 with a 6800 Ultra about 3 weeks ago... Still says OOB November 12th.

/me watches calendar

[collinong]

personally, for the college environment, i think laptops work the best since you can take to class, library, friend's place, etc. and work wherever. unless you have some special need for a desktop, i'd say go with a powerbook.