[Blade575]

Hi. I need help with purchasing my first mac. The thing is that i have just enough money for 17" iMac or mac mini with 20" or bigger display. So i need advice which computer to buy? I will use it mostly for work in Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash, InDesign and Dreamweaver. I know iMac is better for graphic design but 17" display seems to small for some serious work. So what do you think?

[dale]

20" iMac refurb and save for a year to buy the 3 year warranty.

If that is still too expensive, call in lots of favours from friends to lend you money. If you can't afford to repay them, offer services in return for their investment such as free DVD's of their holiday movie footage etc.. If you are cute enough, you could ge the mac for free

[bearcatrp]

I would save for the 20 or 24 inch if the 17 inch isn't big enough. The mini has the core duo and the iMac has the core 2 duo which has a bigger L2 cache. I have the 24 inch iMac and believe me when I say, Auwwwwwwsome! Good luck.
Randy

[papadopolis]

Originally Posted by bearcatrp 

I would save for the 20 or 24 inch if the 17 inch isn't big enough. The mini has the core duo and the iMac has the core 2 duo which has a bigger L2 cache. I have the 24 inch iMac and believe me when I say, Auwwwwwwsome! Good luck.
Randy

I HATE you! man I was at comp USA the other day and DAMN! that 24 inch is NICE!!!

[Blade575]

Yeah, i should wait for a while and save more money for 20" iMac. Refurb section is probably good idea. I can just imagine how nice is to work on 24 inch, uhhhh i want one too

[ESavage]

Waiting a bit may turn into the best thing. As we are sure to get a redesign (Link) or at least a speed bump, and/or the Santa Rosa motherboard in the net 3 or 4 months.

[centerchannel68]

Well, the iMacs will probably get bumped this summer, so if you wait til then, maybe you could afford a 24" imac refurb. >shrug<

You may want to hold off because the are going to be updates to the iMac soon. Check out the Mac Buyer's Guide so you know when is a good time to buy your Mac.

[dale]

Reemember its not the size, its what you do with it that counts.

I'm guessing that the iMac will not be replaced until October, when leopard is finally let out of the cage. If you bought today, you wouldn't regret it. I can still look at the old iMac's made in the late 90's with some fondness, they still look cute and sassy today. If you looked at a PC from the same era today, I suspect you would not have the same fondness!!

Apple's designs will never be timeless, due to the fast moving nature of the industry. However, their designs will have far more longevity than standard PC kit, and chances are that you will still be able to use the OS in years to come.

Surely someone can lend you the money?

[ESavage]

Originally Posted by dale 

I'm guessing that the iMac will not be replaced until October

Now I believe the same thing but if the IMac goes past the 1 year mark is going to make alot of people upset. Here hoing we both are wrong and we see something around or before WWDC.