[shanshor]

OK i have a few questions.
i recently bought an ipod touch, my 1st apple product. i love it, but now it wont update for me. oh well, it works fine for now.

ok now for my real questions...
1. What exactly are 'quarters'? like Q2 or Q1?
2. i want an imac to replace my pc for xmas this year, will a new one be out by then?
3. what generation is the current imac (20 & 24 inch)? is it G5?
4. if there is a new imac, will the current ones be lowered in price?
5. is tehre a big dif in the 20 and 24 inch screens?
6. i am 15, do i need an imac?
7. would it be a safer decision to go with an imac or a macbook?
8. is the macbook pro worth the money?

sorry for the long list but i need help lol!

thanks bunches

[Cold Warrior]

1. They are the calendar quarters (Q1 is Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Q4 is Oct-Dec) or fiscal year quarters (FYQ1 is Oct-Dec, FYQ4 is Jul-Sep).
2. Dunno.
3. Current iMac is Intel, not G5. G5 was the chip in the last PowerPC model.
4. The current ones will go away from Apple's outlets. You may be able to find some ones leftover from other resellers at a reduced price, although this is uncommon.
5. Yes. I've read that the 24 inch ones look noticeably better.
6. Depends. What do you use computers for, and what are you going to be doing over the next four years?
7. See 6 above.
8. Yes, if you need the most portable horsepower you can get.

[Sherman Homan]

1) Financial analysis is typically done in quarters of a year. Interestingly, there is absolutely no relation to Q1 to January, February, March.
2) New models come out all the time, there is no real pattern, but the answer is Yes.
3) The G5 was the last of the RISC chips, Apple now uses Intel chips.
4) Nope, usually they just get sold out.
5) There is a huge difference! Go to an Apple retailer and look at them.
6) Yes, the sooner the better.
7) Absolutely. Get both.
8) Yes.

[mduell]

2. Yes, I expect two iMac updates/releases this year, one in the first half of the year and one in the second half.

4. Yes, when a new model is released the refurbs of the previous generation are offered for a significant discount (previous $2499 MBP for $1649 this week) until they run out (typically takes months for the refurb supply to dry up).

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by Sherman Homan 

1) Financial analysis is typically done in quarters of a year. Interestingly, there is absolutely no relation to Q1 to January, February, March.

Because companies are free to pick thei Fiscal Year to start in the month of their choice. Often, in whatever month a company is started, it will forver be the first month of their FY.

-t

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by shanshor 

6. i am 15, do i need an imac?

Can you AFFORD an iMac ?

If price is not a concern, yes, get one.

If you want the cheap entry route to a Mac, start with a mini.

-t

[shanshor]

i looked at a mac mini and i dont think it will quite do it for me

[JKT]

Note, if you buy online you will be able to get an educational discount on your purchase. It isn't massive, but it will help.

Second note. If you need to upgrade the amount of RAM when you buy the Mac, don't get it from Apple, get it from a third party such as Crucial. It is a lot cheaper that way.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by shanshor 

i looked at a mac mini and i dont think it will quite do it for me

What do you want to do with it ?

-t

[analogika]

Originally Posted by shanshor 

i looked at a mac mini and i dont think it will quite do it for me

There is pretty much nothing the MacBook can do that the Mac mini can't.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by analogika 

There is pretty much nothing the MacBook can do that the Mac mini can't.

Suppose you mean in terms of running software and performance.

Of course, the mini is slighlty less portable

-t

[mduell]

Originally Posted by analogika 

There is pretty much nothing the MacBook can do that the Mac mini can't.

Unplug.