[beverson]

Okay, before anyone jumps on me, I'm not asking when people think Panther will ship nor am I saying Apple will definitely do an Up-To-Date program this time around. That being said....

How have the Up-To-Date programs worked in the past? I am ready to buy one of the newly-speed bumped iMacs announced today, but I'm perfectly willing to wait a week to see if I can possibly get Panther for $20 (like has happened before). From all that I've read, it seems at least likely that we'll get a ship date on Sept. 16 at Apple Expo. Based on past experience, IF Steve announces a ship date then, and IF there is an Up-To-Date program, how will it work? Will I have to wait until after the Stevenote to place my order? Or can I place it a day or two earlier since my BTO options push it from a same-day ship date to 3-5 business days, assuming that as long as my card hasn't been charged before the Paris announcements happen I will fall under the program.

Basically, I want to get the iMac right away, will wait until next week on the chance that I might sneak into the Up-To-Date program, but don't want to wait any longer than I have to (i.e., if no ship date or Up-To-Date program is announced Sept. 16, I'll order anyway).

[wadesworld]

How things have worked in the past is not necessarily and indicator of how they will work this time.

The only safe choice is to wait and see what is announced. If you decide to jump the gun, don't whine if something is announced that is not what you expected.

Wade

[beverson]

Originally posted by wadesworld:
How things have worked in the past is not necessarily and indicator of how they will work this time.

The only safe choice is to wait and see what is announced. If you decide to jump the gun, don't whine if something is announced that is not what you expected.

Wade

Christ, how much of a disclaimer do you people need?!?

I know that the way things have worked in the past is not necessarily how they will play out now. I'm not 12 years old. And I don't plan on whining if things happen unexpectedly.

All I'm asking is how things have worked in the past so I can try to make as informed a decision as I possibly can. If you have information for me, please post (and thank you in advance). If like Wade you have nothing helpful to share, I thank you in advance for refraining from posting at all.

Sorry for the negative tone, but I feel like any time anyone asks a question around here any more, all they get is 15 responses like this one.

[parsec_kadets]

Well, IIRC what they did for 10.2 was announce months in advance that it would ship by the end of September and that anyone who bought a Mac or 10.1 between the time of the announcement and the time it shipped fell under the Up-To-Date program. Since they didn't say when 10.3 would ship specifically I have no idea what they'll do this time around.

[beverson]

Originally posted by parsec_kadets:
Well, IIRC what they did for 10.2 was announce months in advance that it would ship by the end of September and that anyone who bought a Mac or 10.1 between the time of the announcement and the time it shipped fell under the Up-To-Date program. Since they didn't say when 10.3 would ship specifically I have no idea what they'll do this time around.

Cool -- that's what I thought, though not having bought anything in that time I couldn't remember for sure.

Since it seems like they'll probably say something on 9/16, and judging as best we can by past experience that the Up-To-Date program would start then, it's probably worth it to wait another week to order, and then do so regardless of what is announced.

See Wade, that wasn't so tough. And thanks parsec_kadets for confirming.