In terms of the timing of Apple laptop new product releases, is this a good time to buy one?
August 31, 2011 3:41 PM Subscribe
I'm thinking about buying a 17-inch MacBook Pro, but I don't want to spend $$$ and then the next day have Apple be all "Just released! MacBook SuperPro with HyperCore processor 10 billion times faster reads your mind and completes your work for you, etc. etc." (You know the drill.) Where are we in the current high-end OS X laptop product cycle?
My laptop is a few years old and I'm starting feel like it's kind of slow. (E.g., running tests takes forever, Photoshop can't handle the new mixer brush on a large canvas.)
Also, I'd like to have a larger display and more HD space. So I'm thinking about investing in a new machine.
Are we kind of in the middle of the cycle, or are we only weeks away from another revolution in overpriced laptops? (I smirk ruefully.)
One request: please let's not have this turn into a debate over Mac vs. PC. I know you guys mean well, but I really need an OS X machine.
I'm aware that you can get a Windows laptop with comparable specs for less. And that's a great option for some people.
But I can't do my work on Windows or Linux -- I can only do it on OS X.
So my question is, should I bide my time and make do with my passable machine for a few more months, or upgrade now?
My laptop is a few years old and I'm starting feel like it's kind of slow. (E.g., running tests takes forever, Photoshop can't handle the new mixer brush on a large canvas.)
Also, I'd like to have a larger display and more HD space. So I'm thinking about investing in a new machine.
Are we kind of in the middle of the cycle, or are we only weeks away from another revolution in overpriced laptops? (I smirk ruefully.)
One request: please let's not have this turn into a debate over Mac vs. PC. I know you guys mean well, but I really need an OS X machine.
I'm aware that you can get a Windows laptop with comparable specs for less. And that's a great option for some people.
But I can't do my work on Windows or Linux -- I can only do it on OS X.
So my question is, should I bide my time and make do with my passable machine for a few more months, or upgrade now?
I should add that they say wait.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:42 PM on August 31, 2011
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:42 PM on August 31, 2011
It's a truism in the computer industry that no matter when you buy, six months later something even better will be out. If you try to wait for the ultimate system, you'll wait forever.
You simply have to be philosophic about it. As soon as you open the box, your computer is already obsolete. Accept that and go forward.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 3:46 PM on August 31, 2011
You simply have to be philosophic about it. As soon as you open the box, your computer is already obsolete. Accept that and go forward.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 3:46 PM on August 31, 2011
I agree with the Admiral on using macrumors as the resource for this, but I'm leery about the site's "hold off" verdict. They're basing that on the lifetime average release cycle (215 days), but if you look at the recent releases it's been a longer cycle. Add to that the rumor that there's going to be a case redesign and I think it will be next year before we see a new release. Others seems to be predicting a refresh by Christmas.
posted by flipper at 4:00 PM on August 31, 2011
posted by flipper at 4:00 PM on August 31, 2011
something better is always going to come out within the year. you're just going to have to bite the bullet at some point and live with it.
posted by violetk at 4:00 PM on August 31, 2011
posted by violetk at 4:00 PM on August 31, 2011
The real question you should ask is not whether a better machine will be released next week (it will), but how long the machine you buy now will adequately meet the needs you bought it for. If you need the machine now, buy it now. If the machine you have now will work for two weeks, wait two weeks. If you can wait until the December cycle, buy just before Christmas.
Keep in mind also that Apple's computers tend to maintain their resale value pretty well. You could probably buy a machine, then sell when the product line is refreshed.
posted by Hylas at 4:11 PM on August 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Keep in mind also that Apple's computers tend to maintain their resale value pretty well. You could probably buy a machine, then sell when the product line is refreshed.
posted by Hylas at 4:11 PM on August 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Since Apple doesn't often discount its products during their lifetime, nor change their prices drastically from generation to generation, you'll get the best bang for your buck by setting aside enough money to buy the model you want today, but waiting to purchase until the next generation is released.
You might be waiting four or five months, but if your current kit is doing the job, there's no harm. Just decide to make the purchase, put the money aside, and try to forget about it for the time being...
posted by SemiSophos at 4:49 PM on August 31, 2011 [2 favorites]
You might be waiting four or five months, but if your current kit is doing the job, there's no harm. Just decide to make the purchase, put the money aside, and try to forget about it for the time being...
posted by SemiSophos at 4:49 PM on August 31, 2011 [2 favorites]
It's the best (at least for letting you know when something's just out; they're sometimes really off on when the next gen is coming, understandably).
And how! I've been waiting to buy my mom a new Mini, and you just sit forever staring at the "Don't Buy! Updates Soon!" message, and months and months pass.
There's nothing like buying an Apple laptop when it's just been refreshed.
Absolutely. My SO got the most recent 15" MBP when it came out in the spring, and getting it up and running was such a treat. I really try never to buy Apple stuff off cycle; the new machine high is so strong, and the older machines usually can hold out just... a... little... longer.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 4:59 PM on August 31, 2011
And how! I've been waiting to buy my mom a new Mini, and you just sit forever staring at the "Don't Buy! Updates Soon!" message, and months and months pass.
There's nothing like buying an Apple laptop when it's just been refreshed.
Absolutely. My SO got the most recent 15" MBP when it came out in the spring, and getting it up and running was such a treat. I really try never to buy Apple stuff off cycle; the new machine high is so strong, and the older machines usually can hold out just... a... little... longer.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 4:59 PM on August 31, 2011
Used? Seriously: I'd spec and price a used 17" i5 or i7 and add an SSD to it. Maybe a little RAM.
Hard drives are THE bottleneck. (I am a computer scientist, systems administrator, and longtime Mac user. Hard drives are the single most important bottleneck in any modern computer.) SSDs remove that bottleneck. The difference between the latest model and last year's model is less than the transformation of last year's machine with an SSD in it.
posted by krilli at 5:35 PM on August 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Hard drives are THE bottleneck. (I am a computer scientist, systems administrator, and longtime Mac user. Hard drives are the single most important bottleneck in any modern computer.) SSDs remove that bottleneck. The difference between the latest model and last year's model is less than the transformation of last year's machine with an SSD in it.
posted by krilli at 5:35 PM on August 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm waiting. The last bump in MacBook Pros was a mild processor increase. My gut tells me that the next round will include SSDs (SSDs being a huge topic for everyone on the forums at Mac Rumors) and more importantly for me, a better graphics card capability. Also a greater limit to the maximum RAM.
I'm no expert and this is my speculation based on hanging around the forums over there. I'm typing this on a 2007 model MBP which I use to make a living, and hoping that the next round truly does come as early as next February.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 6:14 PM on August 31, 2011
I'm no expert and this is my speculation based on hanging around the forums over there. I'm typing this on a 2007 model MBP which I use to make a living, and hoping that the next round truly does come as early as next February.
posted by jeff-o-matic at 6:14 PM on August 31, 2011
Best answer: Everyone telling you to buy not and be damned aren't reading the fucking question.
The Airs were just refreshed last, so those are got to be stable for a while.
The mini was also recently refreshed.
That really only leaves the Mac Pro and the Macbook Pro. It's been ages since there was a refresh of the Mac Pro, so I'd expect to see this next. We're also going into the holiday season soon, so there will have to be some toys. A new iPad, iPhone, whatever. Everything is speculation at this point. Your guess is as good as mine.
But what we do know is traditionally they have something for the stockings. To me a need Mac Pro doesn't have the must have panache for the Christmas shopping season. I doubt you'll see a new Apple TV. Smart money has a new iPhone soon (it's been like 15 months since the iPhone 4, an eternity in the mobile market). Etc., etc..
So my answer to the question of Where are we in the cycle? is: We're on the cusp of the seasonal announcement. Hold your cash until you find out what's up next. If that's what you want get it. If not, then buy whatever is currently out that you want, since the next announcement probably won't be until January. But right now I would wait.
posted by cjorgensen at 6:24 PM on August 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
The Airs were just refreshed last, so those are got to be stable for a while.
The mini was also recently refreshed.
That really only leaves the Mac Pro and the Macbook Pro. It's been ages since there was a refresh of the Mac Pro, so I'd expect to see this next. We're also going into the holiday season soon, so there will have to be some toys. A new iPad, iPhone, whatever. Everything is speculation at this point. Your guess is as good as mine.
But what we do know is traditionally they have something for the stockings. To me a need Mac Pro doesn't have the must have panache for the Christmas shopping season. I doubt you'll see a new Apple TV. Smart money has a new iPhone soon (it's been like 15 months since the iPhone 4, an eternity in the mobile market). Etc., etc..
So my answer to the question of Where are we in the cycle? is: We're on the cusp of the seasonal announcement. Hold your cash until you find out what's up next. If that's what you want get it. If not, then buy whatever is currently out that you want, since the next announcement probably won't be until January. But right now I would wait.
posted by cjorgensen at 6:24 PM on August 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Best answer: The current generation of MacBook Pros was the market leader in using the Sandy Bridge processor architecture from Intel. Other vendors -- mainstream PC vendors -- were behind Apple in releasing laptops with these chips. The successor Ivy Bridge processors are looking like a Q1 2012 release or worse, based on a few simple web searches, so it seems unlikely that MacBook Pros will get a generational improvement of any kind before 2012. Don't know about the expected difference between Sandy and Ivy but the difference between Sandy and Core 2 is massive. My guess is the sweet spot of the last five years is the current generation and it will serve you well another few years from now.
posted by galaksit at 8:50 PM on August 31, 2011
posted by galaksit at 8:50 PM on August 31, 2011
BTW I say this in part because I have a new 13" MacBook Pro with a SATA III Sandforce SSD in it and it's off the charts compared to my old Core 2 Duo white MacBook with hard drive.
posted by galaksit at 8:52 PM on August 31, 2011
posted by galaksit at 8:52 PM on August 31, 2011
I have a Macbook Pro, 15" from three years ago (before the black keyboard) and it's still doing everything I need it to do (video-editing being the most intense task). Not only that: I bought it immediately after the newest generation was released, saving myself a good $400.
Apparently I'm the only one who wants a good computer at a good price - everyone else wants "the best" computer at an unreasonable price.
posted by jander03 at 12:52 PM on September 1, 2011
Apparently I'm the only one who wants a good computer at a good price - everyone else wants "the best" computer at an unreasonable price.
posted by jander03 at 12:52 PM on September 1, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:42 PM on August 31, 2011 [5 favorites]