Need Computer Purchasing Advice

Question

I don't know why, but it seems whenever I finally get the funds together to buy a new mac the current macs are already outdated.
So I need a new Mac Pro but I am wondering do I wait until the end of September to see if any new Mac Pros are coming out or do I just buy now. I could get by until September or October but if the new Mac Pro's are not released until the new year, then I will probably buy now. I really wish I could
have bought them when they first came out. I'm afraid I'll buy one and a faster mac will be released shortly after. I've heard new iMacs may be released this fall. If so would they possibly be faster than the current Mac Pro's?
Another question is. How old is the technology on the Mac Pro's now. Would I be better to wait IYO?
Thanks!

Answer 1

Paint Guy wrote:
Apple has usually introduced new Mac Pro's in the new year but what are the chances of them introducing them in Sept or October? Is it almost nil IYO?
In my opinion? Nil. I would bet money on it.
In yesterdays article from Appleinsider;
http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/08/27/ipodsmacbooks_imacs_up_next_on_apples_2008roadmap.html
we read;
Apple's Mac Pro, (....) , were not mentioned amongst the company's plans for the remainder of 2008. However, that doesn't necessarily preclude them from making an appearance; AppleInsider can only report on what it has heard.
Understandable. Nehalem is 6 months away. So any new MacPro would have no new processors. What else would warrant a new product sortie?
Paint Guy wrote:
I will be doing work in After Effects and rendering 3D animation so a lot of power is essential. If I buy an Mac Pro Octocore, would I see a noticeable difference in speed between the 2.8 ghz and the 3.3 ghz machine IYO?
Paint Guy wrote:
Starting with these two relatively old articles;
http://www.barefeats.com/octopro4.html
http://www.barefeats.com/octopro1.html
i'm going to ask you if the following scenario fits your description;
it's monday morning and your assistant tells you that the phone was ringing before SHE got in. Your client pleads with you, can you produce this need of his, by friday morning, so that by friday afternoon he can relay your work to his client, so that by friday night, they can broadcast the content on their unique opportunity at national or even international coverage? He proceeds to tell you that his whole business' future, and the livelyhood of all his employees, depends on your ability to answer his question, yes or no.
The answer to your question is selfevident at this point, yes? Clients, deadlines, and other peoples interest at stake, you invest in the top, no questions asked.
IF!
IF, on the other hand, we're not talking about some big-city-deadlines. But rather work that must be done on your schedule. Then i say money saved between the 3.3 and the 2.8 is better served in more RAM, faster hard drives, externals, cards, whatever.
Do you have deadlines?
Nota Bene, I'm asking if you have deadlines established by others, or if we're talking about deadlines that you establish.
In other words, if this article doesn't convey my meaning...;
http://www.barefeats.com/harper.html
where you see an improvement of single-digit percentages of the 3.2 over the 2.8 ghz...
You (should be willing to) pay an absolute premium for the absolute best processor, if you have an absolute need for the absolutely fastest system. If one of those is missing, go with the 2.8.