How to determine the right time to buy a new Mac.
Being an outspoken Apple fiend, plenty of people ask me when they should upgrade, and to which model. The ones who are most concerned are usually the switchers. The poor folks are used to buying an $800 PC only to have it bricked within a year, full of spyware and OS patches. Take it from someone who grew up on PC’s. For a well designed machine that will last over twice as long, is a treat to use, and lets you get your work done instead of fighting you, $2000 is a bargain.
I usually end up upgrading my Mac to a new model every 18 to 24 months. As new media designers, we work our machines pretty hard here doing graphic design, video editing/compositing, and audio/music recording, so your mileage may vary.
When should you make the jump? Check the Buyer’s Guide at Macrumors. I use it all the time to anticipate the release of new Apple hardware and to aid in buying decisions. Also, if the date is close to Macworld Expo or the World Wide Developer’s Conference, wait until after the conference, just in case they announce new product. Finally, the Apple Store special deals section can get you a screaming deal on Macs that are functionally every bit as good as they were new. Oh, and for all Macs, I recommend AppleCare.
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