I got a new computer!

[MyndFyre]

I got an iMac 27" i7 with 8gb of memory!  Check out my desktop (attached) - I have it attached to my 24.5" Samsung.

[Sidoh]

nice!

[MyndFyre]

Bee Tee Dub - I returned that iMac because they released a new product line like a week later.  I just got the replacement. 

Still a 27" @ 2560x1440.  Specs: Core i7 @ 2.93GHz.  8gb of memory @ 1333MHz (4x2gb).  250GB SSD + 2TB SATA drive.  Radeon HD 5750 w/ 1GB video memory.  Windows rates it as a 7.0 with the lowest subscore still being the primary hard drive; processor and memory get 7.5, both graphics scores get 7.2.

[warz]

Bee Tee Dub - I returned that iMac because they released a new product line like a week later.  I just got the replacement. 

Still a 27" @ 2560x1440.  Specs: Core i7 @ 2.93GHz.  8gb of memory @ 1333MHz (4x2gb).  250GB SSD + 2TB SATA drive.  Radeon HD 5750 w/ 1GB video memory.  Windows rates it as a 7.0 with the lowest subscore still being the primary hard drive; processor and memory get 7.5, both graphics scores get 7.2.

Are you running Windows in a VM? If not is there a reason you're spending all the money on an iMac just to install Windows on it? If it's the monitor you want you can buy their bad ass monitor.

I got that same i7 processor + mobo combo at Fry's Electronics as a packaged sale deal not long ago for ~$300. Basically a free mobo. Buying a 250GB SSD separately would be pretty expensive - not sure how much you paid for the iMac but I'm guessing near $2000. Could probably have save $500-800 building that same machine on your own. (without the expensive monitor included, which is kind of the clincher for iMacs, i guess)

Edit: Ok, after looking at the new iMacs, I'm going to raise my estimated cost of that iMac to closer to $3000,

[while1]

Grrrr, tried to spend $2300 on a MBP today online and it happens that debit cards have a stupid transaction limit so it got denied.  Lame.

Had to cancel order.  Guess I'll try again but use two debit cards.  Lame.  Sucks that I don't have a credit card with a high credit limit.

[MyndFyre]

Are you running Windows in a VM?

No.

If not is there a reason you're spending all the money on an iMac just to install Windows on it?

Boot Camp.  I want the ability to run OS X when I need to.

If it's the monitor you want you can buy their bad ass monitor.

That's part of it.  Monitors by themselves are super expensive, but the whole computer is in that little giant space.

I got that same i7 processor + mobo combo at Fry's Electronics as a packaged sale deal not long ago for ~$300. Basically a free mobo. Buying a 250GB SSD separately would be pretty expensive - not sure how much you paid for the iMac but I'm guessing near $2000. Could probably have save $500-800 building that same machine on your own. (without the expensive monitor included, which is kind of the clincher for iMacs, i guess)

Edit: Ok, after looking at the new iMacs, I'm going to raise my estimated cost of that iMac to closer to $3000,

Yeah, with the education discount it was about $3000.  I could have saved that money, but I have had really bad luck with my last 2 desktops that I've built (I've built my last 6 or so desktops).  With this, I get peace of mind that it'll work right, plus I get to save all the space (since it's just the screen) AND it's silent.  It makes no noise.

Drawbacks were that it didn't include USB3 or the new FireWire version, but I can live with those things being missing.

[Joe]

The Apple Cinema Display 27" is either $799 or $899. Can't remember.

Someone suggested Dremelling an eSATA port onto the back.

If I could afford a high-end Mac, it'd be a Mac Pro. I hear PowerPC G5's still out-benchmark the new MacBooks.

[iago]

Grrrr, tried to spend $2300 on a MBP today online and it happens that debit cards have a stupid transaction limit so it got denied.  Lame.

Had to cancel order.  Guess I'll try again but use two debit cards.  Lame.  Sucks that I don't have a credit card with a high credit limit.

I don't know about the US, but when that happened to me here I just called my bank from the store and they upped my daily transaction limit for 24 hours.

[while1]

Grrrr, tried to spend $2300 on a MBP today online and it happens that debit cards have a stupid transaction limit so it got denied.  Lame.

Had to cancel order.  Guess I'll try again but use two debit cards.  Lame.  Sucks that I don't have a credit card with a high credit limit.

I don't know about the US, but when that happened to me here I just called my bank from the store and they upped my daily transaction limit for 24 hours.

Cool.  I'll have to give the bank a call Monday and ask.  I've been procrastinating buying a new laptop for over a year, same with building a new desktop... the fact that yesterday I finally motivated myself to spend that much money, and the attempt failed miserably, only gives me an excuse to procrastinate some more.