OAKLAND, Calif. -- With the recent release of Apple's sleek new iMac, it seemed appropriate to address the age old question – when is the best time to buy a computer and get the best bang for the buck? After all, it “seems” like new models and upgrades come out daily, and the one you buy may be a month or maybe just a few weeks old before faster, sleeker, cooler machines come out (such is the nature of technology these days). While there are no hard and fast rules for when the best time is, here are some good guidelines provided by a former employee of Apple Retail (who prefers to remain anonymous). Since our “so-called” genius (they hate being called that, by the way) is a former employee of Apple, we’ve decided to use Macs for most examples, but the concepts here will apply to a Dell or HP or whatever personal computing hardware or OS preference you have. (Remember, however, this story isn’t about what to buy, it’s about when to buy).

The first rule of thumb in any computer purchase is deciding what you are going to be doing with your computer, right? If you want to use it for word processing, number crunching, surfing the web, e-mail and the like, most machines these days will handle those tasks with ease and the “when to buy” quandary is sort of a moot point. But if you are doing anything that really puts a machine through its paces (like video editing, high-end gaming or pro photography) the more muscle the better. So here are a few good tips, coming from a person who has seen customers struggle with “when” to buy, no matter what hardware or operating system they prefer.

The No. 1 one fear seems to be, “If I buy right now, tomorrow a newer, faster, better machine could come out and I’ll get the short end of the stick.”

“Well, that’s certainly possible, but not terribly likely,” suggests our former Mac Genius. “Imagine how folks who bought iMacs on Aug. 6th felt when the sleek, new, redesigned iMacs hit the shelves on the 7th. But the nice thing is, often companies (Apple included) will work with those people who bring their day old product back and say ‘I want the cooler, newer unit!’ I’ve seen it happen a few times, but only a few.”

While our former “MG” makes no promises on behalf of Apple that you’ll get your unit swapped out (in many cases a restocking fee applies if you do end up trading in your machine), he admits he’s seen disgruntled customers taken care of when that very thing happens.

“But what happened (Aug. 7th) with the newly designed iMacs is super rare. Usually new machines are small speed bumps in processors, maybe new DVD burners or more RAM in the standard config, not a complete redesign.” He adds: “If you did have this happen (within a day or so of your purchase) often times Apple and other reputable stores work with customers to get them into the computer they want.”

He strongly cautions, however, it’s not something ANY computer company does lightly.

“Some customers think if they bought a machine a month before a new line is released, they feel they should get a free upgrade to the new machine. Most computer companies aren’t going to change out a machine for you after that much time has passed. But the truth is, most computer buyers buy a machine they’ve thought long and hard about, one that serves their purpose. It served their purpose a month ago and will continue to do so for years to come.”

Another thing consumers do is put off their purchase to get the next big thing as a standard feature on their new machine.

“I’ve seen people put off a purchase anywhere from two to six months because they think something better is just around the corner. The problem is some of these users need a computer now, yet they keep working with a slower, older machine to keep from feeling they might miss out on what might be (or might not be) coming around the corner - changes that may or may not even happen.

“It’s a bit of a fallacy that technology leaps ahead of itself in such a ridiculously short amount of time. Speed bumps in processors are usually not huge and all at once – and when they are, it’s because consumers know of a new processor that’s coming out, one that’s been widely advertised and marketed - so usually consumers know if something big is on the horizon.”

Other things people worry about are their current peripherals – or possibly having to purchase new ones. Some customers will hang onto an older, slower system just because everything works, and they don’t want that part of their computer experience to change. But that shouldn’t be a reason why you delay a computer purchase.

“On the Mac side of things, it’s generally a matter of drivers being updated by the manufacturer. Printers and scanners and all the peripherals folks want often will work with a newer Mac, provided the peripherals aren’t really old.”

But the Windows world can provide more challenges, so be prepared for it.

“I have a friend who just upgraded his Windows Vista machine and bought all new equipment to go with it. Problem is, none of it works properly, naturally he’s upset and he has to pay the store he bought it from to set it up for him in his home. That’s not to say his experience will be every Windows user’s experience, it clearly won’t. But new devices require more setup time (no matter what system you use) because they are new and drivers and software have to be installed. Most of the devices that work with a Mac (and most of them do, despite what some readers may believe) have the drivers built into the OS, so you probably won’t spend as much time installing software and drivers on a Mac. It’s just a benefit of going with a Mac instead of a Windows or Linux box.” (I warned you - he is biased)!

Beyond the fear of missing out on new technology you probably won’t actually miss out on, getting older peripherals to work and procrastination in general, if you are ready to buy a computer, "just do it”. If your budget is set, you know what you want to do with your machine and you are ready to get some work done, there is no reason to put off the purchase. “The short answer I used to give people in the Apple store (when asked to consult on a sale) was ‘The best time is ANYTIME.’ There really is no ideal time - if the computer you want is on the shelf, now is as good a time as any.”

Five tips on buying a Mac (advice from a Former Mac Genius):

1) Keep your eye on the web, particularly on the Apple rumor sites - they hit the nail on the head about 50 percent of the time. Be aware if you read “something big” is coming down the pike in terms of a computer you want, you risk the rumor being just that – a rumor.

2) For Apple fans, there are usually always product upgrades, announcements, etc. whenever there is a MacWorld Expo or the Annual World Wide Developers Conference. These are key times of the year that if you are close to one on the calendar, you may want to wait for Steve Jobs’ keynote address. You might see a new computer released around those events.

3) Go talk to the folks in your local Apple Store, Best Buy, Fry’s, etc. The Apple Store folks are knowledgeable, they’ll always know loads about their products (but please believe them when they tell you Apple doesn’t warn them or give them a heads up on new product releases – unless it’s an iPhone or some previously announced new product. I can’t speak from experience for the other stores like Best Buy, but The Geek Squad guys at most Best Buy stores know their stuff, try to chat one of those guys up. And Fry’s has always been a good experience for me.

4) Never buy a Mac, an iPod, an iPhone, etc. without buying Apple Care. Most folks think Apple Care is a warranty, the kind of “empty up-sell” they try to shove down your throat in big box electronic stores. In fact, Apple Care is a service agreement that allows you great tech support, parts, labor, shipping, etc. on any manufacturer’s issue. It does NOT protect you from things like damage (Apple refers to it as abuse – a harsh word but no harm intended). The best thing to do is get a rider written into your Homeowner’s or Renter’s Insurance so your machines are covered for things like damage (accidental drops if it is a laptop, etc.)

5) Buy a program like Drive Genius or Tech Tool Pro and repair and defrag your Mac every six months or so. It will return your machine’s speed to its original glory after months and months of adding and removing items from your hard drive. (Many people used to ask why Apple doesn’t include a “defrag” program in the OS like Windows. The main reason is trying to defrag your hard drive from the boot drive is like trying to repair a car’s engine while you are driving it. You really need to boot from another source (like one of the products mentioned) to defrag properly. And if you haven’t learned by now, come up with a decent strategy and back up your hard drive regularly.