Pros: awesome 17" display, stunning looks, great software, ease of use
Cons: Noisy DVD/CD drive, pricey
The Bottom Line: This is a great computer. It's super easy to use, has a wonderful flat panel display and all the features that the average home cunsumer needs.
the_art_guy's Full Review: Apple iMac 17 in. (M8812LL/A) Mac Desktop
First let me start off by saying that this is the most beautiful computer I have ever seen, it looks simply amazing. With that out of the way, I should say that I have been a loyal Mac user for many years and it’s my opinion that Apple makes the best computers.
So a few months ago I decided I finally had the money to replace my current PowerMac 7100/80AV (circa 1995). It hadn't been used in over a year because I required something that could handle digital video editing. I waited for the July MacWorld and was excited to see that Apple released a 17" version of their new iMac. Once I saw its features I knew I had found the computer that I wanted and was confident that it could handle what I needed. I ordered the 17" iMac, upgraded the RAM to 512 MB and purchased an iSub to complement the included stereo speakers.
It took me slightly less than 4 weeks to take delivery of the iMac from when I placed the order. As you read this review Apple is now shipping these 17" models so you should not have to wait as long as I did.
Everything about this computer is wonderful, from the packaging, to the iMac itself, to the included software. Unpacking the box you notice that everything (and I mean everything) is either packaged in a clear plastic bag, or foam padding. Even the bag around the iMac base was tied with a silver foil twist-tie...how elegant. To my surprise Apple even included a small lint-free cloth to wipe down your new iMac :) The iMac itself is well protected, and once you remove all the packaging (to include plastic sheeting on all of the clear Lucite surfaces of the iMac) it looks simply breathtaking. Apple's attention to detail is amazing, all the USB cables are protected with plastic caps, the telephone cable is even white to match everything else and the words “Designed by Apple in California” are printed on the cables and peripherals. Sitting on the desk, looking at you, it begs you to "play with me"! Okay, maybe that's stretching it, but the aesthetics are amazing.
Once you unpack everything, it takes all of about 2 minutes to plug in the power cord, keyboard, mouse, telephone cable and speakers (and iSub in my case). The only negative aspect to the design of the iMac is that the power button is around the back left side of the base. I’m sure that Apple put it their so it didn’t clutter the front of the machine, but perhaps they could have stuck a ‘power on’ key onto the keyboard (as in previous version of the Mac) so it would be easier to power on.
I’m not going to go into detail about all the specs of the iMac here in this review, so if you’re looking for this info please go to Apple’s web site, www.apple.com and navigate to the iMac section. However, I will say that the basic specs include:
- 800MHz PowerPC G4 processor
- 80GB hard drive
- 256MB RAM
- SuperDrive (DVD-R/CD-RW optical drive)
- NVidia GeForce 4 MX graphics with 32MB video memory
- 5 USB ports (two on keyboard)
- 2 Firewire ports
- 17” flat panel LCD display (wide-screen aspect ratio capable of up to 1440x900 pixel resolution)
The computer comes with OS X 10.1 installed, and to my surprise OS X 10.2 “Jaguar” was also included in the box. It took roughly one hour to install the 10.2 update, but believe me when I say that it is worth the wait. Jaguar boots very fast, in less than 60 seconds you are up and running. The OS X Aqua interface is a visual feast for the eyes, everything is shaded, the windows are translucent and the graphics are crisp and smooth. OS X is extremely easy to use, and for those Unix savvy people, you can easily open a Terminal window and control the OS further via Unix commands.
This is a great machine and I would highly recommend it to anyone searching for a new computer.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 2150 Operating System: Macintosh Processor speed: 701-800 RAM: 256 Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
The all-new iMac is here. And it's unlike anything you've ever seen or experienced. With a brilliant flat-panel display and phenomenal performance, iM...More at eBay
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