PC=''Personal Computer'' (Which Mac is. ... To the 'core')
Written: Oct 02 '06 (Updated Oct 06 '06)
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Pros: Better performance. Able to Multi-task with WIN98 and WINXP platforms.
Cons: Not upgradeable past 2gig RAM.
The Bottom Line: If you have a lot of high-end Video or Graphics work, this machine can greatly increase productivity. Keep your WIN PC for applications the Mac cannot handle.
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| RasGold's Full Review: Apple iMac 20 in. (MA200LL/A) Mac Desktop - with F... |
Over the past three decades, I've owned more computers than pairs of shoes ... From Commodore's PET, to Gateway's 550GR-Media Center.
Each time I would upgrade the systems until they were maxed out.
I'm a Video Production Artist and was getting quite frustrated spending more time adjusting my systems' potentials while dealing with 'crashes' and ridiculously slow rendering times.
I bought my new iMac in April, 2006.
After six months it's quite safe to say I can reasonably judge this piece of equipment over my previous devices.
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I'm by no means a computer whiz. I don't do any programming. If I want to play games, I use a gaming console. I use Corel's WordPerfect over MS's Word as it's far superior. I use Quicken for bookkeeping.
In the past, I would create all my edits using 3/4'' video editing equipment and used the computer ONLY for titles, graphics and special effects (as well as scripting, storyboarding, and marketing). I've only recently converted entirely to computers for all aspects of my video editing needs.
My current system is wireless networked, and it's unbelievable how the iMac responds to my commands! My Win-based PCs communicate with the iMac better than they can with each other. I am able to file-share at a fraction of the time without using jump-devices. I did, however, upgrade to 2gigs RAM when I purchased Final Cut Pro; I found the RAM chips much easier to install on this machine than they ever were on any other computer I have owned.-----------------My new iMac with the Intel Core Duo has greatly increased my production and performance. I continue to use my WIN-based units as much of the software already installed is licensed for only those machines. While part of my work is rendering on WIN PC, I can continue to work with the iMac, then just drag and drop completed files. I've also refrained from venturing on the World-Wide-Web using a WIN PC. My iMac has had ZERO issues with bugs from the Internet!
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As far as my work is concerned, I find using the iMac for Video Production has been a more stable platform for my needs. Rendering my projects has become less of a waiting period, and I've completed several projects on this machine in a fraction of the time it would have taken on my Windows-based PCs alone.
The actual operating system on the iMAC only differs slightly and may take die-hard WIN-based PC users a couple days to become comfortable. There's a few features I dabbled with for a while: The IMAC comes equipped with Voice-Recognition and 'Speech,' (Yes, my iMAC can talk to me!), as well as a built in camera that works marvelously with Apple's bundled iLIFE software.
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My best advice for those interested in purchasing this piece of equipment, is to visit an authorized MAC retailer and try one out. Play with all of the pre-installed applications and view their 'help' files.
To the point!
Get as comfortable with the MAC's operating system as you can before you buy the unit ... Keep your WIN PC as back-up (it serves as extra storage, if nothing else).
Seriously, I've had far less problems operating my iMAC than any other computer I have ever owned.
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There is only one issue I have encountered with my iMAC that slows me down (marginally) ... While Video projects created on a WIN PC can play on a MAC just fine, to work properly the video track and audio track must be rendered into separate files in order to edit them 'cross-platform.' Quick-time will play the project without issues, but will not allow the user to export the combined tracks into iMovie or Final Cut Pro. Not to confuse those only interested in Graphics, however, unless the work was 'captured' directly onto the MAC, the audio track will be dropped from your sequence. I have not found a way to remedy this, but have no difficulty 'muxing' the two once the rendering process is complete. I've gone through all the support and troubleshooting files and find this to be inherent in MAC's software.
-RasGold
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1699.99
Operating System: Macintosh
Processor speed: over 1000
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: SuperDisk
Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
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Epinions.com ID:
RasGold
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Location: Austin, Texas
Reviews written: 3
Trusted by: 1 member
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