lawrance's Full Review: Apple iMac 15 in. (M8535LL/B) Mac Desktop
I won't drone on with the specs because if you're reading this, you already know them. If you're thinking about switching from a PC to Mac, and you're nervous about the mHz speed, don't be. An 800 mHz iMac is about the same as a 1.6 gHz Pentium. Megahertz speed is over rated and over marketed by Intel.
I've had my iMac G4 for about 9 months now. I currently own 6 Macintosh computers and can honestly say, my iMac G4 is BY FAR my favorite! It's not only my fastest computer, but it's the best to work on because I can adjust the screen to the position I'm sitting in. When I turn the lights down and play Metal of Honor online, I like to lower the screen and tilt it back so I can see the game's detail better. During the day, I run a business on my iMac. I do virtual tours for the real estate industry so I do a lot of web programing and desktop publishing activity on it. Photoshop 7 is open and running all day long. On Fridays, I open QuickBooks Pro 5 and do my billing while listening to my MP3 collection. Part of what makes this computer so good is OSX and the free iApps.
I'll focus on the hardware now: The screen is excellent. Adjustable as I mentioned already, but also crystal clear. Nice contrast and brightness. It's 100% digital unlike many of the analog to digital flat screens in the computer stores. That makes a huge difference. The power button is on the back where it should be. (SO STOP COMPLAINING!) With OSX, you never shut it down. (It's healthier for the electronics to keep it warm.) Simply let your computer go to sleep and the next day, just hit your space-bar on the keyboard and your up and running in about 5 seconds. I think it uses 3 watts while in sleep mode, so don't worry about your electric bill. I do wish their were USB and Firewire ports on the front or side, but an inexpensive hub will do the trick there. I've burned about 7 DVD's on my system. The bad news is, it's a painfully slow drive for burning. A full DVD takes about an hour, and a full CD takes about 10 minutes. The good news is, the Mac will make you look like a professional video editor with a little practice! I've given my friends DVD's as gifts and you won't believe the "Cool Factor" until you've done it!
The iMac (like all computers) does not ship with enough RAM. In fact 256 is a joke. I added a 512 "laptop" chip for about $115. This helps dramatically. I'm about to pull the original 256 and replace it with 512 as well. My buddy has the 700mHz version, and with a gig of RAM, is snappier than my 800mHz with 768MB.
The Apple Pro mouse is horrible. Not only is there one miserable button, but it makes my hand sweat. Luckily, the Microsoft Intellimouse Explorer is made for OSX and offers the best programmable software available. I was nervous about the keyboard being white, but it didn't get dirty like I expected it to. The iMac is whisper quiet, very dependable and a pleasure to use. I highly recommend this computer to virtually anyone. The only exceptions I can think of are professional video editors who will need the dual processor and expandability of the G4 tower.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1,800 Operating System: Macintosh Processor speed: 701-800 RAM: More than 256 Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
For the same cost as the original iMac several years ago, the new iMac provides a host of breakthroughs, including a stunning flat-panel display, blaz...More at eBay
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