15 computers and I've finally found "Her".
Written: Apr 18 '03
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Pros: I'd like to look that good. Rock-solid construction. Plenty of power
Cons: 17" screen is the right choice. Not the best for bright areas. More RAM Good!
The Bottom Line: I would recommend this computer to all but the most power-hungry users. It's solid, fast, reliable, durable, trustworthy, friendly and kind. In short, it's the perfect mate in polycarbonite.
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| stevens_ce's Full Review: Apple iMac 15 in. (M8535LL/B) Mac Desktop |
I have had my 15" G4 iMac (512MB RAM/60GB HD/SuperDrive) since August of last year, and it is by far the best computer I have ever owned. That's not a small statement, since I have owned 15 computers in the last 15 years (this includes my professional computer, as I purchase my own for work). I've owned multiple Macs, going back to OS6, as well as almost a dozen PCs from 286s to P4s, and there is no comparison between my iMac and most of those machines.
I suppose I should address a few major points first:
1. This is not the fastest computer out there, but it may well be the most effective. You don't pay for speed you don't need, and for most tasks, especially if you have enough RAM, you'll never notice a difference between the 800mhz or 1Ghz iMac and a P4 or Athlon running at twice that speed. I'll get into details later, but suffice it to say I run about everything a normal or power user would likely run and I've never seen an issue.
2. It's also not the most expandable, but the current Apple product offerings aren't built with that in mind, unless you look at the G4 tower. This computer has everything you need now and are likely to need, with no need to include anything IN THE CASE later (external expansion is always an option.)
3. It's not the cheapest computer on the market, but it's got value all over it, both in feature-set and in lasting quality.
Out-Of-The-Box Experience.
The first iMacs were touted for their each of setup and the second generation iMac continues that legacy. Four steps are required to use an iMac. Unpack it, sit it on your desk, plug in four cords and turn it on. OS X's install/setup program will start and in one to two minutes you can be connected to the internet and ready to go. If you have broadband, you have one more step - plug in your ethernet cable. There's no asterisks to this setup. It's all clearly labeled on a nice card in the box. The packaging itself is wonderful - everything tightly packed and all individually wrapped - and the manuals, while thin in the traditional Apple way, have enough stuff in them that they provide newbies with an effective introduction to the iMac and to OS X.
Initial Impressions
If you haven't had a Mac in a while (the iBook and iMac seem to be the magnets for switchers), you'll probably need to re-adjust to the one-button mouse as I did (quickly ditching it in favor of a Logitech two-button was my answer), but the initiation process should end there. This isn't a review of OS X, but the system software is as intuitive as any could be, and the fact that every iMac's hardware is the same means no extra drivers to install, no effort. I think most current Mac owners will be impressed with the speed and the beauty of the LCD screen, which is amazing, if not as bright as Apple's Cinema Displays.
Lasting Impressions
The odd thing I've found about owning my iMac is that long-term, little things stand out. I love the pro keyboard, which has just the right amount of key travel and feedback. I love the pivot for the screen. I don't use it much, but when I do it goes where I want with A TOUCH of a finger and stays there. I love how quiet it is - no fan noise to speak of and only the sound of my superdrive, which is quiet in itself. I also love how little space it takes up. It's a solid computer - no gaps or defects and promises to last for years.
OS X is stable and responsive on my 800G4, and I have had no trouble adding over a dozen peripherals over the past eight months.
How To Configure?
Assuming you want an iMac, you need to get it right the first time, as there are few upgrades available once it leaves Apple or your reseller. Based on my usage of this computer and others and my experiences with OS X and software the typical iMac user will need/want, here's my recommendation:
Processor: Get the 1Ghz if you can afford it. There's no reason to commit to the slower processor, as I suspect this will be the end of the G4 in the iMac and you might as well get as much speed as you can. The 800Mhz was the top of the line when I purchased mine, but now the 1G is only a few hundred more - well worth it.
RAM: As much as you can afford. I have 512MB and plan on increasing that to 1GB. RAM is incredibly cheap now and OS X loves RAM. It is difficult to emphasize how much of a difference this can make in performance - I've seen it on my iBook.
Screen: As of this writing, the 15-inch screen is still available, but I would recommend the 17-inch wholeheartedly. This is my only purchasing regret. The extra real estate, the ability to watch DVDs in true letter-box, the ability to view two pages next to each other - it all adds up to make the screen worthwhile.
Video Card: No choice here - based on display/processor choice, but 64MB is only really useful for games or rendering - 32MB will perform well in most applications and powers the screen resolution well in either the 15" or 17" models.
Hard Drive: 60GB or 80GB. This is a personal choice, as DVD-R and CD-R offer a ton of potential storage space and smaller hard drives tend to run a little faster (less seek time). I have the 60, which was tops at the time, and would probably still get the 60 today. A caveat to that: If you're going to do digital video, get the 80. A one-hour iMovie suitable for iDVD can easily come to 15GB including associated files. Two or three of those in the works at one time will eat up 75% of your 60GB hard drive, so the 80's worth it (I never keep more than one movie in progress at a time).
Accessories: I'd get a two button mouse - contextual menus are available throughout OS X and the second button can come in very handy. There are plenty of good ones, by MacAlly and a few other companies make models that match (or come close) to the iMac design, if you care about that sort of thing. I'd also get AppleCare. Apple's warranty is for one year, and since this is a durable machine three or four years is not unreasonable to expect. For about $300 bucks you can get three years of protection. It's worth it. I'd also get the Apple Soundsticks or some other speaker setup - the Apple Pro Speakers are wonderful, but a little underpowered. This is a later upgrade for sure.
Beyond that, it's a matter of personal choice.
Conclusions:
I love my iMac. I also love Apple, but wouldn't consider myself an evangelist. I really think the iMac is the best computer I have ever owned. It provides power, solid construction, ease of use and a design you can't help but love. The LCD screen is a little hard to read in bright light, but extremely adjustable, and the one-button mouse is a bummer but easily replaceable. I'd strongly recommend this computer to all but the most power-hungry users, for whom a G4 tower might make a better choice.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1898
Operating System: Macintosh
Processor speed: 701-800
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: SuperDisk
Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
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Epinions.com ID:
stevens_ce
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Location: Northeast Pennsylvania
Reviews written: 9
Trusted by: 3 members
About Me:
Male, 32, Married, Engineer/Project Manager, Mac/PC owner, Love Gadgets and Video Games
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