Best computer I've owned
Written: Dec 31 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Affordable - much cpu for the buck, high resale value
Cons: processor soldered onto the mother board
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| mjp29's Full Review: Apple iMac DV Indigo 15 in. (M7639LL/A) Mac Deskto... |
After using PC's and Windows for years, I was forced to use the Macintosh at the state university - where the biology computer lab was only Mac.
I was skeptical at first, but after using the Mac, I fell in love with the operating system and ease of use.
This is my second iMac (my first iMac was 233mhz - generation one). The iMac is more of a replacable system like many entry level computers. The resale value of Macs are excellent though. I sold my first generation iMac, after using it for 2 years, on ebay for $700 - that's nearly 3/4 the value of what I paid for it. If you're looking for a computer that you can upgrade the processor, then you should consider a higher level Mac like the G4 cube. However, I think many would agree that upgrading any computer can become very expensive. In fact, dollar for dollar, you routinely don't get a good bargain - especially considering the price of processor's and the technology that surrounds new systems. For example, it may cost you 300 or 400$ to upgrade your mini-towers processor, and you don't even get the latest drives (zip, cd-rw) or sound cards - if you truly upgraded an old computer to new computer standards, you may end up paying more than a new system. More and more computer manufacturers are leaning toward a more affordable system that sells at a low price. Computers are becoming like watches - you just get a new one instead of have it repaired due to the cost ratio.
Having said the above, I have upgraded my iMac's memory to 196 megs of ram - the ram can be upgraded to around 1000 megs (1 gig of ram). Nearly everything but the processor can be upgraded (the internal hard-drive, cd-rom drive, etc...). The processor itself is soldered into the board.
Many that consider a Mac may look at a 400mhz G3 processor and think "it's not that fast." However, the G3 processor in the Mac is much faster than an equivalent Pentium chip - benchmark tests have clocked the G3 processors to be up to twice as fast as an equivalent Pentium III (source: Byte). You can purchase an iMac now that is 450 or 500 mhz (from memory), but I can tell you from experience, even the first generation iMacs at 233mhz were quite fast.
I do use a PC at work (that's why I have an iMac at home). I find the Windows operating system to be choppy compared to the Mac OS. There's just something very fluid about the Mac OS that is hard to describe - from the mouse right up to the functionality of performing tasks. Much of the "feel" of the Mac OS probably is due to the fact that it is a true GUI (Graphics operating system). Windows is still heavily dependent on the old MS-DOS; infact, a souped up version of MS-DOS actually runs Windows in the background - that's why drives are still called a:, b:, c: in Windows and extensions (file.exe) are used to an insane level. It's hard to convince some PC users that the Mac is a superior platform, but take it from someone who uses both on a daily basis.
I have the following accessories - all USB: Pacific Digital cd-rw burner, Imation SuperDisk (reads standard 3.5 inch dos, mac, and super 120 meg disks), back up fantom hard drive, Lexmark Z52 printer, HP 315 2.1 megapixel digital camera, i-Jam mp3 player, & Agfa 1212u scanner. I don't suppose there is much more I could add to the iMac. If you purchase an iMac, be prepared to buy an external USB hub (start at around 20$) that allow you to plug more USB devices into the system - otherwise, you'll be switching usb cords everytime you decide to use another device. One plus about using USB is that it is "hot-swappable" (you can plug devices in at anytime without having to reboot).
Overall, I really love my little iMac. Finally, I have a computer that works the way I think a computer should work.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mjp29
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Reviews written: 10
Trusted by: 2 members
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