24in iMac - white or ali?

[ChrisA]

Hi
I'm considering upgrading to a 24in iMac - the extra screen space would be useful. However, I see that there are some good deals on the outgoing 'white' iMac.

The biggest difference in the old and new Mac is the screen. Apple went cheap on the new screens but every other part is better

How to decide is to think about how you will use the new Mac. Do you do serious photography and video editing were you care about things like color fidelity and monitor calibration or do you mostly surf the web, watch DVD movies and play games? The new screen is well suited to the later but not as good for critical creative work.

I think the new glossy screen is like lite beer. Some very smart marketing guy found a way to sell cheeper beer with extra water added at the same price as "real" beer. Using "lite" was smart because people would not buy the more actuatly labled "watered down" beer. With LCD screens "glossy" was the smart marketing term because the more actuate "reflective" or "sans anti glare coating" just would not sell.

 

[Not-a-cliche]

I don't know what these guys are on about, I have a white iMac and it has 802.11n wireless and a 7200 rpm drive.

I think you will be fine with a white iMac. It's not a bad computer, its just that the new ones are better.

 

[Philsy]

OK, I will be using the Mac to view photos and InDesign files, so a decent screen is important. That said, I've not had a problem with the screen on my 20in G5 iMac.

This the white one I've got my eye on

http://www.cancomuk.com/products/search.htm?promo=200528827200549684&i=1&code=62106&Apple%20iMac%2024%22%20%202.16GHz%20Intel%20Core%202%20Duo%201GB%20/%20250Gb/%20SuperDrive/%20Airport%20/%20Bluetooth%20/%20iSight%20%20%2B%20Wireless%20Keyboard%20and%20Mighty%20Mouse%20%2B%20iLife%20'08%20
No idea which graphics card it has. Does it make any difference if you're not using it for games?

Phil

 

[Leon Kowalski]

I called my sister and she did indeed use smalldog. She took a look at her box and it says that is the 7300 BUT it is actually the 7600GT with 256mb ,,,

Many thanks for your assistance. Most likely, SmallDog gobbled-up some of the final production run, so the silent upgrade isn't too surprising -- just clearing out inventory. Maybe I'll get lucky, too. OTOH, I'm not sure I'd even notice. I'm not a gamer or video editor, so if the card can handle my garden-variety apps, it's good enough.

Although it is none of my buisness! but because I am female and curious... since you list your computer as the 24" new Al....may I ask why you are looking for the old white one? Is it the screen?

LOL! No need to explain or apologize -- I have a wife and three daughters.

Yep, it's the screen -- but not the matte vs. glossy issue. I started out with a 20" ALU, just a few days after the introduction. The color and brightness non-uniformities were horrid, and every sample in the showroom had exactly the same problems. So, I coughed up $300 for an "upgrade" to 24".

The 24" is better (no color gradient), but it has an intense "hotspot" on the left side of the screen. Long story short, I'll be returning it, too. Apple tech-support refused to provide any brightness uniformity specs, but I sent them my photos and light meter measurements -- and they agreed to take it back as "DOA," (while still refusing to say whether my particular display would meet their top-secret "stringent visual ergonomics criteria").

But that's no surprise -- from a company whose Galactic HQ is at: One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA.

After living with glossy iMacs for nearly 2 months, I've concluded that (for me) a matte screen would be preferable. Glossy is fantastic for DVD movies and full-screen iPhoto slide shows -- but I find matte much easier on the eyes for reading text and editing photos. I spend very little time watching slide shows, and even less watching videos on the computer. My TV has a much bigger screen and better speakers -- and it's closer to the beer.

You can see photos of my duff iMacs at www.picasaweb.google.com/TheLooby -- or search for "The Looby" at www.discussions.apple.com. That handle is my Apple ID, and I use it only on apple.com; they can trace it to my customer info. It wouldn't seem right to trash-talk them anonymously on their own web site.

...in real life, I'm just an ordinary Nexus-6,

LK

 

[flopticalcube]

Just to let every know. I just received (yesterday) 2 20" iMacs and although they still possess the infamous colour gradient, they are less severe than all the ones I had previously seen on display models. Maybe Apple is being more selective in their panels now.

 

[MacAngel40]

Many thanks for your assistance. Most likely, SmallDog gobbled-up some of the final production run, so the silent upgrade isn't too surprising -- just clearing out inventory. Maybe I'll get lucky, too. OTOH, I'm not sure I'd even notice. I'm not a gamer or video editor, so if the card can handle my garden-variety apps, it's good enough.


LOL! No need to explain or apologize -- I have a wife and three daughters.

Yep, it's the screen -- but not the matte vs. glossy issue. I started out with a 20" ALU, just a few days after the introduction. The color and brightness non-uniformities were horrid, and every sample in the showroom had exactly the same problems. So, I coughed up $300 for an "upgrade" to 24".

The 24" is better (no color gradient), but it has an intense "hotspot" on the left side of the screen. Long story short, I'll be returning it, too. Apple tech-support refused to provide any brightness uniformity specs, but I sent them my photos and light meter measurements -- and they agreed to take it back as "DOA," (while still refusing to say whether my particular display would meet their top-secret "stringent visual ergonomics criteria").

But that's no surprise -- from a company whose Galactic HQ is at: One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA.

After living with glossy iMacs for nearly 2 months, I've concluded that (for me) a matte screen would be preferable. Glossy is fantastic for DVD movies and full-screen iPhoto slide shows -- but I find matte much easier on the eyes for reading text and editing photos. I spend very little time watching slide shows, and even less watching videos on the computer. My TV has a much bigger screen and better speakers -- and it's closer to the beer.

You can see photos of my duff iMacs at www.picasaweb.google.com/TheLooby -- or search for "The Looby" at www.discussions.apple.com. That handle is my Apple ID, and I use it only on apple.com; they can trace it to my customer info. It wouldn't seem right to trash-talk them anonymously on their own web site.

...in real life, I'm just an ordinary Nexus-6,

LK

LOL then you DO understand!

Yeah, actually my MBP I ordered glossy instead of matte, I have had it 4 months now and I don't think I would do it again, but it's ok on my laptop as I don't spend 8 hours a day (or more!) on it, and it is GREAT for presentations and the like! Obviously DVD's ect... look better too!
I just didn't want it on my imac with that much screen real estate, and being a computer that I spend a lot more time on, and for some design purposes as well - just a personal preference! (and like I have mentioned, am a member of the 40 something club... I don't think older eyes adapt as well as younger ones! LOL )

So I totally understand the screen issue.
Sorry you've had bad luck with your Al screen and are going to have to return your new "baby".
I hope you get lucky with the better graphics card!

I asked my sister if she had asked for the better card and she said yes, and that they told her pretty much the same as you....and yet that was indeed the card that was in there! She purchased hers about a week ago...so not very long ago!
Good Luck!