About to buy a new iMac - need final advices

[tmelvin]

I was in the same situation back in March. I opted for the 20". Same thing, small desk, close to the user, etc. I have zero regrets. It's a great system, with excellent colors [IMO]. I don't do any high end editing either. I do some personal photo stuff, Web site for my wife's business, and the usual personal computing things. Speed is great too. I opted to max out RAM, and add the wireless KB/MM.

Couldn't be happier...

 

[iboost79]

I'm in the process of buying my parents an entry-level iMac. I'll probably upgrade the RAM myself and give them my current external drive from G-Technology for Time Machine. They'll need to run dual-OS since a lot of their programs are PC only...

 

[FrenchPB]

I had all the same concerns when I bought my 24" / 2.8GHz / 2GB / 500GB about nine months ago. ALL UNFOUNDED!!! The big 24" screen is PERFECT, it sits on a very narrow desk, my eyes are maybe 14" away from the screen and again it is PERFECT! I couldn't imagine going down to the 20" from this. The standard 2GB RAM is likewise PERFECT for my needs, and I also multitask (including FCE). The 500GB drive is completely adequate for my forseeable needs; it is currently 1/3 full although I do have apx 600GB of data safe on a 1TB external HD connected via FW800 (the only way to go!)

I was also worried about screen brightness, screen tinting, dead pixels, fan noise, the flat keyboard, the Mighty Mouse, and everything else negative I'd read on these forums in the last five years. ALL UNFOUNDED. My advice -- don't worry about it, don't worry about them, buy the best iMac you can afford, and love it! This is (IMHO) absolutely the best home computer ever designed and I feel this unbelievable pride of ownership whenever I use it. Soon you'll know what I mean.

Reading your post really make me wanna go for the high end model. I also think I'll start with only 2GB RAM, and upgrade it later since it seems easy to do (and even more so if Snow Leopard can take full advantage of it).

One question though : could you take a picture of your Mac setup and post it here ? I'm wondering how the 24" screen looks on a tiny desk.

 

[vestigo74]

Reading your post really make me wanna go for the high end model. I also think I'll start with only 2GB RAM, and upgrade it later since it seems easy to do (and even more so if Snow Leopard can take full advantage of it).

One question though : could you take a picture of your Mac setup and post it here ? I'm wondering how the 24" screen looks on a tiny desk.

Here's a couple pics I found with Google. Both are the 24" models on smaller desks.

http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll319/AbdulazizBurohaima/SANY0576.jpg

http://www.jayrome.info/Jaysblog/Blog/Entries/2008/5/16_New_iMac_files/shapeimage_2.png

 

[FrenchPB]

Reading your post really make me wanna go for the high end model. I also think I'll start with only 2GB RAM, and upgrade it later since it seems easy to do (and even more so if Snow Leopard can take full advantage of it).

One question though : could you take a picture of your Mac setup and post it here ? I'm wondering how the 24" screen looks on a tiny desk.

Now I'm realizing you bought 9 months ago the same computer I might be buying now... it won't feel as great if I don't get the high-end model now