Am I the only one here ecsatic w/just the basic 3.06 27"? It's all I can afford :o)

[stever500]

Folks, folks... I'm the guy with the 7 year old, 20 gig, 512 mg of ram Dell who was about to buy the 24" iMac 3 weeks ago. It took them 2 weeks to mail it out but I never accepted delivery due to finding this site and learning about the potential new iMacs coming out.

Glad I waited. So, they're obviously here, and the 27-inch: 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2560 x 1440 resolution, 4GB memory, 1TB hard drive1 (YEAHHH!), 8x double-layer SuperDrive, ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics with 256MB is all a guy like me could dream of. To paraphrase the old Jessica Simpson Dish TV ad "I don't even know what any of that stuff is, but I want it." As I've posted before, I simply surf the internet, email, download about 500 pics a year onto my hard-drive, type Word documents, Excel spreadsheets once in a blue moon, and Powerpoint presentations once every 6 months or so. No games, no video editing, no photoshopping, nothing else. All I need is an old 20" iMac, I'm sure, but this new 27" seems like the one to get.

I've pretty much decided to get it, even though it's yet another $172 more than a $1299 refurb 24" "old one" that I was stretching to buy. I realize that the refurb 24" cost will probably go down soon to $1000-1100 in the next few weeks. It would cost me $1599 then for the new 27" 3.06Ghz w/my educational discount, free wireles keyboard and nicer mouse instead of the $69 and $59 for the old refurb wireless versions (yahooo!), and I'd have the latest and the greatest iMac, for at least... 6 months.

I was wondering - if I have all my documents on Word, about 100 of them, am I better off spending the $145 to get the Microsoft Suite or is iWorks for $41 a better bet? The guy on the phone from Apple today said that they'll teach me how to use iWorks with my 1-1 membership I'm getting when I get the new machine. Is this the way to go, to get the iWorks? Will my documents transfer over smoothly? My friend said for simplicity sake, stick with the much more expensive Microsoft Suite of Word, Excel and Powerpoint so the transition is easier. Thoughts on this? I'd be happy saving $100 by sticking with iWorks, with that savings paying for the 1-1 membership. The 1-1 classes sound pretty cool, too. I'm getting it for $99 for the data transfer. It's just easier for me since I'm a computer newbie, to transfer all my files, pics, docs, etc to my new iMac from my old Dell.

So it stacks up like this: $1599 iMac 27" edu discount
$ 119 AppleCare w/edu discount
$ 99 1-1
$ 41 iWorks preinstalled
= $ 1858 plus tax

I save on the wireless keyboard and mouse over the 24" unit, which is really nice. And, I get the new mouse which I hope I'll like. I have to trust Apple in this dept that they built a great product, I'm sure they did.

My question is, am I the ONLY one around here that's just over the moon excited by their basic, stripped down, bottom of the barrel, simplistic, 27" machine? I say this tongue in cheek because compared to what I'm using now, it's SOOOOOO much nicer. And, it appears to be alot nicer than the 24" for a total of about $200 more than the 24". Bigger and newer is worth $200, right? Also, is the back of the new iMac really all aluminum like the Apple Website implies? "Seamless enclosure. While you’ll find a collection of ports on the back of iMac, you won’t find much else. A seamless, precision-forged enclosure makes the back one continuous aluminum surface." That's really cool if it is. Isn't that what you folks were hoping for on the new model? Didn't many of you complain about the black plastic on the "old" 24"?


I sure hope it's not TOO big for my desk. My desk is pretty big so I shouldn't worry that much. I find it amazing that there's so many wealthy people on this site that can afford the more expensive Quad Core machine without blinking an eye, instead of the stipper model. To be honest, I really can't easily afford the extra $300 for the Quad Core machine. I hope I'm not sorry for my decision down the line. I plan on keeping this iMac for 10+ years. As you can see from my Dell, I rarely get rid of machines. The only reason I'm upgrading now is because my Dell processes everything so slowly. It's amazing it's lasted this long without needing any major repair.

So, anyone else out there as excited as I am over the barebones base model new iMac 27"? Or am I the only one around here getting this stripper model?

Cheers,
Steve R

 

[nippyjun]

You can use openoffice which is free to do all of your wordprocessing, spreadsheets, presentations, etc. It will work with your previous files.

 

[Bryan Bowler]

Steve,

First and foremost, welcome to the Apple family! I think you'll be blown away when your new 27" iMac arrives.

Based on your needs, the baseline 27" is absolutely the right choice. It will serve you well for a very, very long time. Honestly, if your needs don't change...the only thing that will stop you from using this computer for 7-10 years is the computer breaking down and dying. (which is unusual for Macs, but of course, it can happen)

Although I am a huge fan of Apple's products, I would shy away from iWorks and stick with MS Office. Simply put, MS rules the office/word processing environment and compatibility is key. As the previous poster mentioned, you may want to check out openoffice since it's free, but if that's not to your liking, then it's not too expensive to buy the student version of office.

One-on-one is great, but if money is tight, you can learn a ton from Apple's website if you're the type of guy who doesn't mind exploring and learning on your own.

In my opinion, the 27" 3.06 is an outstanding choice for you!

Bryan

 

[stever500]

Thanks a lot for the information, guys. I'm still not sure which to get, Office or iWorks so I'll sleep on that one for a while. Maybe I'll just get Office for ease and simplicity, but I hate spending $145 instead of $41 when I can get away with it. Maybe it's time to make another trip to the Apple store to check it out again. I'm lucky to have one right in my sales territory that I pass 3 X a week. I love that Bethesda, MD. store. They just doubled the size and moved across the street. And, it's surrounded by tons of great restaurants and cheap eats.

I can't wait to get my base machine. You're right, it's MORE than enough for me. Base machine. That's funny. What I have NOW is a base machine! Truly, the 27" base model is top of the line for this guy.

 

[Steve686]

Wait 'til you get the iMac before deciding on Office or iWorks.

I think you'll have the option of trying out iWorks with the new iMac as it may come preloaded with the trial software. Use it and make your decision from there. Or, you can go to the Apple Store and DL a trial version.

 

[Katyusha]

You are not the only one, I am also going to buy the cheaper one of the 27" iMac.

I will install a Windows 7 on the new iMac and use Office 2007 for writing document,
because I can get keys for free from one of my frd who is a MSDN subscriber

 

[skye12]

This is one of those plateau jumps that means the old refurbs are just
NOT a good enough deal. 27" and that resolution. Wow.

I'll be trucking over to the Apple store on Friday to see that new screen.

 

[stever500]

Thanks guys. I guess I'm in good company then, and not the only "poor guy" out there buying the lowly 3.06 iMac.

I DO want to see it first before buying. I can't WAIT!!! Good advice on getting the trial version of iWork first, but if I buy it when I get my computer it's $41 preloaded, I think, instead of $71 after the fact? I think.

 

[crhudy1985]

Thanks a lot for the information, guys. I'm still not sure which to get, Office or iWorks so I'll sleep on that one for a while. Maybe I'll just get Office for ease and simplicity, but I hate spending $145 instead of $41 when I can get away with it. Maybe it's time to make another trip to the Apple store to check it out again.

I know that you mentioned you will be getting the educational discount. Is that because you are a student/teacher in college? I got my MS Office for apple at my university bookstore for like $35 dollars. I don't know if that is an option for you but it helped me make my decision. Enjoy your your Mac. Switching was the best thing for me and I hope it is for you.

 

[stever500]

I know that you mentioned you will be getting the educational discount. Is that because you are a student/teacher in college? I got my MS Office for apple at my university bookstore for like $35 dollars. I don't know if that is an option for you but it helped me make my decision. Enjoy your your Mac. Switching was the best thing for me and I hope it is for you.

Thanks for that tip about MS Office only being $35 at the University Bookstore. That's REALLY cheap!

 

[powerbook911]

Let me assure you, the baseline 27-inch iMac is FAR from a stripped computer. That thing will amaze you. It's a VERY serious computer.

In regards to office suite, it's a tough one. If your bookstore does sell MS Office Student for Mac that cheap, obviously it would be a decent choice. The current version is pretty nice.

iWork is nice though too, especially Keynote.

Perhaps, you could get one now and the other later. If I only had one, I might go with Office since more people have it, but I could live with iWork. I really like it actually. I do my fun work in iWork. It feels more Mac, but Office is nice these days.

One suggestion, you could buy Apple Care iMac Education Pricing 11 months from now, if you want to save the $100-odd dollars right now. You have a 1 year warranty to start, and you can add Apple Care anytime during the 1 year, so that might work for you to not have to give so much money out right now.

Enjoy the computer. Again, plenty of us use computers way slower. I'd call this a very high end consumer machine. There are even professional places that use iMacs for some work. These are really great machines.

Also, even the things you talked about, word, excel, etc. web browsing will be nice on the big screen as you can fit so more on the high resolution screen. Also, play around with iPhoto, iMovie, etc. Enjoy your Mac and try out other new things, to see what else you might like.

Enjoy your computer. I'm jealous!

 

[stever500]

Thanks powerbook911. 911 is my favorite car My new iMac will match my car's color perfectly )

I might just order it with iWork preinstalled for the $41 and see how that goes. It's cheap enough that I might just make it work for 100% of my uses.

I'm also glad to know I'm not getting a stripper, base model machine of sorts. It's just that sooo many people are talking about getting the higher level quad core iMacs, I was feeling a little left out, there.

Cheers,
Steve R

 

[Fozzybadfeet]

I too am contemplating this iMac model...I do a lot of photography but not professionally and may eventually play games in the future...The price is great for me to pull the trigger and buy this iMac model but the i5 model is also something that sounds great simply because of the new processor...What do you guys think mac friends? I am becoming torn on which to buy. =)

 

[toddngina]

Wow! Now we see why the "stripper" is the only computer you can afford!

 

[powerbook911]

Thanks powerbook911. 911 is my favorite car My new iMac will match my car's color perfectly )


I'm also glad to know I'm not getting a stripper, base model machine of sorts. It's just that sooo many people are talking about getting the higher level quad core iMacs, I was feeling a little left out, there.

Cool. I hope to own a 911 one day, but it's not actually the reason for my user name.

Yeah, I want to hear your reaction to the computer. I think you'll really be blown away.

 

[stever500]

Cool. I hope to own a 911 one day, but it's not actually the reason for my user name.

Yeah, I want to hear your reaction to the computer. I think you'll really be blown away.

Thanks alot. I can't wait. Now that I see the comparison side by side pics on that other guy's post, I REALLY want the whopping 27" now. People used to think 24" is as big as they'd go in a desktop computer all in one. Now that's surprisingly changed. Who would have though 2 weeks ago that they'd come out with a behemoth like this!

Most of us were fairly surprised, I'm sure.

I hope you get a 911 one day too if you want one. I've had my current one for 6 years and an 88 911 for 5 years. I hope with the recession and a severe cut in pay with my job that I can keep it till I find a better job. The sooner the better!