current iMac vs iMac Core Duo 2.0 with ATI X1600 128 MB

[Jimmery]

For casual internet, e-mail, and MS Office Word & PowerPoint, is there much of a difference between a "first-gen" 20" Intel iMac and a current low-end iMac? I'm not sure if there is much of a functional difference between the two, seeing as they both have Front Row, webcam, and dual layer SuperDrive... except for the difference of matte (preferred) vs glossy screens.

I'm guessing that speed benchmark differences don't come into play for such casual use (i.e., both computers would be running near-idle most of the time).

 

[brn2ski00]

No, the white ones are fine for any everyday user and I would have gotten one but I wanted the newer look.

 

[Darkroom]

the screens are better on the 20" white iMacs, even though they only have 6 bit TN panels, at least they don't have mild to severe light bleeding and color casts...

 

[MacinDoc]

The very 1st generation of Intel iMacs used the Core Duo processor, not the Core2 Duo, and can only support 2GB RAM, as opposed to the 4GB in current machines. Other than that, only moderate speed differences. And for casual use, 2GB is probably enough.