Dual 1.42 PM or new iMac 20" for mom?

[Chacala_Nayarit]

Here's the situation. My mom wants a Mac and thinks the iMac is the way to go. She is coming from a Compaq Presario 1200-XL110 (475MHz AMD, 6GB hard drive, 64MB SDRAM, 16MB vram) crap computer. With the tax in WA state she is looking at paying > 2,000.00 for the iMac, even with her teacher discount.

A seller on eBay has dual 1.42MHz Power Mac G4's, for 999.00 starting bid, or 'Buy It Now' for 1,175.00 http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZucderQQhtZ-1

A 22" CRT can be had for 350.00 (more or less).

Her needs are simple: WWW, simple desktop publishing, email, Word, et cetera. Although with a Mac she may discover iLife and who knows what her future needs may be.

Any thoughts?

 

[eRondeau]

She will be much happier with the iMac, even for twice the price. Would the 17" iMac G5 be a good option for her???

 

[CanadaRAM]

Eh...

Used machine, no warranty, no monitor, no iLife, no Apleworks, no USB 2.0
for $1000 to $1175 + $40 shipping
No OS is included so budget another $99 for Tiger

a 22" CRT is a monster of a monitor... better comparison will be a 19" LCD at about $400 + taxes for a reasonable one.

So what: $1540 to $1700 plus taxes on the monitor and OSX

Doesn't seem like a deal to me. iMac G5, free shipping, teacher's discount better, IMO.

 

[Chacala_Nayarit]

She will be much happier with the iMac, even for twice the price. Would the 17" iMac G5 be a good option for her???

No 17". Like most consumers, they see the 17 up next to the 20 and bigger is better.

The dual G4 is more computer than she will need, presently, yet who knows in the future.

 

[lasuther]

Get the 20" iMac just for the space savings, software, warranty, and extra stuff like iSight and Front Row.

lasuther

 

[Chacala_Nayarit]

Eh...

Used machine, no warranty, no monitor, no iLife, no Apleworks, no USB 2.0
for $1000 to $1175 + $40 shipping
No OS is included so budget another $99 for Tiger

a 22" CRT is a monster of a monitor... better comparison will be a 19" LCD at about $400 + taxes for a reasonable one.

So what: $1540 to $1700 plus taxes on the monitor and OSX

Doesn't seem like a deal to me. iMac G5, free shipping, teacher's discount better, IMO.

OS-X is 69.00 with EDU discount. LCDs are crap for color.

 

[eva01]

OS-X is 69.00 with EDU discount. LCDs are crap for color.

my LCD is badass or color, best color i have seen on a monitor

 

[zap2]

iMac, no brainer!

 

[mkrishnan]

my LCD is badass or color, best color i have seen on a monitor

Yes, I, as I have previously stated, am very happy with the color faithfulness of poster-size reprints of photos I have post-processed using PSE on my iBook. Chacala, when you say LCD color is not acceptable, are you talking about your needs or your mothers? Have you asked her which she likes better...LCD or CRT? I do understand about the minority for whom needs dictate a CRT. But your mother's usage profile doesn't seem to match that minority.

 

[Chacala_Nayarit]

Yes, I, as I have previously stated, am very happy with the color faithfulness of poster-size reprints of photos I have post-processed using PSE on my iBook. Chacala, when you say LCD color is not acceptable, are you talking about your needs or your mothers? Have you asked her which she likes better...LCD or CRT? I do understand about the minority for whom needs dictate a CRT. But your mother's usage profile doesn't seem to match that minority.

Minority? I have worked in several Web design and graphic design temas, and never would think of using LCDs. Diehard gamers too.

She is concerned about having a BIG desktop. This little PC is 12" with 800X600 max resolution. Space is not an issue.

 

[mfacey]

If simple stuff is all she's going to do, then why don't you just get a 17 inch imac? 20 inch is nice but much more expensive and also not really adding any value unless you need the extra screen real-estate.

Same goes for the huge CRT you're looking at. If she's only interested in word processing and WWW with a possibility in iLife, then why are you so concerned about perfect color reproduction? An LCD looks infinitely better!

Either way, its your call. I'd go for the iMac. The powermac has too many uncertainties for the money.

 

[mkrishnan]

Minority? I have worked in several Web design and graphic design temas, and never would think of using LCDs. Diehard gamers too.

Well, it's your wallet, buy her whatever you want to. But if it's for her, wouldn't the question be whether she will use it as part of work for a graphic team, and not you? Or is your mother a die hard gamer to the extent that an LCD will not meet her performance needs?

*shrug* LCD sales and the availability of new models of CRTs and LCDs would validate my use of the term minority. But I was referring to the general computer-buying population. Never to graphics designers. And I don't know too much about your mother.

 

[dmw007]

Go with the 20" iMac G5.

 

[Chacala_Nayarit]

Thank you for the replies, even the 'no brainer' reply. Looks like she is going for the G5.

 

[Clix Pix]

My vote is for the 20" iMac. If price is a consideration maybe she would be able to snag a Rev B iMac at the Apple store or another retailer. I agree with the OP that she'd be better off having a new machine with all the warranties and that kind of thing. Also she probably would be happier with an LCD than with a huge CRT taking up her desk space.

You mention her concern about a big desktop, well, a CRT dwarfs any LCD! A tower desktop such as the Power Mac can be on the floor out of her way and the only thing on the desk itself is her monitor, or if she goes with the iMac, it has a fairly small footprint and takes up no more room than a standalone LCD.

Someone else asked and I'm wondering the same thing, if along with your mother, you, too, will be using the machine. Is that why you're interested in the Power Mac and the 22" CRT? Understandable, then, but if the primary user is going to be your mother and she is not into graphics design, website design, serious photo or video work or serious gaming activities, then probably the iMac with its nice LCD would be just fine.

As far as the comment about LCD are "crap for color," I have used LCD monitors for over five years and I work with Photoshop and other programs. No problems with the color whatsoever! If someone is concerned about absolute color accuracy, there are devices such as the Spyder, for calibrating the monitor (either LCD or CRT).

OTB

 

[iGary]

iMac

 

[rickvanr]

iMac

ditto.

 

[Aarow]

ditto.

Ditto for that ditto(?).