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Fallen in love with iMac, couple questions for current owners

L

lukewarm

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 26, 2008
7
0
I currently use a 2005 Toshiba Tablet PC, and I never should have bought it because I've truthfully never used the tablet function aside from playing around when I first bought it. So I have a history of buying beyond my needs. It was a great computer at first but after about 2 years it was completely awful, dead pixels, scratched keypad, among other things. Now that it's been 3 years, I'm going crazy.

My first question is- if I buy the apple care protection plan when I order my iMac, if dead pixels pop up after 2 years, am I still able to send it back and have those fixed? I tried reading about the plan at the apple store but it didn't give me in depth info.

Second question- I don't know anything about what to upgrade and what to leave alone as far as ordering my iMac. I am not a graphic design student, but I download a lot of music, pictures, movies. Should I upgrade to 4 GB RAM and a 1 TB serial ATA drive? I had to delete some movies from my iTunes because I didn't have room, and I intend on downloading a lot more music and movies once I get a decent computer.

My Toshiba's info is this- Intel(R) Pentium(R) 1.6 GHz 590 MHz 496 MB of RAM. and I currently have 2% free space on my computer, and this is after I deleted a bunch of programs. I know people will probably say go as far as I can afford, but it's not a question of what I can afford, I just don't understand what these numbers mean in terms of my own needs. Thanks to anyone that can help.
 
Applecare will cover the screen for its length. 4GB RAM is much cheaper from a 3rd party. How much space do you need for music/movies?
 
I have about 150 CDs left to choose from to import but like I said I don't have the room. I have about 20 GB free space available in my itunes, without taking my movies off my iPod.
 
Apple gives good products as far as i can tell, but you should buy RAM from another company as it is cheaper. Applecare lasts for 3 years and it does cover dead pixels.

For the specs you need, it's mostly up to you since your going to use it for what You need, but if your watching a good number of movies etc, get ATLEAST 500 gb of hard drive space, buy 2gigs from apple and see if you need more. I doubt it, but if you do, buy from another company as it will be cheaper.

For me to really tell how much hard drive space you'd need, i need you to go to My Computer, then click on your hard drive. Somewhere along your left it will show you the total size of your drive. Please post that number on here.
 
Since you are not going to buy RAM from Apple, I suggest you start with the 1 GB that comes with the machine and see how that works for you. It sounds like you need a bigger HD rather than more RAM. How big is your HD now?
 
500gb - 1tb should be more then enough for you then. It will last you a long time.
 
Now that you said that, I looked at the comparison and realized it seems a bit obvious. But I've been trying to analyze this for days so I guess I needed someone else to explain. Thanks!!
 
i would go for 2gb aswell being the easiest to upgrade to as yours will come with a 1gb chip already making it as easy as putting another in, saying that i just put 4gb in mine and as far as WoW performance is concerned it shot up drastically.

Space wise you wont need a 1tb and getting a 500gb will be ample and buying a external hard drive is better in terms of backing up and also eventually moving to another computer, if you can get a 500gb internal and a 750gb external for timemachine and stuff you don't need to use all the time etc.

the price of this in the uk (i just checked is 750gb(they dont do 1tb :S) for 160 pounds from apple however £60 for 500gb internal plus 110 for WD my book 750gb which is 10 pounds more for 500gb more storage!!!!

lordjonny
 
I have resolved to go for the 2 GB and 2.8 GHz, I want it to be fast. Admittedly I don't know exactly what that means but I know it must be good. I'm kind of waiting around for a couple days to see if these supposed updates happen, but it's not a big deal to me. I do wish that the wireless keyboard had a number pad, simply for aesthetic reasons, I think a super tiny keyboard next to a massive display looks freaky.
 
lukewarm said:
I have resolved to go for the 2 GB and 2.8 GHz, I want it to be fast. Admittedly I don't know exactly what that means but I know it must be good. I'm kind of waiting around for a couple days to see if these supposed updates happen, but it's not a big deal to me. I do wish that the wireless keyboard had a number pad, simply for aesthetic reasons, I think a super tiny keyboard next to a massive display looks freaky.
Click to expand...

It is a good computer, I have one. But I would think for you, to save money, if you want a 24 inch, go for the 2.4ghz 24 inch, its the 3rd option. its a very good computer. the 2.8 is more pro, not much consumer. so i recommend a 2.4ghz, but, as i said, i have a 2.8ghz, and i LOVE it.
 
It's a difference of $225, and I'm inclined to just order the 2.8, but it'd be nice to save the money. I'll definitely think about it.
 
lukewarm said:
I currently use a 2005 Toshiba Tablet PC, and I never should have bought it because I've truthfully never used the tablet function aside from playing around when I first bought it. So I have a history of buying beyond my needs. It was a great computer at first but after about 2 years it was completely awful, dead pixels, scratched keypad, among other things. Now that it's been 3 years, I'm going crazy.

My first question is- if I buy the apple care protection plan when I order my iMac, if dead pixels pop up after 2 years, am I still able to send it back and have those fixed? I tried reading about the plan at the apple store but it didn't give me in depth info.

Second question- I don't know anything about what to upgrade and what to leave alone as far as ordering my iMac. I am not a graphic design student, but I download a lot of music, pictures, movies. Should I upgrade to 4 GB RAM and a 1 TB serial ATA drive? I had to delete some movies from my iTunes because I didn't have room, and I intend on downloading a lot more music and movies once I get a decent computer.

My Toshiba's info is this- Intel(R) Pentium(R) 1.6 GHz 590 MHz 496 MB of RAM. and I currently have 2% free space on my computer, and this is after I deleted a bunch of programs. I know people will probably say go as far as I can afford, but it's not a question of what I can afford, I just don't understand what these numbers mean in terms of my own needs. Thanks to anyone that can help.
Click to expand...

I got my iMac with 1Tb of hard drive space; but I think that is too much. Fire Wire 800 externals are very, very fast and I think a person can invest in a smallish internal and tons of external but fast drives (read... NOT USB).

I think the 1 Tb internal slows down boot up and shut down, and a lot of other stuff... could not imagine if it was full...

Most important thing is to just get a Mac... you are going to be so happy.
 
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