glossy iMac closed box v. Mac Pro

[noguilt]

Trying to decide between an iMac and the forthcoming new Mac Pro. My main reservations about the iMac are: (1) the glossy screen, and (2) the inaccessibility of the internal hard drives. So two questions:

(1) I'm wondering how many people find the glossy screen to be a significant problem. (I have a glossy screen on my Samsung netbook, and find it distracting and annoying, but i rarely have to spend hours working on it.)

(2) If I have to have an internal drive replaced, I'd rather do it myself, and just destroy the defective drive, so i don't have to worry about security issues of my hard drive data getting into the wrong hands (yes, it is possible for data to be retrieved from a defective drive). But with the iMac, that can't be done, right?

(I'm also really disappointed that the new iMacs and Mac Pros lack USB3 or eSATA, but at least with the Mac Pro those can be added easily with a PCI Express card.)

 

[Hellhammer]

1. I don't have any problems with it. It's bigger issue with laptops IMO, just make sure there isn't any lights coming in the room where the iMac is

2. It can be done but it's harder. I think you can ask the Genius to give you the old drive because of security issues

AFAIK, there are no USB 3.0 PCIe cards for Mac Pro because OS X lacks support. There should be eSATA though

 

[emptyCup]

I'm wondering how many people find the glossy screen to be a significant problem.

I find that in bright light I have to adjust a glossy screen to avoid flares. With a matte screen I have to adjust the room light because the whole screen washes out. Fortunately I can control the room lighting. If I had to work under bright office lights all day that might be an issue. What is your situation?

 

[noguilt]

Thanks for both responses, which are helpful.

For me, bright glare is not the problem, as i can position the computer and arrange the lighting to minimize glare. Rather, the problem is the distraction of reflections, especially of my face, which I'm happy to see in a mirror, but that can be distracting when i'm trying to work. Maybe one gets used to that, but before spending $3k on a computer, i'd like to be confident that it wouldn't be a problem. BTW, in an Apple store the reflections are a major issue (for me) because of the really bright lighting.

My one experience with the "genius bar" was not so great. They said they would have to keep my Mini for 3-5 days unless i paid $100 for ProCare. I really don't like having my financial data, tax returns, credit card info, etc., in the back room of an Apple store for several days, so i paid the extorted (in my view) $100. The Mini is my first Mac, and I'm used to being able to do most hardware service myself -- certainly replacing hard drives, which is so easy in PCs, including laptops. And if i need someone else to do repairs, i'd rather pay up front for on-site service, which seems not to be an option for Macs (?).

Thanks for the information about OS X not supporting USB3, as i didn't know that (and it seems weird, as now there are even netbooks with USB3). Anyway, presumably at some point, when USB3 devices are more common, Snow Leopard will be updated to support them, and then there will be PCI cards for the Mac Pro that will do USB3.

 

[cluthz]

Reflections aren't an issue at low light conditions.