iMac for WebDesign/Development-Advice needed!

[fireworkz]

Hi all - nice forum !!

A quick intro- I have an old PC - AMD Duron 1.6GHZ with 1GB RAM and 250GB HDD - the graphics card is integrated in the motherboard.

I feel its time to upgrade !!! I saw the new IMacs and really them. Pls note I have never owned or used one before (I know its been PC/Windows all my life !).

I have my sights set on two models - but need to choose one as per my needs and budget.

My Needs: Primarily for web design/development - my tools - Adobe CS3 Suite - Dreamweaver,Flash,Fireworks,Illustrator,Photoshop. I may t time like to DL film clips off my Camcorder - its a hybrid HDV camcorder the Xacti HD2 from Sanyo - small but sufficient.

I don't want to use my Desktop for gaming as I have two Consoles for that purpose.

My Budget - well hopefully between 2000$ - 3000$ Max !!!

My desired models are :
20" 2.4GHZ Base model and 24" 2.8GHZ Base model both preferably with 2GB or 4GB (latter preferred)

I read earlier on this forum that its wiser to go Base wise and expand the RAM externally as Apple charges alot.. so $$$$avings..

I know most of you may have the new IMacs or have delved deeper into it- so any feedback toward my choice would be really appreciated.

Another thing - I noticed a forum member here named Canadaram - is he/she the same person running the canadaram website out of BC - Reason being that I live in Toronto - so ordering 4GB RAM from outside Canada sucks as our Customs add duty/taxes etc.. hence a reliable and trustworthy source locally would be ideal !!!

Thks guys / ladies - brgds fireworkz

 

[Sean Dempsey]

My Budget - well hopefully between 2000$ - 3000$ Max !!!

My desired models are :
20" 2.4GHZ Base model and 24" 2.8GHZ Base model both preferably with 2GB or 4GB (latter preferred)

the 2.4 20" is what I am on right now... You can get it and then add 4gb ram for around $1800. If you want the 2.8, you can get it for 2700.

I am not sure what your question is though. Your budget easily encompasses both models, so if you're comfortable spending $3000, get the 24" and throw in 4 gigs of ram and never look back.

It will run any web design program you need for many, many years. I'd put it EASILY at 4 years (though you'll probably want something new before it outlives it's usefulness).

 

[shakastange]

The base model would be just fine for any sort of web development. The only downfall to these machines are the gfx cards and that really isn't an issue for u. You should probably get as much RAM as you can and you will be just fine.

 

[fireworkz]

Thanks guys for the replies.

Sorry guys for broadening/being vague on the issue of budget.

My main aim is to get my moneys worth at the same time not compromising on quality for long term (for a few years till upgrade) - My first instinct was to go for the 20" 2.4 base and Max it out with the RAM - making it worthwhile machine - but then the 24" has a better processor 2.8 extreme - so would the extra bucks on it make it really worthwhile as I have read conflicted review that the 2.4 and 2.8 processors are not much of a leap (I could be wrong though) - I know If the 20" had the 2.8Gh I would have taken that as I think 20" screen size is decent enough to work on !

Thanks again

 

[Sean Dempsey]

It's not much of a leap at all. You will gain almost no noticable benefit when doing low-res photoshop and simple flash headers/menus, and especially not writing html and css.

For web dev, the 2.4 is GREAT, just get 4 gigs of ram and you'll be fine. Myself, instead of spending the money on the bigger screen and 2.8 (this is a "work on the weekend" home machine), I am going to spend the money on a FW800 external for storage/scratch and an additional monitor.