iMac Question

[cowman007]

Hey guys

I just went to future shop the other day and had the opportunity to try out a iMac 24 inch. I was blown away by how amazing these machines were. Mac Osx was such a beautiful Os to use and the imac itself was simply gorgeous. I'm stating the obvious i know.

Anyway i was wondering how Apple made the iMac and and Mac mini so freken small. I mean How come macs don't have towers like Pcs. Don't reply saying there amazing and that's why, because i already know that. Does apple use laptop parts to make their desktops or have they invented something new?

Also i was wondering if you guys could tell me where i could get one of these machines for cheap. I'm looking out for a 200-300 discounts on these machines and I'm aiming for the 17inch imac with the superdrive.

THnks in advance

 

[swiftaw]

I think because they use alot of laptop parts, certainly the Mini does.

 

[cowman007]

If this is true then how come Hp or Dell doesn't release an iMac with laptop parts. They could completely eliminate their towers and it would be a huge success

 

[risc]

Because for every 1 person that loves the all in 1 design of the iMac there are probably 20 who hate it.

 

[cowman007]

Another thing which doesn't make sense to me is the fact that the macbooks cost more per spec then the iMac. If the imac uses laptop components then it should be priced the same as the macbooks

 

[skubish]

The Mini does use laptop parts. It is essentially a Macbook without a screen or keyboard.

The iMac doesn't use laptop parts. The motherboard is custom with a sound chip and video chip on board. It uses a standard superdrive and a 3.5" hard drive. The memory is standard desktop RAM as well.

Most manufacturers don't want to put the effort into a designing a custom motherboard and case like the iMac. They like a design that allows they to buy common parts from the cheapest vendor.

 

[cowman007]

Thanks you so much. This is exactly the type of answer i was looking for

 

[sparkyms]

The Mini does use laptop parts. It is essentially a Macbook without a screen or keyboard.

The iMac doesn't use laptop parts. The motherboard is custom with a sound chip and video chip on board. It uses a standard superdrive and a 3.5" hard drive. The memory is standard desktop RAM as well.

Most manufacturers don't want to put the effort into a designing a custom motherboard and case like the iMac. They like a design that allows they to buy common parts from the cheapest vendor.

I thought it did. Especially seeing as the Intel iMacs and Macbooks/Macbook Pros can use the same RAM as eachother, whereas, I cannot put the RAM from my iMac into a MacPro for example.

And Cowman, the reason why the MacBook/MBPros are more expensive per spec is because of portability. I mean, the chances im going to be able to take my 24inch iMac to class with me, and lug it around between lectures, is, qutie frankly laughable, I just couldn't do it.
You pay extra for ease of use and that portabilty of a great spec laptop.

 

[cowman007]

can you explain the previous post please, i did not fully understand. Are you saying that the imacs and macbook DO use the same RAM or the imacs and macbooks DONT use the same RAM

 

[Mr. MacBook]

iMacs are full-fledged Desktop computers.

It's just that they are more compact and built into a thinner space with the least possible, and try to cram their things in to conserve it.

Take the HP slimline pavilion series, for instance,

The Mac Mini uses mostly notebook components

 

[swiftaw]

can you explain the previous post please, i did not fully understand. Are you saying that the imacs and macbook DO use the same RAM or the imacs and macbooks DONT use the same RAM

iMacs and MacBooks DO use the same RAM

 

[BigPrince]

iMacs and MacBooks DO use the same RAM

confirmed.

 

[cowman007]

laptop RAM is significantly ( in terms of physical size) smaller then desktop RAM isn't it. IF PC vendors use laptop memory instead of desktop memory then they could easily make a similar iMac. RIGHT?

 

[nateDEEZY]

Sony and some other manufacture I can't pull from the top of my head tried making all in one devices, if you do the diging on cnet you should be able to find the sony one.

As far as I can remember the sony one was released nearly the same time as the 24" iMac and wasn't comparable at all..

After some research I found the review
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2006322,00.asp

iMac's use the mobile version of C2D processor as well as Ram and adopted the MXM technology from higher end laptops into the 24" iMac soo yea it uses a good chunk of mobile compontents.

On advice on getting a good deal on a 17" iMac check your local craigslist and make sure to always deal locally! Also I'm to lazy to see the education discount on the apple website.. So go visit http://www.apple.com/store scroll to the bottom and search for education discount. Your other option is to also check out the refurb section of the apple store.

good luck.

 

[wizwaz3]

The iMac doesn't use laptop parts. The motherboard is custom with a sound chip and video chip on board. It uses a standard superdrive and a 3.5" hard drive. The memory is standard desktop RAM as well.

The motherboard may be custom, but it, indeed, is made of laptop parts.

iMacs and MacBooks DO use the same RAM

Yes. The iMac uses laptop RAM.

The CPU is the exact same CPU in the Macbook Pros. Same RAM, too. The iMac, however, has a standard desktop Hard Drive. Oh, forgot, the DVD drive is also a laptop part.

I hope this straightened out some of the confusion.

 

[CanadaRAM]

Other companies do make all in one laptop/desktops, its just that it is a niche market without the cachet of OSX

Eurocom all in ones

(scroll to the bottom)

HP Touchsmart

 

[zap2]

Another thing which doesn't make sense to me is the fact that the macbooks cost more per spec then the iMac. If the imac uses laptop components then it should be priced the same as the macbooks

The iMac is mostly desktop parts...but the Core2Duo (codenames Merom) is a chip use mostly in laptops.


The other part(GPU, harddrive ect) help cut down the cost..also it lacks a battery like the MacBook(minus the small internal one that keep things like the clock running when your iMac is of, but most computer have those)

 

[dpaanlka]

I mean How come macs don't have towers like Pcs.

Oh but they do! And they're equally awesome.

Not only do they make them, but they're gigantic! And made almost entirely of very thick aluminum. Most third party retailers don't carry them as for a majority of users they're prohibitively expensive. Base models start at $2,200 and fully configured towers will fall into $13,000 or more (not including displays).