iMac.... White or Alum?

[shoulin333]

Well i have been running only Leo on my H@ckPro, and it runs awesome, but has a few drawbacks to the real thing..

so i am looking to sell my gaming computer since i don't game anymore and buy a 24" iMac to replace it.


I previously bought an Alum iMac and returned it, because i needed something that could handle gaming... however with 20 units this semister and everything else in life i dont have time for it a pc / h@ckPro, or want the hassle..

so my question is, since graphics doesnt matter to me, is the screens on the White last gen iMacs way better than the Alum? also where is a good place to buy refurb/new iMac's from other than Apple's Website if i decide to go that way?

Thanks in advance

 

[Theatrics]

I believe the white iMac has a matte screen which is more accurate in terms of color. I have the aluminum iMac so its a glossy display. I still do graphic design work but the colors can be a bit off if you arn't looking at the display straight on. The pros with a glossy screen though is, it tends too look more elegant and since its glass, its more eco freindly.
This looks like a good one on ebay, if your going to go with a white one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/White-iMac-20-2...yZ140066QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[errol]

Go for the alum. You can put more RAM in there, and personally... I think they look better

 

[gorby]

I don't know if the white screens are 'better', but I suspect if there are any differences, they won't amount to anything more noticeable than the matte/glossy difference.


I can tell you this though, there definitely is a glare issue with the Alu glossy. I can say this with a lot more confidence now as my experience isn't limited to seeing the Alu in store anymore.

I have been using the Alu at work now every day, and I own the white (at home). I use it for photo/graphics. Lights will reflect off the screen, especially anywhere you have deep blacks. Despite all of the people I've read say that 'it's not a big issue', 'you won't really notice it'--- it is a big deal to me, and I notice it.


Other differences I've noticed:

-The White disc drive/slot is a lot better. I find that the Alu one doesn't spit the discs out far enough, among other things.
-The Alu may be quieter, but it's almost impossible for me to say as my home environment, I can test it in complete silence. Not so at work.

 

[stainlessliquid]

The 24" ones are the same. Its the 20" one you have to watch out for. The white 20" had an S-IPS lcd panel, the new 20" has a terrible TN panel.

Personally I would get the aluminum 24" inch over the white one, its more stylish and its faster, the glass would only really be a problem in an office or a bright room where you cant point it away from a window (keep the brightness maxed out to minimize ambient glare). I never had a problem with my old aperture grille CRT. But for the 20" I would glady pay more for a slow white one than pay less for the fastest most decked out aluminum one simply because of the TN panel.

 

[snickelfritz]

Well i have been running only Leo on my H@ckPro, and it runs awesome, but has a few drawbacks to the real thing..

so i am looking to sell my gaming computer since i don't game anymore and buy a 24" iMac to replace it.


I previously bought an Alum iMac and returned it, because i needed something that could handle gaming... however with 20 units this semister and everything else in life i dont have time for it a pc / h@ckPro, or want the hassle..

so my question is, since graphics doesnt matter to me, is the screens on the White last gen iMacs way better than the Alum? also where is a good place to buy refurb/new iMac's from other than Apple's Website if i decide to go that way?

Thanks in advance

The 24" Alu iMac is an excellent machine and will hold more RAM than the previous 24" iMac.
Color matching to commercially printed documents is virtually perfect on my 24" Alu iMac.

The 20" Alu iMac has a low quality display; this is a deal-breaker IMO.
I have no clue why Apple chose to do this; their 20" ACD is an excellent display.

 

[shoulin333]

thanks for all the responses,

i think i will go for the 24" alum then..

...hopefully my pc will sell quickly on ebay

 

[demarco]

from what i've heard in this thread, I'd go for the 24" white. I've been debating this for a while to either get a 24" white or 20" alu (my price range) and the stylish design and the glossy screen of an alu does not appeal to me. the ram difference is only one gig and unless you're pushing all your programs open at once, 3gb's is perfect for what I want. 2.16 vs 2.4 may only save you a few mins on render time.

Unfortunately for me, the refurb 24" is out of stock in the canada store.

 

[wmikulic]

The glare on the new iMac sucks.

 

[AlexisV]

The gloss on the new iMacs are great.