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Keep iMac Alu 20" or Buy Previous iMac 20"

E

eric.blair

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 26, 2007
43
13
So I know many people have asked similar a question...

I just bought the new Alu iMac 20" 2.4GHz C2Duo... I'm coming from a previous generation iMac 17" C2Duo. I DO notice the color gradient, but it's also present on the 17" that I still own. I calibrated the display and it's not nearly as bad and doesn't bother that much at all. I will use the iMac mainly for administrative stuff... and as a node for Distributed Audio Processing from a G5.

Originally, I was worried about the gradient and the glossy screen. But the increase in performance and ability to use a full 4GB of RAM (as opposed to 3GB in the previous iMacs) made me consider the upgrade. Also, I am selling the 17inch iMac so for a few hundred dollars I was able to do the upgrade. Also, I have to say, I do like the design of the new Alu iMac much better.

So here's my problem... while the glossy screen and the gradient issue doesn't really bother me... I hate the fact that I'm paying for this iMac and screen is crap compared to the previous 20". Again, I am coming from a 17" and it's basically the same quality but it's obviously lower quality than the previous 20"... so....

...the question is... Do I return the Alu iMac and buy a previous generation 20" with a slower CPU and only 3GB of RAM? or just deal with the knowledge that Apple has lowered the display quality of the new iMac? and keep the Alu one?
 
Yeah, that's a personal decision. If you were doing specific work that required specific applications that only a certain model could satisfy then the forums are the right place to come to for advice.
At this point it's a personal preference.
One note, ram is really necessary with todays apps and the older iMacs only support 3GB so just on ram alone I would keep the alu iMac, but again, it's a personal decision.
 
eric.blair said:
Do I return the Alu iMac and buy a previous generation 20" with a slower CPU and only 3GB of RAM? or just deal with the knowledge that Apple has lowered the display quality of the new iMac?
Click to expand...
Neither! Do the Mac users of the world a favor and escalate the issue. Call tech support and press for an answer on whether they plan to fix the gradient problem ...and WHEN? If tech support will admit that your iMac is "defective," you have fulfilled Apple's 30-day DOA notification requirement -- and then Apple has the obligation to come up with a brand new, non-defective replacement. That's what they promised you in their sales contract:

http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/salespolicies.html


..."you get what you pay for" -- but only if you're willing to demand it,

LK
 
Leon Kowalski said:
Neither! Do the Mac users of the world a favor and escalate the issue. Call tech support and press for an answer on whether they plan to fix the gradient problem ...and WHEN? If tech support will admit that your iMac is "defective," you have fulfilled Apple's 30-day DOA notification requirement -- and then Apple has the obligation to come up with a brand new, non-defective replacement. That's what they promised you in their sales contract:

http://store.apple.com/Catalog/US/Images/salespolicies.html


..."you get what you pay for" -- but only if you're willing to demand it,

LK
Click to expand...

Well that's just it, as much as I'd love to do this... I don't believe there is a model of this iMac that 20" that DOESN'T have the gradient. Thus, unless they'd be willing to GIVE me a free upgrade to a 24" ... the 20" is where'd I stay... OR get the previous gen 20" of course...
 
eric.blair said:
Well that's just it, as much as I'd love to do this... I don't believe there is a model of this iMac that 20" that DOESN'T have the gradient. Thus, unless they'd be willing to GIVE me a free upgrade to a 24" ... the 20" is where'd I stay... OR get the previous gen 20" of course...
Click to expand...

It's definitely person preference, I really hated the design on the old iMacs, imo it looks like a toy and not a tool for professionals where as I think the new aluminium fits this nicely.

So as i don't like the old iMacs and the new 20" screen sucks i kind of only leaves me one option.
 
gormond said:
It's definitely person preference, I really hated the design on the old iMacs, imo it looks like a toy and not a tool for professionals where as I think the new aluminium fits this nicely.

So as i don't like the old iMacs and the new 20" screen sucks i kind of only leaves me one option.
Click to expand...

I totally agree with you there. At first I didn't like the black border on the new Alu iMacs, and liked the "single piece" look of the previous white imacs. But now I have to say, I love the new Alu iMacs look in comparison to the white.

So yeah, a personal decision... better looking iMac with crappy screen, or white iMac (not too ugly) with great screen (and for less money). I just can't see spending the extra money for the 24" (new alu) cause I really don't need the screen size.

And again, as much as I'd love to duke it out with Apple... there's not going to be a better 20" screen.
 
Just can't let it go--

eric.blair said:
I totally agree with you there. At first I didn't like the black border on the new Alu iMacs, and liked the "single piece" look of the previous white imacs. But now I have to say, I love the new Alu iMacs look in comparison to the white.
Click to expand...

I have bought and returned a 24" alum and a 20" alum iMac. In the cae of the 24" I thought it silly-big. Moving cursor from one side to the other a half-day proposition. OK, not. But you get the idea and I couldn't get comfortable with it.

So I bought the 20" alum iMac and had it here side-by-side with my 20" white iMac 2GHz Core Duo with the fancy LG LCD.

Well, the new iMac screen looked less good by a considerable margin. The gradient (dark to light top to bottom) was very see-able, even after some adjustments. And it wasn't just on a plain background. A font that was clearly BOLDFACE at the top was not all that BF when it was at the bottom of the screen. Pronounced, is how I'd describe the gradient. You could certainly use it, but you'd never not notice the washed out bottom of the LCD.

And then there's this--looking at them side-by-side the white one, because of the uniformity of its face, looked clearly better to me. THe alum one, with the black band around the screen, looks kind of cheesy. I wish they'd run the alum right up to the edge of the visible screen, as on the white.

Also, the alum is going to get marked up a lot more readily, I think, with scratches you can see, and bumps and dents. I've had the white 20" for a 15 months and you wipe it off it looks as good as new. If you look closely you can find scratches, but it ain't easy.

Just my 2 cents.
 
fbx said:
I have bought and returned a 24" alum and a 20" alum iMac. In the cae of the 24" I thought it silly-big. Moving cursor from one side to the other a half-day proposition. OK, not. But you get the idea and I couldn't get comfortable with it.

So I bought the 20" alum iMac and had it here side-by-side with my 20" white iMac 2GHz Core Duo with the fancy LG LCD.

Well, the new iMac screen looked less good by a considerable margin. The gradient (dark to light top to bottom) was very see-able, even after some adjustments. And it wasn't just on a plain background. A font that was clearly BOLDFACE at the top was not all that BF when it was at the bottom of the screen. Pronounced, is how I'd describe the gradient. You could certainly use it, but you'd never not notice the washed out bottom of the LCD.

And then there's this--looking at them side-by-side the white one, because of the uniformity of its face, looked clearly better to me. THe alum one, with the black band around the screen, looks kind of cheesy. I wish they'd run the alum right up to the edge of the visible screen, as on the white.

Also, the alum is going to get marked up a lot more readily, I think, with scratches you can see, and bumps and dents. I've had the white 20" for a 15 months and you wipe it off it looks as good as new. If you look closely you can find scratches, but it ain't easy.

Just my 2 cents.
Click to expand...

fbx,

Thanks so much for your input... helps a lot especially since you have a 20-inch White iMac to compare it to.

I still haven't decided for sure just yet, but I'm actually leaning towards the Alu iMac based on the performance gain, and use of a full 4GBs of RAM. And although the previous gen iMac has a much higher quality screen, it's basically the same as my current 17-inch screen... and it doesn't bother me enough. Again, what bothers me is the fact that Apple is putting the lower quality displays in the 20 inch iMacs. But alas, I may have to concede.

Thanks again for your input... please keep it coming...
 
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