PC is the way of the future... (iMac suitable for me?)

[cfs]

...Hello forum,

Just kidding. Just trying to get you to read my post. Thanks for your responses to my other questions thus far. However, I have more before I buy my first Mac.

I am looking at a 20” iMac. The low end with 2gb instead of one. This is a big investment for me and I want to make sure I am doing the switch from a PC for the right reasons-not because of great advertising.

I use my computer to:

Surf the net.
Video chat.
Type in word.
Make home videos to burn on DVD to mail to in-laws.
Listen to music.
Watch dvd’s.
Watching online television shows.

I have a big concern about the switch. During my 2 week research I came across many who have been thankful because Apple Care saved them from saving $1,000 on a failed something or other. Is this common?

I had my last computer, which was a PC laptop for 5 years. I never did anything to it besides properly maintain it. In addition, I still have my Compaq desktop I bought in 1999 run. Granted it doesn’t do much besides surf the net and word, but it is still useful.

In your opinion, do you feel an iMac will get the job done that I need it to do for years to come? If not I guess I am stuck troubleshooting for hours, but saving some cash.

Thanks,
CFS

 

[Bosunsfate]

Buy the iMac. Walk away very happy. It does everything you describe and then some.

 

[harcosparky]

Buy the iMac. Walk away very happy. It does everything you describe and then some.

Over the last few years I have owned the following Macs/Apple Devices.

G4 15" Powerbook
G5 20" iMac
G5 Powermac
iPod Photo
60 Gig iPod Video
iPhone
Apple TV
24" Alu Intel iMac

Addtionally we have an iBook and a Macbook here that were bought new for my oldest son.

We had such good service out of them we went out and bought older used G4 Powermacs for my other two children, and also a second iMac.

Apple care is a good investment, I had it on the Powermac when I sold it there was a year left and it helped me get a premium price.

That being said, all the $$$$$ I have spent on Apple Care was money wasted because I have be fortunate in never needing repair.

You can buy Apple Care up until the day before your standard warranty expires. I have not yet bought it for the new iMac, and may not depending on how the year goes. If it does not need any repair in the first year, I may not get it, but then again I just might. It's a fairly small price for a lot of 'peace of mind '.

 

[MezicanGangxtah]

Yes imac seems like a fine choice for your needs.
Good luck with your decision.


By the way harcosparky noticed that in the list of things you have supposedly owned you say you have owned a powerbook G5? lol you must have a really close relation with Mr.steve jobs

 

[rowath]

"I use my computer to:

Surf the net.
Video chat.
Type in word.
Make home videos to burn on DVD to mail to in-laws.
Listen to music.
Watch dvd’s.
Watching online television shows."

Man, you are so ridiculously Apple's exact target audience for that iMac. Get it and don't look back. Everything that you use a computer for is much better on a Mac. There really is no downfall in getting one for what you'll be using the computer for.

 

[harcosparky]

Yes imac seems like a fine choice for your needs.
Good luck with your decision.


By the way harcosparky noticed that in the list of things you have supposedly owned you say you have owned a powerbook G5? lol you must have a really close relation with Mr.steve jobs

it's a list of units owned and it was a typo.

I know, I know ... typos are not allowed!


Actually the 15" Powerbook was my first Mac. After a year with that I was hooked.

I could post a pic of units currently owned and remove any doubt, but only if you need me to!

 

[barijazz]

...Hello forum,
Make home videos to burn on DVD to mail to in-laws.
CFS

I'm sorry I have to stop you there. You say you have been doing this on a PC? Please corroborate.

"I use my computer to:

Surf the net.
Video chat.
Type in word.
Make home videos to burn on DVD to mail to in-laws.
Listen to music.
Watch dvd’s.
Watching online television shows."

Man, you are so ridiculously Apple's exact target audience for that iMac. Get it and don't look back. Everything that you use a computer for is much better on a Mac. There really is no downfall in getting one for what you'll be using the computer for.

I swear to god how the hell have you been doing this on a PC I've been trying to figure this out for years.

 

[Leon Kowalski]

I am looking at a 20” iMac. The low end with 2gb instead of one.

Don't buy extra memory from Apple -- they charge $150 for one extra GB!
You can buy 4GB of top-quality RAM for under $100, or 1GB for about $25.
Also, buying a "Built To Order" iMac greatly reduces your exchange/return
options if you have a problem with the original unit.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...327823918+1328123897&name=DDR2+667+(PC2+5300)

During my 2 week research I came across many who have been thankful
because Apple Care saved them from saving $1,000 on a failed something
or other. Is this common?

Yes, unfortunately it is common. It's not so much a problem with hardware
reliability, but rather a problem with iMac's (inaccessible) all-in-one design.
Any out-of-warranty repair is very expensive -- and the proprietary Apple
parts (circuit boards, and such) are unavailable or ridiculously expensive
on the open market.

Don't buy the AppleCare warranty directly from Apple. You can purchase
exactly the same product online, at a substantial discount -- and you can
defer the expense until the standard 1-year warranty is about to expire.

http://www.lacomputercompany.com/cgi-bin/rpcart/index.cgi?command=dispitem&type=sku&sku=10123

...insurance is never an "investment." If you're lucky, it's a dead loss,

LK

 

[stevegmu]

1 GB RAM will be plenty for what you will be doing.

 

[harcosparky]

Buy the iMac it will do all you want it to do and more.

Apple Care will give you two things .....

1) Peace of mind for three years.

2) Higher resale value should you decide to sell after the original warranty is up and before 3 years.

The only Apple problems we have had in our years of ownership were user caused.

Coffee spilled in a Macbook cost us $39 for the cable that goes between the battery and system board. We installed that ourselves and saved $80 labor.

Apple Care does not cover that type of damage.

 

[cfs]

I'm sorry I have to stop you there. You say you have been doing this on a PC? Please corroborate.

PC's come with generic video editing software installed. I'm not saying it's good by anymeans, but video shows up on a television which was my ultimate goal. The problem was that doing a 20minute video took forever to edit and burn. Especially if I added transitions-then forget it.

 

[cfs]

Sorry, Duplicated entry and not sure how to delete.

 

[cfs]

Don't buy extra memory from Apple -- they charge $150 for one extra GB!
You can buy 4GB of top-quality RAM for under $100, or 1GB for about $25.
Also, buying a "Built To Order" iMac greatly reduces your exchange/return
options if you have a problem with the original unit.

Why does buying a built to order reduce options?

Isn't my AppleCare voided if I add a GB of Ram from someone other than Apple?

I am able to replace laptop screens and add ram to my other computer, but is the imac screen easily breakable?

Thanks,
-cfs

 

[czachorski]

Why does buying a built to order reduce options?

Isn't my AppleCare voided if I add a GB of Ram from someone other than Apple?

I am able to replace laptop screens and add ram to my other computer, but is the imac screen easily breakable?

Thanks,
-cfs

You will NOT void your warranty if you install 3rd party RAM. BTO reduces return/exchange options only in that you will have to ship a BTO unit back to Apple to exchange it for another one, whereas an off-the-shelf configuration could be exchanged in an Apple store, for example.