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PC user wanting to switch to iMac - pros cons and 21.5 vs 27?

J

janda

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Mar 17, 2010
1
0
Ok so I have used Macs before friends and at college. I am kind of tried of the usual PC giving out after about 2 years. I got a Dell 530 a year ago and dont doubt it still works great but I hardly use it and have been using a laptop more. I am thinking of getting an imac. Does anyone have any opnions on it they are really worth the extra $$? Are they truly better than a PC?
Also I have found I can probably get a better deal on one from ebay. I have been trying to decide between the 21.5 or 27". I dont game - really just edit some personal pics, surf the web, listen to music, use itunes, etc. Also would have the computer in an extra sitting room/office and would be good for my wife and buds to watch DVDs on when my buds are gaming or watching sports.

So any help, advice, etc would be great!!!
 
Here are some threads about the 21.5" vs 27" question.

I can't answer if a Mac is better than a Windows PC, spec wise, as it comes down to the Operating System (OS), and many members here seem to prefer the Mac OS.

Also have a look at the following links, as the information presented there might be helpful in your future endeavours into Mac OS X and could clear up initial confusion and may even prevent harm to your system or your files.

http://www.apple.com/support/switch101/ - text

http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/ - videos

http://www.apple.com/support/mac101/ - text

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1343-keyboard - shortcuts
 
I switch over not to long ago and there nothing to get used to, except everything works better and the software's great. I haven't had to use windows since i got my iMac a couple of months ago and probably never will. If you can afford the 27 get it, you'll love it. Ill never buy anything with windows on it ever again.
 
The best value iMac IMO is the 27" Core i7 @ 2.8GHz, 4GB (8GB if you need) RAM, 1 TB HD, AppleCare.
It'll look beautiful, particularly with the 16:9 ratio, nice for movies :eek:
 
Remember that you're paying for an all-in-one computer when you buy an imac, and spec wise and price wise, at least in canada, the low end imac's are priced at about the same with similar specs to other all-in-one computers.

If you already have a monitor and keyboard and mouse ready to use, and you really want to try a mac on for size, I'd suggest grabbing a mini. It's not as powerful as an imac, but you probably don't need a terrible lot of power to do the things you've suggested.
 
I wouldn't buy from eBay considering the screen issues with the latest iMac models. I too had the same debate for the 21.5 against 27 iMac, and went for the 21.5

I also use it as a screen for DVDs and find it fine for that. For my office, where my desk is positioned, a 27" screen would have been too big.

Good luck in your choice :)
 
Go for a 27", you will not be disappointed. If you do the 21.5" you will like it and regret that you didn't go bigger.

I had my first Mac in 2002. Gifted from a friend. It was a G4 cube that took a lightning strike. I was cynical about Mac's. But, after fixing it and using the thing for a week I fell in love. It was underpowered and not the most nimble computer in the world but man, the operating system and the design of the little beast had me hooked.

I used to build high end gaming PC's for myself and friends. By 2002 they became really inconvenient and I got really sick of having to help people that insisted on using internet exploder after I had told them to use Firefox. My life has been pop-up, spyware, and virus free for the last 8 years.

Sure, iMac's are not l33t gaming machines but, I work during the day. The last thing I feel like doing when I get home is to run Ad-Aware and update anti-virus software. With OS X I don't have to bother with that. The computer is not a device that needs constant tweaking or care. I just use it when I want to and it gives me no crap.

That's the reason I like OS X. I also happen to be a fan of the designs that Apple come up with. I remember spending entire afternoons laying underneath the computer room in my house setting up all of the cable management and labeling cables. Mac's have simplified all of that and it gets better with every design. Even the Power Mac that I had a while back was better designed that any PC I had ever owned (even though it weighed 55lbs).

Anyways, I better shut up. iMac, and go large please.

Ready for the haters to flame me...
 
Go BIG!

The best value iMac IMO is the 27" Core i7 @ 2.8GHz, 4GB (8GB if you need) RAM, 1 TB HD, AppleCare.

This is very good advice. Although the 27" screen looked big at first (I moved up from a 20" PC screen), now it isn't that big. It IS nice to be able to get three or more programs on screen at the same time. :)
 
If you're using the laptop more than the desktop why waste money on another desktop? When you buy a Mac you're not paying for hardware, you're paying for design. I totally respect that. But if it's OSX you're after get the Snow Leopard Upgrade DVD for $29.00 and install it on your laptop/desktop.

:)
 
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