Hi. I'm thinking about buying the top of the line new iMac as an all in one entertainment system. Some of my queries relate to issues like:
1) Watching high definition tv and recording it: Is the screen adequate for stuff like this, like refresh rate? What is the refresh rate in any case? Is there software to record more than one HD programme at the same time with the ability to watch a third HD programme, without recording it? Good product for that? Do you need a special aerial to watch HD TV and does it have to be an external aerial? Good product for that? And what is Apple's dead pixel policy for the iMac?
2) Can you connect a Playstation 3 to the iMac and play it or watch Blu Ray movies with it? Again, is the screen adequate to showing games/movies without lag for fast action or movie explosions etc? What devices do you need to hook up a PS3?
3) I live in Australia. Is it possible to use the US Apple store to buy/rent tv shows/movies if the Australian site doesn't offer this service? If not, can iMacs download and run programmes like bittorrent? Are there online tv guides that you can subscribe to to record tv shows in advance?
SECURITY issues:
1) Is Apple's software adequate for your privacy re your online activities or do you need third party software to properly delete files or documents? If yes, what? I'm not a sophisticated user of computers and could be sharing the computer, so I'm also wondering about the ability of other people to download malicious software without your approval and steps you can take to avoid this.
2) I don't mind playing online poker and some sites would require you to download their software with a PC emulator. Does iMac come with one or are there better 3rd party options? Steps to take if you run a PC emulator? If you don't use a PC emulator and just stick to Apple products, do you have to take any precautions before you go online?
3) If your iMac is stolen, and you happen to be logged in at the time, what are the security/privacy issues and how easy is it to trace your computer if it goes online?
Lastly, I've got a Set Top Box for recording tv shows. Is it possible to transfer saved shows from that to the iMac? The STB is hard drive only. Plus, I've saved some music videos from PC onto a USB storage disc. Is that readable by the iMac? And can iMacs read Word and XL files via its own software or do you need Office for Mac to do that?
Thanks for any help.
1) Watching high definition tv and recording it: Is the screen adequate for stuff like this, like refresh rate? What is the refresh rate in any case? Is there software to record more than one HD programme at the same time with the ability to watch a third HD programme, without recording it? Good product for that? Do you need a special aerial to watch HD TV and does it have to be an external aerial? Good product for that? And what is Apple's dead pixel policy for the iMac?
2) Can you connect a Playstation 3 to the iMac and play it or watch Blu Ray movies with it? Again, is the screen adequate to showing games/movies without lag for fast action or movie explosions etc? What devices do you need to hook up a PS3?
3) I live in Australia. Is it possible to use the US Apple store to buy/rent tv shows/movies if the Australian site doesn't offer this service? If not, can iMacs download and run programmes like bittorrent? Are there online tv guides that you can subscribe to to record tv shows in advance?
SECURITY issues:
1) Is Apple's software adequate for your privacy re your online activities or do you need third party software to properly delete files or documents? If yes, what? I'm not a sophisticated user of computers and could be sharing the computer, so I'm also wondering about the ability of other people to download malicious software without your approval and steps you can take to avoid this.
2) I don't mind playing online poker and some sites would require you to download their software with a PC emulator. Does iMac come with one or are there better 3rd party options? Steps to take if you run a PC emulator? If you don't use a PC emulator and just stick to Apple products, do you have to take any precautions before you go online?
3) If your iMac is stolen, and you happen to be logged in at the time, what are the security/privacy issues and how easy is it to trace your computer if it goes online?
Lastly, I've got a Set Top Box for recording tv shows. Is it possible to transfer saved shows from that to the iMac? The STB is hard drive only. Plus, I've saved some music videos from PC onto a USB storage disc. Is that readable by the iMac? And can iMacs read Word and XL files via its own software or do you need Office for Mac to do that?
Thanks for any help.