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Why purchase an imac?

MacBH928

MacBH928

macrumors G3
Original poster
May 17, 2008
8,910
4,021
All my life I was a dedicated desktop user.
I hate laptops, the mini display, the heat, the dead battery, the stupid way of controlling the mouse.

Desktop is big, more HD space, more ram, more screen space, work horse.

But things have changed. I don't use my computer much, I used to work it as much as I can. Today I find browsing and using simple software is the way I go.
I was going to buy a 24 imac , but then I thought the mobility of the laptop is worth more.

Today , external hard discs can be bought cheap for extra space, ram is enough, your macbook can be hooked to an external monitor(Cheap nowdays).

My question is, other than buying mac pro for top users, who would want to buy the imac?
Can some one tell me if I will be making a mistake by going the laptop way?
Is the laptop not as reliable? anything I am missing? is there an advantage to the imac other than more disc space?
even the macmini can do so much nowdays, is there something i am missing from the imac?

I appreciate the input
 
Someone that wants a mac not as expensive as the Mac pro but a little more powerful than the Mac Mini.

Many people want to have bigger screens than 13-in ones so they decide to buy a desktop. But I wouldn't buy one :)
 
kingmohd84 said:
My question is, other than buying mac pro for top users, who would want to buy the imac?
Click to expand...

The iMac slots in between the Macbook Pros and the Mac Pros. I wanted more processor speed and a better graphics card than the entry level MBP, but didn't want to spend another $700 to get the MBP with the faster processor and better graphics card. Plus, I wanted a 24" display for video and photo editing. For me, the iMac was a cost-effective solution to get the display I wanted, the processor I wanted and the graphics card I wanted.

Also, as I already have a company-provided laptop (a Dell Latitude D600 *shudder*), I didn't need my desktop to also be portable.

If I wanted portability, I'd probably go for the 15"/2.66 GHz MBP and a 24" display with keyboard and mouse.
 
kingmohd84 said:
who would want to buy the imac?
Click to expand...
For people who don't need expandability, upgradability & portability.

Simply an all-in-one machine without the future-proofing power of the Mac Pro & MacBook Pro.

New iMac design?... New processors?... New graphic card?... Just "throw the old and get the new" lifestyle.
 
kingmohd84 said:
, who would want to buy the imac?
Click to expand...

About a zillion people. That is kind of a dumb question. Your logic if aimed at yourself, but that doesnt apply to the rest of us. It would be like me saying "who would want to buy a car? A moped has many more advantages."
 
I chose iMac because I want a big, nice screen. If 17" MBP would be cheaper, I'd go for that, but I'm not paying 2500€ for a laptop. I discovered that my PC laptop was always on the desk, so I don't need portability.

If you want to sit on the couch and browse internet and move it around go for laptop, but otherwise iMac is the way
 
Thanks for everyone's input.
The question: Who would want to buy an imac?
is more like, what are the reasons to buy an imac
its not "Are there actually people who buy the imac?"

I think i am going to get a laptop, and I was wondering if I am going to make a mistake, because I always went the desktop way.
 
kingmohd84 said:
Thanks for everyone's input.
The question: Who would want to buy an imac?
is more like, what are the reasons to buy an imac
its not "Are there actually people who buy the imac?"

I think i am going to get a laptop, and I was wondering if I am going to make a mistake, because I always went the desktop way.
Click to expand...

You can always buy a monitor and hook it up to your laptop to make it a desktop.
 
I believe that the answer to "who would want to buy an iMac" of "someone who is not worried about future proofing" is an obsolete answer nowadays. At least for non-pros. Computers have gotten faster at a greater clip than new applications have driven the need for speed. A new iMac today is going to be a lot more "future proof" than an iMac 5 years ago.
 
czachorski said:
I believe that the answer to "who would want to buy an iMac" of "someone who is not worried about future proofing" is an obsolete answer nowadays. At least for non-pros. Computers have gotten faster at a greater clip than new applications have driven the need for speed. A new iMac today is going to be a lot more "future proof" than an iMac 5 years ago.
Click to expand...

That's true. Reading e-mail's won't be any faster in future, so new technology is mainly for professional users and gamers
 
kingmohd84 said:
Can some one tell me if I will be making a mistake by going the laptop way?
Click to expand...

You need to ask yourself if you are going to want mobility? I was going to buy a laptop to replace my desktop, but then decided hell, i want a desktop w/ a big nice screen, and not a laptop w/ a little screen, if it's mainly going to be used on a desk in one spot.

if you are the mobile type who likes to tap on the computer at the coffee shop down the street, then get a laptop. If you are not going mobile w/ your computer i'd suggest getting a desktop, be it iMac or other version. Personally I'm going for the mac mini setup.

I just ordered a mac mini!!! hopefully going to get an ACD also, but not until I sell my other monitors from my PC days. anyone want to buy a HP1955 or a Samsung Syncmaster 172x (narrow and slim) on the cheap?
 
If all you are doing with your laptop is checking email etc. then why even bother? since I can check email etc. on my mobile phone I saw no reason to buy a laptop. I honestly feel that with all the trouble and turmoil in the world today its good to be unconnected for a few hours, leave the laptop at home and enjoy a night out with some good old fashion talking and laughing with friends not texting from the cafe.
 
dwl017 said:
I honestly feel that with all the trouble and turmoil in the world today its good to be unconnected for a few hours, leave the laptop at home and enjoy a night out with some good old fashion talking and laughing with friends not texting from the cafe.
Click to expand...
Kickass advice Dude !! People are becoming way too Nerdy and need to "unplug" once in a while !!
 
Mike in Kansas said:
The iMac slots in between the Macbook Pros and the Mac Pros. I wanted more processor speed and a better graphics card than the entry level MBP, but didn't want to spend another $700 to get the MBP with the faster processor and better graphics card. Plus, I wanted a 24" display for video and photo editing. For me, the iMac was a cost-effective solution to get the display I wanted, the processor I wanted and the graphics card I wanted.
Click to expand...

+1
 
I bought an iMac (used thank you) because I wanted something with a discreet video card and that is not an option without buying a Mac Pro.

If you buy one, get the 3 year extended warranty and be prepared to ALWAYS take it in when it fails. Mine has failed twice within 3 years and I am soon out of warranty which means I will probably upgrade to last years 3.06 8800gts version unless the 4850 model pans out.
 
Pika said:
For people who don't need expandability, upgradability & portability.

Simply an all-in-one machine without the future-proofing power of the Mac Pro & MacBook Pro.

New iMac design?... New processors?... New graphic card?... Just "throw the old and get the new" lifestyle.
Click to expand...

Surely the MBP is no more future proof than the iMac.
 
1.More power and more storage for less cost than a Laptop.
2.Semi portability (you can carry it easily between rooms after all, and with something like an iLugger you can even travel with it)
3.Gorgeous 24" screen
4.It offers good performance and will continue to do so for the next 4-5 years (considering the optimizations that the next OS-es like Snow Leopard will bring).
 
I just bought the 24" 2.66 iMac. For me, it's cheaper than a Macbook, has a huge screen, more hard drive space, and is perfect for what I use it for (music, movies, dvd). I have an iPod touch too and that pretty much does everything I did on my old Dell laptop anyway (music, AIM, games). I guess I feel like I have both: a desktop to store and watch movies and an iPod touch for laptop uses! :)
 
The monitor on my new 24' iMac blows any thing else I have ever owned away. The monitor is gorgeous. That in itself was my deciding factor over the Macbook Pro. Both are nice but I can watch my iMac sitting on my bed from the desk because the screen is so big. I wouldn't do this with my laptop because I was scared I would fall asleep and knock the laptop on the floor.

I also had a laptop before but 99% of the time it was on my desk. So now I have the iMac on the desk and the laptop if I ever want a computer somewhere else.

Every person who has come over to my house falls in love with the power of the machine and the beauty of the screen.
 
Pika said:
For people who don't need expandability, upgradability & portability.

Simply an all-in-one machine without the future-proofing power of the Mac Pro & MacBook Pro.

New iMac design?... New processors?... New graphic card?... Just "throw the old and get the new" lifestyle.
Click to expand...

What is so "future proof" about the MBP? Most of the iMacs have better specs than a MBP, and I seriously doubt that you'll go swapping a CPU in a MBP..
 
I want the power of at least a macbook pro and a large monitor ... not willing to pay that much for the 2 so i bought a new top-end iMac
 
Just look at the specs:

$1299 buys you a 13" screen with 2.0ghz C2D cpu, 2gigs RAM, 160gb hd 5400rpm, 9400M graphics, 2 usb ports,

A $100 less buys you an iMac with a 20" screen, 2.66ghz C2D cpu, 2 gigs RAM, 320gb 720rpm hd, 9400M graphics, 5 USB ports, FW800 port, better speakers, mouse, keyboard, ....

But a laptop buys you portability.

Desktops are also more reliable and the AppleCAre is $100 less.
 
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