Desktop & Notebook Computers: Apple Computer Apple iMac Desktop with 17" M8935LL/A (1.0-GHz PowerPC G4, 256 MB RAM, 80 GB Hard Drive, DVD-RW/CD-RW Drive)

Average Rating:

I won't rehash what other folks have already written. What also makes the iMac worth the money is the software that's packaged (free) with the deal. Off the shelf it's sold as iLife and it includes iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto. Trust me - you won't have to buy additional software for the iMac unless you're computing for a living. The included Appleworks suite is all you need for most publishing applications. And with the included browser, calendar, address book you're set for email and web browsing.

Set up was a cinch - I timed it - 10 minutes flat and I was surfing the web and had my email set up. Of course I already had an ISP service and I'm a bit of geek, but it was remarkably easy.

The only reason I can't give the iMac a perfect 5 is because of the pitiful mouse and keyboard. I've been spoiled with my ergonomic keyboard from Microsoft and their intellipoint trackball mouse. Once you've used these you can't go back to anything less. I really hoped I could avoid sending more money to Bill, but ...

One other note of caution - please note that only one of the memory slots is accessable to the consumer. Therefore if you need 1 GB of RAM you will have to have the 256 MB RAM chip replaced by an authorized service center. Otherwise the most RAM you can install yourself is 512 MB in the user accessible slot bringing the total to 768 MB. Not an issue for most users, but something to consider. The only way around this is to buy direct from the Apple store. The other bonus from buying direct from Apple is that the units from the store have Bluetooth built in! The downside here is delivery time - it took almost 2 weeks to receive my iMac from California to North Carolina. A wait made even more agonizing by the fact that my iPod was delivered in two days from Amazon!

All in all, an excellent all around computer, especially for those interested in multimedia, though you can spend half as much on a speedier Dell system. But that's not the point, is it? The iMac has the grace, elegance and--dare I say it--innovation to keep fans happy. Worth considering if the price tag doesn't scare you off.

I needed to upgrade from an original iMac and was thinking of getting an eMac, a machine I use at work. But when you consider that the 17" flat panel screen alone was recently costing a grand, it's hard not to be seduced by this powered-up version at a lower price.

But a few things I've discovered already about the screen: 1. the extra width doesn't result in larger images--it just gives you more desk space for viewing more files and programs simultaneously; 2. the screen requires a lot of positioning and repositioning to make the contrast line up with a user's changing sightlines--I get the best clarity and contrast with the screen placed above my eyes, not a comfortable position; 3. I just don't sense as much depth, warmth, color saturation, and vibrancy from the flat-panel screen as from a conventional CRT. It's more Marlene Dietrich than Marilyn Monroe (perhaps a plus to anyone who tends to become overly attached to their computer).

As for OSX, it's attractive, tidy, smart--and a bit of a pain. If you're someone who is messy but knows where his stuff is, you may want to stay with OS9. OSX is like the cleaning lady who comes into your office while you're away and puts everything into order. It may look good, but now try to find that report you filed 3rd folder from the left.

Apple did add a welcome feature to this edition of the flat-panel iMac--a "Sound In" input--not exactly a gain since the same feature was on my original iMac. Also, check your new machine for hardware problems. My "crash proof" OSX has required me to restart the machine time and again in the first 3 days of usage. If all of this doesn't result in a separation, Marlene and I eventually may be able to work out a mutual understanding.