Rating: 
Summary: I'm happy...
Review: I admit to being a little skeptical . . .the reviews have been almost too enthusiastic. Is there anything this machine doesn't do? Well, after using it for a weekend, I can say it's a great purchase (thought I take issue w/ another reviewer below who calls this machine "inexpensive"). It's an outstanding value for all that you get - great large screen, fast, super easy to use (not vastly different from Windows, if you're switching and you're concerned about such things), and world class software included (IPhoto, Itunes, IDVD, Garageband, etc). Garageband was the coolest surprise - it's a blast if you're into music. The only additional things you need to buy are Applecare extended warranty (you're crazy not to buy this on a $1800 machine) and the only things you'll want to buy are .Mac (webhosting and virus protection, among other things, on special now for $69 if you buy at Apple.com or store), and Microsoft Office (for better or worse, it's what the world runs on). MAC MS Office is fully interchangable w/ the Windows version, so bringing homes applications from my Windows PC at work to work on at home is not a problem. My only small complaint is that Itunes doesn't work easily w/ my Rio MP3. After several hours I made it work, but ITunes doesn't want to know you if you're not using an IPod. IPods are great, but don't lend themselves to distance running due to skipping. Get this machine and a fast internet connection, you won't be disappointed. Unless you have applications you must run that are PC based only, I don't know why anyone would buy a PC over this beauty. Two Notes:
1) If you have a student or teacher in the family, Apple.com and retail stores offer great educator discounts. 2) The website and Amazon customer service says the computer is shipping w/ the older "Jaguar" operating system. Mine however came w/ the reportedly superior "Panther" OS. A relief b/c the
Rating:
Summary: I am so glad I got this machine
Review: I've been told by my irritated PC using friends that I'm a walking switch ad, but you know what? I don't care. I'd had computers going waaaay back to 1981 with a TRS-80 model 3 with cassette tape drive. I knew about computers, but they never seemed to deliver on their promise of improving our lives. I lived with PC's up 'til last year and finally threw in the towel. Last year, I realized that I'd spent more time trying to get the various hardware and software to "play nice" with one another than actually doing anything useful. Fast forward to the recent past. I pay the rather hefty sum (yikes!) and I take my sexy new iMac home. I uncrate this thing and within ten minutes of power up I'm already burning a CD to iTunes. Cool! I didn't like the mouse that was supplied, so I plugged in my Microsoft (gasp!) optical mouse and away I went. Now, you need to realize that I plugged the mouse in while the computer was running and it just worked! If I tried that with one of my PC's, best case it'd just crash. Often as not, it'd necessitate a trip to the grocery store for Doritos, etc. One thing that my PC buddies like to remind me about (other than cost) is that my iMac isn't the last word in gaming performance. To that I say... so? If you're a hardcore gamer, the Mac platform isn't for you. For EVERY OTHER application, my little iMac can go toe to toe with a PC and usually come out on top. I use it for photoshop, I've used it to master my LP records and language tapes to CD and MP3. These are things that I dreamed of doing with my PC's but was never able to. I now have an iPod and I absolutely love it. I use my computer every day and don't regret the investment even the slightest bit. I play games (Warcraft III, Diablo II and Everquest) once in a while. I watch movies on the widescreen monitor, and on and on... Yes it's expensive, it's not for members of the upgrade of the month club, but if you want a computer that behaves like a reliable appliance and allows you to do the things you want to do without an IT certification, BUY A FREAKIN' MAC! Oh, and another thing. In several months, the computer has not crashed. Not once. Ever.
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