Comments on: New iMacs http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/ Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:55:56 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Mac Mini - The Forgotten Apple Child - SeanPAune.com http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/comment-page-1/#comment-35511 Mac Mini - The Forgotten Apple Child - SeanPAune.com Wed, 07 Jan 2009 03:13:47 +0000 http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/#comment-35511 [...] know I have said in the past that I was finally ready to switch to a Mac out of frustration, but this time I actually had my money at the ready… literally.  I had [...] [...] know I have said in the past that I was finally ready to switch to a Mac out of frustration, but this time I actually had my money at the ready… literally.  I had [...]

]]> By: Shari http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/comment-page-1/#comment-19715 Shari Wed, 08 Aug 2007 23:47:38 +0000 http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/#comment-19715 The fan on the MacBook, unfortunately, sounds like the Mac Mini - off or gangbusters. This doesn't bother me, honestly. I believe the video is integrated on my Mini as well (as it was on my PC until I installed a video card) but having a lot of RAM makes this not such an issue or not running too many apps at once. I think fans on computers bother you more than me but everyone's mileage varies. Personally, I think the MacBook Pros, like the Pro desktop line-up, are overpriced. I use my Mini to watch stuff on T.V. but it doesn't have a dedicated S-video out port (newer models do not have one either) so you need to buy a relatively cheap adapter from Apple and keep swapping off between the S-video adapter and a display connector when you want to use the computer itself. I think it's best to only use the Mini for watching stuff on T.V. if you're using it as a media hub (which is a good retirement function but Sean's a long way from that). I'm concerned given the cheap components that even the level of swapping I do is going to send the connection in the back over the edge at some point soon. The problem with the Mini is it's overpriced for what it is. A PC desktop in the same price range will out-pace it and a comparable one is cheaper. There's no problem with the iMac except those points I mentioned in my blog post which is that iMacs suffer from notebook woes and you're stuck with the display it comes with. Early reviews of the display state the contrast is subpar and it's too glossy and reflective. At least with a notebook Mac, you have the portability to compensate for the notebook limitations. With Minis and iMacs, you don't get the benefits but you still get the limits. The fan on the MacBook, unfortunately, sounds like the Mac Mini – off or gangbusters. This doesn’t bother me, honestly. I believe the video is integrated on my Mini as well (as it was on my PC until I installed a video card) but having a lot of RAM makes this not such an issue or not running too many apps at once. I think fans on computers bother you more than me but everyone’s mileage varies. Personally, I think the MacBook Pros, like the Pro desktop line-up, are overpriced.

I use my Mini to watch stuff on T.V. but it doesn’t have a dedicated S-video out port (newer models do not have one either) so you need to buy a relatively cheap adapter from Apple and keep swapping off between the S-video adapter and a display connector when you want to use the computer itself. I think it’s best to only use the Mini for watching stuff on T.V. if you’re using it as a media hub (which is a good retirement function but Sean’s a long way from that). I’m concerned given the cheap components that even the level of swapping I do is going to send the connection in the back over the edge at some point soon.

The problem with the Mini is it’s overpriced for what it is. A PC desktop in the same price range will out-pace it and a comparable one is cheaper. There’s no problem with the iMac except those points I mentioned in my blog post which is that iMacs suffer from notebook woes and you’re stuck with the display it comes with. Early reviews of the display state the contrast is subpar and it’s too glossy and reflective.

At least with a notebook Mac, you have the portability to compensate for the notebook limitations. With Minis and iMacs, you don’t get the benefits but you still get the limits.

]]> By: Roy http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/comment-page-1/#comment-19707 Roy Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:19:01 +0000 http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/#comment-19707 Also, you might want to consider the Mac Mini if you have a HDTV with DVI. You can watch downloaded movies on your TV. That's what I want to do and was waiting for the new Mac Mini upgrade but without the 802.11n I'm now reconsidering. Also, you might want to consider the Mac Mini if you have a HDTV with DVI. You can watch downloaded movies on your TV. That’s what I want to do and was waiting for the new Mac Mini upgrade but without the 802.11n I’m now reconsidering.

]]> By: Roy http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/comment-page-1/#comment-19706 Roy Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:17:13 +0000 http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/#comment-19706 I would actually not recommend a Macbook. I had one (black) for about a week and sold it to my friend. He wanted to buy it from me and I wanted to upgrade to a MacBookPro so it worked out. The problem with the Macbook is that the graphic memory shares the RAM so if you are running any kind of graphic intensive app it will slow down the computer. Also, the Macbook fan has 2 settings. Off and Full blast. It was so noisy whenever I ran Windows with Parallels. May not bother you but it drove me crazy. I would recommend an iMac or MacBookPro. I have the first G5 iMac and it was plagued with problems, bulging and oozing capacitors and noisy power unit. I had to replace the mother board and the power unit. Now it works fine and have not had any problems for the last 2 years. The iMac is very quiet. This new iteration may have some problems, we'll soon find out. I would actually not recommend a Macbook. I had one (black) for about a week and sold it to my friend. He wanted to buy it from me and I wanted to upgrade to a MacBookPro so it worked out. The problem with the Macbook is that the graphic memory shares the RAM so if you are running any kind of graphic intensive app it will slow down the computer. Also, the Macbook fan has 2 settings. Off and Full blast. It was so noisy whenever I ran Windows with Parallels. May not bother you but it drove me crazy.

I would recommend an iMac or MacBookPro. I have the first G5 iMac and it was plagued with problems, bulging and oozing capacitors and noisy power unit. I had to replace the mother board and the power unit. Now it works fine and have not had any problems for the last 2 years. The iMac is very quiet. This new iteration may have some problems, we’ll soon find out.

]]> By: Shari http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/comment-page-1/#comment-19705 Shari Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:29:24 +0000 http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/#comment-19705 I agree with Roy that, if you're going to write about Macs, you should actually have one and know what it's like. If you've got the scratch, I'd go for a notebook model since Apple notebooks are better than PC ones. Unless you play games, you should be fine with a MacBook (rather than a MacBook Pro). The desktops are lovely, of course, but I can't say that you get better value for your money on a Mac desktop than on a PC one while I can say with some certainty that a low end Mac notebook will beat a low end PC notebook's pants off. I agree with Roy that, if you’re going to write about Macs, you should actually have one and know what it’s like. If you’ve got the scratch, I’d go for a notebook model since Apple notebooks are better than PC ones. Unless you play games, you should be fine with a MacBook (rather than a MacBook Pro).

The desktops are lovely, of course, but I can’t say that you get better value for your money on a Mac desktop than on a PC one while I can say with some certainty that a low end Mac notebook will beat a low end PC notebook’s pants off.

]]> By: Roy http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/comment-page-1/#comment-19689 Roy Wed, 08 Aug 2007 02:53:23 +0000 http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/#comment-19689 Well, unlike Microsoft, Apple OSX will be affordable. About $100. So I would just go and buy a new iMac right now, upgrade the OS later. I have a 20" but if I bought another iMac I would get the 24" because of the high res 1900X1600. But I have that on my 17" MacBookPro at the moment so I'm not likely to get one right away. Well, unlike Microsoft, Apple OSX will be affordable. About $100. So I would just go and buy a new iMac right now, upgrade the OS later. I have a 20″ but if I bought another iMac I would get the 24″ because of the high res 1900X1600. But I have that on my 17″ MacBookPro at the moment so I’m not likely to get one right away.

]]> By: Sean P. Aune http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/comment-page-1/#comment-19688 Sean P. Aune Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:07:32 +0000 http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/#comment-19688 Yes, I am looking heavily at the $1499 20" with an upgrade to 2GB of RAM since I plan to run Parallels. And yes, I agree, I need to have first hand experience. So, what do you think? That's an inch more screen than I am currently using on my PC, so I don't see the need to go to the 24". Like I said, I won't do anything before Leopard (seems silly to me since I know it's just around the corner). Yes, I am looking heavily at the $1499 20″ with an upgrade to 2GB of RAM since I plan to run Parallels. And yes, I agree, I need to have first hand experience.

So, what do you think? That’s an inch more screen than I am currently using on my PC, so I don’t see the need to go to the 24″. Like I said, I won’t do anything before Leopard (seems silly to me since I know it’s just around the corner).

]]> By: Roy http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/comment-page-1/#comment-19687 Roy Tue, 07 Aug 2007 23:32:46 +0000 http://www.seanpaune.com/2007/08/07/new-imacs/#comment-19687 If you plan on continuing to write for mac.blorge.com then I would, for the sake of integrity, at least have a Mac. The article you wrote is just a summary of the events like you would get through a news feed. You need to have more first hand expertise on the subject to add any value to what you're writing. I mean you wrote that the event "disappoints" but why? Just because they didn't announce any iPods? The disappointing thing to me, that everyone seemed to miss was the fact that even though the mac minis were upgraded they still have 802.11g and no 11n. Personally, I think the new iMacs look great and if you have ever used any of the previous Apple keyboards you would know that they sucked and that the new keyboards look like a major improvement. Also, with the Black and Aluminum it really looks like Apple is finally ditching the white plastic. I like the design and materials direction. If you plan on continuing to write for mac.blorge.com then I would, for the sake of integrity, at least have a Mac. The article you wrote is just a summary of the events like you would get through a news feed. You need to have more first hand expertise on the subject to add any value to what you’re writing. I mean you wrote that the event “disappoints” but why? Just because they didn’t announce any iPods? The disappointing thing to me, that everyone seemed to miss was the fact that even though the mac minis were upgraded they still have 802.11g and no 11n.

Personally, I think the new iMacs look great and if you have ever used any of the previous Apple keyboards you would know that they sucked and that the new keyboards look like a major improvement. Also, with the Black and Aluminum it really looks like Apple is finally ditching the white plastic. I like the design and materials direction.

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