Rating: 
Summary: Two inches make all the difference
Review: I loved the look of the new iMac, but the resolution was limiting - it was no better than my two year old Strawberry iMac! But I wanted the DVD drive and faster G4 CPU very badly. But I waited.. Then Apple went and read my mind and launched the 17" iMac. The same cool design, the same Superdrive for making my own DVD movies, but a gorgeous screen. I could only withstand it until I saw it in the store. Then it had to be mine. I can resist everything but temptation. Although I am a professional Windows user, I love Apple design and OS X. I like the appliance-like convenience of iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie and iDVD. And I can even use a free program from Microsoft called RDC to login to the Windows XP PCs on my home network, and display their desktops on the iMac. I get the best of both worlds - the wonderful Apple design in my living room, connected to a cheap, fast Windows XP box hidden in a cupboard. In fact as the iMac 17" screen is so wonderful, it has replaced all the other monitors in my house - I control my PCs from the iMac, and use the iMac as my hi-fi, my DVD player and all the other digital hub stuff that Apple have done so well. The networking features in Jaguar (the latest OSX release) make sharing files very easy, and the Apple Airport card works perfectly with my home wireless LAN. Paying the extra above the top-of-the-range 15" model for the 17" display is money well spent. You'll love this computer. I know I do. Now I'm off to finish making another movie, using Microsoft Office, listen to some tunes, and love every minute of it on the best designed computer available.
Rating:
Summary: All We Need For A Digital Hub
Review: I was a Windows platform guy for a million years (or so it seemed), using a Gateway since their cow was a calf. After my final battle with the arrogant service rep in Cow Country, I decided I would retaliate by going Mac. After nearly 2G, I was staring into the glow of a flat screen marvel...and I'll never look back. This computer is the best THING I have ever purchased. Every dream of building a digital hub in my livingroom have been realized - internet (without the crashes, no less), digital photography, video editing (no one wanted to watch a 3.4 hour raw version of our trip West, so six 5-minute vignettes were crafted), music, basic home office...what I don't understand is why Apple is #2? I cannot change the world with this honest review...but if you're on the fence I'm hoping I can push a little. This computer is a standard for the present, and a blueprint for the future. I see the past when I look out my Window...
Rating: 
Summary: A few comments
Review: I'm mainly a PC guy but I've owned Apples too over the years, and despite the fact that Apple took a lot of flack with this machine about producing a computer that was more revolutionary as a piece of furniture design than as a computer, this is still a good computer. I played with one recently at CompUSA for about an hour and I was impressed with how much faster it was than previous Apples, since the last time I worked with one was a several years ago, and there has also been a major release and update to the OS since then, which seems to have improved reliablity and performance also. My main problem with this system is that for almost half the price, you can get a PC with 50% more hard disk space and four times as much RAM, so the Apple still can't compete with the PC in terms of price-to-performance ratio, but don't get me wrong, I still liked this system. For most people, this would still be a good computer. One other thing, and I'm not sure what recent service is like, but hopefully things have improved in this area. In the past, parts and service for Apples was expensive compared to the PC and more than a little high-brow. In other words, if you had to ask, you probably couldn't afford it, was their attitude, sort of like Volvo car service. My last question about this system would be flexibility in terms of upgrades. Since everything has to fit into the designer base you probably can't just upgrade this yourself, if you wanted to get a more powerful video card, for example. This has always been one of the main advantages of PCs--you could easily open up the case and there were lots of options in terms of upgrades--the only problem was in getting the new hardware to work. :-) Also, according to another review I just read here, the onboard video card is not an nVidia GeForce4 MX4 but a GeForce2 that has been "rebranded." So you're not even getting a GF3. I can't vouch for this personally as I haven't checked into it, but if you play a lot of high-end games you might want to make sure this video card will work for you. Overall, however, this is a fine system and will probably fill the needs of the vast majority of computer users. I don't think there's going to be a mass exodus from the PC world to Apple because of this, but as a PC guy I still wanted to say I liked the computer, and it might even merit 4.5 stars if I could give it that.
Rating:
Summary: Once you have Mac, You'll never go Back
Review: I'm not anti-PC or anything. But I do love my imac. I spend a good 8-10 hours in front of my computer some days. The monitor is crystal clear, the mac operating system (jaguar) is super intuitive, and the included software really turns this into a digitial hub. I've got my palm, canon digital camera, mp3 player, wireless mouse, external firewire harddrive (for backup), and high speed internet connection (via cable modem) connected all the time. I bought all of these things for my PC. All work perfectly with my mac. Everything is plug and play. Super easy to use. Plus, I run a business on my all-mac platform. I use Microsoft Office daily and exchange emails with pc users no problem. I went out to buy a new monitor - I was willing to spend up to $1000 for something crystal clear - that would help with my eyes, which get worse each year. Instead, I came home with this imac. The monitor is awesome, and it's ability to adjust helps my neck big-time. No regrets.
Rating:
Summary: An absolute delight to use
Review: I've used Windows PCs for 10 years, I'm a "switcher". The main thing that kept me from switching before was the perceived hassle of being a Mac user, which is no longer the case...I can how share Microsoft Office documents with PC users. Additionally, there is no longer an Apple premium, as there was in the past. Try pricing out a Pentium 4 2.x Ghz with 512 MB SDRAM, 80 GB hard drive, 5 USB ports, 2 firewire ports, 17" flat-panel LCD, DVD-R/CD-RW drive, with real software (not "lite" versions or shovelware) and you'll see what I mean. You get iPhoto for managing your pictures, iMovie for DV editing, iDVD for burning DVDs, and iTunes for managing MP3s. Everything works right the first time and it doesn't crash several times a day. Unlike Windows, OS X is a true multi-tasking operating system. You can copy files, burn CDs, surf the web, etc. at the same time without the computer locking up. I highly recommend this product. You'll have a hard time finding a PC that can perform like the iMac...
Rating:
Summary: Tops for mid-range
Review: If you're shopping for a mid-range computer, go no further. First, though, I recommend seeing the 17-incher in person. The photos are nice, but it's stunning in the flesh ... er... circuitry. The larger screen, in addition for a far greater user experience, makes the machine balanced. And then you turn it on. This computer now ships with Mac OS X.2 (Jaguar), which is hands-down the best operating system out there now. My girlfriend just became a switcher and is stunned at the improved user experience. The processor and graphics card in this model is designed to make the most out of OS X's architecture, and it shows. Drop in a little extra RAM and you'll find it nearly impossible to make this computer stutter ("Maybe if I opened ALL the programs! Muah hah hah hah!") It's well worth the price to buy this over the 15-inch models. It doesn't sound like a big difference, but it is. LCD screens are brighter and crisper than CRTs (as well as being cool) and will save you eyestrain, but there's just one problem -- you can't go above factory-standard resolutions. With the 15-inchers, you're stuck at 1024x768, which won't be enough in the long run. This model, however, runs at 1440x900, which has about 65 percent more pixels. Yards of desktop space, and watching a 16x9 DVD on these widescreen monitors is, well, overwhelming.
Rating:
Summary: Another Happy Switcher
Review: My first computer was a MacPlus back in the 80s...But, like so many, I was converted to the Windows world. However, after seeing this computer and playing with the wonderful Jaguar OS, I was immediately sold. The operating system is so far superior to Windows XP it is almost comical. Why Apple has been unable to sell this to the masses is difficult for me to understand. The 17" iMac is, of course, gorgeous to behold. The display is phenomenal and the bundled software is terrific. Burning a DVD, which was about as easy as brain surgery on my Windows XP machine, is a piece of cake! My major concern was the ability to "make the switch." Well, when the iMac arrived, I simply plugged it into my home network router and the iMac immediately recognized my two XP machines and file transfer was done in less than an hour!! It was easier to network my Mac to the XP machine than it was to get the two XP machines to talk to each other!... This is simply the best home computing experience you can have, particularly in terms of ease of use with digital cameras, music, digital camcorders. I have yet to experience a system crash.....wow!
Rating:
Summary: Incredible design tool
Review: Of all the Macs I've owned, this is my absolute favorite. If you're a designer or art director, you won't be disappointed in this machine. It's fast, and has very high resolution (remember the old 832x days?) OS X 10.2 works like a dream. What do you need all those PCI cards for, anyway? How nice my desktop looks (virtually and in reality)! FireWire for external portable space and DV cameras, USB for just about every device you'll need. Apple truly has a winner here. If you want to get a computer for your familty, this is the one.
Rating:
Summary: A computer can be fun!
Review: Owning a PC was no fun, it was just for needs. But owning a Mac, and especially the 17" Flatscreen iMac, is fun. I find myself too often starting the machine only because it is so nice to work with, also if I have really nothing to work. Then I surf around a bit, or watching DVDs, things I never had done with a PC, also because I have a 29" TV with DVD Surround Home Cinema. And of course the Speakers of the Home Cinema are more powerful then the iMac Speakers, but every time I watch DVDs with the iMac, I can not belief how good this two speakers are, compared with their Size. I know many Computer systems, and no one is perfect. The Mac OS X also is not a perfect operating system, but it is by far the best system that exists. There is really no reason why people still are using Windows.
Rating:
Summary: Shoddy workmanship on details, great design & power
Review: The iMac is basically an impressive machine, but mine shipped with a screen that was tilted (lower on one side than the other) that required taking it to a certified servicer. Also, the speaker jack was very loose around the plug (practically slipping out on its own) and the mouse usb plug loose fitting in the keyboard port.
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