Rating: 
Summary: Not enough for your money
Review: A decent home computer but I don't see how Apple can justify this price. It should sell for 50% of what they are asking. Outside of the LCD and DVD writer this system doesn't cost much more to make than a good microwave oven. Those two add-ons cost about 3x the rest of the machine. The end result should cost under a grand.What do you get for this premium price? G4 1GHz - Fast enough for most people but at best equal to a 1.6GHz Celeron or Athlon 1600+ (found only in bargain PCs these days). This is not a high performance CPU and should be sold in a value priced system. 256MB SDRAM - Cheap, slow, and way out of date. Apple is the only company still using this stuff. Memory 2-4x faster has been selling for over two years now.
CD-RW: 24x (read), 4x (write), 8x (rewrite) - A 4x write 24x read? This is ancient stuff. The cheapest PC on the market today has a 48x read and 40x write. This is embarrassing.
nVIDIA GeForce4 MX Graphics Card - not bad, but very out of date. Still most low end sub $500 PCs come with the same thing. Oh, this isn't a low-end PC is it? So don't plan on playing newer games till you upgrade... oh you can't can you?
The good points are a DVD writer and a Hon Hai 17" Flat screen LCD. It's no match for a Sony LCD, but then it cost a lot less.
By the way, Hon Hai is the actual manufacture of this for Apple and they did a decent job with the build quality. Hon Hai was known for makings things like cables, and as a low-end PC OEM but Apple was their big break. Hon Hai makes mostly low cost PCs for Compaq and Dell. Apple just marks their stuff up more because some people prefer to pay more.
Rating: 
Summary: More Marlene than Marilyn
Review: Apple finally made me an offer I couldn't refuse. But having succumbed, I must confess I find this a machine to admire more than to cuddle up and go to bed with. 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Another winner from Apple.
Review: Apple is quite simply the best and most innovative computer manufacturer. Their various Macintosh computers are very user-friendly: easy to set up and use and (unlike most PCs) seldom crash or malfunction. Furthermore, the new iMac computers, although full-featured, are very compact and, thus, take up little desk space. The new iMacs all have adjustable flat-panel displays with exceptionally bright, sharp images. Now Apple has increased the processor speeds of these strikingly-attractive new iMacs and reduced their prices. This model has a 17" display -- which has about the same surface area as a typical 19" CRT monitor -- plus a 1 GHz G4 processor, yet costs $... less than its predecessor. Please don't be put off by the fact that the processor clock-speed is "only" 1 GHz. The G4 processor accomplishes more than twice as much per clock cycle as Pentium 4s do and, thus, is faster than a 2 GHz Pentium 4. All things considered, this new iMac is a terrific computer at a quite reasonable price. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: iMac 17" - Best computer I've ever owned
Review: Apple stuff just works. Got Microsoft Office vX and all my Office documents work perfectly on the iMac. If all you want to do is surf the web and do e-mail, a Mac is just as good as a PC, though sometimes there are some things that won't work as well on a Mac (for example streaming video with Windows Media Player, which IS available on Macs, though apparently not as robustly). But for audio, video, and pictures, there is no comparison - Macs are better.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful machine, excellent bundled applications
Review: Apple's 1 GHz 17-inch iMac may not seem to keep up with the PC big boys, but the reality is that the elegance of the hardware and software really makes up the difference. The screen is beautiful, and you'll never want to go back to a "normal" (i.e. non-widescreen) monitor once you've used it. Otherwise, the hardware is so-so: The speakers aren't great, and the keyboard and mouse are sub-par. On the software side, Mac OS X 10.2 is solid and fast, and the iLife applications are good (iMovie, iPhoto) to excellent (iTunes, iDVD). You'll want a copy of Microsoft Office v.X to round out the software selection, and that's expensive, unfortunately. 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.
Rating:
Summary: Is iMac for you?
Review: First off, I should say I am an avid user of both popular operating systems: MAC OS and Windows OS. I hope my review adds some use to those of you who are on the fence. Before I try to explain the advantages of one system over the other, I thought a short description of my feelings of the iMac was in order. The iMac 17inch wide screen computer is simply amazing. The OSX operating system is unequaled. It is so far ahead of anything like it one wonders if an alien is working at Apple. Not only is the interface the most visually appealing, it is also the most flexible. Further updates can only make it more appealing to the user who invests their money. Integration with multimedia standards like MP3, AAC, MPEG 4, PDF are outstanding. My only disappointment, out of the box, were the speakers. The Mac powered speakers that come with the iMac should have been standard on the base eMac version. The speakers that come with the iMac do not equal the 2-speakers - 1 sub woofer 3rd party speakers you can buy for 60$ on the PC. You can upgrade to a better USB based set of speakers for about 100$. I don't have much space for a full review, so let's get to the nitty gritty. YOU SHOULD BUY AN IMAC IF: You are looking for an easy way to surf the net, send e-mail, do design work, looking for out-of-box ease. The graphics are unsurpassed, the 17 inch - thin - monitor is beautiful to behold. If you are worried about compatibility with Microsoft Office I suggest you pick up Office for OSX. With this package you have it all. The multimedia applications that come with the iMAC are so beyond the clunky 3rd party versions for the PC, it will make you laugh. Add to this that you get a Super Drive, a combo CD/DVD RW device (something that you can't get with the base Dell or Gateway system without paying even more) and you are set. YOU SHOULD NOT BUY AN IMAC IF: You (or your kids) are game enthusiasts. There is no getting around it, games are made for Windows first. It takes months, sometimes a year, for game companies to port (translate) the same game for the MAC. If you expect to share files with every other PC user on your block, or want to have your kids acclimated to what their local school is using (providing they are using Windows -check it out first), then get a Windows based machine. As much as it pains me to say it, this is the truth, don't let any MAC fanatic tell you otherwise. SUMMATION: If you are regular user and you don't care about games, if you are not worried about every file or application that you share being Windows compatible, get this iMAC. The important thing to remember is that Office files (Word, Excel, Power point ) can be shared eith a Mac or PC. If this is your concern, buy the Mac OSX version of Office and be done with it. The value of the iMac, in these terms, outweigh any PC. The unseen value of your purchase of an iMac will be to strike a blow against the concept of a one-choice (only choice) Windows world and help create a competitive enviroment that all will benefit from. Otto
Rating:
Summary: An Apple or a Lemon?
Review: I got this Apple 1GHz iMac, but it's a lemon. The speakers didn't sound at all when I first time turned it on.
The screen quality is kind of fuzzy compare to Sony's and Apple LCD monitors. Also it's slow. Even the unit had 1GHz CPU with DDR, but it didn't make any big improvement with other slower iMac Models. The only thumb up feature is the styling look.It really can dress up your office, but don't count on it's performance.
Rating:
Summary: You got to love it!
Review: I have had my iMac for about 2 months now, and I love it a little more everyday! It was very easy to set up..and after a little practice,you start using the Apple like you always had one. iPhoto, iTunes and iDvd have worked great...imovie is a little more of a struggle, but is probably still better than anything out there for editing your DV movies. To put the iMac into a nutshell for me; at a recent party I had, all my guests were around my iMac watching slide shows I made from iPhoto, listening to songs from iTunes, watching movies I put together with iMovie, while admiring the iMac's 17'' screen! It was the hit of the party! How many PC owners sit around at parties and look at their Excel spreadsheets!! If the term "digital lifestyle" describes you...buy this computer, you will love it!
Rating:
Summary: You got to love it!
Review: I have had my iMac for about 2 months now, and I love it a little more everyday! It was very easy to set up..and after a little practice,you start using the Apple like you always had one. iPhoto, iTunes and iDvd have worked great...imovie is a little more of a struggle, but is probably still better than anything out there for editing your DV movies. To put the iMac into a nutshell for me; at a recent party I had, all my guests were around my iMac watching slide shows I made from iPhoto, listening to songs from iTunes, watching movies I put together with iMovie, while admiring the iMac's 17'' screen! It was the hit of the party! How many PC owners sit around at parties and look at their Excel spreadsheets!! If the term "digital lifestyle" describes you...buy this computer, you will love it!
Rating:
Summary: Nearly Perfect...
Review: I have had this computer for nearly 6 months (since March) and I have been very happy with it. I have added additional memory and have recently expanded the hard drive with the addition of an external 160 gig 7200 rpm drive. I mainly use the computer for general office work (ie letters, spreadsheets, etc). But since I got the computer I have been editing video using IMovie and creating DVDs using IDVD. The ILife software is very nice and I have generally been pleased with it. The ease of use of the ILife software really makes the computer shine IMHO. ITunes, IPhoto, IMovie and IDVD make it possible for the average user to import and use the digital media that far outstrips the average PC. Things I struggled with on my Dell using windows 98, are easy with the Mac. Other people more technically savy than I can most likley do the same sorts of things I can, but average windows users are usually impressed that I can do things like make movies, etc... This is not to say this is perfect, but it seems to be much closer to perfection than windows based machines. Unlike one other reviewer, I have not had any hardware problems with my computer, nor have my parents (my father has a 17" powerbook and my mother has a 17" Ibook like mine).
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