Rating: 
Summary: Mac or IBM Compatable?
Review: I think most people who've placed a review here do not actually own or use this computer, so I'll just run down my experience. First, the machine. I got the middle of the line iMac as soon as it was available (and waited two months, two months too long.) I upgraded the sdRAM to 512, had 40 gigs of room, and the rest just basic. Since then, I have added an 80 gig external drive (for my 6300 mp3 files imported at 192-320 kbps,) the harmon kardon(SP?) iSticks speakers (awesome!!) the iPod, an m515 palm, and external floppy drive, office X, and a .Mac account. This computer can do quite alot without adding too much. I play Return to Castle Wolfenstein constantly on this machine while running the iTunes software in the background and it handles the graphics beautifully. (For those who experience slow/poor gaming, try increasing the sdRAM within the wolfenstein program code-- it runs much faster and better.) Basically if you take the time to figure out how to use this machine properly it will do everything you want without creating any problems. I have yet to experience a crash or serious problem besides a slow floppy drive. If you have a digital camera and a .Mac account, you can publish a webpage in less than ten minutes (even with dial-up)-- it is that easy. iTunes is the perfect MP3 software, with so many options and capabilities that I am always tinkering with it. I have a dial-up connection so I don't often do much with internet movies and never believed in downloading music, so no problems there. Now that there are mac stores all over the U.S. you can get a great feeling for what these computers can do from really sharp folks. Even the guy at comp usa was impressed with my machine and was hangin out showing me even more things I could do with photoshop and digital cameras. Do you have tons of negatives from normal film that you'd like to email or publish on the web or even print out at your leisure, or create a movie or slideshow or book? You can do all of this with great ease (and a scanner that scans film- probably the better alternative for digital cameras since film will always be better quality) on this machine. Every program is intuitive and easy to use, I have figured out how to do everything on this computer without ever opening any software manual (and maybe asking help maybe 3 times total.) Apple is definitely a company to partner with for your computing needs 'cause everything is intuitive, easy to use and they've taken care of it before you find a problem. Check it out, you'll be happy you did.Last thing: If I hadn't already waited six months to find out what Apple might possibly release Jan. '02 just so I could get the overhauled iMac instead of the old box forms, and was going to buy one today, I WOULD DEFINITELY SAVE MY MONEY FOR THE 17" beauty with DVD and CD burning capabilities!! Drool...
Rating: 
Summary: Great Computer, Go Check it Out For Yourself
Review: I think most people who've placed a review here do not actually own or use this computer, so I'll just run down my experience. First, the machine. I got the middle of the line iMac as soon as it was available (and waited two months, two months too long.) I upgraded the sdRAM to 512, had 40 gigs of room, and the rest just basic. Since then, I have added an 80 gig external drive (for my 6300 mp3 files imported at 192-320 kbps,) the harmon kardon(SP?) iSticks speakers (awesome!!) the iPod, an m515 palm, and external floppy drive, office X, and a .Mac account. This computer can do quite alot without adding too much. I play Return to Castle Wolfenstein constantly on this machine while running the iTunes software in the background and it handles the graphics beautifully. (For those who experience slow/poor gaming, try increasing the sdRAM within the wolfenstein program code-- it runs much faster and better.) Basically if you take the time to figure out how to use this machine properly it will do everything you want without creating any problems. I have yet to experience a crash or serious problem besides a slow floppy drive. If you have a digital camera and a .Mac account, you can publish a webpage in less than ten minutes (even with dial-up)-- it is that easy. iTunes is the perfect MP3 software, with so many options and capabilities that I am always tinkering with it. I have a dial-up connection so I don't often do much with internet movies and never believed in downloading music, so no problems there. Now that there are mac stores all over the U.S. you can get a great feeling for what these computers can do from really sharp folks. Even the guy at comp usa was impressed with my machine and was hangin out showing me even more things I could do with photoshop and digital cameras. Do you have tons of negatives from normal film that you'd like to email or publish on the web or even print out at your leisure, or create a movie or slideshow or book? You can do all of this with great ease (and a scanner that scans film- probably the better alternative for digital cameras since film will always be better quality) on this machine. Every program is intuitive and easy to use, I have figured out how to do everything on this computer without ever opening any software manual (and maybe asking help maybe 3 times total.) Apple is definitely a company to partner with for your computing needs 'cause everything is intuitive, easy to use and they've taken care of it before you find a problem. Check it out, you'll be happy you did. Last thing: If I hadn't already waited six months to find out what Apple might possibly release Jan. '02 just so I could get the overhauled iMac instead of the old box forms, and was going to buy one today, I WOULD DEFINITELY SAVE MY MONEY FOR THE 17" beauty with DVD and CD burning capabilities!! Drool...
Rating: 
Summary: Great design, no funcionality
Review: I tried to abandon my PC for the iMac. The iMac looks great, has great speakers, great monitor, and that's about it. It is not very PC compatible at all, from peripherals to software. Running virtual PC is painfully slow and it's difficult to work with. The tech support is limited to 90 days and they remind you every time you call that you will be charged ... per call unless you sign up for an overpriced service plan. If the product is good, there should be service for at least a year without any charge. The environment is not intuitive at all either. Overall, the computer is slow and software is still limited, particularly for statistical and analytical software. Essentially, it's an overpriced stereo. Apple does provide a useful monitor post that simulates a neck for those times when the user needs to express frustration, which is often.
Rating:
Summary: A functional work of Art
Review: I've played with computers since the TRS-80 . Since 1984, I've used PCs. I've never been a fan of Apple or it's computers so I never owned one, until the beautiful iMac. So why buy an iMac? First the aesthetics. A beautiful machine no doubt. Unfortunately, although Apple has done an admirable job of reducing the number of cords they didn't complete the journey and make the keyboard, mouse and speakers wireless. The iMac still scores huge points on its form. Next, function follows form! The cooling fan is so quiet you can hear it only in the quietest of rooms. The speakers, although beautiful clear half-globes, sound wonderful with clear high/midranges and warm bass even without the bass module. The keyboard has a wonderful touch and is useful with 2 USB ports. You will never have to worry about the mouse cord getting tangled again. And the fantastic screen is so deliciously clear and readable. It puts no strain on ones eyes and it effortlessly adjusts to any useable position with the touch of a finger. Apple has scored a home run with the functionality. On hardware and software stability/compatibility the iMac stumbles a little. Everyone says Macs don't crash. This is simply not true as I have had numerous crashes out of iMusic, iPhoto, and iMovie. The only way I could get the computer to work again after one crash was to unplug it from the wall. The hardware, however, is all top notch and works perfectly. You can only modify your iMac internally by adding memory or an Airport card but with the USB (unfortunately not 2.0) and amazing Firewire ports (wow they're fast) you can add just about anything you want externally. This is clearly a next generation computer with no throwbacks to obsolete interfaces such as serial and parallel ports and 3.5" floppies. Bravo to Apple for that. So what does this mean? The computer is rock solid, the operating system is not quite there yet. The much touted ease of use and integrated software is also a mixed blessing. In general, all of the iSoftware is very easy to use. iMusic being the best. Pop in a CD and iMusic starts. Connect to the internet and with a click it finds all of the titles and artists for your CD. Way cool and time saving. Click one button and you're ripping songs. It also plays songs from the CD while it rips... very cool and very easy. Hook up an iPod and it automatically updates it for you. It is so simple, easy, and fun you will be making your own portable music library within minutes. iPhoto, iMovie, and iDVD still need work. All are pretty easy to use but there is no manual and the help is lacking. When I was trying to import movies and pictures into iPhoto, it would not let me or tell me why. Very frustrating (reason: iMovie will import only DV or a specific movie format. It won't import normal Quicktime movies. Also, the JPEGs were the wrong size so it would not import them.) All of that should be transparent to me. The next thing about these programs is that they are easy to use but you'll outgrow them after the first time you use them. These programs could easily have been made more powerful without making them any more difficult. However, once you start playing with your photos and movies and creating marvelous digital albums of your life, you'll be addicted. I made a movie from pictures of a recent hiking trip. Set it to music and I was amazed. A whole new world has opened. In addition, it was incredibly nice to plug in my Digital Camera, my Digital Camcorder, and my Smart Media reader and have them all work seamlessly. No trying to figure out how to install a driver. No wondering if you loaded the software in the right sequence. It just worked. Very Very nice. To the PC veteran thinking about switching. For the most part things work very similarly so you should have no trouble using the machine. If you stick with the standard mouse, you will miss the right click and scroll wheel. iMac can read PC files so you can copy any info you want to the Mac. Also, the is a Windows emulator so you can even run many of your programs albeit slower. To the computer newbie. Apple really touts the ease of using the iMac. I would say it is easier to use than a PC. But, that doesn't mean it is as easy to use as a common household appliance. The help system is pretty descent but doesn't replace a good manual that all computers so sadly lack. You absolutely must learn file management and common commands. In plain English, don't expect to just plug in the iMac and know how to do anything useful. Take a class, read a book, or have a friend teach you. Apples, to me, have always been overpriced--one of the reasons I never owned one. Although there is no comparable PC, the iMac does cost slightly more than a comparatively equipped PC but the difference is negligible. So what does all this mumbo jumbo boil down to. Very simple. If you like to play games, don't buy one. The video card is obsolete and there are relatively few games available. If this computer speaks to your soul, buy one. If you're in the market for a computer in iMac's price range, buy one. As far as which iMac to get. I recommend the G4 800. You get a faster computer, more memory, a bigger hard drive, and a DVD burner. Quite a good deal. If you don't want or need the DVD burner then get the cheapest one. There is really not enough in the middle one to pay the extra (speakers, more memory, and DVD player).
Rating: 
Summary: Good but step away from the hype
Review: If you are looking for a powerful system for serious gaming, running high end CAD software, or plan to burn a lot of MP3s, then this system probably isn't for you. Go look at the PowerMacs ... or a good P4 based system .... Why? The G4 is a good CPU, but not exactly a powerhouse and the graphics sub-system has been out of date for about a year. However if you want to write papers, play a few games, surf the web and play around with digital images and music, then... well buy a low-end P4 based system and save about .... But if you want to add "and I want it to look cool" to this statement then when have arrive at the new IMac. This is the perfect system for someone who enjoys some light computing time with an easy to use system with lots of free extras and want to look over at their funky little computer and say to themselves "cool". Lets face it, not everyone is a power user and most people don't like to upgrade their computers. So while I can't make the arguement to buy this on "price or performance," I can make it on "cool and easy to use." If you aren't sure head down to a CompuUSA (the only place I know that carries Macs and PCs) and play with a P4 with Windows XP and a Mac with OSX. You will walk away liking one of them better - buy it. Ignore the raving of people who love one or the other and make that their personal crusade, and buy the one that speaks to you.
Rating:
Summary: Fast and easy to use - it just works
Review: It took longer to take down the old computer than to set up this one. Extra RAM went in easily. Just plugged-and-played my Epson 820 printer, iPod, and Canon ZR 25 camcorder. No driver hassles. Comes with all the software most people need. iPhoto and iMovie are easier to use and more powerful than any Windows software I've seen (i.e.: You can't overlay titles and transitions with MS video software). Research the details and you'll see this Mac offers more value than any "bargin" Windows product. And OS X: I've been running Mac OS X on my other computer since January and it has never crashed - great stuff.
Rating:
Summary: This is my first computer, so........
Review: Let me say right off, there is no DVD Player on this Model (knew that going in, but Amazon.com includes it in its description). I bought this iMac in late August and so far I'm pretty happy with it. The thing you should know is that the Quicktime application is useless with a dial-up connection, so the very first thing I had to do was to download and install Real Audio for OSX to hear or see anything streaming on the Web. I've never owned a Windows PC so I can't compare the two, but this is a beautiful machine to look at, that was important to me since I'm going to be using it every day for the next 4-5 years, and, it is easy to use. I had some trouble with it connecting to my ISP, but I did figure it out. The CD-R is a very nice feature, that is where, for example, you can get some CD's at your local Library, and using your MAC you can put them onto a blank CD, which is pretty cool. That is also easy to do, even for a new user like me. Anyway, I should probably give it 4 Stars, but I've only had it for 3 months, so we'll see. Hope this Review helps you a little.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't be fooled, mine just cost more and runs slow
Review: My daughter convinced me to buy her a new IMac as her first computer that was all hers. Okay, a little pricey but I've had a few good promotions lately so alright, I will shell out the extra cash. I also got a lan set up to share the internet (surprisingly easy with both the PC and Mac). Okay it's nice and small but I can't see where it is better than a PC. In fact she still spends more time on the PC because most of the software we own runs on XP. We have bought some software for the Mac, but you pretty much have to order it or drive to a big software store. And the software cost more than for Windows. And it runs pretty slow to be honest. It's fine for writing school papers or sending e-mail but it takes 3-4 times as long to rip a MP3 than on our new Intel P4 (90% of what she wants to do) and the one game we bought for the Mac have to be run at slower settings than what I set on my PC (we have Aliens vs. Predator2 for both the PC and Mac [check the prices and you will see what I mean about Mac stuff costing more). So sure it will do everything our PC will do, just slowly and for more money. Now ours just sits in her room and gathers dust while we fight over mine. I would have been better of spending half the money on a cheaper PC. I was fooled once but never again.
Rating:
Summary: Time to switch to mac
Review: OK once I saw this computer I knew it was time to switch over to the mac world. this machine is a work of art it is so nice to look at, takes up little space, great flat screen display best I have seen, and is quite fast. I love this and will never go back. My pants off to Apple for making this!
Rating:
Summary: Time to switch to mac
Review: OK once I saw this computer I knew it was time to switch over to the mac world. this machine is a work of art it is so nice to look at, takes up little space, great flat screen display best I have seen, and is quite fast. I love this and will never go back. My pants off to Apple for making this!
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