Nov 16, 2001 07:32 AM
6500 Views
(Updated Nov 20, 2001 06:34 PM)
The iMac...former Apple comeback kid…but now…
Everyone has seen the influence of the iMac. Brought out in 1998, the bright colored “all-in-one” Mac jumpstarted the Apple franchise again, and led to hundreds of similarly colored/designed non-Apple items – stereos, TVs, robot dogs…
It is an interesting concept, one that PC makers were unable to duplicate with any success.
Quick Info:
500MHz/600MHz/700Mhz
CD-ROM/CD-RW/DVD
256K of Level 2
64MB RAM on the CD-ROM model/128MB RAM on the 500MHz CD-RW/256MB RAM on the 600MHz and Special Edition models
ATI RAGE 128 Ultra 16MB video card
built-in microphone
dual mini-headphone jacks
FireWire
USB
56K V.90 fax modem
10/100BASE-T Ethernet
slot for an AirPort Card.
varying hard drive sizes
Built in 15” monitor
on with the review…
Good:
Many people like the color schemes of the iMac. Some say it makes them feel happy, content, joyful, or introspective.
The speed and hard drive capacity is adequate for home users, but professionals will want to move to the G4. The hard drive will be a nice size for a moderate MP3 collection, as well as family photos.
The software collection is pretty nice, but not great. As with the G4s, the OS 9 operating system, comes with iTunes (for playing/making MP3s), Quicken Deluxe (for finances), and iMovie (for converting home videos). iTunes is especially nice, and is much easier to use than any other MP3 player I have seen.
As with the G4, the RAM installation is quite simple. The hard drive is not as easy, but not difficult.
The monitor, though small, is high quality.
The Not-So-Good:
Macs in General
Some of the main disadvantages to the Macs is the severe lack of choice in hardware and software. While PCs have a full range of hardware options including – Network cards, graphic card, sound cards, and a full allotment of joysticks – the G4 can only take the hardware specifically made for them. In other words, PCs can choose from 50+ video cards, but the G4 only has a choice of about 4 or 5 (ATI Radeon and nVidia Geforce 3 being the latest additions).
iMac Specific:
That said, unlike the G4s, the iMacs can not have an upgraded video card…or sound card.
The iMac on has 2 memory slots, so upgrading memory might just be a memory. It does hold up to 1gig of RAM, however (2 512meg sticks).
The 15” monitor iMac is now over 3 years old. Most people want (and can afford) a larger monitor. With the iMac, you are stuck with the built-in 15”. You also can not kook up a second monitor, as you can on a G4. A desperately need 17” version of the iMac was rumored to be coming out, but Apple unwisely, in my opinion, has decided not to release one.
The price is also a bit high now. The early iMacs were up against slower PC’s with standard 15” monitors. Now, however, the PCs care increasingly coming with 17” and 19” choices, and are much faster…and much less expensive than they used to be. Apple prices tend to stay at a premium, while PC prices are known to have steep drops. This is a strike against Apple, for not lowering the prices of the iMacs to compete.
Also, I am not one who appreciates their appearance.
The Big Pluses:
Nice quality
adequate software most many
iTunes
stable
compact
suitable for most consumers
The Big Problems:
Small monitor
no upgradeability for video cards/sound cards
not suitable for professionals
The iMac has lost it’s novelty, and should be dying off soon.
You decide…
Note: I have put up a review of the Power Mac G4, for those interested in a little more strength.
