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[Black Sheep]

After 8yrs of using my current desktop PC, we've (The wife and I) decided to purchase a newer, more modern PC.

During my day-to-day job, I see literally hundreds of different PC's, but the one that really caught my eye was the i-Mac. My wife likes the look of them and the fact that they are virtually 'wire-free', so the battle is almost won. 

What I hoping to obtain from you guys in the know, is, are there any pitfalls to the i-Mac that I should know about ?? Also, where would be the best place to purchase one from ?? IE- Are there any kind of trade-price websites I could visit, etc We would only want a brand new one.

Thanks in advance, for any and all help. 

[GigabitEthernet]

It runs OS X rather than Windows so you will have to get used to a whole new operating system and it is quite different, although one gets used to it quickly.

[Black Sheep]

I take your point about another OS, but what is the big difference between what I have now (Vista) and OS X You'll have to forgive my naievity, but I'm not clued-up at all when it comes down to hardware/devices etc.

[GigabitEthernet]

I take your point about another OS, but what is the big difference between what I have now (Vista) and OS X

Quite a bit . It looks very different, for example you don't have icons on the desktop, you have them in a folder, there is no start menu, and the applications are different to a PC so they will not run on a Mac.

[Black Sheep]

I take your point about another OS, but what is the big difference between what I have now (Vista) and OS X

Quite a bit . It looks very different, for example you don't have icons on the desktop, you have them in a folder, there is no start menu, and the applications are different to a PC so they will not run on a Mac.

OMG, what am I talking myself into here  

[GigabitEthernet]

Below are two screenshots showing the differences in looks between Vista and OS X (10.7 Lion - the latest version):

Vista


OS X

[GigabitEthernet]

OMG, what am I talking myself into here  

It really isn't difficult to get used to, I switched from a PC to a Mac and within 2 weeks I knew exactly how to use it. It is very self-explanatory, it just looks different.

[Blackeagle]

Apple make some really good stuff, but I tend to think people see their products as 'status symbols' rather than see them for what they really are.  Not that OSX isn't a good operating system, because it is.  My only issue with apple gear is that you have to do everything apple's way, or you simply don't do it.  Even upgrading the memory or changing the HD on an apple system isn't the straightforward job it is with Windows or Linux.

Apple has a lot of things going for it, such as iTunes, iCloud etc, but I'm not convinced myself that these benefits outweigh the 'locked into apple' mentality that they come with.  There's also the hefty price tag that comes with Apple gear.  You could probably get similar hardware running Win 7 for half the price and a comparable Linux machine for even less.

Not my money & not my choice but if it were me, if I were going to spend the money that an iMac costs, I'd be spending it on a decent Win 7 system, if only for the fact that aftermarket software is cheaper also.

[sevenlayermuddle]

[GigabitEthernet]

[Black Sheep]

Wow, some great comments guys. I found myself going one way, then the other for a moment there. Good info. Please keep 'em coming if you think of anything else.

[asbokid]

[GigabitEthernet]

But: installing OS X on any non-Apple labelled computer is against Apple's EULA, so technically it is "illegal" (well at least according to Apple). Plus, there will be no support from Apple and you won't be able to do software updates because they can break how the OS X is installed, you will have to wait until the "community" say it is okay.

Of course it is your choice, but I would highly recommend against it. Sorry asbokid.

[asbokid]

[Bald_Eagle1]

Wow, some great comments guys. I found myself going one way, then the other for a moment there. Good info. Please keep 'em coming if you think of anything else.

If/when you ever get FTTC installed, you need Windows or at a pinch Linux to run the Graphing Scripts