Apple's Latest iMac Is Elegant, Powerful, Surprisingly Affordable

[question everything]

Personal Technology
September 23, 2004

Apple's Latest iMac Is Elegant, Powerful, Surprisingly Affordable
By WALTER S. MOSSBERG

I am writing these words on the most elegant desktop computer I've ever used, a computer that is not only uncommonly beautiful but fast and powerful, virus-free and surprisingly affordable... In fact, the entire computer is contained behind a flat-panel screen in a space just 2 inches thick -- thinner than most flat-panel monitors alone. Yet it houses one of the most advanced processors on the market; a roomy hard disk; a CD or DVD recorder; wired or wireless Internet connectivity; and a full complement of ports and connectors.

I'm talking about Apple Computer's new iMac G5 desktop, which starts at $1,299 for a model with a 17-inch wide-screen display, and rises to $1,899 for a version with a massive 20-inch wide-screen display. It's another design coup by Apple.

(snip)

In my tests, the iMac G5 performed flawlessly and speedily. It worked perfectly on my broadband Internet connection, via my home Wi-Fi network, even though the network is powered by gear from Linksys, not Apple. It was easily able to transfer files over the network to and from Windows computers and other Macs. I installed Microsoft Office for the Mac, and it handled that perfectly.

(snip)

That brings us to price. Consumers perceive Mac desktops as pricey, partly because the company doesn't play in the very cheapest segment of the PC market, and partly because Apple's prices include built-in monitors that are often unlisted extras in ads for bargain Windows machines. But the new iMac actually costs less than comparable Windows machines.

(snip)

The iMac has some less tangible advantages, too. It has a better, more modern operating system than Windows XP. It comes with a free suite of photo, video and music programs that can't be matched on Windows. And it frees users from the worry and expense of battling viruses and spyware, because there has never been a successful virus targeting the Mac operating system, and there is little or no spyware for the Mac. The many thousands of viruses and spyware programs that afflict Windows can't run on, or harm, Macs.


Write to Walter S. Mossberg at [e-mail]

http://ptech.wsj.com/ptech.html

[Placebo]

1. If I Could Sell My iBook G4...

and get decent money for it, then make up the difference, I'd buy one tomorrow!

But alas I am a poor college student *tear*

Plus, I have gotten so used to never being at a desk, I am ALWAYS online from my big comfy loveseat in my living room or the couch! :P I dunno if I could trade that ever again, EVEN of the utter fab-ness of the new iMac G5!

[EnfantTerrible]

2. Mac rules!

Hands down.

[AlCzervik]

3. yup, i'm a total convert

my husband works for apple so that also helped my conversion.

[EnfantTerrible]

4. Lucky duck.

:P

[AlCzervik]

5. he worked for 3 years before we actually had a mac

he had this kick ass power book and didn't want me near it, i finally got my imac and my ipod, i will never go back to a grey box again.

[EnfantTerrible]

10. kick

:argh:

[question everything]

7. Yeah, two years ago I got the dual processors G4 which was the top of

the line... how quickly they move. And I usually stick with a Mac for 4 - 5 years...

[liberalmuse]

6. After working on the latest Dell at work...

I'd take my old iMac ANY DAY. I'm drooling with computer envy at the description of the new one.

[complain jane]

8. I want a G5. We used to have G4s at work but they got a contract with

friggen DELL. And I use After Effects on it, it SUCKS OUT LOUD

Crashes ALL THE TIME

Never had that problem with a Mac (small glitches yeah but not like this heap 'o shit Dell) in 10 years. I've been saddled with the Dell for 1 year and I'm ready to rip my hair out.

[EnfantTerrible]

9. Have you seen it?

It's so beautiful... I'm an ibooker right now... hoping to be a powerbooker soon... but if I ever do a desktop... well this is it.

visit the mac store and check it out.


http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore.woa

[NYC Liberal]

11. I love it.

Even though I have a PowerBook, I could definately go for the iMac G5. My only complaint would be that you can't move the monitor around like the G4. That was the coolest thing.

[SmileyBoy]

12. Macs are an ergonomical nightmare.

The cursor moves so slowly, all the Mac mice are incredibly small, and don't fit my big hands, the mice don't have roller wheels, the monitors suck, and browsing the internet on a Mac is extremely hard in terms of trying to reduce/expand windows and clicking out of other windows.

Macs are OVERRATED.

[NV Whino]

14. Maybe you should take some computer lessons

Macs rock!:headbang:

[SmileyBoy]

19. I'm completely literate in computers.

I just hate Macs.

[NYC Liberal]

20. You know that you can change the cursor speed, right?

And get a 3rd-party mouse. And choose not to get Apple's monitor. And expanding windows isn't hard.

[Placebo]

15. OKAY...

I don't have enough time to name ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL the WRONG things you just said there, but lets just say, you need some major computer education

[Awsi Dooger]

17. And they smell bad

I'm going back to Kaypro

[question everything]

22. I am now using a Kensington Turbo Mouse with my Mac

I am sure that even your big hands can handle it. You don't need roller wheels, though I think some have. Personally I prefer a track ball.

I am not sure about windows. I am using Netscape and Safari and with either I open several Windows under tabs. How, do you think, I can post a story from a newspaper, like this one, on three different message boards at the same time?

Oh, and both Netscape and Safari have long provided anti-pop up ads. I am reminded how I take this for granted when at work, using wintel, I get the pop up ads.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. Went to article, saw pic, soiled pants

I WANNA

[tuvor]

16. I love my Toshiba laptop.

(ducks out of harm's way)

[NYC Liberal]

18. I will say this about PC laptops:

Their trackpads have two buttons instead of one. And unlike a regular mouse, you can't get a 3rd-party trackpad.

[IronLionZion]

21. I love my custom-made PC

made exactly the way I want. I chose every little detail of it.

I like Macs, but everybody's Macs look the same. "Think Different" but you can't customize your Mac very much or upgrade it to make it different.

*sigh* and I don't have the money for a Mac. Thank goodness for open source software.