[Perr]

Hi! I just joined these forums today. What a great resource!

I'm considering the purchase of a 17" iMac for home use (switching from an older Gateway). This machine will be used mostly for personal Internet and e-mail use, managing our camcorder videos, managing a personal website, managing our personal finances, a fair amount of word processing, and a few other tasks. We're not big-time gameplayers, so that's not terribly important to us.

My question: Is there such a thing as a "common problem" with the new iMacs? What do most people complain about with regard to these machines? I'm fairly well aware of all the pros, but I'd like to hear some cons as well.

Obviously, this is a thinly veiled attempt to avoid spending an obnoxious amount of time combing through these forums. So humor me as you see fit!

Thanks in advance for any input!

Perr

[Nobody]

Hi Perr. Firstly, can I say welcome to the Macworld Forums!!
I have been using a 17" iMac for the past three months. I use it for general home use tasks as you mentioned in your post (not web site work). I've had no trouble at all, and I'm very pleased with it. I'm running OSX 10.2.1 only, no OS9.x.
Before I purchased it I was a little concerned about dead pixels. The Apple reseller allowed me to fire up the machine to inspect the screen before I purchased it. I have no dead pixels at all.
It's very quiet and the screen is a pleasure to look at. I'm VERY pleased with it.

Bare in mind that most people only post on forums when they have a problem. The vast majority of machines will be without any problems at all.

Can you visit a store to have a look at the iMacs in the flesh to have a play with them?

One more thing to think about. Since the G4 iMacs were introduced there has been no speed increase. If you a prepared to wait, do so. There probably will be some speed increase in January (I think!!).

Check out the Apple iMac discussion forums on www.apple.com > Support > Discussion > FP iMac.

[Perr]

Scoot:

Thanks for the comments -- and the link!

In fact, I just found out that a new Apple Store opened about week ago within a mile of my workplace -- I plan to spend a few lunch breaks there!

Hmm...is the expected speed increase likely to come with a significant price increase?

Perr

[Nobody]

Regarding price increases:-

Prices don't really change that much.

More like, what was the top range machine, moves down the pecking order to make way for the next "top of the range machine" with better specs.

Good news about the Apple store so close to your location. Get amongst those Macs !!! images/icons/grin.gif

[dan.williams]

Something to consider regarding your camcorder that I did not take into account...make sure your camcorder has a firewire interface (i.e., iLink). Check out apple's website to view all the camcorders that are compatible with iMovie.

I have an older camcorder and the only options I have to get the video to my iMac is (1) get a newer camcorder with a firewire interface or (2) get a TV tuner converter like a Formac.

[Nobody]

If you can, wait until the Mac World Expo the first week of this coming January. As it has been mentioned, there should be an upgrade of the imacs given they've stayed basicly the same since they came out last January. By waiting 6 weeks you gain a year on the technology curve and or can get the current models at a discount.

That's my plan at least images/icons/smile.gif

[Nobody]

Hi
That is a good suggestion. Just a suggestion if you don't have a digital camcorder. You could check out the blank>Dazzle Hollywood DV Bridge. Good Luck!

MacCheetah3