Virtual PC and why buy a new iMac. Oh, and what about dead pixels?

kumrabaikumrabai
Posted:
in Current Mac Hardware edited January 2014
I already own a new Powerbook, and an aging Dell Pentium III (1ghz). I lust after an iMac, but have a couple of reservations.



1) I'm an enthusiastic gamer, and want to play the latest and greatest on any new computer I buy. We all know that this is a black mark against Macs because of general availability, even though the specs on the new iMacs are quite sweet graphics wise. Has anyone ever tried running games for a PC under Virtual PC? Does it kill performance, make it not possible? What are the experiences of Mac Gamers out there? If it's not great, I fear I will have to add new money to the Wintel hegemony. . . .



2) For buyers of new iMacs, just interested in your views on how many times people have ended up with dead pixels on their screens. The Apple Store guys were telling me that you have to have SIX before the unit is changed. How much does that suck?



Cheers

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 9
    fran441fran441 Posts: 3,715member
    The current version of Virtual PC does *not* support 3d acceleration. There is no graphics card support in Virtual PC. I think the newest version might give you 8 MB of VRAM but don't look to be playing Battlefield 1942 on it.



    As for other Mac games, Warcraft 3, RtCW, Jedi Knight 2, Max Payne, etc., they will all run fine on a new iMac. Sorry I can't be of more help.
  • Reply 2 of 9
    fawkesfawkes Posts: 80member
    Dead pixels are an unfortunate reality of any LCD panel. In order to guarantee that every screen is perfect, you'd be paying quite a bit more for your iMac because the manufacturing yield would plummet.



    Yes, it sucks... and I hope that newer technologies eliminate the problem in the future. But for now, we just have to deal with it. Some dealers will be more understanding about it than others and might replace it for you--don't count on it, but it doesn't hurt to ask! Not that it helps to hear, but Apple's policy is actually quite stringent compared to others'. My dealer said that Apple might be more understanding if the dead pixel is nearer to the center of the screen than toward the edge.



    My last powerbook had zero pixel problems, as did my mother's. I figure I'm due for one now!
  • Reply 3 of 9
    hobbeshobbes Posts: 1,252member
    If you want to play the latest games and not wait for the Mac port (which occurs with a number of bestselling games, often 6-12+ months later), you should either go with the PC or supplement your iMac with a game console, e.g. a PS2.



    The Mac games market is actually very healthy compared to a few years ago, but it can't compare to the PC. You can see the games available for the Mac over at <a href="http://www.apple.com/games"; target="_blank">http://www.apple.com/games</a>;
  • Reply 4 of 9
    powerdocpowerdoc Posts: 8,123member
    Virtual PC is not made for 3D game, and Connextix, never claimed so (just the contrary).

    I have a 3D rendering software name Architecture 2003 : it suck terribely (less than one frame per second : a nightmare).
  • Reply 5 of 9
    macsrgood4umacsrgood4u Posts: 3,007member
    Just got a new 17" iMac with Superdrive. No dead or stuck pixels.
  • Reply 6 of 9
    cyloncylon Posts: 126member
    I have had a 17"iMac since September. I had one dead pixel when I opened and another soon followed. No more since then. Great machine though. Very Quiet!!
  • Reply 7 of 9
    thegeldingthegelding Posts: 3,230member
    no dead pixels at one year on my iMac 15"....course i'm getting old...will have to have the kids look for those pesty dead pixels....g
  • Reply 8 of 9
    ti fighterti fighter Posts: 863member
    When I was in like second year of college, hmmm 4 or 5 years ago I think? I ran 3d studio max in virtual pc on a powercomputing powercenter pro 210 with like an ati rage 2? I think. It was slow as hell but it worked and i got my final done <img src="graemlins/cancer.gif" border="0" alt="[cancer]" /> plus it beat going to the lab.
  • Reply 9 of 9
    stunnedstunned Posts: 1,096member
    Dead pixels suck, especially when u are watching a movie and that dot keeps staring straight at you.
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