I wouldn't suggest buying a new iMac (Yes I do own one).
I've had my 800 mhz iMac for a month and a half now and I can honestly say that I regret the purchase. First of all, the mouse sucks a big one. I bought a micro$oft mouse the day I got the thing. 5 keys on the keyboard have died. As for the computer itself, it's not that fast. Coming from a 400mhz G4, I was planning on a big speed boost, but with the small cache, it's not that fast. The fact that OSX is a complete joke doesn't help either. The iMac is soo much faster in 9.x. I'd guess 50% faster. The screen on this iMac is really dim too, even with brightness all the way up. DVD playback is AWFUL!!! This is because of the slow OS and the crappy GeForce 2mx. Pro speakers lick balls too. Sometimes you can't eject a CD for whatever reason and you have to get in there with a paperclip and push at the little gears, what a joke.
Damn, I sound like some PC guy coming over here bashing macs, I'm sorry. It's just that $1800 is a lot of money to spend on this maching and I wanted to be satisfied. I would reccomend to anyone in the market for a new mac to get a tower because a) upgradeable video card b) more monitor choices c) possible future processor upgrades d) faster system bus. THIS RANT IS OVER
[ 03-21-2002: Message edited by: G4Dude ]
[ 03-21-2002: Message edited by: G4Dude ]</p>
Damn, I sound like some PC guy coming over here bashing macs, I'm sorry. It's just that $1800 is a lot of money to spend on this maching and I wanted to be satisfied. I would reccomend to anyone in the market for a new mac to get a tower because a) upgradeable video card b) more monitor choices c) possible future processor upgrades d) faster system bus. THIS RANT IS OVER
[ 03-21-2002: Message edited by: G4Dude ]
[ 03-21-2002: Message edited by: G4Dude ]</p>
Comments
<strong>All I can comment on is the keyboard since I have a White Pro Keyboard. I've had it for a few weeks now and it's a lot better than the black one. More confortable to type on.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree, but the quality pisses me off. They say it will be 2 weeks till I can get a replacement.
I've used the new iMac at the store, CompUSA and The Apple Store (Retail). Both times I was blown away. Especially at Apple where it was set up quite nicely and they let me use it for quite a while. If you do a search you'll find my comments about the imac and they were all very praising.
I found the iMac to be amazingly faster and more responsive than my G4/400 AGP in OS X and mine has 640MB RAM. I found the display to be very bright and IMO brighter than Apple's own 15 inch Studio display. The viewing angle was also great. I own a pro keyboard and several pro mice. No problems at all with the keyboard and many have said the white one is a bit better. The pro mice obviously are not for everyone but I find them very confortable and they have great tracking.
Didn't play a DVD but I played a few games and they played ultra smooth. Very noticable improvement over my G4/400 with Radeon. DVD Playback in OS X on my G4 works perfectly. Never skips. I can't imagine it being worse on an iMac G4/800. I know the radeon handles DVD a bit better but it should not result in what you describe.
I don't know why you are having these problems but they certainly aren't affecting everyone.
the imac is one of the best all around computers apple has ever made. there is little to complain about so don't go around telling people not to buy an iMac simply because you are having these unfounded problems and dissapointments
could it be?
Apple better get its shit together... it seems like the only thing that is going to save it now is highend sales and design (ie, suckers that will buy the consumer stuff despite it being 3x slower than any other pc even at half the price).
G4dude, Im sorry to hear about the shite quality of your new iMac. As I always say, never, ever, positively don't even think of buying ANYTHING from Apple that is 1st gen. They never get it right the first time (hence rev a-b-c-d iMacs, audio and keyboard probs with 1st dual usb iBooks, etc etc)
My advice, seeing that supply is still shory, sell the dang thing off while you still can, buy a low-end iMac (the crt version) and wait a year or so until, hopefully, Apple gets their act together.
-a fellow disgruntled Mac user
<strong>Oh my.. look at that... and people were saying that I was getting annoying with my rants over my brand new iBook. A G4 and people still saying OS X sucks...
could it be?
G4dude, Im sorry to hear about the shite quality of your new iMac. As I always say, never, ever, positively don't even think of buying ANYTHING from Apple that is 1st gen. They never get it right the first time (hence rev a-b-c-d iMacs, audio and keyboard probs with 1st dual usb iBooks, etc etc)
-a fellow disgruntled Mac user</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually I had my first generation G4 400 for 2 years and loved the machine. To clarify and elaborate a little: The ATI cards do hardware decoding for DVD (at least the old ones did) while the Nvidia cards don't (they rely on the software). Hardware decoding is far superior. My G4 400 with an ATI Rage 128 has DVD playback FAR SUPERIOR to my iMac. Well as far as this display being really bright, I really don't think it is. My old iBook screen seemed brighter than this. Also, while the iMac may be faster in OS X than a 400 AGP, first of all, it shoud be, but also, OSX is way slower than 9. The finder is horribly slow. The speed in OS X is not acceptable. Anyone want an iMac? Only $1800 (remember a new one is $1900 and will arrive in 5-7 weeks).
[ 03-21-2002: Message edited by: G4Dude ]</p>
If I had owned a G4 cude like you I would not have upgraded. A G4 cube is still a nice machine. It sucks that your keyboard is kind of weird.... but a keyboard it easy to replace. Please don't post "DON'T BUY AN IMAC" because not everyone out there already owns a G4 cube like you did.
<strong>there is little to complain about so don't go around telling people not to buy an iMac simply because you are having these unfounded problems and dissapointments</strong><hr></blockquote>
They would be unfounded if he was making it up, but I believe he is not. He can complain all he wants and make recommendations based on his experiences. It is a free country.
1.) Yikes machines do hardware decoding. No sawtooth machine does.
2.) Software decoding (at least Apple's) is better quality than the hardware decoder they used in the yikes and B/W G3s. it's a much better picture but uses more processor. Either way, my G4/400 easily plays a move without skipping a beat while I do other things.
[quote]My G4 400 with an ATI Rage 128 has DVD playback FAR SUPERIOR to my iMac.<hr></blockquote>
depends on what you mean by "superior" and what OS you are using.
[quote]It is a free country. <hr></blockquote>
what are you an eight year old living in the early 90s???
ALSO, HOW MANY OF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE USED AN iMAC FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME?
[ 03-21-2002: Message edited by: G4Dude ]</p>
<strong>
Anyone want an iMac? Only $1800 (remember a new one is $1900 and will arrive in 5-7 weeks).
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'll trade you an iBook, 15" NEC LCD, and 24x burner for it
<strong>
ALSO, HOW MANY OF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE USED AN iMAC FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME?
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I haven't used it for long periods of time, but I've used it for short periods of time quite often. I don't really find it that fast. Yes, it's faster than a 400MHz G4 but I'm not that impressed with the speed. The only Macs I find impressive are the 933 and Dual GHz G4s.
You got a lemon. It happens. I've spent a few days with 2 iMacs now, and both ran perfect. I feel for you being stuck with that one man - I would hate to think how long it would take to send it in for anything.... brutal.
<strong>
I haven't used it for long periods of time, but I've used it for short periods of time quite often. I don't really find it that fast. Yes, it's faster than a 400MHz G4 but I'm not that impressed with the speed. The only Macs I find impressive are the 933 and Dual GHz G4s.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thanks, man. At least someone agrees with me. In response to murbot's post, I don't think I have a lemon (except for the keyboard). I just think I might expect more for $1800 than other people do. Years of me buying macs because of their complete superiority led me to purchase this, and I feel that they came out with a product that on the outside looks good, but is really not worth the money.
<strong>First of all, the mouse sucks a big one. I bought a micro$oft mouse the day I got the thing. 5 keys on the keyboard have died. As for the computer itself, it's not that fast. Coming from a 400mhz G4, I was planning on a big speed boost, but with the small cache, it's not that fast. The fact that OSX is a complete joke doesn't help either. The iMac is soo much faster in 9.x. I'd guess 50% faster. The screen on this iMac is really dim too, even with brightness all the way up. DVD playback is AWFUL!!! This is because of the slow OS and the crappy GeForce 2mx. Pro speakers lick balls too. Sometimes you can't eject a CD for whatever reason and you have to get in there with a paperclip and push at the little gears, what a joke.[ 03-21-2002: Message edited by: G4Dude ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
I was worried upon initially reading your post, but so much of what you're unhappy with seems quite subjective and tied to one's usage, personality, expectations, etc.
Not being contentious, but in three days of pretty good use (been installing, configuring, burning CDs, used iPhoto to post a web gallery, encoding tons of CDs with iTunes, etc.), I've had nothing but extreme pleasure and fun.
I love the keyboard, mouse, etc.
I'm easy, I guess...
My advice would be to sell it on e-bay and put the money toward a PowerMac. Why keep it if you don't like it? It seems like you were expecting an all-in-one PowerMac, which the iMac was never meant to be.
[ 03-21-2002: Message edited by: imacFP ]</p>
I think you just got a lemon. Maybe you could try and exchange it or something, sorry about your problems.
<strong>what are you an eight year old living in the early 90s???</strong><hr></blockquote>
I have no idea what that is supposed to mean. <img src="confused.gif" border="0">
Now if 10.2 matches OS9 in the speed department, then we've really got something special...
That's really strange about your keyboard... I'm sure you can get that swapped quick enough.
Maybe you should be comparing the iMac to previous generation iMacs - there's the real story. Quite a speed bump.
[ 03-21-2002: Message edited by: murbot ]</p>
Since i already have an LCD display, I would probably be more inclined to choose a PowerMac over the iMac for the expanded expandability.
<strong>
I have no idea what that is supposed to mean.
every retard in fifth grade used to use that line.