Any comments on making the switch from PC?
Just wonder if anybody here made the switch and went back or if they are now happy. I've said for the last three upgrades that I was going to go Apple... Seems like every time I go to upgrade, I see the price difference ($1000 vs $2000) and chicken out.
I'm a musician, so I can see a benefit for recording my music. And the interface looks really nice. I'm a professional Java developer as well, so how is the platform for Java?
Anybody know of any statistics on if/how many PC users are making the switch. How many are satisfied? How many switch back?
I'm a musician, so I can see a benefit for recording my music. And the interface looks really nice. I'm a professional Java developer as well, so how is the platform for Java?
Anybody know of any statistics on if/how many PC users are making the switch. How many are satisfied? How many switch back?
Comments
2. As far as I know, the iMac has no video in. The only way to know if you can use the screen with another computer would be to open it up and see about some sort of adapter for the wires inside. Mine is only 5 months old, and I am not ready to pop the lit yet.
have you seen the 1.25 GHz machines on apple's website? they are near the bottom of the store, starting at $1300 for a single. not too bad...
Yeah... The tower is the other option. $1299 for a 1.25 Ghz G4. Then I would have to buy a monitor... I'm in love with the apple displays... but $699!!!!!!!! thats an even $2000 for the basic system. Then I've got software to buy.
To go cheap, you're talking $1299 for system, $400 for some 3rd rate offbrand LCD display (remember that CRT make guitars hum.. so this is necessity), plus another $300+ for the recording software. I would go without office or the PC emulator, etc, until I hade more money...
Originally posted by groverat
Foreigner. Rockin'
With stars in his eyes...
I'm going to wait a few months and see if the prices of G4s come down significantly. But this just looks like a loosing battle.
Total is $1149
There is also a 17" iMac 1Ghz
256 RAM, 80GB HD, SuperDrive for $1745
Not that much differences in price but it is still like $55 just for joining a no-cost group
Also if anyone else is intrested, All PowerBooks through the User Group Store have a $50 discount and free (no rebate, no install fee) 256MB memory ($100 discount in all)
There is much more at the store so email me if you want to check if there is a discount on something you want
To join my group email me [email protected]
oh and make sure to visit my website for more info: right now it is http://macusers.home.comcast.net but i will soon have a .com domain
If you must get a flat panel, then formac offer the next best thing for less.
i switched last december for a dual 867 MDD and havent looked back.
All in all you get what you pay for.
I would get a low end one sans the superdrive, so it would be $1799 + 17'' VGA Monitor = about $2000
As for the upgrade, I'm also in dire need of a good monitor. My bill paying/general purpose machine (my wife's computer) has a 17" CRT. I have an old, ratty 14" svga and a broken Pentium 300 box, and I have a Dell Celeron 600 Laptop (with a 12.1 inch display) that I writing this on....
I sent Apple an email asking if the iMac display was toast when the machine was toast but they have yet to respond. It would be cool to just be able to open the case and see the standard monitor plug... Then you could just grab that sucker and run it to whatever computer you wanted if you later upgraded. Of course then theres a big ugly, useless base thing. But better than nothing...
G5 really does sound the best option. I also sent an email to the Apple Developers Club (ADC) to see if I qualify for any Developers discounts. We will see.
Originally posted by MajorMatt
I would bite the bullet on the price and get the G5 (if you can), you'll appreciate the extra money spent later on.
I would get a low end one sans the superdrive, so it would be $1799 + 17'' VGA Monitor = about $2000
You lost me. G5 starts at $1999. Do you mean theres going to be a $1799 one coming shortly?
Originally posted by MajorMatt
I would bite the bullet on the price and get the G5 (if you can), you'll appreciate the extra money spent later on.
I would get a low end one sans the superdrive, so it would be $1799 + 17'' VGA Monitor = about $2000
I got it. Very clever. Now I'm wit-cha.
I ended up getting the 17" iMac, because for the same amount of cash (compared to PowerMac alternatives) you walk out with everything INCLUDING the beautiful 17" display...Using that logic, the display is almost 'free', so who cares if it's worthless in 5 years? I'll gladly plunk down another $2,000 in 4 years for the next iMac with whatever wonderful display it includes and relegate my existing unit to "server" duty.
The iMac has plenty of power for my needs (and it sounds like it would suit yours as well).
As for the $1,000 PC vs. the $2,000 Mac; it's cliched but you get what you pay for!
Originally posted by Sport73
As for the $1,000 PC vs. the $2,000 Mac; it's cliched but you get what you pay for!
You get what you pay for, I say that to all Windows users, lol
here is a completed auction from a Pentium II 266 gateway machine, released around the same time as the original iMac. It went for $16.50. I can't say the original selling price of a Gateway 266 tower, but at the time, i would guess around $1000 (can anyone confirm or disconfirm this). $16.50 is of course 1.6% of the original value, essentially worthless.
so, coming from the PC world, you may not be used to computers having resale, but the 17" iMac will when you are done with it. I wouldn't let the attached display keep your from the computer you want.
the real difference is that Macs make using your computer enjoyable. you forget you're working on a computer. it actually works as an extension of yourself, and you find yourself forgetting that you're working on a computer.
granted it'll take at least 6 months before you reach this point, takes a while to unlearn Windows think. but one day you'll realize that your computer actually does what you think it should when it should, how it should. rather than fighting it, it will be helping you along your way.
it's hard to describe the difference between feeling that your computer is ready to screw you over at a moments notice vs. being something you can count on, but that's what it boils down to.
of course, people can have terrible experiences on either platform, so take what i wrote with a grain of salt, but this is the path that most switchers take. it's a wonderful road to walk down.