Discount and Reviews

I mean look, literally. I was circling an iMac for months and was just about to pull the trigger, when an internet search turned up forums full of users railing against the iMac display. Apple is proud of its glossiness and touts it as a feature; many users complain that it’s more effective as a mirror than a monitor. And sure enough, I went to the Apple store several times at lunch and darned if it doesn’t reflect everything in the room. So check it out in person, and see if it’s an issue for you. And think about the room you’re going to use it in. I was going to pop for an aftermarket antiglare film, but that seemed like putting mudflaps on a new Ferrari so I came up with a better solution – got a Mac Mini and bought the monitor of my choice, since almost every computer monitor sold has antiglare coating as standard equipment. Plus, you’re not stuck with the AIO design that makes future upgrades difficult – if you decide in a year or two you want a 24, or 26 or 32 inch monitor, you’ve got to buy it, plug it into your iMac and keep that big machine around. It’s OK to go Mac, just look (and look again) before you iMac.
Rating: 2 / 5

This is my first Mac. Like many others, I finally got tired of the multitude of PC issues and made the switch. So far (about two weeks), I’m delighted with the result. I’ve never had such a smooth experience with a computer. The OS learning curve is not that bad. I’m feeling pretty comfortable already, much of which is knowing that the machine will always be ready to do what you want it to, without the endless rebooting, delays, crashes, etc., that ruined the PC experience for me. When you turn it on, you know it’s going to work. I never knew what to expect from my PC on any given day.

The 21.5 inch display is bright, rich and detailed; reflections should not be a problem unless your room is brightly lit or has many windows; reasonable precautions here will suffice.

My internet speed has gone from 1-3 mbps to over 8 mbps on the average. This had been noticeably slowing for several months on the PC and I was thinking about switching providers. Now I don’t have to. Apparently PCs can get clogged up with a lot of junk which ultimately affects internet processing. Whatever the reason for the improvement, I’m delighted with the result.

Set-up was simplicity itself. I followed instructions by hooking up all peripherals before turning it on for the first time, and everything was recognized automatically. Except for verifying my email address (which the Mac had already obtained), I had nothing to do. The whole process took only a couple of minutes.

All of the iLife applications I’ve tried have worked flawlessly, just as advertised. I have used only one (iPhoto) in depth so far, but I’ll get around to several others before long, and fully expect results just as good. Everything seems more intuitive and common-sensical than on Windows-based machines.

I expected to have problems adapting to the new truncated keyboard, but not so. I already like it better than the old one with the PC. It might look flimsy, but it’s really quite hefty, with a solid feel and good feedback. Keys are less noisy, almost silent, in fact, and are quite responsive. I do not miss the numbers section, as I rarely used it anyway. Its absence saves desktop space, which is always welcome.

I like the new Magic Mouse, as well, with one minor quibble. It, too, has a solid feel and, due to the batteries, is somewhat heavier than your average mouse. But it is not difficult to manuever. I have experienced no drag on either my desktop or a mouse pad. Clicking and scrolling are easy to master and respond quickly, unlike some other Bluetooth mice. The only problem I’ve had is in using the two-finger swipe to advance web pages or photos. For me, it works only sporadically, but that’s probably because I just don’t have the hang of it yet. I’ll keep trying.

The built-in speakers are better than the JBLs I had been using with the PC. They are more than adequate for casual music listening and movie soundtracks. The sound is crisp and detailed, with a surprisingly good bass foundation for speakers this size.

A real plus is Apple’s well-written and detailed Support section on its website. I haven’t looked up anything yet which hasn’t been explained fully in easy-to-understand language for a layman like me. I had been considering buying one of the instruction books, but I don’t think I’ll have to. There seems to be everything here that most people would ever need to know.

Bottom-line recommendation: ditch that PC and get yourself a Mac. It may be a little more expensive, but it will more than make up the difference in the long run, in terms of reduced frustration and time-saving if nothing else.

Rating: 5 / 5

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