Not sure if iMac is for me

[FerraraZ]

My PC recently broke down, constant BSOD in what I believe is either hard drive failure or mobo failure. Either way I wasnt happy with the build and its time to splurg and get a new PC especially since college is about to be complete and the work world is picking up.

I've used a 15 inch Macbook Pro for the past 6 months exclusively for work (as well as Ubuntu as work desktop OS) and I really do just love it. Not a damn problem with the laptop or using the OS in my daily life except that I do have a deep passion for PC gaming except even that is starting to slow down with only really playing games like LoL, SC2, Black Ops. I have a PS3 so I was hoping I could start getting into console games instead but none the less I feel I can dual boot windows if needed.

I guess I'm just second guessing iMac or building a desktop again. I'd be using BillMeLater because I dont want to spend the money right away even though I have it. The iMac I have my heart set on is the new i5 27 inch with the upgraded graphics but was hoping to get an open box or refurbished unit.

Either way any iMac owners out there who can help with personal experience to make the decision easier?

 

[PeeluckyDuckee]

I have a ps3 as well as the 2011 imac 3.4ghz for casual gaming. Bootcamp made the switch back to the pc world that much more bearable, and gaming on the imac more tolerable performance wise. The mobile graphics card is no monster but it aint no slouch either, performing admirably at imac's native resolution. I think u should be pleasantly surprised.

 

[sportage]

WOW! Where do I start...
I built windows bases pc's for 10+ years.
I was the first I know to own the ibm 286 pc.
Started with ms windows ver 3.0 (14 floppy disk install).
I built all the pc's that my family members (cousins, sisters, in-laws, etc etc) use.
Built 9 or 10 MCE pc's. I 'WAS" the pc guy...
Then about a year ago I just got so tired of constantly messing with pc's. Upgrades.
And windows based software for pc's constantly failing to live up to the promise.
I got so tired of it all that I jumped into the world of apple, after the first new iMac's came out.
It was so incredible and nice to sit down to start a project, and actually spend 100%
of my time addressing that project. And not 75% of my time (in the windows pc world) getting the windows based pc or software up and going, before I got to the point to where I could even work on my project.
Whether it was working with video, hardware, whatever, windows based stuff just sucked.
Having now owned, lived with, and used my 27" iMac i5, I would NEVER go back to that windows based crapola...

It is such a pleasure to sit down to your project, and focus 100% from start to finish on that project. And not be distracted by some windows compatibility or hardware issue that crops up, where you end up totally derailed, getting the system to function so you can maybe, hopefully, continue back on your project.

And the end result when using the iMac, whether its video or audio or whatever creative you are doing, the end result is so much more professional. I guess that is because mac based software tends to deliver. Over deliver.
Where as in my experience, windows based software always failed to come close to deliver. And all that wasted money...

With using my iMac I've not experienced one virus attack or virus issue.
Had very few forced os software updates, unlike with the constant windows based os "updates are ready to install" annoyance.
No blue-screens. No freeze-ups. No software error codes. No crashes.
I know, I sound like an apple commercial, but don't get me started....

My sister, for example, buys a new windows based pc every 6 months. I simply refuse to deal with them, to keep her pc up to date. She thinks the iMac's are too expensive.
I pointed out to her, with all the money she wastes trying to stay up to date with windows based stuff, she could have easily bought an iMac, and the top of the line iMac, and actually saved money. And be happy! And have a life. And actually get something done. And the end result flawless!
Finally... my family and friends are starting to realize just that, by switching.
The 27' iMac's are first class, very nice, a real treat to work with.
But I would recommend the 21.5 for most typical computer users.
21.5 iMac is plenty big for most people, unless you work in the medical field, or with professional drafting, or art work, or video creation, or plan on also using you iMac as your television.

As for dual booting, I would suggest better going the "parallels" route.
Parallels, a mac program that runs windows based programs.
The way it works is pretty slick. When you start your windows based program, parallels brings up that windows based program in the mac environment, or appears to. So you can have windows programs running side-by-side with your mac programs.
I tried both the dual boot way and parallels, and found parallels far easier because you have the best of both worlds side by side, at the same time.
I have just two windows based programs that I still need and use on my iMac, thru parallels.
My goal is to wean myself off these two windows based programs so as to be totally mac. One windows app I still need is this old windows based cardfile program I have tons of notes and addresses in. I could transfer all these notes and addresses to mac based programs, but haven’t taken the time as of yet.
The other windows based program is a very old family tree database program I keep for my relatives sake. All the family tree history stuff for years, going back to Abe Lincoln, is in that database.
Hopefully I will find the time to transfer all that someday.
... Go with the iMac ... You won't look back!

 

[FerraraZ]

Wow that post was extremely insightful. Now I just need to find a cheap enough *new* iMac. Student discount is 100 bucks off but I gotta c if I can do better than that!

 

[postaled]

My sister, for example, buys a new windows based pc every 6 months.

She confuses me :\ Does she buy some pos cheap pc every time also?

I just found that part insane.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I know, I sound like an apple commercial, but don't get me started....

That's putting it lightly.

 

[Gooberlx2]

She confuses me :\ Does she buy some pos cheap pc every time also?

I just found that part insane.

There's a lot about that post which makes go

 

[tokie]

Let me put it this way: I bought an Apple MacBook in 2006. That lasted until 2010. So I got 4 years of usage out of a $1000 laptop. Everyone else I knew in college had to upgrade after 2 years (2008ish). They ended up spending well above what I spent on the MacBook.

My parents' 2006 iMac is still going strong with daily usage. And if they wanted to sell it, they could get ~$400 for it right now on the market. Try and say that about some Dell PC.

 

[Zen0]

My PC recently broke down, constant BSOD in what I believe is either hard drive failure or mobo failure. Either way I wasnt happy with the build and its time to splurg and get a new PC especially since college is about to be complete and the work world is picking up.

I've used a 15 inch Macbook Pro for the past 6 months exclusively for work (as well as Ubuntu as work desktop OS) and I really do just love it. Not a damn problem with the laptop or using the OS in my daily life except that I do have a deep passion for PC gaming except even that is starting to slow down with only really playing games like LoL, SC2, Black Ops. I have a PS3 so I was hoping I could start getting into console games instead but none the less I feel I can dual boot windows if needed.

I guess I'm just second guessing iMac or building a desktop again. I'd be using BillMeLater because I dont want to spend the money right away even though I have it. The iMac I have my heart set on is the new i5 27 inch with the upgraded graphics but was hoping to get an open box or refurbished unit.

Either way any iMac owners out there who can help with personal experience to make the decision easier?

I have a new top of the line 27" iMac now and it runs Black Ops maxed out flat out at high - 60FPS just fine. Starcraft 2 will also run fine, just not as well if you intend to crank settings and force anti-aliasing, which I had trouble doing on my GTX 480 + 4.2ghz Core i7.

I dual boot to Windows 7 (Bootcamp) because it's the only way to play games. It's essentially a barebones Windows install with Windows updates and Steam and games on it only.

 

[Reliant]

I have a new top of the line 27" iMac now and it runs Black Ops maxed out flat out at high - 60FPS just fine. Starcraft 2 will also run fine, just not as well if you intend to crank settings and force anti-aliasing, which I had trouble doing on my GTX 480 + 4.2ghz Core i7.

I dual boot to Windows 7 (Bootcamp) because it's the only way to play games. It's essentially a barebones Windows install with Windows updates and Steam and games on it only.

Yep. I wouldn't want to run games with Parallels due to the virtualization overhead that you will incur. It's not really a hassle to reboot in to Windows when you want to play a game. I'm finding that the game performance is definitely better in Windows, but I really only play Blizzard games and Steam games, and the difference isn't enough to get me to reboot anymore. I'll only load Windows for games not available on OSX.

The one major thing that took getting used to in games on OSX was how the OS handled mouse acceleration in games vs Windows.

 

[Pardus]

been hearing the 2011 imac's get extremely hot and keep freezing up due to the poor design.

 

[Zen0]

Yep. I wouldn't want to run games with Parallels due to the virtualization overhead that you will incur. It's not really a hassle to reboot in to Windows when you want to play a game. I'm finding that the game performance is definitely better in Windows, but I really only play Blizzard games and Steam games, and the difference isn't enough to get me to reboot anymore. I'll only load Windows for games not available on OSX.

The one major thing that took getting used to in games on OSX was how the OS handled mouse acceleration in games vs Windows.

There's no point. Keep a Windows install for all of your games and forget about it in OSX. The mousing movement in OSX is not conducive to gaming.

 

[Ns1]

Owner if 2011 iMac here. Only regret is not being able to afford the 27" version.

 

[Reliant]

There's no point. Keep a Windows install for all of your games and forget about it in OSX. The mousing movement in OSX is not conducive to gaming.

At least I know that I'm not crazy about the mouse acceleration. At first I thought I was crazy.

 

[Zen0]

been hearing the 2011 imac's get extremely hot and keep freezing up due to the poor design.

Hearing from who? I have the fastest one available and temps don't go over 60C on the GPU or the CPU. And you will NEVER hear the fans going, ever.

 

[Zen0]

At least I know that I'm not crazy about the mouse acceleration. At first I thought I was crazy.

It also depends on the mouse you have, the Razer Orochi I use in OSX which Razer drivers behaves more like a Windows Mouse but not exactly the same.

 

[FerraraZ]

Anyone know of any places to order an iMac where I can use Bill Me Later? I dont have to finish paying it off until the first 6 months. I've used it at newegg all the time for my new builds and just love it, so does anyone know of any place I could buy a 27 using Bill Me Later.

 

[Kenmitch]

Anyone know of any places to order an iMac where I can use Bill Me Later? I dont have to finish paying it off until the first 6 months. I've used it at newegg all the time for my new builds and just love it, so does anyone know of any place I could buy a 27 using Bill Me Later.

Here ya go

https://shopping.billmelater.com/stores/computers-and-office?conversationId=2417377

I'm sure you'll recognize a few on the list that carry the imac

 

[Kaido]

Not sure if iMac is for me

U 4 scuba?

 

[FerraraZ]

U 4 scuba?

Ugh what?

 

[Ns1]

Anyone know of any places to order an iMac where I can use Bill Me Later? I dont have to finish paying it off until the first 6 months. I've used it at newegg all the time for my new builds and just love it, so does anyone know of any place I could buy a 27 using Bill Me Later.

ebay

3.5% CB too.

 

[Emulex]

macmall are sheisters they sold me a used slingbox knowing it wouldn't be supported at all. a-holes.

 

[postaled]

Hearing from who? I have the fastest one available and temps don't go over 60C on the GPU or the CPU. And you will NEVER hear the fans going, ever.

He may have been thinking of the issues with the 15" and 17" MBP.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2768351?threadID=2768351

 

[Zen0]

He may have been thinking of the issues with the 15" and 17" MBP.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2768351?threadID=2768351

Oh yes, I had a new SB 15" MBP and gaming would send that baby into 101C on the CPU and it would not back down from the 90s with the fans roaring all day.

Returned it the next day (the high res matte screen was also terrible, grainy, and yellow).

 

[dclive]

macmall are sheisters they sold me a used slingbox knowing it wouldn't be supported at all. a-holes.

What, exactly, does that mean? MacMall doesn't do hardware support; they're a sales company. If you had a problem with the slingbox why didn't you call the slingbox manufacturer?