New DP 1.25 PM

Broke down and bought one of the new DP 1.25 PM's with the 20" Cinema display. I've had a 15" FP iMac for a while (pretty much switched completely from the Windows world), and was considering getting a speedbumped 17" in the next few weeks (assuming they are actually released). However, the new prices of the Cinema displays along with supposedly quieter PM's with Airport Extreme kicked me over the edge.

I'm impressed - while I'm sure a 3GHz Intel box may be faster on many things, this thing really flies. I even thought about holding out for 970-based PM's, but decided that this would be a useful & satisfying machine for a couple years. OS X is very responsive on this thing, even iMovie3 is pretty good (it was unuseable on my 700 Mhz iMac).

I've currently got 768MB, but I'm going to order another 512MB DIMM next week. Probably get a Pioneer A105 too (iDVD3 is installed on the hard drive, even though the new 1.25 is a combo drive machine).

The new 20" Cinema is fantastic, BTW.

Based on my "ear up next to the case" comparison in the Apple store between the original & new MDD's, I'd say significantly better (no high pitched whine), but still noticeable. There is some "mechanical" noise from the leaf blower fan, but it is fairly low pitched. I would say it is louder than a recent low noise PC, but better than some PC's I've had.

I am 100% certain that it is NOT the "headache-inducing drill" whining I have seen referenced. However, you are going to notice it quite clearly in a real quiet room.

I'm fine with it, but I'm sure there will be the usual malcontents

Keith