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20" iMac or 24" Refurb?
- Thread starter s.hoz
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Well I won't be doing extreme photo editing, so I don't think the screen of the 24'' vs the 20'' will make a difference.
The 1,550 refurb and the new 1,300 iMac both have the same exact specs, except 2.4 ghz vs 2.0 ghz on the refurb and the 2.4 refurb has a 24''. The 20'' would maybe be the way to go, but for just a couple hundred dollars more I could get a bigger screen. Maybe it's not worth it. Maybe i'd just get the 1,300.
The 1,550 refurb and the new 1,300 iMac both have the same exact specs, except 2.4 ghz vs 2.0 ghz on the refurb and the 2.4 refurb has a 24''. The 20'' would maybe be the way to go, but for just a couple hundred dollars more I could get a bigger screen. Maybe it's not worth it. Maybe i'd just get the 1,300.
yes the 4 inches..is worth it! it really is
you could use it to watch DVDs...i do that in my kitchen..its worth it
you could use it to watch DVDs...i do that in my kitchen..its worth it
AHH! Haha. I keep going back and forth between 20'' and 24''.
Maybe I should just live a little and go for the 24. I still have to think. It would be saving me money if I just got the 20. I'm guessing $$ for a 24" is total worth it. My friend has one and it's...well...a god.
Idea on how long iMacs last? College is still a couple years away, it would be cool to bring it with. Would it last till then? (I would also, probably get a macbook or whatever when I go as well)
Maybe I should just live a little and go for the 24. I still have to think. It would be saving me money if I just got the 20. I'm guessing $$ for a 24" is total worth it. My friend has one and it's...well...a god.
Idea on how long iMacs last? College is still a couple years away, it would be cool to bring it with. Would it last till then? (I would also, probably get a macbook or whatever when I go as well)
Because you don't use 24" does not mean that he will not. I use a 30" monitor at work, it comes in very useful when audio editing which is what I do with 99% of my time. Recently I have noticed that the 30" is also great for doing research and writing as well. Al Gore seems to like them as well.
...to each his or her own.
Idea on how long iMacs last? College is still a couple years away, it would be cool to bring it with. Would it last till then? (I would also, probably get a macbook or whatever when I go as well) HM?
A friend of mine still uses his original Titanium Powerbook... he even does light audio editing with digital performer... So an iMac will last 3-5 yrs easily depending on how you use it. For surfing the web, sending emails it will last a very long time. If you use to for heavy Video and Audio editing, maybe not so long due to heat, etc*
The good news is you'll get a great machine either way.
FWIW, I've had nothing but good luck with refurbs. AppleCare is essential on any computer, and you already know enough to buy RAM from macsales.
You seem to be comparing apples to oranges though: why not compare the refurb 24" to the *refurb* 20"?
Anyway, Macs last a long time and keep an incredible resale value. If you're going to keep yours, however, consider that you can't upgrade the screen! Buy the 24" now and you'll enjoy it for the lifetime of the computer. Buy the 20" and you may regret it for years.
BTW, onlly the 24" is VESA wall-mountable, which may be handy, especially in college (for space saving AND some measure of security).
FWIW, I've had nothing but good luck with refurbs. AppleCare is essential on any computer, and you already know enough to buy RAM from macsales.
You seem to be comparing apples to oranges though: why not compare the refurb 24" to the *refurb* 20"?
Anyway, Macs last a long time and keep an incredible resale value. If you're going to keep yours, however, consider that you can't upgrade the screen! Buy the 24" now and you'll enjoy it for the lifetime of the computer. Buy the 20" and you may regret it for years.
BTW, onlly the 24" is VESA wall-mountable, which may be handy, especially in college (for space saving AND some measure of security).
If the 24" refurb is the Alu model I'd say gor for it all the way. I just got a new 24" at work and absolutely love it, it is S-O-O cool! I have had more comments on this computer than on any computer-related item that I have ever seen. Everybody at my company who has see it wants one and is jealous, and wants to know what I did to get it (and they are all PC people)! I have had several people say "That's a beautiful monitor!" and are shocked when I tell them that is the whole computer. This is going to win more switchers than all of the ads could ever do.
After I read this I thought: Hey, he does have a point. I wonder how much the refurb 20'' is. I go on apple and it's GONE!
But the later gen. (white imac) are there too.
Hm...the 24" g5 white imac is kinda cheap. Do you think the white imacs are good? I notice it doesn't have as much hd as i'd like...and it has a slower processor.
Yeah, that's kind of the direction I'm heading. I think 24'' would be great.
Now that I think of it, 20'' might seem a bit small for me. Most of my computer is with my family's 42'' tv with my crappy dell hooked up to it. I guess if i just switch the numbers around from 42 to 24...
Now that I think of it, 20'' might seem a bit small for me. Most of my computer is with my family's 42'' tv with my crappy dell hooked up to it. I guess if i just switch the numbers around from 42 to 24...
At what resolution do you have it at? The 24" iMac can do full HD (1920x1200) - looks amazing.
True, but how much would that cost for another display? Even the cheapest TN 24" 1920x1200 monitor usually runs atleast $350, $600 for something of the quality like that on the 24inch iMac or $900+ for a TV that can do actual 1080p.
I have the 24" iMac because I need the larger monitor. I do a lot of engineering/design (CAD,CAM,EDA) work and this requires having plenty of windows open. It is sooo nice to be able to glance at a datasheet and then go back to the window where I'm working on a design.
So I'm in the same boat as the original poster and am trying to figure out if it's worth the extra money to get the 2.8 GHZ 24' IMac vs the 2.4 GHZ. A buddy of mine who's fairly good with computers seems to think I'd be fine with the 2.4 GHZ model since the plans I have for it are pretty basic.
Is this the sort of issue you're referring to?
I'm going to have to start deciding because the Dell computer that I use is going to die. Soon. I mean really soon; it's makes weird noises, overheats, and freezes too much. I'm glad my family still has a gateway laptop....
I've been looking on apple.com and I've found a refurb 20'' 2.4GHz, 320 HD for only 1,300. I might end up doing that. It is a good deal for the 24'' refurb though. I'll still have to think it over some more. I'll be saving money with the 20''; plus I plan on getting a new ikea desk and software.
I've been looking on apple.com and I've found a refurb 20'' 2.4GHz, 320 HD for only 1,300. I might end up doing that. It is a good deal for the 24'' refurb though. I'll still have to think it over some more. I'll be saving money with the 20''; plus I plan on getting a new ikea desk and software.
I got that one-1299 refurb alum imac. It should be arriving tomorrow
in all honesty, the 4 inches are nice, but not worth $300 if you don't want to spend more. you can always spend more for something better. The 20incher is good enough. and at 2.4ghz and a 320gb hd, it's pretty awesome too.
You won't be dissappointed. I don't think I'll be either
yea i'm spending 1330 or so and got 3 gigs of ram. the 24" refurb white imac is ok, but outdated. sure the specs are decent, but i get the feeling that the 20" al imac will be better in the long run since it's specs are better