ok i'm SURE there are other threads about this but i need a new mac and i've decided to go desktop and i'm deciding between a" iMac 20" 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 250GB Serial ATA Drive SuperDrive 8X (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) Apple Wireless Keyboard & wireless Mighty Mouse + Mac OS X (US English) ATI Radeon X1600/256MB VRAM 1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x512 iMac 24" 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 250GB Serial ATA Drive SuperDrive 8X (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) Apple Wireless Keyboard & wireless Mighty Mouse + Mac OS X (US English) NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT 256MB SDRAM 1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x512 the only difference is screen size and graphics card brand name (i think) the only thing i'm wondering is if the extra $500 worth it or should i just go with the 20inch? PS my main uses are: gaming, tv (eyetv), movies, music, internet, mail, im, etc.
There is another couple of differences, the 24 has Firewire 800, a much Brighter HD Resolution Screen and 4 built in speakers instead of 2.
Don't forget to up the RAM - preferably to 2 Gb... fortunately prices are pretty durned good on RAM - in the USA check with the most popular vendors recommended on MR Crucial (link at the top), OWC (Macsales) and Data Memory Systems www.datamem.com
I would imagine that you would enjoy the 24" display alot more if you are watching a lot of TV and movies.
The 4 inches more will make a big difference. If you willing to spend $500 more go for the 24 inches. I would also get 2 gig of ram. Thanks
I looked it up and saw that one can up the RAM to 2g at CRUCIAL but how do you go to 3g RAM without doing it at the customization screen apple gives you? wouldn't one of the sticks have to be a 2g?
You have t buy one 2 gig chip and a 1 gig chip. I'm very happy not that I upgraded to 2 gigs on mine.
I'd get the 20", a RAM upgrade, and an additional 20" Dell monitor. That should run you about the same cost as the 24" you mentioned. A RAM upgrade is a must with either package, but this way you get even more screen real-estate.
Wouldn't TV look worse on a larger screen because it is streched out more? Unless it is in HD. I would go for the 20" (I did) and get a RAM upgrade. Unless you push the screen wayy back the 24 it a little too large.
Very happy with my 24 here. Certainly not too big by any stretch of the imagination... you can just fit more windows on the screen at a time and that extra real-estate in one box is definitely a great thing.
As long as the scaling software does a good job, it should look great. Both the 20 and 24 are widescreen.