Found a good deal on an iMac. I need convincing.

[Adre]

I can get a stock 15" 1GHz iMac (only this model) for an affordable amount. I will be buying another 256MB stick of RAM from Crucial. I just have a few questions:

• My iPod is formatted for Windows. Can I retrieve the files and put them on my iMac, reformat to Mac, and sync?
• I remember once putting around 5GB of music on my iPod and clearing my iTunes library because it was lagging. Next it synced and deleted everything. If I connect my iPod to the iMac, is autosync enabled?
• I am used to a 20" CRT. The iMac has a maximum resolution of 1024x768. I'm used to a 1280x1024. Will the 15" be enough?
• I would like to run games like Warcraft 3 on the iMac. The default graphics card is a Geforce4 MX. Is it easy to change this?
• My currect computer has a P4 1.5a. How will this model of the iMac compare with it in activities like audio encoding?

Thanks.

 

[Sun Baked]

If you have a PC and are planning on reusing as much as possible on the new system, a 1GHz PowerMac G4 may be an alternative -- or a refurb PM 1.6 G5 for $100 more.

 

[Adre]

Originally posted by Sun Baked
If you have a PC and are planning on reusing as much as possible on the new system, a 1GHz PowerMac G4 may be an alternative -- or a refurb PM 1.6 G5 for $100 more.

I can get this iMac for pretty much dirt cheap (<$700), but it won't have Panther or the new iLife. I don't mind, though.
My father will be purchasing my current PC, so it'll be all new hardware. I was thinking of buying a Radeon 9600 Pro as a GPU replacement (I've only got an overclocked Ti4200 at the moment anyway) if it's possible to change these things.

 

[Sun Baked]

Basically cannot change anything, almost a sealed box -- especially the CPU/GPU being soldered to the logic board.

Changing/upgrading the HD, Optical drive, internal Memory require breaking some of the thermal conduits -- so they need to be redone when putting it back together with thermal pads/paste.