Friend is looking to buy iMac but cost is concerning him

[HE15MAN]

Is there any webpages or articles I can let him read to ease his mind that Apple is worth the extra "cost" upfront?

Thanks

 

[jamied95]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/975069/

 

[MacHamster68]

you got a 24-inch iMac 3.06GHz , 20-inch iMac 2.66GHz , Black iPhone 4 32 GB x 2 ,15-inch: 2.53GHz Macbook Pro , 2.0 GHz Mac Mini HTPC, 16 GB WiFi iPad

so if you cant convince him its worth spending thousands on on apple products instead of hundreds on pc stuff ..who can

and for the complete piece of mind there is apple warranty and there is apple care , a must have if you want to enjoy the Mac for three years

another point is actually the most important point of buying a Mac in first place , you can get rid of windows and enjoy a good operating system for the first time in your life

 

[mmomega]

I just hopped on newegg and priced a computer very similar to the imac 27 and you'll see the price difference is not that far off. Of all the computer products they offer, the iMac line is the "cheapest" for what you get.


Dell 27" IPS Monitor
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd&sku=224-8284&redirect=1 1099.99

CPU 289.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115213

RAM 75.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820104206

HDD 69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

VIDEO 134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&cm_re=5750_1gb_radeon-_-14-150-448-_-Product

DVD DRIVE 49.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106322&cm

Internal Wireless N 27.94
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833106039

Bluetooth 14.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833242001

Keyboard 69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823101008&cm_

Mouse 69.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16826101010

I'm up to $1903.85 so far not counting a motherboard, case, webcam, speakers, power supply or Operating System. iMac 27" i7 is $2199 price difference is not great when comparing a very similar product.

 

[HE15MAN]

you got a 24-inch iMac 3.06GHz , 20-inch iMac 2.66GHz , Black iPhone 4 32 GB x 2 ,15-inch: 2.53GHz Macbook Pro , 2.0 GHz Mac Mini HTPC, 16 GB WiFi iPad

so if you cant convince him its worth spending thousands on on apple products instead of hundreds on pc stuff ..who can

and for the complete piece of mind there is apple warranty and there is apple care , a must have if you catch a example that is not up to standard , after 3 years its recommended to sell and upgrade anyway

Is there a big difference between the i5 and the i7 in the new 27" iMacs?


Look at these specs and tell me which you would get. Both are $1,699:

Refurbished iMac 27-inch 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7
27-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
4GB memory
1TB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics with 512MB memory
Built-in iSight camera

Refurbished iMac 27-inch 2.8GHz Intel Quad-Core i5 processor
27-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display
4GB memory
1TB hard drive
8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
ATI Radeon HD 5750 graphics with 1GB memory
Built-in iSight camera

 

[SpitUK]

If he does any sort of gaming the bottom one.

 

[HE15MAN]

I think mainly photo editing and graphic design

 

[rkaufmann87]

I think mainly photo editing and graphic design

He would be more than happy with an i5 then. If you have an Apple Store nearby have him visit it and spend some time using a Mac and then the objection will change from it's too expensive (it isn't btw) to why didn't I do this years ago.

 

[alent1234]

configure a dell online with all the upgrades that an iMac has and when you account for the better power supply and monitor the price is the same as a dell. and with apple when you need tech support the people speak american english and don't make you run through a script

 

[Sterrell]

My iMac was easily one of the best purchases I have ever made.

3 years later, and it still works as perfect as it did on day one. I cannot say that about any previous computer I have owned. Tell your friend to consider it an investment, he can have it for years to come. The iMac is also a very cool computer, and who else with a tower-based computer can say that? Don't even get me started on how amazing OSX is.

I'm actually buying another one soon, because I'm giving my current one to my fiancee'.

The iMac rules, man.

 

[Spike88]

Is there any webpages or articles I can let him read to ease his mind that Apple is worth the extra "cost" upfront? Thanks

Are you trying to "sell" or talk your friend into getting an iMac system?

Unknown to some, the iMac system is NOT perfect. It has some great things and it has some "needs for improvement" things. Depending on what your friend does, they may find the "lower cost" Windows xx system better (for their specific usage needs). Not Windows Vista or Windows XP - which has its major problems. Stay with the newer Windows 7 systems - that are much better then prevous Win xx systems.

If wondering, I'd buy a Win 7 Laptop system with external 23" monitor the next time around. Thus, having both portability and desktop setup at "affordable" cost. And when it blows in 2-3 years, I throw it away and get another "low cost" Win xx replacement. Especially for my basic home user tasks. I know. Its like going into a GM forum and telling others I'd buy a Dodge or Ford next time. But truth be told, the iMac doesn't measure up to my expectations (based on market and hype from others). Especially for my basic home computing needs vrs dollars to purchase it.

Below is something I posted on a different (previous) thread. Based on these items and what your friend does on a computer, they can pick their own system. re: Lower cost Win xx system or much higher cost iMac system?

---------------

Personally, I find my HP Laptop running Windows 7 can access and download internet files (even in wirelss mode) much faster then my iMac connected via UTP ethernet. Even with my iMac's MTU set at its optiminal level, the Laptop/Windows 7 machine blows my new iMac out of the water. The iMac is simply "slow" for movie downloads, You Tube viewing and general surfing - expecially all at the same time.

I find my new iMac for pictures is amazing. Easy to load pictures, easy to view pictures and all pictures are crystal clear. In this area, the iMac is much better then my Windows 7 laptop. With digitial pictures, the iMac actually blows the HP Laptop / Win 7 system out of the water.

For mail, I like our HP with its Windows 7 Mail package better. For automatic spell checker (in mail and within forums), I like our new iMac better. For viewing You-Tube files, the iMac screen is crystal clear. Although, streaming video can be choppy - while waiting for its next download chunk.

For automatic backups, I love the IMac's Time Machine. Set it / leave it and it works. A hear WD Automatic Backup software for Win xx systems is an install it and leave it type usage as wel..

For Web caming, I like our HP Laptop / Windows 7 machine "much" better. This bundle includes software that allows you to change WebCam settings. Simple things like Zoom and lighting. On the iMac, the iSight Camera is fixed. One needs to buy 3rd party software (re: iGlasses) to change its basic settings. Like gee. Pay $2,000 for an iMac and one has to buy 3rd party software to change their built in WebCam? Talk about stupid. Apple Corp needs to shake their head over this gap.

To change fonts on the iMac, one needs to use a 3rd party software as well. re: Tickertool. It changes some fonts but NOT all. And, it doesn't change Menu sizes (like fixed text within a windows label). Within Windows 7 system, simply go into Video Screen Resoluton and select usge large fonts. re: 125% DPI. All fonts and "menus" become larger. Clean / simple and easy to use. To me, the iMac OS needs this same "one global click" feature.

The new iMac don't support Jumbo Frame sizes. With Win xx systems, one can cross reference their onboard ethernet cards and if needed, install different eithernet cards.

Win XX and virus problems?? I've been using Win xx for years and practice "safe computing" (along with FREE Virus software packages - like MS Essentials). re: I don't visit smut sites, I don't click on "free offers" or open attachments from folks I don't know. Never had a virus problem on my Win xx systems.

As you can tell, the iMac is NOT perfect. It has some things that are the way behind the Windows 7 systems. But, are better in some areas. As a suggestion, take your large "user needs" checklist and review the Win xx against the Mac OS system side by side. Which system is better - for you? That's the one you buy. Knowing what I know "today", my family should have bought a "beefed up" Multi-Media Class Win 7 system - instead of our current iMac. But, we're now stuck with our new iMac - until it breaks or needs to be replaced.

Bottom line... Pick the system that is best for you, and your "user needs". As implied, NO system is perfect. Even the iMac platforms...

Good luck...

.

 

[Thermonuclear]

People overly concerned about cost shouldn't get a Mac. Tell your friend to get a cheap Dell or HP. Either he will learn or he won't.