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How did I do? Just order my first new (old) iMac!

G

gorby

macrumors 6502
Original poster
White iMac
24" Display 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1 GB RAM
250 GB Hard Drive

$1,539.99 shipped! (Amazon via Smalldog)

I thought about this long and hard, and really must admit that I was almost about to go with aluminum before reading of the screen issues.

Gradient/tinting reports aside, what really bugged me were some reports of people complaining of increased eyestrain... that's a big no-no for me. I could see how it could happen with the glossy glass display, though I have no real way of testing it. (camp in front of an iMac all day at an apple store?)

So on that note, 'keeping it matte' was a nice incentive to go white.

Here's how I compared:
white iMac 24" vs. alu iMac 24"
2.16 vs. 2.4 GHz
3 GB RAM vs. 1 GB RAM
250 vs. 320 GB Hard Drive
$1624 vs. $1699

That's with a 2GB stick of RAM added to the white mac, also reflected in overall price. It still comes out a bit cheaper... what do you think, performance wise?

I know that the new iMacs have faster BUS or something to do with Santa Rosa, but I have no idea what any of that means. There other sort of 'bells and whistles' too, that I know it has...

But in the end I think the matte screen and avoiding the generally reported issues (glare, freezing, leopard freezing, condensation, eyestrain) really pushed me towards the white. On a base aesthetic level, I think it's a wash. I love the aluminum but could do without the black. (An alu mac with a carved out/ indented apple logo would look awesome! instead of the black apple)

So ... yeah, thanks for letting me rant on, I'm excited to own my first Apple computer 😀:apple:
 
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Congratulations. It's an interesting decision, but not a bad one at all. Sounds like you did what was right for you and what will make you happy.

it will be a fantastic computer no doubt.
 
gorby said:
Thanks, I can't wait... counting the days now...
Click to expand...

MacConnection.com has the white 24" iMac 2.16GHz, 250GB Hard Drive, GeForce 7300 (same specs as u listed above) for $1299 w/ no TAX PLUS Free Shipping. I am not sure how the price is so low, and I wonder if it is opened box or reconditioned, but it does not appear to be. Is MacConnection a reliable source that you can buy a Mac from? Any ideas?
 
GyOzA said:
MacConnection.com has the white 24" iMac 2.16GHz, 250GB Hard Drive, GeForce 7300 (same specs as u listed above) for $1299 w/ no TAX PLUS Free Shipping. I am not sure how the price is so low, and I wonder if it is opened box or reconditioned, but it does not appear to be. Is MacConnection a reliable source that you can buy a Mac from? Any ideas?
Click to expand...

MacConnection is usually a reliable source (no complaints that I've read about it so far).

OP, enjoy your new toy. 🙂
 
gorby said:
I saw that too. However, the resellerrating for them wasn't so hot:

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/MacConnection

as compared with smalldog:

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Small_Dog_Electronics


Bottom line is, like you, I didn't know whether they were new, refurb or what. On the other hand SmallDog seems like the tops, so I went with them, through Amazon.
Click to expand...

Right, MacConnection seems to have worse customer ratings than SmallDog. I will give MacConnection a call to see what is going on with a such low price. Anyways, Congratz on the purchase, Gorby~
 
I just ordered the same exact configuration except as a refurb from the Apple store for $1449 - with tax and shipping came out to just over $1550. I am enjoying a refurb'd MB and with the as-new warranty I'm very happy with it so far. Looking forward to getting the iMac and getting a first look at my photography and video on it!
 
Rock on! Tell me how you like it, assuming you get yours first, which you probably will.


I think mine has shipped already. It's really weird, I didn't get a tracking email, nor is it listed in my amazon acct. Yet nowhere in my acct does it actually say it 'shipped' either. However, I can only assume it has, as I can no longer cancel it.

Delivery estimate is Nov 2 to 7. (keep in mind amazon gives delivery estimates to stuff that hasn't shipped too)
 
Will do. On the MB that I just ordered from Apple online last week I was able to get next day FEDEX for $27 and it worked perfectly, literally coast to coast in 24 hours.
😎

On this iMac it has said "prepared for shipment" since about 10:00 AM EST today (two hours after I pulled the trigger) and there was only 2-3 day shipping or the longer free shipping available. I called them and they said they would upgrade it to one-day but weren't sure it would work, so I'm on pins and needles too!
 
theSeaHawk said:
I just ordered the same exact configuration except as a refurb from the Apple store for $1449 - with tax and shipping came out to just over $1550. I am enjoying a refurb'd MB and with the as-new warranty I'm very happy with it so far. Looking forward to getting the iMac and getting a first look at my photography and video on it!
Click to expand...

Let us know if your iMac comes with anything extra (CTO options, software etc.) Sometimes you get the larger HD, more RAM, or extra software. Sometimes you don't 🙂 Good luck and enjoy your new machine!
 
I'm really enjoying my new white iMac that I've had for a week or two. Now that everything is said and done, I'm really glad I went with the white one over the aluminum. Enjoy it!
 
I got extras..

FatSweatyBlldog said:
Let us know if your iMac comes with anything extra (CTO options, software etc.) Sometimes you get the larger HD, more RAM, or extra software. Sometimes you don't 🙂 Good luck and enjoy your new machine!
Click to expand...

Ordered a refurb white iMac 20/2.16/1G/250 from the NZ apple online store $2049NZD inclusive of taxes last Thursday (plus Leopard UTD for $13.95NZD) It arrived Friday with 2GB of Ram instead of the advertised 1, 256mbVRAM instead of 128mb, and iLife 08' An unexpected bonus was that I have been able to confirm that it contains the exact same model lcd panel as my 20" Cinema Display.

So all good, recommend buying refurb.
 
WAHOOOO!! Never been happier to see these words:

Your Amazon.com order xxxxxxxxxx has shipped!

😀😀😀
 
FatSweatyBlldog said:
Let us know if your iMac comes with anything extra (CTO options, software etc.) Sometimes you get the larger HD, more RAM, or extra software. Sometimes you don't 🙂 Good luck and enjoy your new machine!
Click to expand...

That would be nice! It's on the plane right now so it should arrive while I'm working at home on flexiplace tomorrow. 😀

On the 🙁 side,
I could have saved $257 had I seen this new identical unit at PCConnection, $1299, without tax or shipping... but at least this way I can carry mine into the brick and mortar Apple store if it has issues and maybe/hopefully it will come with some extra goodies...

and I just checked the resellerratings.com reviews on PCConnection (6 month rating 4.83 out of 10). That's too low for me to risk it, compared with my excellent track record direct with Apple, both online and in the brick and mortar stores.
 
That's why I didn't risk it ultimately, I checked them out before ordering from SmallDog as well
 
It's here !

Two days from coast to coast direct from Apple in Rancho Cordova to my basement
1811184017_cff11c2113.jpg

Curiously, the pack holding the manual and discs had come loose and one of the discs had almost made its way out of the box, here's how it was when I opened it...
1812029522_392b385826.jpg


From there on out it was smooth sailing...
1811183397_85dc92bb06.jpg

I wasn't quite sure what to make of the clear plastic "sleeves" on the monitor and keyboard, but after a few quick plug insertions, we had, first, this
1812029034_a49e01c7ed.jpg

then this*
1811182941_40c568935f.jpg

*notice my cute little refurb'd MB too!

After a few minutes getting the Airport ID into my MAC filter (I couldn't see it without first opening up the router to all addresses so the Airport would open up on the iMac), it hopped right on the network.

I have to say I'm really glad I got the white iMac, this screen is beautiful.
It came exactly as described, no little extras, but I'm just happy to be sitting in front of it.
I will max out the RAM and when, only when, the screen and various issues of the late models is sorted out, consider buying one of them. But I have a feeling this machine will be
just
fine
😎
 
Bravo man!

So, no 'screen issues' then... 😛 Looks great, glad it all went smoothly for you.

Do you plan to 'match your RAM?


Mine drops tomorrow, and yes, I'm simply stir-crazy like you wouldn't believe..... :apple:
 
None at all, and now, having this 'reply to thread' page maximized on this screen, I would have had that gradient staring me in the face from the get-go had I bought an ally model - because I could sure see it in the Apple store...

IAC, I will probably only go for 2GB in the first slot and 1GB in the second, based on the feedback I got in the memory thread.

Hope your's arrives soon.
I've got to carry on with my transitioning from that other OS.
 
Mine got here today 😱

Posting from it right now. Wow, what a sexy, sexy machine. I absolutely love it. The screen looks brill too.

Count this is as a good Apple first experience. I'm in love!


Oh, forgot to mention that SmallDog included Leopard disc!!!!!! I was kind of not expecting that, but they came through. They are just awesome. So here's a big +1 to them!
 
Very 😎
I loaded up a set of high res photos for the screen saver and they look brilliant. Mine had Leopard in the box too, but I think I may wait to install it, still deciding...
 
gorby said:
Oh, forgot to mention that SmallDog included Leopard disc!!!!!! I was kind of not expecting that, but they came through. They are just awesome. So here's a big +1 to them!
Click to expand...
Delighted to hear it arrived A-OK, gorby. Smalldog shipped my white 20" within 2 hours after I placed my online order (I went direct, because Amazon wasn't offering the 20" thru smalldog). Delivered 2.5 days later, in perfect condition.

Just curious, when was your 24" built (3rd thru 5th characters in the serial number)? The 20" they sent me was built in mid-August (S/N: W8733xxxxxx = 2007, week 33) -- a week or two after the ALU iMac intro. LOL, it's actually 2 weeks newer than the ALU 20" I returned (W8731xxxxxx).

Did they also send an iLife '08 disk?

...smalldog is a first-class operation,

LK
 
Leon Kowalski said:
Delighted to hear it arrived A-OK, gorby. Smalldog shipped my white 20" within 2 hours after I placed my online order (I went direct, because Amazon wasn't offering the 20" thru smalldog). Delivered 2.5 days later, in perfect condition.

Just curious, when was your 24" built (3rd thru 5th characters in the serial number)? The 20" they sent me was built in mid-August (S/N: W8733xxxxxx = 2007, week 33) -- a week or two after the ALU iMac intro. LOL, it's actually 2 weeks newer than the ALU 20" I returned (W8731xxxxxx).

Did they also send an iLife '08 disk?

...smalldog is a first-class operation,

LK
Click to expand...

You know I hadn't checked until you asked, but yeah I do have the iLife08 too! Looks like they covered all the bases.

Though I guess I don't have a Tiger disc? So... no way to revert back to Tiger if something (something probably being ME) botches up a Leopard install?


My serial number has the same 733 as yours so I guess it's built the same week!
 
gorby said:
Though I guess I don't have a Tiger disc? ... My serial number has the same 733 as yours so I guess it's built the same week!
Click to expand...
Are you sure you don't have Tiger? Mine came with Tiger (10.4.8) install disks -- same as the version pre-installed on the hard drive. Since our iMacs were built the same week (and 2 months before Leopard released), I'd expect them to have the same install disk versions (+/- 1).

I bought mine before L-day, so I had to order the "free for $10" UpToDate DVD from Apple. I'm guessing smalldog sent you the same update disk (rather than the full retail version of Leopard). Is that correct?

...enjoy the new toy,

LK
 
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