Mac or custom PC?

The easy stuff first. You can access your data (read) on both OSX/Windows portions of the drive using either Leopard or Parallels w/ Windows. In bootcamp only your Windows stuff is accessible unless you buy something like MacDrive. On an iMac the RAM is the only upgradeable part. Some people have managed to upgrade the hard drive but its not straight forward (requires the use of a glass puller). On the MBP, the RAM is also the only upgradeable part but the hard drive is easier to get to than the iMac and many people have managed it without void their warranty (i.e. damaging their machine in the process).

Now for the more difficult stuff. What do you want to do with the computer? If you are a casual gamer than the iMac would be OK and is a very good value if you buy it from the refurb shop (sale on now). If you are REALLY into games, you could get a better spec'd PC for less and you probably should because the iMac isn't a hard core gamer. Video editing is another matter. All iMacs are great for that.

 

No.

 

If you need a lot of performance but dont have a lot of money then building a pc is by far the best option. Or if you plan on doing a lot of gaming since that requires a lot of power.

If performance isnt very important or you have alot of money to spend and dont game then macs are good.

If I just need a regular computer then I would rather get a mac assuming I had the money for it, especially for a laptop (the only pc laptop I would ever buy is an EEE). If I need power then theres no doubt in my mind that I would build a PC myself (I can put OSX on a pc easily enough anyways).

 

What exactly were you not happy about with the MBP? You mention heat, the superdrive and "some" software. I ask because iMac's can get hot, they use the same superdrive as the MBP and the software you ran on the MBP you would likely run on the iMac. How hot did it get? Basically every laptop I have ever owned has gotten super hot at some point. If you had problems with the superdrive, Apple will fix it. For software, there are very few (if any) that are the ONLY program that will do a particular job. If you don't like one, try another.

You say you want to switch because you hate XP but you didn't love Tiger either. Those two things being true, you will likely dread Vista. If you build a computer, you have to deal with Windows. Plain and simple. If you buy an iMac, you risk having the same problems (buyers remorse possibly?) that you had with the MBP.

What do you want your computer to do? What are the advantages in your mind to building a computer? What are the advantages to buying a Mac? Are you planning on college? What degree? Is space an issue now or will it be a problem in a dorm or apartment?

I would build my own computer if I:
- was perfectly satisfied with Windows XP
- wanted a very fast computer for a very good price
- had no need for any iLife apps
- couldn't care less about cable clutter and having a beige box under my desk
- always like to have the latest and greatest hardware
- have Windows only apps and don't want to mess with Parallels or Boot Camp

I would buy an iMac if I:
- believe that Mac OS is superior to Windows XP
- don't want to be hassled with viruses, adware or spyware
- want an attractive computer that can sit out in the open unashamed
- hate cables
- am concerned with the computers resale value
- want an all-in-one solution (one vendor for hardware, OS, and software)
- don't mind having a built in display

Make your own list and decide what points are most important to you.

 

The thing to remember is an iMac is basically a laptop you can't tote around very easily in terms of hardware. Its a great computer and I love it, but you won't be able to upgrade graphics cards and things like that with it like a true desktop machine.

I'm sorry to hear you had a bad experience with your mac. You should go to an apple store and spend some time poking around Leopard and playing with the new iMovie software for editing movies. This might sell you on OS X.

And the fact that you can dual boot to windows for games/whatever else really makes owning a mac a no brainer, as long as you like the computer overall.