Wait... Why Do I Want an iMac Again?

[turtlez]

Have to disagree, I think Windows is just as capable when it comes to design, I'm a Web Designer and I haven't had any issues opening Photoshop, Illustrator or Fireworks files on both Windows or Mac..

The real benefits on the Mac side is that you can natively open Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks & PDF files without needing to install or open Adobe applications.. Also Fontbook is a big plus for me..

I am a graphic designer too and I can say that there might be issues when it comes to print and ICC profiles. Not too sure since I have never used Windows for graphic design work. Everywhere I have worked since 2007 use macs though. Lets face it, having Apple design in front of you while you work definitely puts you in a better mood too.

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I want the iMac because I want an AIO and Apple make the best AIO by far not to mention os x. Apple iMac looks the coolest out of any computer on the market too so it would be inspiration to my design work (I love to surround myself with good design to stay in the mood and get inspired). The screen is beautiful and with the non reflective glass will be superb. It is very very quiet which is a big big thing for me. I don't always want to listen to music while designing, sometimes I just like to have silence or listen to the birds outside. OS X again. That's about it really. Sure I will use it for entertainment(movies, music) but it is mostly a work tool.

I work at Billabong and they have about 300 mac pros among all the departments. I couldn't imagine the chaos if they were all PCs needing to be maintained every second day especially when most of them are not very tech savvy. Since I have been at Billabong (2008) we have never had any issues, everything just runs so smoothly on macs. We're using Tiger on some and Snow Leopard on some newer machines with Adobe CS3 design suite. *Side note. We all use Eizo screens and they cannot be beat!

Oh and about os x going too much like iOS. Yeh I agree, not too fond of that approach either but nothing is forcing me to upgrade to the latest software. The day I have to buy an imac which can only run on iOS is the day I will have second thoughts about Apple haha. Unless of course iOS because very very good for professionals.

 

[robanga]

There is a ground swell of backlash against Apple at least in the iOS developer community. Apple could really care less about smaller developers. They give us no heads up on anything and dont listen to our feedback (maps, new app store, etc..). Without the small developers the iphone/ipad/ianything would be nothing come to think of it Apple would be nothing.

It is a love/hate relationship. =/

So we are going to see a mass exodus of developers resulting in a mass shortage of new apps for the platforms? Whats the effect in your estimate?

 

[TouchMint.com]

So we are going to see a mass exodus of developers resulting in a mass shortage of new apps for the platforms? Whats the effect in your estimate?

/off topic

First off no one is going to leave the iOS platform until there something more profitable and I don’t see that happening anytime soon. It is not like developers will pull their old apps or anything since there is only a $100 fee to keep apps in the store.

There will be a decrease in creative/innovative new and updates to apps. The new app store makes it nearly impossible for a new app to gain any traction. There is no longer a place to view new free apps so how do users find out about these apps? With the new search system visibility is way down. You used to be able to see 5 apps per page and now you can see 1. Users are not going to scroll past the first few apps. On top of this Apple has made it so page ranking is based 99% on total downloads (new apps again stand no chance).

With that information you tell me why an indie dev or small dev team would want to build apps for the ios platform. Unless they can pay for a huge marketing campaign they stand no chance to gain traction. These reasons above will stifle innovation of new apps.


/on topic

 

[davidcmc]

This topic only shows that Apple's desktop division relies 99% on OS X.

People buy Macs because of the OS X, not because they're Macs (aluminium, white cables, safemag, absurd display resolution etc.).

If Apple licenses OS X, their Macs sales will drop, A LOT.

 

[One Still Sheep]

1) Yes.
2) $0.

Okay so tbh I think I am one of the "ex-Apple converts" you speak of but not entirely.

My Apple product timeline: iPod Nano 1 -> iPod Touch 1 -> iPhone 4 -> 13" MBP

I was impressed by the iPod touch but what really made me an "Apple Fanboy" was the iPhone 4. I was so impressed by it that I decided to get a $1,500 MacBook Pro laptop from them despite the weak internals and I am very happy with it. That's the back story, now on to the relevant stuff.

About 6 months ago I decided it was time to get a desktop... I primarily wanted it for my college programming classes (studying to be a software engineer) and to game on. I immediately decided to check out the iMac's because I figured they would be exceptional, just like all of my previous Apple products so I started researching and looking on forums. 6 months later... I have a much different opinion on desktop computers.

I think you pretty much got it right. The only thing that makes the iMac worth it is if you
1) cant go without OS X
2) wanna pay $$$ for looks and Apple's name

For me, OS X is great but it's not a necessity for me. I can get just as much done on Windows (if not more) than I can on OS X.

As for the price premium for a "sleek" (ie terribad) design; I laugh at this one. The whole AIO concept is just ridiculous to begin with IMO. Why put really hot computer components behind a screen instead of in a box designed to properly cool them? I don't get it, other than maybe it looks cool? How is that worth sacrificing power and proper cooling... But whatever, to each their own.

And one other thing that tipped me in the other direction (a custom built desktop) was the weak mobile GPU's Apple puts in their "desktops"... Shouldn't desktops have desktop gpu's? If the 21.5" base model had the GTX680m in it then I might consider it but to get the GTX680m your looking at close to 3 grand which is absolutely absurd for a desktop IMO especially considering it has a mobile GPU

In conclusion, I originally wanted an iMac because I expected it to be exceptional because Apple made it but after doing some research I realized that it was definitely not the desktop for me... I was hoping the 2012 iMac would change everything but from what it sounds like, its only getting worse.

I still love the iPhone though and plan on getting an iPhone 5 ASAP and my next laptop (if I ever need another one) will most likely be another MBP.

Sorry for the really long post but I wanted to tell my story because it seems pretty relevant here.

Thanks for sharing your story, I think it was definitely relevant.

 

[faroZ06]

You start out by saying your not trolling. Think about that for a second. Your first statement, the number one thing on your mind when you started to type. I'm no troll

Join today troll?

And don't sit there and tell me DELL rocks the house. Please, all of us have been down the DELL road and we know what's at the end.

You're seriously calling him a troll because he's a "MacRumors newbie"? So are you, and I'm more likely to call you the troll here. By the wall, the DELL road is the road towards some of the best non-Apple PCs.

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This topic only shows that Apple's desktop division relies 99% on OS X.

People buy Macs because of the OS X, not because they're Macs (aluminium, white cables, safemag, absurd display resolution etc.).

If Apple licenses OS X, their Macs sales will drop, A LOT.

The problem is that if Apple licenses OS X, you'd lose hardware-software integration. But Apple laptops are actually worth it even if you ignore Mac OS X.

I feel like Apple puts very little effort into Mac desktops, and they're some of Apple's worst products, but the MacBook Pro is built way better than your average, or even high-end, non-Apple laptop. There are so many turnoffs when using a non-Apple laptop like the trackpad and keyboard feeling cheap and hard to use. They lack the Magsafe DC power input, which is a pretty big deal. Some of them are pretty well-designed, but the MacBook Pro has a classic design that seems to never get old.

 

[One Still Sheep]

So in addition to the programmers earlier, a few design professionals have chimed in favor of OSX as the selling point for the iMac. However, I would guess that many creative professionals are probably as attracted to to the looks of the iMac as they are to the functions in OSX (just a guess).

So this raises another question in my mind. Have you, as iMac owners, ever been bothered by Apple's seeming lack of interest in incorporating really decent speakers into their computers? Apple certainly seems to spend a great deal of time on acquiring top notch display, but speakers have historically seemed little more than an afterthought in some devices.

Now, the point isn't that someone can add external speakers (of course you can, you can do so with any computer -- I personally prefer headphones, so I use an external amp with DAC); this isn't a question of how to overcome the iMac's speakers, but rather, do you think that Apple should give audio performance the same consideration as they do video? Has this ever been an issue for anyone?

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You're seriously calling him a troll because he's a "MacRumors newbie"? So are you, and I'm more likely to call you the troll here. By the wall, the DELL road is the road towards some of the best non-Apple PCs.

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The problem is that if Apple licenses OS X, you'd lose hardware-software integration. But Apple laptops are actually worth it even if you ignore Mac OS X.

I feel like Apple puts very little effort into Mac desktops, and they're some of Apple's worst products, but the MacBook Pro is built way better than your average, or even high-end, non-Apple laptop. There are so many turnoffs when using a non-Apple laptop like the trackpad and keyboard feeling cheap and hard to use. They lack the Magsafe DC power input, which is a pretty big deal. Some of them are pretty well-designed, but the MacBook Pro has a classic design that seems to never get old.

Thanks for you comments, Faro. So if I may, could ask you a question: would you personally recommend that someone buy a Macbook Pro OVER an iMac. For example, let's say I've never owned a Mac, but that I want something to edit family video, so I'm considering an iMac, would you nudge me toward something like the rMBP instead? Just curious.

 

[Yamcha]

I am a graphic designer too and I can say that there might be issues when it comes to print and ICC profiles. Not too sure since I have never used Windows for graphic design work. Everywhere I have worked since 2007 use macs though. Lets face it, having Apple design in front of you while you work definitely puts you in a better mood too.

----------

I want the iMac because I want an AIO and Apple make the best AIO by far not to mention os x. Apple iMac looks the coolest out of any computer on the market too so it would be inspiration to my design work (I love to surround myself with good design to stay in the mood and get inspired). The screen is beautiful and with the non reflective glass will be superb. It is very very quiet which is a big big thing for me. I don't always want to listen to music while designing, sometimes I just like to have silence or listen to the birds outside. OS X again. That's about it really. Sure I will use it for entertainment(movies, music) but it is mostly a work tool.

I work at Billabong and they have about 300 mac pros among all the departments. I couldn't imagine the chaos if they were all PCs needing to be maintained every second day especially when most of them are not very tech savvy. Since I have been at Billabong (2008) we have never had any issues, everything just runs so smoothly on macs. We're using Tiger on some and Snow Leopard on some newer machines with Adobe CS3 design suite. *Side note. We all use Eizo screens and they cannot be beat!

Oh and about os x going too much like iOS. Yeh I agree, not too fond of that approach either but nothing is forcing me to upgrade to the latest software. The day I have to buy an imac which can only run on iOS is the day I will have second thoughts about Apple haha. Unless of course iOS because very very good for professionals.

I think that varies depending on the designer, while I love the design on the iMac, It has no impact on my work, things that inspire me are logo's, beautiful Web, iOS interfaces and Colours..

And personally I often look at new and different sources when looking for inspiration..

 

[faroZ06]

Thanks for you comments, Faro. So if I may, could ask you a question: would you personally recommend that someone buy a Macbook Pro OVER an iMac. For example, let's say I've never owned a Mac, but that I want something to edit family video, so I'm considering an iMac, would you nudge me toward something like the rMBP instead? Just curious.

Firstly, by saying that Apple desktops are some of their worst products, I was not saying that people should buy laptops instead. I have a Mac Pro, and it's good for what I use it for.

A $2000 iMac will get you a 3.1GHz quad-core i5, a 1TB HDD, and 4GB of RAM (which you can upgrade). A $2200 MBPR will get you a 2.3GHz quad-core i7, 256GB SSD, and 8GB RAM.

So for video editing, the iMac is better, especially because of the bigger HDD and huge 27" screen (instead of 15"). Even though the MBPR screen is higher-res, that would be awkward to use for video editing unless you get a magnifying glass and aim it at the screen. All of the pixels are there, but sadly, the screen is just too small. And the MBPR runs hotter than the iMac, I think.

Of course, the MBPR has a higher-resolution screen (pretty useless for video editing anyway) and is portable. But if you just want a PC for video editing, the desktop is always best whether it's a Mac or something else.

 

[One Still Sheep]

Thanks again, Faro, a very well-reasoned and thoughtful answer. I agree, by the way. Though I haven't tried the "retina" Macbook, in general I've found that processor-intensive tasks, and projects which require a lot of screen space, just never work very well on a laptop. I actually doubt this will ever be fully overcome no matter what Apple throws at it. This is also why I still think there is a very important place for desktops ("post-PC era," or no); some things just work better on large screens.

 

[JayJayAbels]

The reason that users on here get so upset about Apple from time to time is due to a single, solitary reason. They love Apple products. Beneath all of the hubris and rants lie VERY devoted Apple consumers who can't wait to get their hands on a new device.

1. OSX (and it's eventual merge with iOS)
2. The Apple ecosystem. Nothing really comes close. It's not just numbers... it's quality.
3. Design, design, design. These are good looking computers made with quality and precision.

^ Those 3 things separate Apple from the rest of the market - with nearly ALL of their products. Those 3 things are the Apple "premium". I was a PC user for 20+ years. I'll never go back to the Windows experience. Well 99% sure I won't.

OSX is the backbone of Apple. Everything else is just the pretty shell around it.

That's why I've got Fo' Life tatted on my stomach.

I really don't but that would be hilarious.



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So in addition to the programmers earlier, a few design professionals have chimed in favor of OSX as the selling point for the iMac. However, I would guess that many creative professionals are probably as attracted to to the looks of the iMac as they are to the functions in OSX (just a guess).

So this raises another question in my mind. Have you, as iMac owners, ever been bothered by Apple's seeming lack of interest in incorporating really decent speakers into their computers? Apple certainly seems to spend a great deal of time on acquiring top notch display, but speakers have historically seemed little more than an afterthought in some devices.

Now, the point isn't that someone can add external speakers (of course you can, you can do so with any computer -- I personally prefer headphones, so I use an external amp with DAC); this isn't a question of how to overcome the iMac's speakers, but rather, do you think that Apple should give audio performance the same consideration as they do video? Has this ever been an issue for anyone?

----------




Thanks for you comments, Faro. So if I may, could ask you a question: would you personally recommend that someone buy a Macbook Pro OVER an iMac. For example, let's say I've never owned a Mac, but that I want something to edit family video, so I'm considering an iMac, would you nudge me toward something like the rMBP instead? Just curious.

^ As a former audio engineer I can assure you that the speakers are just fine for the average consumer. Audiophiles and engineers will most certainly use external monitors. For the average dude/dudette who wants to listen to Biebers latest... it works just fine.

 

[One Still Sheep]

With the proposal that iMac should adopt a touch screen, came all manner of suggestions as to how Apple should make the iMac have some kind of hinge so that it could be bent until the screen was nearly flat. The whole idea of a touch screen seems a little silly to me, but the ability to move the screen around is sort of an attractive idea (though not just so that the screen could be made flat). This becomes something of an issue when using an iMac on an "editing desk" (those with raised sections for monitors).

I've heard it claimed that the iMac is designed to be at the perfect level for the human eye (which is also a bit of a silly idea). However, it must be that a certain percentage of users can't get their iMacs at the right height for them or else I doubt Twelve South would have ever made the HiRise.

http://twelvesouth.com/products/hirise_imac/

Of course, from my perspective, the HiRise is a great example of the hyperbolic language which surrounds Apple products and accessories: it's a box! an eighty-dollar box! It does not defy gravity!

http://www.tuaw.com/2012/09/26/twelvesouth-defies-gravity-with-hirise-for-imac-and-cinema-displ/

All that foolishness being set aside, do iMacs need to be more flexible? Would the iMac be improved by greater variability in screen position, or have you never noticed this being a problem?

 

[SR20DETDOG]

All that foolishness being set aside, do iMacs need to be more flexible? Would the iMac be improved by greater variability in screen position, or have you never noticed this being a problem?

Personally I've never had a problem with the position of the iMac, however, that's really only due to luck.

Of course making the iMac adjustable (Height, horizontal angle) would be an improvement. Keep in mind though, an iMac is a lot heavier than a standard 21.5" or 27" monitor (Mine is ~14kg!), which means any adjustable/moving parts would also have to be bigger and heavier.

As it is now, the stand is incredibly simple and reasonably stylish, it would be quite a feat to add in the extra flexibility while also keeping the simple stylish design.

 

[davidcmc]

but the MacBook Pro is built way better than your average, or even high-end, non-Apple laptop. There are so many turnoffs when using a non-Apple laptop like the trackpad and keyboard feeling cheap and hard to use. They lack the Magsafe DC power input, which is a pretty big deal. Some of them are pretty well-designed, but the MacBook Pro has a classic design that seems to never get old.

1. "way better" is subjective. I prefer hardware performance over form.
I don't care for a trackpad, since I hate using trackpads (mouses are better for working, for general daily use etc.). Apple makes no notebook with a GTX 675M or an HD 7970M, but MSI does (MSI GT700ND-202US and MSI GX601AC-021US), therefore MSI notebooks are "way better" than Apple notebooks, in my opinion.

2. The lack of a magsafe DC power input doesn't affect a notebook quality (neither form nor hardware performance).

3. Not everyone buy computers because they're beautiful. Some people need raw power, powerful computers, and OS X doesn't make miracles with slow hardware.

 

[kolgax]

My reason for needing an iMac is mostly for xcode/design. Since I cannot run xcode with mac os I really have no other option. I currently have a MacBook pro but the screen resolution/size is just way to small. Yes I have an external monitor but I need 2 big screens with all the design work that goes along with designing apps.

On a side note when or if I do get an iMac I plan on selling my MacBook pro and just having one device.

I'm in kinda the same boat, but I am looking for better processor. I had a project that brought XCode to a crawl. I mean literally I would type stuff and I could see the letters being filled in one at a time...

I bought the baseline Macbook pro - 2.4 ghz dual core...kinda wish I didnt go cheap that time heh.

 

[Eric Best]

I am just legitimately curious: while waiting for the iMac refresh do the loyal Apple consumers here find themselves questioning why they are so attracted to buying an iMac? Doesn't it sometimes feel constraining, as in: you know what you want from a computer, but you're just hoping that Apple will concede to your wishes and produce the product you want.

Hi. Haven't read all the posts, so this is probably redundant. It's all the hidden costs in switching. I went over to Apple in 2007. I really needed to budget close to $1000 extra to get equivalent software to make it as useful as my old PC. Were I to go back, I would have to do that all again! Overall, I'm happier using my Apple than I was with my PC, but its nothing to go tribal about!

Cheers,
Eric.

 

[28Gauge]

the apple ecosystem is why i started to buy apple products. The more apple products you have, the better they all work together. I don't think that having one standalone apple product takes advantage of osx and ios.

x2

 

[throAU]

OS X
single source for problem resolution
looks pretty
no cables everywhere
as above, the "apple ecosystem"


pretty much it.

 

[Huginnmuninn]

Don't need portability.
Prefer big screen.
Am very hard on my keyboards.
Use lots of connected peripherals.

Why pay for miniaturization if you don't need it, when you get more bang for the buck with a desktop? I do understand that most Macs sold today are notebooks, but for the way I work and have worked for decades I don't need a notebook.

I do a lot of photo editing and use a 2nd, non-glossy calibrated monitor, so I find that a desktop is ideal for me. If the Mac Pro was updated more quickly at a lower price I'd consider it, but right now only a new iMac (or a new Mac Mini if it finally gets a decent video card) is a good choice for me now.