What do I need with my new Imac?

[Tomorrow]

Last but not least...would you guys upgrade the graphics card?

If you plan to play any games or do anything 3D or graphics intensive, I would upgrade the graphics. Also, I upgraded the HD and RAM - many others will tell you not to worry about those, or do them yourself instead.

As far as accessories, I can certainly vouch for the MX Revolution as the best mouse I've ever used. I also got Logitech's Z-5500 digital speakers (check online for the best price, I got mine from Dell for about $239) and this keyboard stand. The nice thing about the stand is the front-mounted USB ports.

I also went to Best Buy and bought a UPS when they went on sale.

 

[kid rock]

as far as external HDDs go id reccomend anything western digital (apple use western digital, so if its good enoutgh for them, its good enoutgh for us)

somthing like this maybe:

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/TQ491ZM/A?mco=MTIxODk3Mw

OR THIS

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/TP441VC/A?mco=MTIxODk3Mw

i have picked the My Book Studio Editions as they have firewire 800 and esata as well as good ole USB2.0 but willl be faster with firewire


thats my choice, others will of course dissagree!

Simon

 

[vermonter16]

Thanks for all the advice and keep it coming. I'm researching everything that you all suggest. I'm so excited and think I'll pee my pants when I finally get my computer... I hope I can walk away with it out of the store since I won't be upgrading anything at this time! I have to work Friday but have an Apple store three blocks away. I plan to be there when they open (as long as there are discounts) and bring my trusty computer to the trunk of my car... I have to work all day but I'll take off early if I get this puppy! I haven't been excited about a computer in about 7 years.

 

[thezerox]

I recommend to buy an iMac with NVidia 8800GS. And also a memory upgrade to 4 Gb.

 

[iObama]

Thank you so much for your suggestions! I am excited to actually get excited about computers again! Thanks for the suggestion about iwork - I definitely will go with that. Do you know if it is hard to transfer your files from the PC to the MAC...I'm not a complete dimwit when it comes to computers but over the last few years I've definitely slacked when it comes to really doing anything with them...because I got so annoyed with Windows... Nothing could ever be smooth and seamless - there always seemed to be issues.

I really reccommend that you DO buy Office. If you are 16 like I am (your username?), you will find it a LOT easier to use Microsoft Office Student and Teacher Edition.

Just a lot simpler when it comes to assignments and functionality.

 

[arthursiew]

For an iMac... I would recommend the following items...

• iWork (cheaper and better than Office)
• External Hard Drive
• Another Mouse (the MM isn't that great and it's a pain to use)

That's really about it. If you want to go wireless, you should get some Bluetooth accessories like mouses and keyboards, but the Apple Keyboard is a good one. The MM isn't that great, as it's a pain to use. iWork, in my opinion, is better than Office. It's cheaper and simpler to use. Also, Office on Mac isn't the same experience as using it on Windows.

Also, when you want to transfer files... a Genius at the Genius Bar will transfer your files from your old PC or Mac to your new computer, but you will need to open it up over at the store, otherwise you can use an external to back them up and transfer files.

 

[vermonter16]

I really reccommend that you DO buy Office. If you are 16 like I am (your username?).

Haha - thanks for the advice. I'm actually in my 30's but 16 is my lucky number and I'm originally from Vermont

Ok, we are coming down to the wire and I'm getting ancy... I realized coming into work this morning that I have a few more questions...

If I buy my MAC from an Apple store and need to have the video card upgraded....will I be able to take it away that day or will I have to order it?

Also, I just thought about something... My husband and I are both getting our own ipods...I probably have over 500 CDs that I'll want to transfer music from - since I have to do that on my MAC... Will that take up a lot of space on my hard drive? Should my external hard drive be larger than the one with the MAC which is 320GB?

I'd like to be able to transfer the files from one computer to the other just for the learning experience. Will a beginner user like me be able to do this?

...and don't buy the wireless might mouse? That seems to be the concensus. However, I am going to buy the wireless keyboard...

 

[AppleMatt]

Last but not least...would you guys upgrade the graphics card?

I suppose the responsible answer is that it really depends on what you're going to use the computer for. However, personally I'd strongly recommend upgrading to the 8800 GS. My reasoning for this is twofold:
- Although good value, the iMac is a large initial investment. If you look at the benchmarks and reviews, the 8800GS makes such a big difference for a minimal price increase.
- Thinking about the future, Snow Leopard is on it's way. One of the primary features is that it fully exploits the graphics card, and gives programmers the capabilities to do so in their own software.

Things such as RAM, hard-drive etc are easy and cheap to replace once you have the machine but the graphics card is too expensive to be feasible so you need to make that decision now.

If I buy my MAC from an Apple store and need to have the video card upgraded....will I be able to take it away that day or will I have to order it?

I don't know. I wouldn't be surprised if they had ones with the better graphics card in stock though. Ring ahead?

Also, I just thought about something... My husband and I are both getting our own ipods...I probably have over 500 CDs that I'll want to transfer music from - since I have to do that on my MAC... Will that take up a lot of space on my hard drive? Should my external hard drive be larger than the one with the MAC which is 320GB?

I have around 2500 songs which take up 13GG of space, so assuming 10 songs per CD I really wouldn't worry about space for now.

However, I am going to buy the wireless keyboard...

Remember it doesn't have a keypad.

AppleMatt (happy 24" iMac owner)

 

[vermonter16]

I'm definitely upgrading the video card....everything else can wait I guess. I'm also going to get the wireless keyboard. I guess I'll wait on the mouse because many advice against it and frankly I didn't like how it felt in my hand.

 

[Tomorrow]

If I buy my MAC from an Apple store and need to have the video card upgraded....will I be able to take it away that day or will I have to order it?

You will have to order it to get the 8800GS. Well worth the wait, and no shipping charges.

Also, I just thought about something... My husband and I are both getting our own ipods...I probably have over 500 CDs that I'll want to transfer music from - since I have to do that on my MAC... Will that take up a lot of space on my hard drive?

A very rough ballpark number is that one minute of music in MP3 or AAC format is roughly 1 Mb, and if you assume an average of 60 minutes per CD, you're looking at roughly 30 Gb. Although I would recommend getting a bigger hard disk right from the start, especially if you're going to order it anyway.

Should my external hard drive be larger than the one with the MAC which is 320GB?

It should be at least as large, and many folks will tell you it should be twice as large. For a 320 Gb disk, that's not a problem - but again, if it were me, I'd go with a bigger HD.

I'd like to be able to transfer the files from one computer to the other just for the learning experience. Will a beginner user like me be able to do this?

Absolutely. You'll need a firewire cable if you don't have one, and you can boot up the source computer in target mode (assuming it's a Mac) and make the transfer that way. Or just use your external disk, if you buy one.

...and don't buy the wireless might mouse? That seems to be the concensus. However, I am going to buy the wireless keyboard...

I bought the wireless Mighty Mouse and use it with my MacBook. I use the Logitech MX Revolution with the iMac and I couldn't be happier with it.

 

[econoline06]

Right now I have a PC that my brother built me. It is hooked into the cable router for Internet by an Ethernet connection. Will I be able to instantly get my MAC to hook up to the Internet? I suppose I should see what disk I have from the DSL folks....

Also, I'm looking at the 24" imac....any suggestions on which one? And any upgrades for it?

It is Mac not MAC . It is not an acronym. Anyway, I purchased the upgraded model of the 20 inch last year and have been very happy with it. I do lust after the 24 inch! If you can afford it, get it!

 

[econoline06]

Thanks for all the advice and keep it coming. I'm researching everything that you all suggest. I'm so excited and think I'll pee my pants when I finally get my computer... I hope I can walk away with it out of the store since I won't be upgrading anything at this time! I have to work Friday but have an Apple store three blocks away. I plan to be there when they open (as long as there are discounts) and bring my trusty computer to the trunk of my car... I have to work all day but I'll take off early if I get this puppy! I haven't been excited about a computer in about 7 years.

Macs are well worth getting excited over! Especially the iMac, it is Apple's flagship model. That is, it has all the features they advertise.

 

[vermonter16]

haha - didn't even realize I was typing MAC instead of Mac...oops... Ok, not that anyone has encountered this... So, I may not be able to WALK out with my mac on Friday...oh, disappointing...can't believe they don't have ANY systems upgraded with the video card unless I go the next step up... So, is it possible to order from one store and have it shipped to another store for pick up? I don't want to order it to come to the house because I won't be home to get it and I generally get home too late to pick it up anywhere...but I could pick it up at the Apple store close to my house. The Apple I'll be at on Friday will be close to my work and it would be a pain in the a** to pick it up there...unless I was taking it with me on Friday.