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What's the one greatest advantage of owning an iMac?

Woyzeck said:
Everything worked and integrated well on my iOS devices, but OSX was a mess. Apple's cloud services are half-baked, things are not syncing realiably, the functionality is very limited (i.e. I can't share documents between my computers as I do with Dropbox; iPhoto doesn't sync at all).
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While I agree that iCloud for document storage is a complete train wreck, that doesn't mean that all cloud services are. Given the Dropbox API that was just announced, I'd say that document syncing is a lot harder than what we though. If Dropbox (Dropbox!) avoided the issue, then I'd say Apple just bit off more than they could chew.

Honestly, though, I use Dropbox instead of iCloud storage because I like their philosophy of a single syncing folder, rather that data/application silos. Plus I use a lot of Windows PCs, so if I used iCloud, I wouldn't get complete access.

Back on topic...

Mail, contacts, calendars might not be as robust or as feature filled as Google alternatives, but they work well. iTunes Match had a few issues to begin with, but I haven't heard any complaints recently.
 
I'm not a power user, so it comes down to simplicity to me.

It works. No blue screens or other cryptic error messages when programs don't interact.
It looks slick. One power wire, and everything else is wireless (mouse, keyboard, time capsule backup, printer).
Integration with other Apple products (I have an IPhone, 2 IPads).
It's preloaded suite of products fit my needs so no need to buy something else. Also, it's not preloaded with a bunch of useless "freeware" that I need to uninstall.
It does not seem susceptible to viruses based on its UNIX platform (so I'm told by others).
It's not cheap, but a refurb model can cut costs (or use the student or Gov't discounts).
Service is impeccable. Most problems can be solved calling Apple or visiting a store. No calls to 800 numbers only to find out your software is a hardware problem (or vice versa) and the service rep cannot help you.
 
i love the design of all current apple products like all MacBooks, all iMacs, all ipod touch and ipod nano, iPhone, even the mac mini and new airport extreme looks very nice, BUT i hope this importing thing that comes with Apple beside OS(iOS and OSX) is the APPLE QUALITY and seems that will come to an end starting with that cheap iPhone that is rumoured . I really hope those rumours does not come to life because im afraid will be only the beginning of apple marketing
 
Woyzeck said:
1. I have to admit that neither my Mini 2012, nor my MBA 2013 ever crashed, but neither did any of my Thinkpads since the introduction of Windows XP.
On the other hand I had beachballs several times (and stalled apps on Windows, too). At least in my experience both OSs are quite robust and stable (as long as you stick to well-built and supported hardware).
2. Yes, on average the Apple products are more energy efficient and quiet, because this is one of the design aspects that they try to optimize. It's not much of an issue in the Windows world which is dominated by the demand driven by corporations. And they don't care about this in general (or in other words: they are not willed to pay for it).
3. Yes, OSX is nice. But I don't think that I'm more productive than under Windows. In fact I think that both OS are quite similiar these days.
4. Yes
5. No. This is one of the big disappointments that I had with the Apple world. Everything worked and integrated well on my iOS devices, but OSX was a mess. Apple's cloud services are half-baked, things are not syncing realiably, the functionality is very limited (i.e. I can't share documents between my computers as I do with Dropbox; iPhoto doesn't sync at all). Even basic protocols like Samba don't work well under OSX. Integration between OSX and the corporate world (which is dominated by Windows) doesn't work well etc.

My experience is mixed. I really like working with OSX, but it's neither 'it just works', nor much better than Windows 7.
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In my experience, Windows XP has been ok. It crashes and gives me the BOD, even my work Dell laptop. Could be the hardware, don't know nor care. I just got tired of 20 years hardware/software inadequacies that I just bought a Mac and its claim of just working. Well by and large, that is the case. Certainly miles better than any Windows PC.
 
The iMac I purchased goes way beyond one great advantage.

It has been the sweetest experience for this computer tech--truly putting Microsoft Windows in the rear-view mirror. At least, I guess Microsoft Windows is in the rear-view mirror. I've not looked back since plugging in this beautiful execution of packaging, design, construction and software.

I still work on Windows computers, I'll always have them in my office to support my computer service business. But I am an Apple user for my personal computing tasks.
 
Like others it's more than one advantage.

1. Reliability. I've had my iMac since 2009 and it still runs great. Added 32gb of ram and a SSD as the boot drive. It's actually faster than when I bought it. Any issues were fixed by Apple.

2. Simplicity. One power cable, great design and functional.

3. Software. It's still supported by Apple, and will run 10.9 when it arrives this fall. Since I only buy Apple accessories, they are always supported and stay supported.

4. Resale. Even for a 4 year old iMac it currently sells for about $1000 on ebay. I don't plan on selling it, since moving to a new iMac would only get me USB 3 and thunderbolt.
 
Another advantage I enjoy is the integration within the apple ecosystem.
 
That an iMac is enjoyable to use. All the little things, from a consistent interface, quicklook, spotlight, file locations, time machine, migration assistant, &c., all add up to a system I find fun to use. Actually enjoying using a computer was something new to me when I moved to Macs.
Windows machines on the other hand drive me nuts, especially now that I have seen how well a computer can work.

As a developer, the other huge advantage is the Unix system it's built on. I live on the command line, and having a tabbed Unix shell with all of the associated tools is a godsend. With a Mac you really get the best of both worlds - a great graphical interface and a powerful shell.
 
I used to build my own PC since I was 15 years old, and I loved it. But the last years I got completely fed up with the unreliability of windows and the way it works. Also, most windows computers are ugly, even the more beautiful ones like the lenovo A720 (I won one in a contest last year and sold it the same week).

So for me its 1: OS X (i love to work on my iMac).
2: Design (its something you can actually show in your living room)
 
I am in a love-hate relationship with my iMac. The concept of having a monitor and computer in one piece is flawed, whenever you want to get a bigger monitor you have to dump the computer, too, and the other way round, whenever you want to get a more powerful computer you'll have to dump the monitor, too. Besides, the monitor is collecting dust coming from the vent hole behind the screen which is visible as a dark grey area. It can't be cleaned up unless I open the computer somehow.

Apart from that, it's a very convenient device, it has only one outlet socket. It's the first computer that is going to stay at my home for more than 2.5 years. The big clear screen is a joy to look at. Having said that, I'll never buy an iMac again, I'm fed up with its design flaws. I think it's better to have a mac mini + 27" ACD but the future is in retina displays so the current 27" will be outdated in a very few years. So, the best buy at the moment is a retina Macbook pro. Especially when they release the Haswell models.
 
PC user for 30 years. Worked my way up from dual floppy drives with DOS - to Windows 7.

21.5 mid-2011 desktop is my first Mac

Was interested in getting a Mac - couldn't decide - when this Mac fell into my lap for free. I set it back to factory default - upgraded to Mountain Lion - and started the learning process.

I mainly wanted a Mac for something new to learn and because I loved my iPad - plus I wanted to see what all the "shouting" was about.

Although the learning curve was more than I thought it would be, after a couple of months of use I can get around all right, but I can't see what's the big deal.

BTW - So many people are talking about it being all-in-one with wireless keyboard/mouse- but you can get a PC that is all-in-one with wireless.

I've reinstalled OS's in my PC's and didn't see much of a difference in the process with the Mac, so it doesn't seem superior in this regard. The only software I had that would work with Apple was my PSE and that was easy to install, but so was it on a PC.

Yes, I like the Mac and I'm sure I'll like it better when I get better at using it.

It is quiet and it is cool looking and when I got used to the tiny keyboard, I did start liking the keyboard - the magic mouse is also kinda cool, but annoying at times.

However, I am in awe of the Apple company. Jobs was genius in how he ran the company. His innovations were the leading edge in all we see in phones and tablets.

In answer to the question - PC or Mac --

If you are pressed for money - grab yourself an all-in-one PC.

If you have a bunch of other Apple products, and you can afford a Mac with it's higher than average cost - and if integration of all your Apple products is your goal - you can't go wrong with a Mac.

It's a nice computer and I really have no complaints - except that the nearest Apple store is 2 hours from here, so I have no support but the phone. I have a major college town within 45 minutes of here, but there is no Apple store there, either. HUH?

I have to rely on Best Buy if I want to talk to someone in person??? Yikes.
 
I don't have to RSVP to use my notebook with McAfee, Windows Update, Flash and who everelse has first dibs on resources. On occasion I have waited over an hour after booting before I could actually use the pc.

No patience for that in my dotage. I am Mac exclusive. The pc running Win 7 is still here but it's lonely.
 
Quicklook is such a powerful tool when navigating documents, working on a PC drives me nuts. Also the resale value matters to me. My MacBook is worth a few hundred bucks and is still kicking the butts of newer machines. It's 5 years old. PCs always make me say bad words.
 
"What's the ONE greatest advantage of owning an iMac over a Windows PC?"

Easy answer:
The Mac OS, running natively...
 
What I appreciate about my 24" early 2008 iMac:

Number one: The OS and the whole user experience on a Mac. I have to use Windows for work and a few things at home, but use Macs whenever possible because it's just so much better.

Running a close second: the display. Gorgeous.

Not strictly within the scope of the original question, but anyway, what I thought I'd get with my iMac and didn't: a cord-free literal (vs. virtual) desktop. The BT keyboard that came with this 2008 24" iMac kept dropping out, so I ditched it, and I love the wired Apple keyboard I replaced it with. I have a FW Time Machine external HD. I use several USB connected devices constangly including my ScanSnap S510M, the receiver for my Logitech mouse that replaced the Apple BT mouse when it died, iPods and various USB external HDs to connect/disconnect all the time, and because there's no card reader built in, there's a USB card reader for my photos. By the time I plug in the powered USB hub, the AC powered TM HD, and my scanner, I'm not even at the "one power cord" situation anymore.

I did lose the big ugly PC tower and the iMac *is* pretty, so I'm happy about that.
 
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You get a single, holistically-engineered unit that is quiet, powerful and offers a streamlined user experience. Plus, it looks darned sexy ;)
 
At the risk of sounding like a miserable git ;-)

I desperately wanted a new iMac but really struggled to justify the expense, so I pontificated about it endlessly. Finally I gave in and bought one, because, well... I just wanted it.

After the initial excitement has worn off (I've had it a couple of weeks or so), I have to say I am not overly excited by it. At the end of the day, it's just a computer. The end-user experience of my Mac Mini and Eizo monitor was frankly 99% as good. Maybe better (the screen was better) and I already owned that.

So yes, it's a nice machine, quite quick, decent OS etc etc. But worth the £2,200 I paid? Not sure.
 
Chippy99 said:
At the risk of sounding like a miserable git ;-)

. . . The end-user experience of my Mac Mini and Eizo monitor was frankly 99% as good. Maybe better (the screen was better) and I already owned that.
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Thanks for posting your experience with the Mini. I probably won't replace this iMac with another one, and have just about decided that a Mac Mini will be a good choice for me, paired with as good a monitor as I can afford at the time. Which I hope is still a couple of years away.
 
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I don't have an issue with people expressing a preference, but I find it interesting how many people still complain about how bad Windows is, especially Win7. In my experience, Windows 7 is just as good as OS X. Windows 8 could have been good, but MS made some poor design decisions. Hopefully 8.1 fixes them.

I tried to avoid things like speed, ease of use, etc., because it's all the same hardware. You can find faster PC's and it's not like Windows is complicated vis-a-vis using a Mac. Looks are subjective, anyway.
 
imac for desktop (personal computer at home for gaming/editing/music)

macbook air (thin laptop) for mobile use, or a second screen.

iphone for everything else.

ipad? don't need one of those if you got a macbook air, but you decide whether you want an ipad or macbook air.

thats how that works.
 
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