Looking at an iMac

[swanysto]

*Update*

I think I found a newer 27" Imac for a pretty good deal. Do these have upgrade spots for HD's? I have Vertex SSD I would like to use. Can this be added and used with the stock HD, or do I have to search for a different SSD? It is the 1st generation vertex I would use for system files. I think it is a 2.5, I know it is a lot smaller than my WD black drive.

 

[Oil]

The 21" mid 2010 for $600 seems like a decent deal. At this point I don't think it is worth it at all to look at the older white (pre-aluminum) iMacs.

If you want a Mac just to test out the OS and you already have a monitor to use, pick up a cheap Mini

 

[swanysto]

The 21" mid 2010 for $600 seems like a decent deal. At this point I don't think it is worth it at all to look at the older white (pre-aluminum) iMacs.

If you want a Mac just to test out the OS and you already have a monitor to use, pick up a cheap Mini

The reason I want the iMac is have a nice clean interface with the only wire being the power cord. I would just keep my gaming rig if it were a matter of OS only. I wanted to buy an inexpensive one in case there was something I didn't like about them, I wouldn't have just dropped 1.2-1.7k

Decent deal doesn't really excite me all that much. Maybe I will keep looking. Thanks for the input.

 

[swanysto]

bump for different question.

 

[sportage]

The reason I want the iMac is have a nice clean interface with the only wire being the power cord.

That is exactly what you do get! Just one of the many reason I too went with the iMac.
Also I switched from the MS world for a more solid system, better software, incredable stable system and apps/software, no more virus issues, few nagging forced os updates.

The iMac does not have an empty bay for adding another HD, but you can always add an USB drive. I keep my itunes media on a USB external drive on my iMac.

I can't say enought good things about switching or using an iMac.
For years I was a MS guy, built many pc's, media pc's also.
I'd NEVER EVER NEVER NEVER go back to the world of MS. Never!
Its so nice to sit down and start-follow through a project, whatever it may be, without first screwing with the pc for hours to get the pc up to speed to do what you wanted it to do. Then getting stressed and forgetting why or what you wanted to do in the first place.

Not the case on my iMac. Everything just works. It's that simple.

 

[PCTC2]

*Update*

I think I found a newer 27" Imac for a pretty good deal. Do these have upgrade spots for HD's? I have Vertex SSD I would like to use. Can this be added and used with the stock HD, or do I have to search for a different SSD? It is the 1st generation vertex I would use for system files. I think it is a 2.5, I know it is a lot smaller than my WD black drive.

The iMac (2010/2011) "has" a bay for a 2.5" SSD, only if it came preconfigured with an SSD. If it wasn't, then it's missing the SSD cage and the cable, both of which are Apple proprietary. If you know someone with Apple GSX access, then you can get both the cage and SSD after the fact. iFixit may have the cage and cable, but you'd have to check.

If you don't need your optical drive, you can replace it with an SSD bay from macsales.com

 

[swanysto]

That is exactly what you do get! Just one of the many reason I too went with the iMac.
Also I switched from the MS world for a more solid system, better software, incredable stable system and apps/software, no more virus issues, few nagging forced os updates.

The iMac does not have an empty bay for adding another HD, but you can always add an USB drive. I keep my itunes media on a USB external drive on my iMac.

I can't say enought good things about switching or using an iMac.
For years I was a MS guy, built many pc's, media pc's also.
I'd NEVER EVER NEVER NEVER go back to the world of MS. Never!
Its so nice to sit down and start-follow through a project, whatever it may be, without first screwing with the pc for hours to get the pc up to speed to do what you wanted it to do. Then getting stressed and forgetting why or what you wanted to do in the first place.

Not the case on my iMac. Everything just works. It's that simple.

I'm glad if worked out for you. Unfortunately I will be running both, as my work software is only compatible with Windows. The majority of my time on computers is for work. MacOS will only really be used to surf, upload pictures, and miscellaneous.

I wonder if I can just replace the stock drive with an SSD, than use an external USB HD to hold my files.

 

[Ka0t1x]

FW800 would be a lot more preferable to USB, depending on how flexible your other systems are with FW.

 

[swanysto]

FW800 would be a lot more preferable to USB, depending on how flexible your other systems are with FW.

I don't have any other systems, so if FW would be the better option, then I will consider it as the forerunner.

 

[swanysto]

I am officially an iMac owner. 27" 3.2ghz i3 mid 2010. Only problem is, the restore dvd is scratched to a point of not being readable(guy kept it in a box with a bunch of parts :/ ). I read on a mac forum that I can get the dvd at the apple store for ~40. Does anyone have experience with this? The guy who I bought it from put parallels(eww) and a whole bunch of pirate software. I would like to start fresh.

 

[Oil]

I am officially an iMac owner. 27" 3.2ghz i3 mid 2010. Only problem is, the restore dvd is scratched to a point of not being readable(guy kept it in a box with a bunch of parts :/ ). I read on a mac forum that I can get the dvd at the apple store for ~40. Does anyone have experience with this? The guy who I bought it from put parallels(eww) and a whole bunch of pirate software. I would like to start fresh.

Are you looking to keep Snow Leopard or move to Lion? If moving to Lion, you could buy it from the App Store then make a DVD from it so you can do a clean install

Edit: Disregard above, you should probably go to an Apple Store for a restore DVD as it will include iLife

 

[swanysto]

Are you looking to keep Snow Leopard or move to Lion? If moving to Lion, you could buy it from the App Store then make a DVD from it so you can do a clean install

Edit: Disregard above, you should probably go to an Apple Store for a restore DVD as it will include iLife

I would like to stick to snow leopard for now. I don't know much about MacOS just yet, but it seems that mac owners aren't the most excited about it, so if they aren't raving about it, I will wait on it for now. I am still getting used to how things are setup.

 

[alizee]

I am officially an iMac owner. 27" 3.2ghz i3 mid 2010. Only problem is, the restore dvd is scratched to a point of not being readable(guy kept it in a box with a bunch of parts :/ ). I read on a mac forum that I can get the dvd at the apple store for ~40. Does anyone have experience with this? The guy who I bought it from put parallels(eww) and a whole bunch of pirate software. I would like to start fresh.

You can't get the discs from a store, but you can from AppleCare, 1 800 275 2273. I had to do that a long time ago with my PowerMac.

Hope that helps.

 

[swanysto]

You can't get the discs from a store, but you can from AppleCare, 1 800 275 2273. I had to do that a long time ago with my PowerMac.

Hope that helps.

Yeah, I just found that out talking to them. Kinda stinks, I was hoping to devote my weekend to playing with the new toy, looks like the discs will be here early next week. Ah well, such is life. Thanks for all the replies guys, I appreciate all the help.

For future reference, if you have applecare, discs are free. If you do not, they are $16 a piece, 1 DVD for the restore, and 1 for the applications. So $32 total. Maybe that will help someone else.