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Advice before I buy my iMac tomorrow
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Looks like I will be purchasing my iMac tomorrow. Just wanted to throw a couple of questions out to the board to get your thoughts/advice before I pull the trigger. Being my first Apple computer, I’m going in a little blind.
1) Screen size - Thoughts on whether the 27” is worth the money? It seems the 22” is plenty big enough. But Damn It when they put it next to the 27”??. I know you get a bigger HD and it?s a little faster, but I doubt I will notice that, so I’d basically be buying for the larger screen. Anyone have any regrets after getting the 22 or notice any clear advantages of the 27?
2) Printer - Want a wireless that does a good job with photos and also scans/copies. There are a ton of different HP models out there that fit the bill. Little nervous about the $100 ones though. Seems like quality could be an issue at that price point?
3) Getting iWork with it. Anything else I should buy at the time of purchase? I guess I will get handbrake at some point.
4) Magic Trackpad?
Any other advice appreciated.
Thanks
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Looks like I will be purchasing my iMac tomorrow.
I prefer a MacBook Pro with my new 27” Apple display. Allows me to take my life with me wherever I go.
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You can never have too much screen space. Or, you can get the cheaper iMac now and a 2nd iMac later.
iWork is rather worth it. Pages is not a quick and dirty TypePad. Pages has lots of templates to choose from. NOTE: iWork 11 is rumored for January. THEREFORE, You might want to ask the salesperson about purchasing so close to a release.
Printers are not my territory. Suggest the salesperson again.
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Ask the sales person about which keyboard is included. I prefer wired keyboards.
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Im addicted to my 27” screen now I actually travel (by car of course) with my imac because of it when I visit friends and family for more than a few days..
[ Edited: 22 December 2010 04:35 PM by $Billyall ]
edit…...and I do have a 13” macboook as well but after trading on the 27” the 13 seems like trading on the iphone. -
Get a good tutorial from the salesperson the use of the trackpad. Do this sitting down. If they don’t have a chair or stool, tell the salesperson to get one—if you want an extended tutorial and if the salesperson has time for that.
You do not have to get Applecare immediately. For expensive purchases, I recommend Applecare. You can get Applecare more inexpensively from Amazon—> or Smalldog (a good store).
You might want to get a Time Capsule. Otherwise, sooner than later, purchase an external hard disk (Firewire 800 capable , which is significantly faster than USB 2). Ask the salesperson about this. ALSO—if you purchase TimeCapsule, the trackpad. the iMac and Applecare at the same time, then all of the accessories are covered under Applecare and that is important.
Keep the receipts.
Keep the box for the iMac until the end of time.
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duplicate
[ Edited: 22 December 2010 05:09 PM by Tetrachloride ] -
duplicate
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27 is great, but 22 is really fine as well. Depends both on your budget and the space you will be using it in. Personally I find 27s too big and would rather have dual 20s.
It is rather hard in a store when you see all those displays side by side (this is especially true with television monitors). Next to the really big ones a 32 inch tv can seem awfully small. Cut out a piece of cardboard and put it in the space you intend to use it in.
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David Nelson
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I think the 22” (make that 21.5”...) should be just fine. I own a 24” display that runs at 1920x1200 resolution, virtually the same as the iMac at 1920x1080, and I never find it to be lacking.
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Hp’s software has been crap for me and many others through the years. I’m wired aio cannon here and wireless aio cannon at the cabin. They work great and are highly recommended.
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Advice? Get the bigger screen unless you’re budgetly constrained.
Then leave the Apple store and hit an office supply shop and buy
a Brother printer and a two button mouse with a two axis scroll wheel.
The brother drivers are in Mac’s OS and it is likely that the two button mouses drivers are also already included.
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I have the 27"iMac and I love the big screen. I went for the i7 chip and 8 gigs of ram because I do a lot of photography and also video. I also bought my 13 year old son the standard 21” and he loves it. Either 21” or 27” and you are good. I like the wireless mouse and keyboard. Apple through in the standard size one that is wired which I thought I would use but I am happy with the wireless. My son also.
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Screen size- Get the largest you can afford, much like the internal HDD. Study after study shows that people are more productive on larger or even dual displays. Besides, in 5 years when it is time to upgrade, you will have a decent media box for a den or bedroom that you can sit back and watch.
HDD and RAM- Get the biggest HDD or SSD you can afford up front. Drives are not easily user-serviceable. As for RAM, buy that from Crucial and install it yourself. Save a few bucks there.
Keyboard. Get the wired. You gain a USB port by doing so.
Magic Trackpad- Definitely. Multitouch goodness on your desktop.
AppleCare- Get it. You don’t have to do it at time of purchase. You can get it any time in the first year of ownership, but GET IT. One repair and it pays for itself. It also covers any Airport Base Stations or Time Capsules you buy with your machine.
Enjoy and congratulations.
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Screen size- Get the largest you can afford, much like the internal HDD. Study after study shows that people are more productive on larger or even dual displays. Besides, in 5 years when it is time to upgrade, you will have a decent media box for a den or bedroom that you can sit back and watch.
HDD and RAM- Get the biggest HDD or SSD you can afford up front. Drives are not easily user-serviceable. As for RAM, buy that from Crucial and install it yourself. Save a few bucks there.
Keyboard. Get the wired. You gain a USB port by doing so.
Magic Trackpad- Definitely. Multitouch goodness on your desktop.
AppleCare- Get it. You don’t have to do it at time of purchase. You can get it any time in the first year of ownership, but GET IT. One repair and it pays for itself. It also covers any Airport Base Stations or Time Capsules you buy with your machine.
Enjoy and congratulations.
The only way to get the wired keyboard at no charge is to order it on the web afaik. It’s my preference as I use the extra USB port to plug in my camera without having to access the ones on the back. Set aside my logitech 4 button mouse with scroll wheel in favor of the magic trackpad. After a two week getting used to period I’m not going back.
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I don’t mind being wrong…,I just hate being wrong so FAST!
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I just don’t get the wired keyboard. I prefer wirelsss everything. If available USB ports are an issue you can get a device that expands your USB ports. Heck, I think I even have one around here somewhere, I will let you have it. I use two 19” monitors.
I think what it would boil down to is do you need the 27”. Now as an AAPL investor I think you need to get a Mac Pro with the 27” cinema display. Maybe 2. :-D
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