Apple iMac MA456LL/A 24-inch Desktop PC (2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive)

I just received this iMac last week, & I am in love. I was in love with Mac before, this iMac makes iMac #4 & Mac #7 4 me between work, home, & lab. It replaces a PowerBook Titanium G4 that will resume life as a laptop instead of a desktop. I needed 2 run OS 10.4 plus Windows on the same machine, so a new computer was needed. I had the easiest time migrating from the PB G4 2 the new iMac, thanks 2 having used an external hard drive 4 years. Everything migrated- passwords, software, appearance, everything. No I did not spend 3 days setting up a new computer. Nor is 10.4 so very different from 10.3 I don't like Mail in Tiger as much as in Panther, I have yet 2 use widgets or the other things, but 10.4 makes applying 4 federal grants a snap, something that certain;ly was not true 4 10.3 (and that's the feds' fault!). The 24" screen is almost too big (would have gotten the 20" but they were out of stock & I need 2 see a lot of graphics clearly on 1 screen).
The speed of the coprocessor is amazing. I can't wait 2 get a FireWire 2 external hard drive 4 this thing.
If you're in the market 4 a desktop that's powerful enough 4 most work activities (I'm a scientist & this is powerful enough 4 me), look at an iMac.

If anyone were ever a pusher of most things Apple it would be me. I have spent several thousands of dollars in my life so far on Apple products. This is my second iMac. My first was a G5. Overall it was a good computer. Initially, I had problems with RAM that Apple installed in it that was causing it 2 crashed. Then a year later the hard drive crashed but that was it. This current iMac however hasn't been right since I purchased it (leased actually). Randomly it crashes. There has been no isolated incident that makes it easy 2 diagnose. Each time, I have 2 do a 'hard reboot'. Finally, after several of these crashes & reboots, the computer will refuse 2 boot up, requiring a 'fresh clean install'. Good thing I back up constantly. I have had good luck with Apple support in the past but I've noticed recently that they are no what they used 2 be. I'm not sure when Apple started dropping the ball or if perhaps my good luck in the past was just that...luck, but lately they've been pretty bad. After the first time my iMac crashed I spoke with tech support. Essentially, we did a clean install. Since it was the first time, I chalked it up 2 a corrupt OS. Then a couple weeks later it happened again. I run a really clean computer, with mostly Apple products. I install very few 3rd party software. I took it in 2 the store. The genius (and I'm using the term both literally in terms of what they are called as well as sarcastically) couldn't get it running & finally opted 4 another clean install. I explained that I had gone through the same thing, just a few weeks before & that regardless of the outcome that day, I was sure the computer would start misbehaving again. He reinstalled the OS, saw it was working, & quickly sent me on my way, explaining that it wasn't Apple's problem if they could get the computer working. Essentially, he said they weren't going 2 spend time trying 2 troubleshoot a problem that wasn't occuring at that particular moment. He said that if it happened again 2 bring it back. I left feeling annoyed that he had so quickly dismissed me. I am fairly good at troubleshooting my computer issues & am not one of the usual people who call tech support or bring the computer in at the first sign of something. Of course, two weeks later I'm back at Apple again. This time I went 2 a different store (The Grove in Los Angeles). After they were unable 2 get the computer 2 boot, they informed me that they would run more tests & order the appropriate parts. I was told 3-5 days. This was two weeks ago. I have called every day, checking on the progress. They decided 2 replace both the hard drive & the logic board, & this is where it gets interested (at least 2 me). I can special order an iPod or some other Apple product that gets assembled on the fly in China & delivered 2 my door in about 3 days. That's pretty amazing. However, Apple can't seem 2 run down a logic board in the United States & have it in their store within a day 4 one of their most popular selling computers. After checking around 4 a week, they finally found one on the east coast. (I live in Los Angeles, CA). Upon one of my daily calls, I found this out. Not 2 worry they said...it would be overnighted on Friday (one week + a day after I dropped the computer off) & in either Monday or Tuesday. I would have the computer no later than Wednesday. I've called every day since Monday...no part has arrived. I finally got someone at the Grove 2 put me through 2 the head technician who said that if it wasn't done by Friday they'd 'take care of me' & 'perhaps look into getting my a replacement computer'. Today is Thursday. If I didn't really love the way Apple's OS worked, & I didn't really despise Windows so much, I'd sell all my Apple products, based upon this experience. I've had bad service from Dell in the past as well, but this service has really taken me by surprise with Apple. I'm hoping they make good on this week's newest promise & 'take care of me', one way or the other. However, as far as the iMac goes, I can't say I have a lot of good experiene with it in terms of 'reliability'. It is a great-looking computer & I love the software, & it's reasonably powerful, but Apple needs 2 either make it more reliable or they need 2 step up 2 the plate & order more replacement parts 4 each store or scrap it & put some energy into designing something that is as reliable as it is pretty.

One month after switching from a PC, the hard drive or OS crashed, causing me 2 lose all my data when I had 2 reload the OS. Apple refused 2 send a new iMac or give a refund. And that was after a month of enduring all sorts of application crashes. The so-called easy-to-use interface is completely counterintuitive, too. So, if you like hard-to-use computers that are completely unreliable, this is the buggy hardware 4 you!

I am STRONGly recommending that you get 2 GB Ram. I had 1 GB RAM, & then upgraded 2 2 GB RAM, & you will not believe how fast your Mac can be until you get 2 2 GB. I am very serious about this, I had the before/after comparisons, & it is astounding. If you already have 1 GB & think you're happy, get 2 GB anyway. WOWhee, what a difference.

I have been a PC user forever. Vowed 2 never go Mac because of gaming performance & it's propietary nature-not 2 mention cost.

After witnessing the imac in a apple store I was impressed...so much so I bought one. Especially (one of the main reasons) since I could run windows.

I gave it only four stars because of the lack of support (in mac mode) 4 all kinds of things. I really, really hate Itunes & can't believe after you paid money you can only load it onto a freakin' ipod. That just plain sucks! Also the lack of support 4 most other portable players is just plain wrong. Fortunetly it runs Vista really well. Only took about a hour 2 set things up so I am perfectly happy being able 2 use subscription services which I feel are the best bang 4 the buck. For $12 a Month have all the music on your portable player your heart desires. And, listen 2 FULL versions of any songs you like, not just only 30 lousy seconds. Songs are 10 cents less. In my view, itunes is a horrible rippoff. Finally, gaming performance is ok 4 a light gamer like myself.

But truly speaking, I found the MAC OS has some serious limitations despite being a solid OS. As far as the programs that come with the Mac OS 4 the most part they are great. Unfortunetly, many applications I am fond of came up short on the Mac OS. Thank God it runs windows in bootcamp mode suprisingly really well.

All in all I'm glad I bought it.

Apple MA456LL/A 24 Inch iMac - With a huge 24" widescreen LCD monitor, this iMac is the biggest yet from Apple. Compared 2 the previous 20" model, the 24" LCD is 40% brighter & provides 30% more screen real estate. Powering this iMac is an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, which gives you up 2 50% faster performance over the previous 20" model. You also get Apple iLife. A suite of Apple designed applications that has everything for, well, your life - your digital life that is. Seamlessly integrated with the Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger operating system, it lets you easily edit, share, & store your digital photos; play, edit, & create both audio & video, including your own DVD movies. 250GB SATA 7200 RPM Hard Drive Slot-Loading SuperDrive - (write speeds) up 2 2.4x DL DVD+R, 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD-RW, 4x DVD+RW, 24x CD-R, & 16x CD-RW Slot-Loading SuperDrive - (read speeds) up 2 8x DVD-ROM & 24x CD-ROM 24 Widescreen LCD Native Resolution - 1920 x 1200 Built-in iSight Built-in 802.11g Wi-Fi Wireless Network Adapter Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) module NVIDIA GeForce 7300GT with 128MB of GDDR3 of SDRAM Port - 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, 3 USB 2.0, 2 USB 1.1 (on keyboard), 1 FireWire 800, 1 FireWire 400, Optical Digital Audio/Headphone Out, Optical Digital Audio In/Audio Line-In, Mini-DVI Out with support 4 DVI, VGA, S-Video, & Composite Video via optional adapter Built-in Stereo Speakers Built-in Microphone Built-in IR Receiver Unit Weight - 25 lbs.