Forums | MacLife

dgboat52 · 2006-04-09 11:09 pm

My 10-year old G3 BW (modified with a 500 MHz PowerPC G4 ZIF processor and 1 GB of memory, running 10.4.6) is in its last throes of life - can't keep it from crashing unpredictably - reinstalling OS doesn't help. So I'm looking to purchase an iMac Intel as a replacement. I see that Apple sells the 17-inch 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo iMac for $400 less than the 20-inch 2 GHz Intel Core Duo. If I got the 17-inch, I would upgrade the HD to 250GB (+$90). Most usage has been home & work-related; lots of iTune stuff, some iPhoto and NO iMovie (bus too slow on present system). Would certainly do some iMovie/iDVD stuff with new machine. Suggestions?

kex215 · 2006-04-10 9:02 am

The processor speed won't make a huge difference in day to day work. The premium is primarily for the screen real estate and the larger drive. If you don't need the screen space, go with the 17".

MacBoy4139 · 2006-04-10 9:48 am

And take that money saved and buy more RAM - it will help A LOT - with anything you do.

car121_007 · 2006-04-10 1:49 pm

With a set budget on a one time purchase I'd go for the 17" w/ 1GB RAM (minimum)

That said you can't upgrade the screen later, but you can upgrade the RAM. Also the 256MB X1600 is available on the 20".

Let the budget decide.

jayster · 2006-04-11 1:32 am

I have the new 20" and I'm glad we spent the extra as the 20" screen is awsome. Once you get a screen like this you will wonder how you ever lived without it.

The other posters are right about more ram, 512 just isnt enough. I added another gig and it brought out the full potential of this machine. I just wish I had the went with the 256 video as there is no way to upgrade now sad also wish I had went with a bigger HD as videos eat up the 250 very very quick.

But it's a great machine, you will like it.

Youthdude · 2006-04-13 1:51 pm

I'd go with the 20". I was torn just like you, and the guy at the Apple store convinced me I would like the 20". It is amazing. The screen real estate makes a difference. Upgrade the memory. I maxed mine out to 2 gigs and this thing flies!

mtpalms · 2006-04-13 2:03 pm

jayster wrote:
I have the new 20" and I'm glad we spent the extra as the 20" screen is awsome. Once you get a screen like this you will wonder how you ever lived without it.

The other posters are right about more ram, 512 just isnt enough. I added another gig and it brought out the full potential of this machine. I just wish I had the went with the 256 video as there is no way to upgrade now also wish I had went with a bigger HD as videos eat up the 250 very very quick.

But it's a great machine, you will like it.

Youthdude wrote:
I'd go with the 20". I was torn just like you, and the guy at the Apple store convinced me I would like the 20". It is amazing. The screen real estate makes a difference. Upgrade the memory. I maxed mine out to 2 gigs and this thing flies!

3rded.

I don't think there will ever be a hard drive big enough 2 weeks after you've purchased any computer. My B&W came with a whopping 8gb drive in 1999, to which I added a 60gb drive shortly thereafter. My 5 mo. old iMac's already got twice that on it, and only 4 GB of that are video files.

MacBoy4139 · 2006-04-13 2:06 pm

mtpalms wrote:
jayster wrote:
I have the new 20" and I'm glad we spent the extra as the 20" screen is awsome. Once you get a screen like this you will wonder how you ever lived without it.

The other posters are right about more ram, 512 just isnt enough. I added another gig and it brought out the full potential of this machine. I just wish I had the went with the 256 video as there is no way to upgrade now also wish I had went with a bigger HD as videos eat up the 250 very very quick.

But it's a great machine, you will like it.
Youthdude wrote:
I'd go with the 20". I was torn just like you, and the guy at the Apple store convinced me I would like the 20". It is amazing. The screen real estate makes a difference. Upgrade the memory. I maxed mine out to 2 gigs and this thing flies!
3rded.

I don't think there will ever be a hard drive big enough 2 weeks after you've purchased any computer. My B&W came with a whopping 8gb drive in 1999, to which I added a 60gb drive shortly thereafter. My 5 mo. old iMac's already got twice that on it, and only 4 GB of that are video files.

I remember having a conversation with a neighbor about hard drives. He couldn't believe that they were up to 4 GB. I remember when the GB was first advertised. Good times.

Now my pathetic 80 GB HD is killing me. That is the one major complaint I have about laptops, and why I'm going to switch back to desktops.

dgboat52 · 2006-04-15 11:29 pm

big_smile
Thanks for all of the advice. Because of budgetary constraints, I got the 17", but upgraded the ram to 1Gg and the HD to 250 Gb. The small size of the internal HD on my old BW (12 Gb) necessitated an external HD, and with the extra RAM (1 Gb) and the G4 ZIF processor I added to it made it an all-around pretty good machine - at least I thought so until I plugged in the iMac. THE iMAC INTEL IS ... I CAN'T THINK OF THE SUPERLATIVES TO USE EXCEPT FOR ... "WOW"! I'm not sure if the iMac will last as long as my BW (10+ years), but I'm certainly going to enjoy it while I have it!

Nefarious · 2006-04-16 7:46 am

Keep us informed.

bloomsday · 2006-04-16 11:05 am

congrats!
pix!!

Forums | MacLife

#1 2006-04-09 11:09 pm

Which iMac should I buy

#2 2006-04-10 9:02 am

Re: Which iMac should I buy

#3 2006-04-10 9:48 am

Re: Which iMac should I buy

#4 2006-04-10 1:49 pm

Re: Which iMac should I buy

#5 2006-04-11 1:32 am

Re: Which iMac should I buy

#6 2006-04-13 1:51 pm

Re: Which iMac should I buy

#7 2006-04-13 2:03 pm

Re: Which iMac should I buy

jayster wrote:

Youthdude wrote:

#8 2006-04-13 2:06 pm

Re: Which iMac should I buy

mtpalms wrote:

jayster wrote:

Youthdude wrote:

#9 2006-04-15 11:29 pm

Re: Which iMac should I buy

#10 2006-04-16 7:46 am

Re: Which iMac should I buy

#11 2006-04-16 11:05 am

Re: Which iMac should I buy

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