Forums | MacLife

henebry · 2005-10-13 6:56 pm

I'd get the new iMac but ...

it doesn't have a TV tuner. Don't know why not. The remote practically screams "put me in your living room and use me as an entertainment center."

I'd buy one and give it to my mom, who keeps a little TV on her kitchen table. We could iChat using the built-in iSight camera. She could watch DVDs. And, most vital, she could watch TV. Except she couldn't. Because the damn thing doesn't have a TV tuner!!!

How 'bout the rest of you? What's keeping you from buying one?

Gusboh · 2005-10-13 6:58 pm

I need to eat.

smilr · 2005-10-13 7:03 pm

Solution: http://www.elgato.com/

davecrist · 2005-10-13 7:05 pm

I'll do one better: I'd buy one except that it COMES WITH A SCREEN.... I KNOW there are people that want one... and I think that it's a good piece of equipment... but I already have a GREAT Screen and don't want/need to buy another one....

but...

having a slim, ~1.9Gh G5 with DVD burner, wireless, etc would be be great!

I would estimate that the 17" screen costs Apple at least 3-4 hundred bucks.... which would bring the cost of the G5 'iMac-Mini' to around $800! Man.... that would be awesome... I might buy two!

robco · 2005-10-13 7:52 pm

Just so long as it were optional. I use TiVo, no use for a TV tuner in my computer.

pcguy · 2005-10-13 8:13 pm

henebry wrote:
I'd get the new iMac but ...

it doesn't have a TV tuner. Don't know why not. The remote practically screams "put me in your living room and use me as an entertainment center."

I'd buy one and give it to my mom, who keeps a little TV on her kitchen table. We could iChat using the built-in iSight camera. She could watch DVDs. And, most vital, she could watch TV. Except she couldn't. Because the damn thing doesn't have a TV tuner!!!

How 'bout the rest of you? What's keeping you from buying one?

ar...
don't u think 20in ws really tiny for a entertainment center, and a BIG waste if hook up to a lcd-plasma tv?

entertainment center would be something like minimac but with lower price and more goodie!

Zander · 2005-10-13 8:21 pm

pcguy wrote:
entertainment center would be something like minimac but with lower price and more goodie!

Wait for the next revision of the Mini.

Pariah · 2005-10-13 8:26 pm

Zander wrote:
pcguy wrote:
entertainment center would be something like minimac but with lower price and more goodie!
Wait for the next revision of the Mini.

It would have to be one radically different Mini. You can't build a media center around anemic laptop parts.

toadkiller · 2005-10-13 8:27 pm

It is optional - thus USB 2 and Firewire. And Elgato as linked above.

So, they basically AREN'T driving a different company who develops add on to their computers out of business by integrating their product.

resedit · 2005-10-13 8:42 pm

pcguy wrote:
ar...
don't u think 20in ws really tiny for a entertainment center

//looks at TV and cries

It's not the size that counts, it's what you do with it.

henebry · 2005-10-13 8:49 pm

smilr wrote:
Solution: http://www.elgato.com/

toadkiller wrote:
It is optional - thus USB 2 and Firewire. And Elgato as linked above.

So, they basically AREN'T driving a different company who develops add on to their computers out of business by integrating their product.

That's a cute add-on, but doesn't adding a box undercut the simple beauty of the iMac's design? I'm envisioning this as a replacement for my mom's small but elegant flat-screen TV that she keeps on her kitchen table. Adding an Elgato means adding clutter. And it means a second remote (both the iMac's and the Elgato's) bringing back the curse of the old TV & VCR era. None of this strikes me as fitting Steve's "master plan" for the new iMac--whatever that is: he always aims to reduce clutter and increase ease of use.

I wonder whether he was anxious not to raise the hackles of the TV/entertainment industry by bringing out a Mac capable of recording TV. After all, he's trying right now to get their shows on the new iTunes Store.

mjsmitho · 2005-10-13 9:18 pm

If it had a tuner I would buy one for the bedroom. FrontRow looks prime for doing a DVR iMac or mini, but like henebry said, I don't want an add on that doesn't work with FrontRow or add clutter.

im_electronic · 2005-10-13 9:23 pm

there are DVR's for sat/cable that have USB 2.0 output for this as well.

Czachorski · 2005-10-13 9:49 pm

Pariah wrote:
Zander wrote:
pcguy wrote:
entertainment center would be something like minimac but with lower price and more goodie!
Wait for the next revision of the Mini.
It would have to be one radically different Mini. You can't build a media center around anemic laptop parts.

I don't know. Have you checked the specs on the latest Tivos? We are talking about NTSC video, after all. Not exactly "cutting edge".

ScifiterX · 2005-10-13 11:03 pm

pcguy wrote:
ar...
don't u think 20in ws really tiny for a entertainment center, and a BIG waste if hook up to a lcd-plasma tv?

<Looks at 20" CRT TV that barely fits in cabinet (too big) and looks at cramped desk.> 20" might work out fine for some people.

I sincerely hope you know better than to ever hook a plasma screen to a computer.

There's no reason one can't hook an LCD TV with the proper hookups to an iMac.

Deadmanwalking · 2005-10-14 2:18 am

henebry wrote:
How 'bout the rest of you? What's keeping you from buying one?

My 17" G4 iMac. Man I love this machine.

sosumi · 2005-10-14 3:36 am

There's no need to throw out your existing screen if you want an iMac. Thanks to the computer's VGA output and this application you can use two monitors with your iMac just like me.

And the picture probably says this for me, but I'd get an iMac except I already bought one in March. And I kinda like the flat back design of the first two revisions over the domey thing they've done now.

knobtwirler · 2005-10-14 4:40 am

henebry wrote:
I'd get the new iMac but ...

it doesn't have a TV tuner. Don't know why not. The remote practically screams "put me in your living room and use me as an entertainment center."

I'd buy one and give it to my mom, who keeps a little TV on her kitchen table. We could iChat using the built-in iSight camera. She could watch DVDs. And, most vital, she could watch TV. Except she couldn't. Because the damn thing doesn't have a TV tuner!!!

How 'bout the rest of you? What's keeping you from buying one?

It doesn't have a TV tuner b/c it's still a computer, not a tv. Today's products allow you to turn it into a tv if you want, easily. The only thing keeping me from buying one is my available budget.

davecrist wrote:
I'll do one better: I'd buy one except that it COMES WITH A SCREEN....

If you don't want the built-in screen, then you don't want an iMac, you just like the way it looks and wish you didn't already buy your Dell screen.

pcguy · 2005-10-14 6:54 am

Czachorski wrote:
Pariah wrote:
Zander wrote:

Wait for the next revision of the Mini.
It would have to be one radically different Mini. You can't build a media center around anemic laptop parts.
I don't know. Have you checked the specs on the latest Tivos? We are talking about NTSC video, after all. Not exactly "cutting edge".

It have to be a hdtv tuner!

toadkiller · 2005-10-14 7:06 am

I've never owned an elgato product, but the box can perhaps be hidden away. I'm also hoping that they will integrate with Frontrow.

Of course there are larger implications with downloading TV shows. Like the death of cable. I would certainly rather pay $30 for the shows I'd actually watch than $60 for cable.

hal9k · 2005-10-14 9:25 am

It's a fine machine with funky new features.

Mine has to be portable. So, when they do this with an Intel iBook, that's what I'll buy.

Last edited by hal9k (2005-10-14 9:26 am)

davecrist · 2005-10-15 2:11 pm

knobtwirler wrote:
davecrist wrote:
I'll do one better: I'd buy one except that it COMES WITH A SCREEN....
If you don't want the built-in screen, then you don't want an iMac, you just like the way it looks and wish you didn't already buy your Dell screen.

You're almost right.... except for being wrong...

What I want is the G5 processor near 2GHz with the small form-factor + 128meg Vram + DVI outputs with full wireless + remote for < $1000 after taxes and shipping....

My Dell screen blows the iMac's 20inch screen to hell and back and if I could get the 17" iMac at the cost of the 17" minus the cost of that included screen it would STILL cost less than the 20" imac INCLUDING the cost of my Dell monitor... smile

I'm not a Dell fanboy but this monitor kicks ass...

I would consider getting the 20" iMac as is and use the included 20" monitor as a secondary monitor (!!) IF the aux output was digital and the screen-spanning hack worked.

I would consider getting a Mac-mini except that it sucks. In fact, after comparing the two, the Mac-mini is now a terrible deal. (Assuming you don't have the peripherals) adding the cost of the MUCH better CPU, the MUCH better graphics card, MUCH larger & faster hard drive would likely be around the price of the iMac 17". The iMac is easily the best value from Apple in a long time.

Last edited by davecrist (2005-10-15 2:19 pm)

duke91 · 2005-10-15 4:40 pm

henebry wrote:
I'd get the new iMac but ...

it doesn't have a TV tuner. Don't know why not. The remote practically screams "put me in your living room and use me as an entertainment center."

I'd buy one and give it to my mom, who keeps a little TV on her kitchen table. We could iChat using the built-in iSight camera. She could watch DVDs. And, most vital, she could watch TV. Except she couldn't. Because the damn thing doesn't have a TV tuner!!!

How 'bout the rest of you? What's keeping you from buying one?

How about you give your mom a break and get her out of the kitchen big_smile

knobtwirler · 2005-10-15 4:50 pm

davecrist wrote:
knobtwirler wrote:
davecrist wrote:
I'll do one better: I'd buy one except that it COMES WITH A SCREEN....
If you don't want the built-in screen, then you don't want an iMac, you just like the way it looks and wish you didn't already buy your Dell screen.
You're almost right.... except for being wrong...

What I want is the G5 processor near 2GHz with the small form-factor + 128meg Vram + DVI outputs with full wireless + remote for < $1000 after taxes and shipping....

My Dell screen blows the iMac's 20inch screen to hell and back and if I could get the 17" iMac at the cost of the 17" minus the cost of that included screen it would STILL cost less than the 20" imac INCLUDING the cost of my Dell monitor...

I'm not a Dell fanboy but this monitor kicks ass...

I would consider getting the 20" iMac as is and use the included 20" monitor as a secondary monitor (!!) IF the aux output was digital and the screen-spanning hack worked.

I would consider getting a Mac-mini except that it sucks. In fact, after comparing the two, the Mac-mini is now a terrible deal. (Assuming you don't have the peripherals) adding the cost of the MUCH better CPU, the MUCH better graphics card, MUCH larger & faster hard drive would likely be around the price of the iMac 17". The iMac is easily the best value from Apple in a long time.

So how does your monitor compare to the apple monitors? Is it a better idea to buy the Dell instead and save a lot of money? Also, the Apple page describing the new iMac makes the screen sound like it so amazing, is it any better than the old iMac screens, which are so-so?

davecrist · 2005-10-15 7:19 pm

knobtwirler wrote:
<snip>...So how does your monitor compare to the apple monitors? Is it a better idea to buy the Dell instead and save a lot of money? Also, the Apple page describing the new iMac makes the screen sound like it so amazing, is it any better than the old iMac screens, which are so-so?

Good question and I'll respond in reverse order: I agree with your eval of the old iMac screens.... after seeing them up close I did not think they were all that wonderful. I worked in a studio for two years with a Cinema display for hours and hours a day and thought that the new iMac screens were not up to its [the cinema's] quality

That said, I have not seen the 'new' iMacs yet and can't do a fair evaluation.

However, I really have to admit that my Dell 2405 is incredible. If pressed I could only give Apple better marks in one area: the Firewire hub and half-better mark in screen dot pitch... and that is being VERY discriminating... the Dell is .27 dot it where the Apple's are .25 (I think)

The Dell has:
- a MUCH better stand.... very sold and stable, tilts & swivels & raises & lets the screen rotate 90 degrees clockwise for a portrait mode,
- More video inputs including DVI, VGA, Component (Supports HDTV at FULL RES!), S-VHS. Lets you do picture-in-a-picture & side-by-side viewing between any two inputs... plus... I finally have an HD television monitor for my HD DVR I rent from Time Warner.... and it completely rocks....
- It has a USB 2.0 'media' hub built in to it... not just a USB hub (2 on the back, 2 on the side) but ALSO a 9-in-1 Memory stick/flash drive reader built-into the side.
- 1920x1200 resolution at 24" for $959 DELIVERED.

The Apple monitors just don't cut it presently (IMHO) and won't unless they lower the cost by 30%, add video inputs, and make the stand better.

I am recommending it to everyone who is asking... it is honestly that good. I whole-heartedly, absolutely without reservation would suggest buying it over either of the two Apple monitors < 30"....and if someone was going to buy the 30", I might suggest that they think about getting 2 or 3 of the Dells instead... really... you'd get more dots and MUCH more flexibility for about $1k less (of course, you'd probably have to buy a $500 stand to position them all... but it would look WAY cooler).... if I could, I'd buy another one today but then I'd have to buy a PCMCIA card for my Powerbook....see?

Forums | MacLife

#1 2005-10-13 6:56 pm

I'd get the new iMac but...

#2 2005-10-13 6:58 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

#3 2005-10-13 7:03 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

#4 2005-10-13 7:05 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

#5 2005-10-13 7:52 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

#6 2005-10-13 8:13 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

henebry wrote:

#7 2005-10-13 8:21 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

pcguy wrote:

#8 2005-10-13 8:26 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

Zander wrote:

pcguy wrote:

#9 2005-10-13 8:27 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

#10 2005-10-13 8:42 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

pcguy wrote:

#11 2005-10-13 8:49 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

smilr wrote:

toadkiller wrote:

#12 2005-10-13 9:18 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

#13 2005-10-13 9:23 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

#14 2005-10-13 9:49 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

Pariah wrote:

Zander wrote:

pcguy wrote:

#15 2005-10-13 11:03 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

pcguy wrote:

#16 2005-10-14 2:18 am

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

henebry wrote:

#17 2005-10-14 3:36 am

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

#18 2005-10-14 4:40 am

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

henebry wrote:

davecrist wrote:

#19 2005-10-14 6:54 am

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

Czachorski wrote:

Pariah wrote:

Zander wrote:

#20 2005-10-14 7:06 am

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

#21 2005-10-14 9:25 am

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

#22 2005-10-15 2:11 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

knobtwirler wrote:

davecrist wrote:

#23 2005-10-15 4:40 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

henebry wrote:

#24 2005-10-15 4:50 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

davecrist wrote:

knobtwirler wrote:

davecrist wrote:

#25 2005-10-15 7:19 pm

Re: I'd get the new iMac but...

knobtwirler wrote:

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