Lots of brains; disappointing display
Written: Aug 06 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Fast and robust
Cons: Poor display; hardware failures
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| FloydianSlip's Full Review: Apple iMac Blue Dalmatian 15 in. (M8347LL/A) Mac D... |
For several years I've used Windows machines at home and at the office. But after switching over to a Mac at the office a year and a half ago, I grew to appreciate Mac OS. So when my Windows machine at home died an early and unexpected death, I knew I wanted to make the switch to Macintosh at home, too.
The high cost of switching over from the PC world to the Mac world aside -- most of my peripherals either had to be ditched in favor of new components that work with the Mac's USB interface or I had to buy special software/connectors to interface with the new iMac -- it's been a rocky road to Macdom.
I bought the iMac DV SE direct from Apple. As of this writing, I've brought the unit to the repair shop three times inside of two months.
<ol>
<li>The first visit was to correct "artifacts" that appeared on the desktop -- ghosting images that bled off of open windows. (The technician installed a new CRT.)
<li>The second time was for a new hard drive; the original drive experienced a complete failure -- the shop couldn't recover any data from it.
<li>The final trip (so far) was for a hard drive problem that Apple tech support diagnosed as a hardware failure on the phone, though it turned out to be a software issue. (The shop repaired the disc using some Apple diagnostics; Apple determined it should never have referred me to the shop, but since it did, picked up the tab.)
</ol>
I love the Mac OS and continue to believe it's superior to Windows and that I'm more productive on a Mac than a PC. But I'd be hard pressed to say I've been highly satisfied with my iMac experience.
If you're considering purchasing one, I'd recommend seeing one in person and looking closely at the display. According to the Apple authorized repair shop I've visited, it's a known issue that the iMac displays aren't as sharp in the corner regions as in the center of the screen. (Their explanation: "Well, it's only a $1,500 iMac and not a professional level machine.")
I'm somewhat unimpressed by the display overall, and find the corner regions unacceptable. I consider a display that's anything less than sharp edge to edge to be unacceptable. It's something I certainly don't feel I should have to live with on a machine from a supposedly respected manufacturer like Apple.
On the other hand, this iMac is one of the fastest computers I've ever used, and when it works, it works well. ;) The issues that have been discussed over and over -- the small keyboard and hockey puck mouse -- have already been changed with the iMac line-up Apple released in July. Kudos.
Also: I have to give Apple an A+ for its tech support. Each time I've called tech support I've waited no more than a couple of minutes to get a support person on the line. Each one was been efficient, knowledgeable and kind.
I wish I could offer a hearty recommendation for the iMac DV SE, but I can say my satisfaction level has only been lukewarm. I'm willing to believe that the hardware failures I've experienced have been flukes. My best piece of advice is to examine the display before you buy. If, like me, you find it less than satisfactory, perhaps look into a different Apple option instead of the iMac.
Recommended:
No
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Epinions.com ID:
FloydianSlip
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Member: Craig Bailey
Location: Winooski, Vt.
Reviews written: 1
Trusted by: 0 members
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