[...] Dell for $1300cdn or shelling out considerably more for an iMac - the 20 inch 2ghz system with a 250gb HD with 512mb of ram sells for $1899cdn. [...][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Hi Jay,
I submit that when you get a bare PC for $1300cdn you are only STARTING to spend...: you will still have to kit it out with an OS, graphics card, all kinds of software, and RAM, before you can actually
use it a little bit.
Add that to the cost.
And PC's age
really quickly: you'll have to get a new one within 2 years.
Add
that to the cost too!
An iMac, however, may set you back $1899, BUT that is inclusive of the OS, the graphics card, and a whole suite of excellent software. Put it on your desktop, plug it in, and away you go! It
works !
That iMac will serve you well for 3/4 years, at least!
You'll only need to add RAM and,
if you need them, specialist applications, like Photoshop.
However, iMacs can run Windows just as easily as MacOSX (or Linux for that matter). So you can simply keep using your Windows version of Photoshop. Another 500 bucks saved.
Which is a better system for photography.
Look at pro photographers and what systems they use: 90% Macs!
how much ram is needed with the iMac if it is the better choice, if i'm using CS2 and canon's DPP?
For non-pro use 1.5GB is probably more than enough.
the RAM upgrade for iMac seems a lot more expensive then for a PC. 1-1GB stick is $120 and 2GB is $360 - does that make any sense?? why is a second stick more then double in price on athe iMac?
Get third-party RAM. Much cheaper.
btw, i have never used a mac b4, will it be hard to learn?
Quite the contrary: within an hour you will chide yourself for not moving to the Mac years ago...
Some other questions regarding the iMac. i noticed the mac only has 3 usb ports, is that enough, given 2 are going to be used by the mouse and keyboard?
That's more than enough: only the keyboard needs one. And the keyboard itself has 2 more USB ports. For a mouse,
if you need it. Because Apple is launching a wireless bluetooth mouse in a couple weeks.
is the advertised airport extreme, a built in wireless system?
Yes.
does that mean i can still get wireless at home with this?
Yes.
If i have a PC hooked up to a cable modem, will i be able to use the iMac on wireless?
Yes.
will i need to purchase any additional software for the iMac?
No, you don't
need to. It's got everything in the box.
i know i will have to get CS2
No, you don't. Your current CS2/PS runs on XP. iMacs run XP.
[/quote]and any other photo software,[/quote]
There is a
lot of excellent free software for the Mac available on the WWW.
([a href=\"http://www.versiontracker.com/php/search.php?mode=basic&action=search&str=photo&plt%5B%5D=macosx&x=0&y=0]Versiontracker[/url] (<– click!) alone has a couple hundred already).
but will i need any other operating system
You'll need XP if you want to run your current CS2/PS. But you've
got that, don't you?
or macafee
No, you can keep your money in your pocket (and sleep a lot easier than today...): there are
no viruses, Trojans or Worms for Macs!
Sophos, who make a living selling you antivirus software, recently admitted it clearly:
Sophos Security Threat Management Report Update July 2006or explorer or anything like that specifically for the mac?
No. Explorer for the Mac is in the bundle,
but you don't want to use that ! And you don't have to either: Safari is excellent (IE can't hold a candle to it), and there are 6 or 7 just as excellent alternatives. All free!
appreciate advice of more experienced users!
Have fun!
RS
(Mac user since 1985)
