Apple iMac (Apple iMac MB417B/A)

Member Name: tanyatigerlily

Product:	Apple iMac MB417B/A
Date:	20/08/09 (125 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to use and looks good

Disadvantages: Expensive, much less software available

I bought an iMac mostly because I liked the design and I didn't want to be forced to buy a PC with Windows Vista. It has been a mixed blessing.
Firstly, the iMac is a beautiful bit of kit. It is well designed, well built and takes up a lot less space than my PC. The DVD unit is incorporated into the monitor, which also contains ports to plug in peripherals. The 20" monitor is crystal clear and the sound from the built-in speakers adequate to hear sound. A camera is set into the monitor, so setting up video calls is a breeze.

There are only 2 USB ports, so I have bought a 4-1 adaptor for £20 that allows me to plug in all my bits of kit.

The keyboard and mouse are wireless which is really useful as I am right-handed, but my husband is not. There are no tangled wires to cause frustration when moving the mouse and keyboard around. The mouse is a single unit, which requires it a little more difficult to keep the little ball clean. Also, there is no right mouse button, you have to click the mouse whilst holding down the Ctrl key on the keyboard for the same effect.

The computer boots up in under 10 seconds, which, compared to a PC is fantastically quick. The operating system takes up far fewer resources than a PC, so you don't need as much processing speed or memory. Everything seems intuitive and I haven't had to resort to any learning manuals.

On the downside, the unit is expensive at £950. Software is expensive compared to a PC and sometimes does not work as well. I received a number of games as presents, and I can confirm PC equivalents are much cheaper and better to play. When surfing the internet, some sites are not designed with Macs in mind and don't function properly.

Having said all that, I have kept my PC, but the iMac is definitely my main computer. Having a single integrated unit where everything has been designed to work together is a great improvement.

Summary: An integrated system - all computers should follow this philosophy

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