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- My rating: 0 stars
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4 out of 10 people found this review helpful
1.0 stars
"Who are these people rating this machine???"
Pros: Looks cool
Cons: No native software; not compatible with classic programs; constant freezes -- hey it's like a PC but more expensive!
Summary: I should have known. For years I've been toying with the idea of buying an imac. Even when they were selling the cute ones that were orange and purple, I wanted to have one of these machines b/c they looked so cool.
For 20 years I've gone with PCs though b/c let's face it, that's what is most widely supported. But when this one came out I thought that the intel processor coupled with the fact that Apple's star appears to have risen once again with the ipod, that there would be wide support for this thing. Here are the other reasons I bought it, and why each one was an incorrect assumptions:
Assumption 1: More stable: I must say, this machine has crashed more than any windows pc I have ever owned. I have barely any software installed and yet ANY third party app that requires Rosetta (and right now, all of them require it) have crashed. That's right EVERY ONE. And I have spent a lot of money replacing software that was not MAC compatible for when I bought this machine, and every single program has crashed and many are simply not usable. Even with the smiley little MAC OS X symbol on the back of the box -- don't believe it. No one knows for sure whether anything works with this machine yet. Prepare to spend a lot of money on buying UNIVERSAL apps -- when they're available, but that's not now.
Assumption 2: My kids wouldn't be able to screw it up b/c the administator controls are stronger. There are great controls for kids on this box, but they are not practical and offer little flexibility. You can restrict what sites your kids go to on the internet, but you must insert your password on EVERY page they go to - there is no logical filter that allows them to go to any safe places. You must permit everything. Kids cannot install any software, which seems like a great thing too, except that to install educational software you must go through many many steps to remove the restrictions for your kids, install the software and then put the restrictions back on. It is completely impractical. In the end, I gave my kids administrator privileges b/c they couldn't do anything as a monitored account. So where are we after all of that? Right back where I would have been if I had bought a windows box for them (except that none of their old software works).
Assumption 3: No viruses; it's an apple. Not true, macs are now targets.
Assumption 4: The apple interface, it's so simple. I had a MAC in college, it was very easy. Computers do a lot more than the one I used in college did, and they need more efficient commands. The fact is, MACs are every bit as complex as PCs, and they take equal commitment to learn and understand. They are no more intuitive that PCs -- you still have to learn the apple way -- oh and by the way, the morons that are passionate about apples will treat you like an idiot if you think that anything windows does is easier. Don't believe it. It's just the war of the geeks. MACs are just another computer written in a different language in a cooler looking box. That's it. Don't fall for the hype.
Assumption 4: Itunes is more compatible with it. True. It is, and it is very easy to share itunes folders with a PC. I like this.
Assumption 5: It's really fast. I have a 3 year old toshiba notebook that is faster at the applications that I care about than this machine. If you read the magazine reviews for this box, they show many excuses on why it is slower than even the last version of power pcs.
Assumption 6: It runs windows too. Yes, if you get apple's boot camp and spend $100 on Windows XP, you can have it both ways according to the writers. I haven't done this yet, but I plan to. So why in the world did I buy a mac to use windows???
That's it, all in all, I paid about twice as much for the computing power of a machine that is very unstable, supports no common software but looks very cool. Not a good value in my opinion.
- 6 replies to this review
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VERY VALID.
This is what I just wrote regarding many of the same issues:
(do I need to post my receipts for my 4k mistake to prove that I bought these dogs?)
I expected smooth transistion from PC to MAC. Not so. I was a 20 yr. PC user. The Quicken files transistion took min. 40-50 HOURS.
I have BOTH an intel Desk top and macbook pro... up dating apple's own i-software is a hit and miss using "their update program". Both Safari and Firefox internet browsers have as many problems as IE 6.0 (maybe more since I'm unable to down load or see sites) Apple 10.x OS functioning is no better than windowsXP AND I know MS Windows glitches. MAC vs MS PC OS Stability? It's a myth. Same amount of lock-ups and even more problems. I was gung-ho for Apple Mac's before I used them because I wanted to get away from Windows XP pro and all the problems I had there.
However, if I knew in March 2006 what I know now... I would have stuck with the devil I already knew.
Final comment: If you are used to Apple and their problems... stick with it. If you are PC user: Don't listen to the ads and what Apple says about the ease of "making the switch"... IT IS NOT SO. STICK with MS regardless of how much you hate them - that's why I made the switch (I made a 4,000$ mistake making the switch)
In addition, EVEN with the intel chip --- Mac is about 1/3 the speed of present MS XP (slow to load, slow to function, and slow to close)... I'm sure that the MAC users that are amazed with their speeds compare them ONLY to their past.
I expected a MUCH greater ease and speed with the switch; neither of which I have experienced. Don't make my mistake. I can't go back but you don't. -
Rather than bash you as a couple of other folk have done, I'm making the suggestion that you ask for help from Apple.
I've had one of these since February, and the only system crashes (kernel panics) I've had were a couple when using an early Parallels Beta, and none since Parallels went GA. Eclipse 3.2 does crash daily on me, and Firefox 1.5 maybe once a week, but that's the fault of the Eclipse and Firefox programmers, not the OS.
If your computer hardware is crashing often (no matter who manufactured it) it is likely to a hardware problem that needs to be fixed. It might be as simple as a bad RAM module (you didn't say, but if you added 3rd party RAM, then that's likely the problem).
I've heard of very few issues with the iMacs, and no widespread problems, so it looks like you may have got one of the few lemons.
Anyone with problems should go to a Mac site like http://forums.macrumors.com and ask for help and advice. -
So, Bhamer, your legacy aps are bombing? What legacy aps? I thought you just bought this Mac?
Gotcha!
I've had the iMac Duo for months now. It doesn't bomb, there are no viruses, legacy aps run fine, and scared MS fanboys can't change the truth. -
Your posting is full of inconsistencies. First, who would buy a computer based on looks only? Sounds like you did. You must be the ONLY person on the planet that has had these problems. Your virus comment is a joke, You say that Mac is a target for viruses? could be. ok, did your Mac get a virus? I didnt think so. Your complaining about something that hasnt even happened, and may never. Did your Windows PC's ever get them? of course they did. Your Mac is not crashing ( remember, you didnt actually get it did you?) Why didnt you list the software that you installed that is causing problems? -The junk software at Staples doesnt count. You have a 3 year old Toshiba that is faster? No way. That is downright BS. Faster at what? getting a virus? crashing?Running a 3 year old obscure Windows game? maybe that's true. Unless you just bought a dud, I dont believe any of your review. If you got a bad one, you need to contact Apple ASAP and they will make it right. top notch customer service. You wont get that with Dell or Toshiba, and that is a fact.
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I had a PC and it wouldnt run the creative programs i wanted and when it did it was slow and unresponsive. I have the iMAc and it hasnt crashed once. I think you may have had a fualty one or somthing. They are more expensive but if you want to run Fireworks,Dreamweaver,Final Cut And logic its a great computer.
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I was planning to buy a this model of Mac, but now I will think seriously about that. Thanks
