Apple iMac summer 2010 (Intel Core i3 3.06GHz, 21.5 in)

Pros: Very clean and attractive all-in-one design, superb performance, ease-of-use, excellent display, MacOS X and iLife, super quiet, easy wireless setup

Cons: Pricey but still worth every penny when considering the pleasant computing experience, display size could be a little bigger, warranty should be longer

Summary: This is the 8th Mac I've purchased since I started using Macs back in the late-80's. I've used a bunch of Windows computers over the years as well at work during those years, but I've always preferred the Macs due to their ease of use, lack of clutter, reliability, and fun factor. I feel fortunate that I now work at a company that made a wholesale change to Macs from PC's 3 years ago.

I got this new iMac a few weeks ago for the family (wife and two boys aged 10 and 7) and we're all ecstatic to have such a great computer in the house to replace an aging Mac Pro. I also have a MacBook Pro at home but it's the company's computer for my business trips so I don't let my kids use that one. I also replaced the Magic Mouse that came with this iMac with the new Magic Trackpad and we all got used to that real fast.

Setting up a computer has never been so easy. I took out the all-in-one iMac out of the box, plugged in the power cord and that was it. I got wireless WiFi connection immediately, registered the computer to Apple's site and was up and running in minutes. The iMac is more than attractive enough to put in the family room next to the kitchen. My wife wanted it there so that she could monitor what the kids are doing on it. The clean look and the lack of cable clutter fits in nicely with the home decor. I also set it up for wireless printing over the home network without any troubles in minutes as well. My wife was amazed that I basically set up the whole thing in about 15 minutes.

I also use an older 24" iMac at work, so I'm quite used to working on one. It's hard to tell the performance difference as I don't do any intensive graphics work like photo or video editing. For the family, it's a quantum leap over what we've had in the home for several years. The ease-of-use, good looks, and it being able to do virtually anything we need out of a home computer makes it a very satisfying experience. My decor-conscious wife even commented that it has that Bang & Olufsen type of vibe about it.

Apple's stuff is certainly pricey compared to most Windows PC's but I feel the extra cost is worth it when one considers the no-hassle set-up, the enjoyable experience when interacting with the MacOS X, the solid reliability factor, and great industrial design. The metal housing on the computer as well as the wireless keyboard and the Magic Trackpad exude high-end quality all the way around. Considering what you get these days out of a computer compared to what you got even 2~3 years ago, I really think all computers are a "bargain," including the Macs. This new iMac has pretty much everything the family and I could ever need for basic computing needs at home and it does so in great style.