It has been more than seven years since I last bought a new computer, so I’ve been looking at new ones. And I’m seriously thinking about getting a Mac.
My Dell has worked fine since 2003, but I’m not sure I want another one, especially after reading about all the problems they’ve been having for the last few years. And most megaseller PCs (Dell, HP, etc.) seem to get their parts from the same place. So I started thinking… hmm. Maybe a Mac this time.
I’ve thought about buying a Mac in the past, but I wasn’t sure I could get used to it. This time, though, I might just do it. Even if I bought a new PC I’d have to get used to a new operating system (Windows 7, instead of my current XP).
I went to an Apple Store yesterday and tried out a 21.5-inch iMac, and… my god, they’re so big. Maybe they just seem big because I have a 15-inch non-widescreen monitor right now, but… wow. Macs are enormous.
Also, MacRumors.com recommends not buying an iMac right now because there might be new ones “soon,” but I don’t know how reliable that is. Anyone have any idea?
I bought a 21.5 inch iMac a few months ago to replace my 10-year-old model and so far, it’s great. It is bigger than my last iMac but it fits ok on my computer table, it’s fast for Web surfing and word processing and blogging – the only things I do – and the screen is beautiful.
But there are certain times of the year when Apple regularly upgrades its models and I think that Mac Rumors buyers guide is probably fairly accurate.
I’ve only had Macs, stretching back 20 years, and I wouldn’t buy anything else. Although I do use a Dell at work, and it’s fine. But I don’t think you’ll have any problem switching.
Get a Mac if you want, by all means, but moving to Windows 7 from XP is not a radical change in terms of the user interface. You’ll get used to any differences in a matter of hours, not days or weeks.
I bought a 21.5″ Mac in late May. My 5 y.o iBook G4 laptop was considered an antique and starting to creak and they wouldn’t fix/replace the optical drive. But the 21 is great, so go in to the store a few times, have a tinker, ask some questions, maybe see if you can hook up for a demo/workshop, “Switchers”. And when you get it, listen to Maccast and Typical mac user podcast, 2 of the best. And happy 4th to you both.
Macs are beautiful machines. I really, really, really want one.
They are, however, prohibitively expensive for me. Not having credit it a real buzzkill.
If you don’t trust the brand-name companies and you want something interesting to obsess over, you can order a custom-built computer from jncs.com. They give you an extensive set of component choices ranging from motherboards to processors to cases. You can do obsessive research over each component before making your choices using their website. It’s fun! Or you can call them for advice, since their sales staff actually know all about that stuff. The prices are fair but not rock-bottom; you’re paying a small premium for knowing exactly what’s going into your computer. It’s sort of like building the computer yourself, except someone else is getting their hands cut up and hassling with installing Windows on your behalf. I have no financial or other connection with jncs, beyond the three computers they’ve built for me over the last nine years.
Of course, if you don’t want to obsess about computer components, but instead prefer to buy a computer that “just works when you plug it in” the Mac is the way to go. You pay a premium for that, and you’ll probably have to buy all new software, but some people wouldn’t have it any other way.