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Author Topic: iMac spec advice  (Read 1481 times)

Online Exonian

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iMac spec advice
« on: 15 January 2012, 10:25 »
No, not hair remover (mind you I think it's called Veet now?).

Windows computer on its way out, thinking about replacing. So decided if I'm going to change I may as well completely change and get a Mac.

Quick question: Spec B below is going to cost me about £130-150 more than spec A, so is it worth it?

Spec A Product Details

Processor 3.06GHz Intel Core i3 processor 
Cache 4MB fully shared L3 cache
Memory 4GB (two 2GB SO-DIMMs) of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; supports up to 16GB 
Hard drive 500GB Serial ATA1; 7200 rpm 
Optical drive Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x double-layer burning (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Display 21.5-inch (viewable) LED-backlit glossy 16:9 widescreen TFT active-matrix display; 1920 by 1080 pixels; millions of colors; IPS technology
Video Built-in iSight camera; Mini DisplayPort output with support for DVI, dual-link DVI, and VGA video (requires adapters, sold separately)
Graphics ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256MB of GDDR3 memory
FireWire One FireWire 800 port; 7 watts
USB Four USB 2.0 ports
SD Card SDXC card slot
Audio Built-in stereo speakers with two internal 17-watt high-efficiency amplifiers, built-in microphone, optical digital audio output/headphone out, optical digital audio input/audio line in
Ethernet Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit) 
Wireless Built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking2 ; built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
Included accessories Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse
Other Built-in IR receiver
Size and weight Height: 17.75 inches (45.1 cm)
Width: 20.8 inches (52.8 cm)
Depth: 7.42 inches (18.85 cm)
Weight: 20.5 pounds (9.3 kg) 3

Spec B
Product Details

Processor 2.5GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
Cache 6MB on-chip shared L3 cache
Memory 4GB (two 2GB SO-DIMMs) of 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; supports up to 8GB
Hard drive 500GB Serial ATA1; 7200 rpm
Optical drive Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x double-layer burning (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Display 21.5-inch (viewable) LED-backlit glossy 16:9 widescreen TFT active-matrix display; 1920 by 1080 pixels; millions of colors; IPS technology
Video Built-in FaceTime HD camera; Mini DisplayPort output with support for DVI, dual-link DVI, and VGA video (requires adapters, sold separately); supports input from external DisplayPort sources (requires cables and adapters, sold separately)
Graphics AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512MB of GDDR5 memory
Thunderbolt / Firewire One Thunderbolt port and One FireWire 800 port; 7 watts
USB Four USB 2.0 ports
SD Card SDXC card slot
Audio Built-in stereo speakers with two internal 20-watt high-efficiency amplifiers, built-in microphone, optical digital audio output/headphone out, optical digital audio input/audio line in
Ethernet Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit)
Wireless Built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless networking2; built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
Included accessories Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse
Other Built-in IR receiver
Size and weight Height: 17.75 inches (45.1 cm)
Width: 20.8 inches (52.8 cm)
Depth: 7.42 inches (18.85 cm)
Weight: 20.5 pounds (9.3 kg)


This will only be used for light home use, internet browsing and a bit of TV and movie streaming. Burning a few discs and doing a bit of Excel, Word and Powerpoint for my kids' homework.

Thanks  :smiley:
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Offline bobotheclown

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Re: iMac spec advice
« Reply #1 on: 15 January 2012, 11:37 »
For what you're doing with it, Spec A will be fine.

Are you buying these new? If so they will have the latest version of OSX (version 10.7 also known as Lion. The previous version of OS X was 10.6 and was called Snow Leopard). If the computer has Lion installed then you will only be able to run the latest version of Microsoft Office for Mac on it as older versions of Microsoft Office for Mac is not compatible with Lion.

Or you can install Windows on the Mac and use it that way. Saves you the chore of learning a new computer operating system. Here is a guide one how to install Windows onto the Mac. Bootcamp is included in OSX. All you need is a Windows installation disk.

http://www.apple.com/support/bootcamp/
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Online Exonian

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Re: iMac spec advice
« Reply #2 on: 15 January 2012, 11:47 »
Thanks for that Bobo, very helpful.
Especially the bit about Lion and Office.

Spec A is a second hand unit I've been offered which still has over a year's Apple Care support and Spec B is an Apple official refurb which is £150 cheaper than their retail price, less quidco etc.
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Offline Kerrse

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Re: iMac spec advice
« Reply #3 on: 15 January 2012, 12:22 »
Spec A will be fine, although I wouldn't bother putting crappy windows on it ! I really don't see the point of buying a Mac if your going to run it like a pc.

Office 11 for mac is fairly easy to find  :wink: you can also run office 08 on lion also as I have both on my iMac

Although spec b is obviously a newer IMac so may be worth spending the little xtra
« Last Edit: 15 January 2012, 12:27 by Kerrse »
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Online Exonian

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Re: iMac spec advice
« Reply #4 on: 15 January 2012, 12:31 »
Thanks Kerrse  :smiley:


Out of interest, what would spec B do better than spec A? I'm thinking along the lines of being more future proof here.
A as the bottom of the range 2010 model and B the bottom of the range 2011 release.
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Offline Kerrse

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Re: iMac spec advice
« Reply #5 on: 15 January 2012, 17:32 »
The only difference being the processor the option B has a i5 quad core which is the middle of the range with i7 being the most powerful.

I have the i3 and it does everything I need it to but I have had my most recent iMac for over a year now,all the new iMacs now have i5 processors now

They will both go on for many years, I also still have a G5 iMac that is 7 years old and works like it did out of the box
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Online Exonian

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Re: iMac spec advice
« Reply #6 on: 15 January 2012, 18:59 »
Excellent, thanks again  :smiley:

So basically B is just a bit quicker and has a bit better graphics card thingy. Ta.  :smiley:
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Offline bobotheclown

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Re: iMac spec advice
« Reply #7 on: 15 January 2012, 20:04 »
I have a 2008 Macbook Pro with 2.4Ghz Core2Duo and it still handles graphic design work very well.
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Online Exonian

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Re: iMac spec advice
« Reply #8 on: 17 January 2012, 05:15 »
Thanks Bobo.  :smiley:


Spec A now sold, I dithered too long! Will wait it out until another bargain pops up.

Thanks for all the help Bobo and Kerrse, very useful and much appreciated.
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‘25 8.5R, ‘23 8R, ‘20 8CS, ‘19 135iX, ‘19 TCR, ‘17 Ed40, ‘17 GTD, ‘15 7R, ‘13 GTI PP, ‘11 GTI, ‘09 GTI, ‘98 Ibiza Cupra, ‘05 GTI, ‘06 Polo GTI, ‘04 GT TDI, ‘05 Fabia vRS, ‘02 GTI T, ‘03 Ibiza TDI 130, ‘01 Leon 180, ‘89 mk2 16v, ‘99 Ibiza TDI, ‘96 VR6, ‘98 Ibiza TDI, ‘92 VR6, ‘88 mk2 8v, ‘92 Polo G40, ‘91 mk2 8v, ‘89 mk2 8v, 205 GTI 1.9, ‘83 mk1 GTI, ‘80 Scirocco GTI, plus some others I’ve forgotten 
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