WhatTheTech Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I finally did it. I got an iMac. Let me explain. Since 2009, I have only had hackintosh desktops. Of course, I've also owned an iBook, MacBook, two MacBook Pros, three iPads, four iPods and three iPhones in that time, but as far as desktops go, I've always stuck with building hackintoshes. Obviously like many others, the performance/cost ratio has always been so appealing, but I also love to build and mod, so it was the perfect fit. Currently I have a dual-core hackintosh in a Mac Pro case, and it looks like a beast, but it's hard to move. I've had a couple of issues with it (sleep, USB weirdness, video weirdness) but nothing that was unfixable if I gave it the chance. I also have started giving photoshop lessons locally, and although I've had plenty of compliments (and conversations) about my Mac Pro hack, I HATE transporting it, along with my monitor and speakers (for video presentations). More recently, I have also had issues with my 5770 video card. Sometimes if I let my monitor(s) go to sleep, they would refuse to wake. The computer would still be on (I could hear emails and IMs coming in), but nothing I did would wake them up. Removing a video cable automatically would force them into sleep that they wouldn't wake from. I also felt as though it was time for a monitor upgrade - my 20" consumer-grade Acer has been faithful, but simply not that great for graphics work (what I spend most of my time doing). Finally, I had started to have USB issues. My keyboard and mouse would disconnect randomly. My Wacom tablet would behave erratically. I know it probably has something to do with the USB expansion bracket I'm using, but still irksome. So, I priced things out to see what I could upgrade: 24" IPS Monitor: $200 (for a half-decent one: link) New Graphics Card: $100-200 (depending on what I wanted to get, and this was keeping it cheap...) Then I jumped on eBay, and noticed that Buy It Now 24" iMacs were going for around $550. Sure, they're older and only running Core 2 Duo's, but I find myself doing less and less video work, so I actually don't need the power. 90% of what I do is through a web browser, the other 5% is photoshop/Aperture, both of which run pretty well on a Core 2 Duo with enough RAM. Well, long story short I managed to win an auction for a like-new 24" iMac for $440 with free shipping! This is only a little bit more than I would have spent on my upgrades, and with an 240GB SSD and 6GB of RAM that I already own, this should be a pretty nice machine for the price! So what with the Mac Pro Hack? I will still be tinkering, upgrading and testing. Building hackintoshes is too much fun, but I can't help but be pretty excited about my new toy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blame73 Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 I think this is one of the reasons why Apple still 'allows' (pass me the word) InsanelyMac and other forums like this one: we normally buy softwares, stuff like apple mouse/trackpad/... and we often end up buying Apple hardwares (iMac/mini/etc...) BTW, enjoy your new toy, it's a choice I'm gonna do soon too 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhatTheTech Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 I totally agree with you, Blame. I started with mac products and then progressed to hackintoshes, but just because I have a hackintosh or two doesn't mean I will never buy Apple products. I probably won't ever buy a Mac Pro though...still too expensive 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandro17 Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Well, congratulations. I know the feeling, because in 2011 I bought a MacBook Pro and it was certainly "a different cup of tea", especially for a notebook: everything working out of the box, and the hardware is great. Unfortunately they discontinued the 17", so I don't know what to do when it is time to "retire" the MacBook Pro I have now. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PookyMacMan Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Actually I just got a new computer myself, a Late 2008 MacBook Pro 15". It was in perfect operating condition and has only a couple minor scratches/dings that don't marr the appearance. Paid $800 for it. And I got an 8GB RAM upgrade, and I had a 640GB HDD in my old MacBook, so this new one is purring along nicely (pardon the pun) One of the things I like about this model is that it's unibody, but it still has the ExpressCard slot. I don't have any ExpressCards yet, but I have no use for an SD port, and I like having expandability. Congrats on the iMac! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3.14r2 Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 iMac isn't quite portable, it also HAS SOME WEIGHT to it Nevertheless it's much more mobile then a desktop PC plus display. IMO iMacs has not the best LCD panel, but certainly it should be better then the above Dell. It's 1920x1200 (hate FHD resolution most commonly used in today's displays) and it's bright enough. Congrats! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhatTheTech Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 iMac isn't quite portable, it also HAS SOME WEIGHT to it Nevertheless it's much more mobile then a desktop PC plus display. IMO iMacs has not the best LCD panel, but certainly it should be better then the above Dell. It's 1920x1200 (hate FHD resolution most commonly used in today's displays) and it's bright enough. Congrats! Definitely not portable like a laptop, but much more portable than my Mac Pro mod for sure! I definitely prefer the ratio on the iMacs, especially for Photoshop Unfortunately they discontinued the 17", so I don't know what to do when it is time to "retire" the MacBook Pro I have now. I really don't understand why they did this...my first macbook pro was the aluminum non-unibody 17" and I simply loved it! Did they give any explanation aside from portability? Actually I just got a new computer myself, a Late 2008 MacBook Pro 15". It was in perfect operating condition and has only a couple minor scratches/dings that don't marr the appearance. Paid $800 for it. And I got an 8GB RAM upgrade, and I had a 640GB HDD in my old MacBook, so this new one is purring along nicely (pardon the pun) [...] Congrats on the iMac! Thanks, and nice score to you too!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandro17 Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 I really don't understand why they did this...my first macbook pro was the aluminum non-unibody 17" and I simply loved it! Did they give any explanation aside from portability? No, none whatsoever, and nobody was complaining about portability, AFAIK (also because it is a lot more portable than most 17" PC notebooks). Some people believe they discontinued it because a 17" Retina MacBook might not be easy to manufacture. But some people, including myself, don't care about Retina. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonestonne Posted March 29, 2013 Share Posted March 29, 2013 Excuse my ignorance, but I have a couple questions.. With a plethora of laptops, why bother transporting the desktop around? It seems wildly counterintuitive when you could achieve the same results with something you already have. Now, by no means am I discouraging going out and buying an Apple product, I have a 15" hi-res matte finish 2011 i7 mbp, and I use it as my primary laptop (I also have an i7 Toshiba 14"), but if you're just playing video presentations, either a projector or a medium sized TV would give you the same thing. I've seen many issues with the iMacs which get very heavy use, so I would beware of that, but if it works, use it. I'm going in the opposite direction. I'm beginning work in longer and longer video pieces (2 minutes, 8 minutes and then 90+ minutes, HD/the works). That said though, I'd never move my desktop around, I would just render out a lower res version to play back from something else, or wildly enough, I could render a 1080p version and play it off my Raspberry Pi connected to a nice TV or projector. So I guess to break it down, why the iMac over a projector or TV? as well as why not going to places that provide computers/Tvs/Projectors and just bringing a flash drive/external media? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhatTheTech Posted March 29, 2013 Author Share Posted March 29, 2013 No, none whatsoever, and nobody was complaining about portability, AFAIK (also because it is a lot more portable than most 17" PC notebooks). Some people believe they discontinued it because a 17" Retina MacBook might not be easy to manufacture. But some people, including myself, don't care about Retina. Agreed. Although I do have to say that I have had my eye on a retina iPad, I can't say that I would put a retina display over a 17" screen in terms of importance! Excuse my ignorance, but I have a couple questions.. With a plethora of laptops, why bother transporting the desktop around? It seems wildly counterintuitive when you could achieve the same results with something you already have. Now, by no means am I discouraging going out and buying an Apple product, I have a 15" hi-res matte finish 2011 i7 mbp, and I use it as my primary laptop (I also have an i7 Toshiba 14"), but if you're just playing video presentations, either a projector or a medium sized TV would give you the same thing. I've seen many issues with the iMacs which get very heavy use, so I would beware of that, but if it works, use it. I'm going in the opposite direction. I'm beginning work in longer and longer video pieces (2 minutes, 8 minutes and then 90+ minutes, HD/the works). That said though, I'd never move my desktop around, I would just render out a lower res version to play back from something else, or wildly enough, I could render a 1080p version and play it off my Raspberry Pi connected to a nice TV or projector. So I guess to break it down, why the iMac over a projector or TV? as well as why not going to places that provide computers/Tvs/Projectors and just bringing a flash drive/external media? Bonnestonne, no ignorance on your part. Perhaps I didn't explain myself very well in the OP, but I am doing actual photoshop demonstrations, not just showing videos, so I need a computer and some sort of display that people can watch me on. I have a feeling knowing that I'm actually using photoshop will change the above. The location I teach at is pretty ill-equipped (it's pretty informal) and sadly there is no chance of changing location. Furthermore, I can't get a 15"-17" $450 apple laptop that can handle print banner-sized graphics, otherwise I totally would...a lot of this comes down to budget to be honest... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WhatTheTech Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 Now if only the seller would ship the darn thing. Nothing irks me more on eBay than a seller that has "one business day handling" and then emails you to say it would be more like three or four (without apology). Still, 24" of iMac goodness is worth it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hope2 Posted December 24, 2013 Share Posted December 24, 2013 Congrats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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