Use the imac in any room - portable ?

Around the house it would be quite portable, I have even heard of people carrying them around in a special backpack to and from work. Basically with everything built in all you need to move with it is the keyboard and mouse. Bob :~))

A PowerBook is more portable than an Imac, but then if you are in your house, you can get an iGo desk to make sure it's more portable.

Is it portable? Yessss..... Technically....

The iMac 20" weighs 22 pounds, and since we are talking 20" widescreen, the sucker has serious mass.

It is all-in-one, but the mass and weight does not lend it to being moved constantly (occasionally yes, just not constantly).

You will probably find it very challenging to carry the iMac, keyboard and mouse all at the same time. Unless you are bold or have forearms of steel, you'll need two hands to carry a 22 pound slab of computer in such a way as to assure its safety.

If portability is your main requirement, I think you may be a little frustrated after a few relocations.

You can do it. I do it. But it is not as "portable" as the old G3 iMacs, for example, that had the built in habdle.

-DaddyP

Go for the powerbook as you can not only us it anywhere around the house, becuase you don't need a power supply so you can use absoulutely anywhere. I have both an iMac and a G4 and the iMac is redundant on a day-to-day basis. The Powerbook win for surfing the web, sending emails and simple work tasks that arn't to power hungry. However when I really need to focus on my work I alway turn to the iMac for a few of reasons.

1. 20" Screen is far better quality than that on the powerbook.
2. Speed
3. The ability to use a mouse an keyboard comforably.

I have the iMac G5 17". Yes it is very portable. Sometimes I take it to my Living Room to view TV shows etc to show it off to friends. I use it on the floor in my bedroom sometimes also. Also, while I am cooking I sit it on a counter (away from cooking ofc) and watch my tv shows or video's or whatever. The front row is REALLY great in situations like this, because you can control playing video's, songs, tv shows, Movie previews all without touching the computer. You do however need wireless inet. But the same goed for a powerbook also.

iBook it is not! I believe the specifications say it is 22 lbs but to me it feels more like 50. So, if you are young with a strong back it should be no problem for you. If, on the other hand, you are well into your golden years and may have back issues, this is not a great idea!

An idea I am considering is getting a rolling cart-like desk to put the thing on and use this to transport my machine anywhere the house. I certainly want it to be in the living room at Christmas when I can show off Front Row and dig into my Christmas Music iTunes collection and wow my children and grandchildren with the use of the Remote Control!

Griff

I got the 17" because it would be more portable. I think it is about 5 pounds lighter than the 20", and easy to move.

When I do move it, it is usually to watch DVDs, so I leave the keyboard behind. Mouse is still needed to clear the "searching for bluetooth mouse/keyboard" screen that pops up when booted without either. I use the old power cord from my iMac DV for the second location, so I can just unplug the new iMac's power cord from the back of the case and leave it behind.

Biggest hassle is shutting down and booting up, which of course you don't have to do with a laptop, but it's pretty speedy on the new iMacs.