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Level 1

23 points

iMac purchase advice

I intend on buying an iMac 27" soon, probably as soon as Lion is available. I'm a 54 y/o guy. I use my desktop for all basic computer needs, for communication with my employer (bidding work schedules, keeping informed about the co., training,etc.), Internet, banking, tracking/controlling investments, tracking family budget and finances, email, some gaming (not a rampant. gamer;-), news feeds, Skyeping, some word processing, I teach an occasional class & give occasional lectures, (is iWork enough for this, I wonder?), distance learning (completing a graduate degree online), and I plan on expanding my hobby on photo and video editing, in particular, digitizing old family photos and old family videos, an creating memorable slideshows and music videos for me and my family and friends. I also have a first generation iPad, my wife an I have small iPods, and intend to each get an iPhone as soon as the refresh happens.

Can someone give me some advice on how to equip my iMac 27" so that I am not getting too little or too much? I would like to stay under $2,100 if possible.

Thanks in advance!

iMac

Posted on Jun 3, 2011 8:45 AM

83 replies

Narnian7 Author

Level 1

23 points

Jun 4, 2011 7:58 AM in response to Francis Gagnon

Thank you for responding, and for your input...so sticking with the 512mb of graphics mem. Is adequate for the photo/video work I'd like to do? I saw Kingston RAM on Amazon. That's a good brand and no comparability issues with the iMac?

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,700 points

Jun 4, 2011 8:13 AM in response to Narnian7

Kingston is pretty good RAM, there have been problems with it's Value line, so if that's what you're looking at I'd steer away from it. I'd recommend OWC or Crucial.

Narnian7 Author

Level 1

23 points

Jun 4, 2011 8:28 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Yes, I have heard OWC & Crucial are good. BTW, I already use a 1TB WD MYBook Essential external HDD for backup with my pathetic Compaq desktop & painfully slow HP laptop. Hopefully an iMac will not give me grief when reformatting it to FAT 32. I plan on it being my dedicated b/u for the iMac. Would that work well with Timemachine? BTW, what do you mean by Mac OS Extended (Journaled) ??

Thanks again!...Have a great weekend!

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,700 points

Jun 4, 2011 8:36 AM in response to Narnian7

Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is the file format you should use to format the HD if you are dedicating it to your iMac. Reformatting a HD is easy in Disk Utility (Applications - Utilities - Disk Utility). When you get the new iMac and are ready to reformat the EHD open Disk Utility - click on the EHD in the left panel - Click the Erase Tab - ensure the radio is set for Mac OS Extended (Journaled) and click erase. Then it's properly formatted to use on a Mac. FAT 32 is a MS Windows format.

Here is an Apple Advice letter explaining how it's done: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3509

Narnian7 Author

Level 1

23 points

Jun 4, 2011 8:42 AM in response to rkaufmann87

OK...I think I can handle that!...Thanks for the info. and the link.

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,700 points

Jun 4, 2011 8:45 AM in response to Narnian7

BTW a keyboard short cut to opening any app is Command + Spacebar then type the name of the app. Command + Spacebar is a keyboard shortcut to open Spotlight. Here is some info on Spotlight:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2531

Narnian7 Author

Level 1

23 points

Jun 4, 2011 8:49 AM in response to rkaufmann87

One more thing...since I will be erasing what is now on my EHD when reformatting it to MAC OS Extended, will the iMac accept and transfer the files (photo & video) I already have on it from my PC, and how is that done?

Thank you!

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,700 points

Jun 4, 2011 8:53 AM in response to Narnian7

Considering the EHD is already formatted to Fat 32 it's a simple matter of dragging and dropping them where you want them. I'd suggest organizing them first, for example if you have music put that in a folder called Music. For videos, create a Video folder on the EHD.

Spend some quality time with:

Switch 101

Mac 101

Find Out How Video tutorials

Bookmark these sites and refer to them often!

Narnian7 Author

Level 1

23 points

Jun 4, 2011 9:09 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Right now, my WD EHD's file format is NTFS...is that going to be a problem?

Yes, have been reading tutorials, even though I do not even have a Mac yet!

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,700 points

Jun 4, 2011 9:13 AM in response to Narnian7

I don't think it will be a problem. Macs natively can read NTFS however cannot write to it, however if all you are doing is moving data from the EHT to the Mac it's a drag and drop process. If for some reason you want to write to it while it's still formatted as NTFS you will need NTFS-3G which allows OS X to write to a NTFS formatted drive. If you need NTFS-3G you can find it at:

http://www.macupdate.com/app/mac/24481/ntfs-3g

Narnian7 Author

Level 1

23 points

Jun 4, 2011 9:26 AM in response to rkaufmann87

That's good to hear...I plan on just using it for dedicated iMac b/u.

How long have you been a Mac user? Did you have experience with PCs, and if so, are Macs as good as I am told compared to them?

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,700 points

Jun 4, 2011 10:00 AM in response to Narnian7

I started using Macs in 2007 after switching from PCs. After using PC's since the early 1980s I made the switch and would find it VERY difficult to go back. The learning transition takes a couple of weeks and after you feel comfortable most switchers come to the reality of "Why didn't I do this years ago?" While Macs aren't perfect compared to PC's where you spend so much time maintaining them and messing with them to get them to work OK on a Mac you just use it. Since getting my iMac I have owned a iPhone, MacBook Pro and now have a 11" MacBook Air.

So when are you going to order this thing, no time like today!!!!

Narnian7 Author

Level 1

23 points

Jun 4, 2011 10:38 AM in response to rkaufmann87

Yes, I am also very tired of having to do so much to maintain my PCs just to keep them going, always doing scans, and fixing this and that. I do, indeed, realize that, like everything else in life, Macs are not perfect, but the whole philosophy behind how they and the software are designed seem like a whole different animal than Microsoft, more human/people-oriented. I wish I would have started out with Apple in the first place back in '95!

I own a 1st. Gen iPad, and an old iPod nano, and my wife and I plan on getting iPhones once they are refreshed (Monday?!?!?! :-)--not holding our breath, though(!).

Yes, would love to just order one today, but plan on getting one with Lion already installed (I know you will be able to download it from the Mac app store, but kinda like have the actual system discs themselves !--I know, weird ).

Sounds like Lion-equipped iMacs will be available very soon after Monday, so will be patient a little longer.

Thanks again for your help! BTW, I am a Burbank,CA transplant to CO.

rkaufmann87

Level 10

140,700 points

Jun 4, 2011 11:48 AM in response to Narnian7

Personally I would not wait for Lion, it's supposed to be released in Summer, that could be September! When any new upgrade comes out even though it's been tested there are always little things that need tweaking. If you buy now and get Snow Leopard you have the luxury of waiting until Lion is really stable and if for any reason you want to go back to SL you can. If you wait until Lion is released to buy you cannot load a OS earlier than the machine shipped with. It simply will not work, in short there isn't a reason to wait for Lion. We don't know how Lion will be distributed, how much it will cost or any information other than what was announced in October by Apple and what is published on Apple's web site. BTW we can't speculate on this forum per the Terms of Use. However wait until Monday and see what's announced at least then you will have a little more information.

Narnian7 Author

Level 1

23 points

Jun 4, 2011 12:27 PM in response to rkaufmann87

O.K. ...Very sound advice, especially about not being able to go back to Snow Leopard with a Mac that ships with Lion. I guess I was (perhaps, naivley) assuming that Apple would not put something out there that still need refinement, but not too many things are 100% perfect out of the gate, I suppose, including Mac OS's.

Do you think you will upgrade to Lion once it is satisfactorily tweaked, or are you content with Snow Leopard's capabilities?

iMac purchase advice