Right, I defo want a mac now. I want to buy one in 8 weeks, but have some questions..

OzyOly · 29 Jun 2008 at 21:17

Hey there. Well if I pass my resits for uni in august, I've decided to treat myself to a mac.

Now, I was going for a mac book, but...the graphics card limitations might bite me in the *** at some point.

So I looked at the mac book pro. It's nice, very nice, but I couldn't see the point in having something so heavy, I wouldn't carry it for miles and miles around with me if it's going to give me back ache and a pain to carry.

Finally, I decided on the iMac. i'm getting HE discount, so I'm after the 24" imac, 4GB ram, 1TB hard drive, wired keyboard (i don't want to lose the numbric pad by getting wireless) , wireless mighty mouse (or I might just use my current microsoft wireless laser 8000) for just over £1500.

Now, here are the questions

;

How loud are the imacs? I will try to go see one in the 'flesh' but I'm not sure who sells them in york.

If I put my LG internal Blu-ray drive into an external usb enclosure, could I boot up into windows and play retail blu-ray movies in 1080p? (at least until apple decide that they want to support the software side of blu-ray themselfs).

Is now (well 8 weeks from now) a good time to buy, or will there be another incarnation of the imac out soon, or within the next 6 months?

Thanks all.

J1234 · 29 Jun 2008 at 21:23

OzyOly said:
So I looked at the mac book pro. It's nice, very nice, but I couldn't see the point in having something so heavy, I wouldn't carry it for miles and miles around with me if it's going to give me back ache and a pain to carry.

Heavy!? It's not!

OzyOly said:
Finally, I decided on the iMac. i'm getting HE discount, so I'm after the 24" imac, 4GB ram, 1TB hard drive, wired keyboard (i don't want to lose the numbric pad by getting wireless) , wireless mighty mouse (or I might just use my current microsoft wireless laser 8000) for just over £1500.

Yeah, don't get a Mighty Mouse. They're very bad.

OzyOly said:
How loud are the imacs? I will try to go see one in the 'flesh' but I'm not sure who sells them in york.

They pretty much silent, when they get hot the fans will get a bit louder, but you will hardly hear them at all.

OzyOly said:
If I put my LG internal Blu-ray drive into an external usb enclosure, could I boot up into windows and play retail blu-ray movies in 1080p? (at least until apple decide that they want to support the software side of blu-ray themselfs).

Yeah, that will work.

OzyOly said:
Is now (well 8 weeks from now) a good time to buy, or will there be another incarnation of the imac out soon, or within the next 6 months?

You should be fine. They've just had a speed bump. Expect the next updates to be around Mac World in January 2009.

craptakular · 29 Jun 2008 at 21:28

I got the base macbook last week and am mega pleased with it.

get one

NickK · 29 Jun 2008 at 22:03

You'll find the MBP will be fine for some time to come.

I bought mine and haven't looked back to be honest. It's well put together and works well - it has it's little character traits (thermal output being one).

FreeStream · 29 Jun 2008 at 22:35

MBP > iMac

Mainly because when you do actually need to move it, you can.

OzyOly · 29 Jun 2008 at 22:44

Concorde Rules said:
MBP > iMac

Mainly because when you do actually need to move it, you can.

I'm pretty much sold on the iMac mate. It's only going to stay in my flat for two years at a desk, I don't need to move it. Plus you can't have 1TB harddrive in laptop form.

On another note, will I be able to install vista MSDNAA 64bit edition on the mac? It's the only vista licence I haven't used up yet (home premium is tied to this pc oem).

craptakular · 30 Jun 2008 at 07:17

OzyOly said:
I'm pretty much sold on the iMac mate. It's only going to stay in my flat for two years at a desk, I don't need to move it. Plus you can't have 1TB harddrive in laptop form.

On another note, will I be able to install vista MSDNAA 64bit edition on the mac? It's the only vista licence I haven't used up yet (home premium is tied to this pc oem).

Why o why install vista?

Your imac will cry and start self harming

GraemeUK · 30 Jun 2008 at 08:35

OzyOly said:
I'm after the 24" imac, 4GB ram, 1TB hard drive

Have you configured that spec on the Apple site or are you adding 4GB ram and the hard drive yourself?

Only reason I ask if you get it off Apple it will be MUCH more expensive. Better getting the ram and hard drive yourself and installing it - very easy to do.

iraiguana · 30 Jun 2008 at 09:16

^ as stated buy hdd and ram yourself and fit them. Nice websites around will show you how as well.

RoleyBirkin · 30 Jun 2008 at 09:33

OzyOly said:
if it's going to give me back ache

If carrying a MBP hurts your back,then so would a Tescos carrier with a few fruit n veg in it!

I've carried my MBP trouble free AND I have sciatica too.

OzyOly · 30 Jun 2008 at 10:26

GraemeUK said:
Have you configured that spec on the Apple site or are you adding 4GB ram and the hard drive yourself?

Only reason I ask if you get it off Apple it will be MUCH more expensive. Better getting the ram and hard drive yourself and installing it - very easy to do.

Will this void my guarantee with apple? I was going to buy that uplift care thing for 3 years because it's only £40 with HE discount.

androo · 30 Jun 2008 at 11:11

GraemeUK said:
Have you configured that spec on the Apple site or are you adding 4GB ram and the hard drive yourself?

Only reason I ask if you get it off Apple it will be MUCH more expensive. Better getting the ram and hard drive yourself and installing it - very easy to do.

If you are still talking about the Macbook then yes the ram and Hard Drive upgrade is easy to do. However, the Hard Drive on the iMac isnt easy at all to do without opening the casing and removing the LCD. This would deffinately void your warranty.

Ram is easy to replace on the iMac though, so deffinately buy that elsewhere.

jonhuz · 30 Jun 2008 at 11:46

Ozy, Jennings at Clifton Moor sell macs, if you want to play with it. Also PC World at monks cross has them on display.

SentineL-X · 30 Jun 2008 at 12:54

OzyOly said:
Will this void my guarantee with apple? I was going to buy that uplift care thing for 3 years because it's only £40 with HE discount.

I'm fairly certain someone here said don't get this before if buying through HE discount, all the £40 does is give you extra 3 years phone support as the warranty is 3 years with HE...

gumbald · 30 Jun 2008 at 13:51

Yeah, you get 36 months hardware warranty as standard with HE discount. Paying them the extra money gives you phone support and they'll come and pick it up if it breaks.

OzyOly · 30 Jun 2008 at 15:47

Right, well I couldn't wait any longer. I love macs now. =P

So I went and ordered it a few minutes ago.

Instead of getting the uplift, I got VMware fusion instead.

So here goes;

24" iMac
3.06GHz C2D
4 GB Ram
1 TB Hard Drive
geforce 8800gs
Wired keyboard
wirelss mighty mouse
VM ware fusion

£1505.78

I hope it's worth it. =P

syke · 30 Jun 2008 at 15:53

Wouldnt of ordered the 4GB from Apple Direct if thats what you've done, its £60 to buy it on its own.

iMac's are awesome though.. i took the switch a few weeks/month ago and cant believe i didnt do it earlier.

OzyOly · 30 Jun 2008 at 15:55

syke said:
Wouldnt of ordered the 4GB from Apple Direct if thats what you've done, its £60 to buy it on its own.

Well there was only an option of 2GB or 4GB, so I only would have saved myself £40 buying it separately.

syke · 30 Jun 2008 at 16:29

OzyOly said:
Well there was only an option of 2GB or 4GB, so I only would have saved myself £40 buying it separately.

+ what you sell the 2GB for.

platypus · 30 Jun 2008 at 16:44

OzyOly said:
On another note, will I be able to install vista MSDNAA 64bit edition on the mac? It's the only vista licence I haven't used up yet (home premium is tied to this pc oem).

I don't think you can install Vista using Bootcamp, due to Microsofts licensing on virtual software prohibiting installing Vista on anything other then an originally Vista-licensed PC.