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Whistle Stopper - Apple iMac Desktop with 20" Display MB323LL/A (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive)
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List Price: $1,199.00
Our Price: $1,189.00
Your Save: $ 10.00 ( 1% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Apple Computer
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Personal Computers
Brand: Apple
CPU Manufacturer: Intel
CPU Speed: 2.4
CPU Type: Intel Core Duo
Display Size: 20
EAN: 0885909203079
Feature: All-in-one Mac desktop with 20-inch glossy screen and sleek anodized aluminum enclosure
Hard Disk Size: 250
Label: Apple Computer
Manufacturer: Apple Computer
Model: MB323LL/A
Processor Count: 2
Publisher: Apple Computer
Studio: Apple Computer
System Memory Size: 1000
System Memory Type: DDR2 SDRAM
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Features
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All-in-one Mac desktop with 20-inch glossy screen and sleek anodized aluminum enclosure
2.40 GHz "Penryn" Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 250 GB hard drive, 1 GB RAM (4 GB max), 8x multi-format/dual-layer SuperDrive
802.11n Wi-Fi (as well as 802.11a/b/g); Gigabit Ethernet; ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT video card (128 MB memory)
Three USB 2.0, one FireWire 400, one FireWire 800, Mini-DVI output, audio line in/optical digital audio input (minijack)
Pre-loaded with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard and iLife '08; includes wired keyboard and wired mouse
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: iMac
Comment: I found the iMac easy to set up and I got it in less time than I expected, I believe 3 days. My experience with Apple has been great in the past. I would definitely recommend this.
Customer Rating:
Summary: pcs suck!
Comment: it's very simple, press a button and what you intended to happen does. amazing how that works. amazon makes it very easy to seal a decision, great price, easily ordered and excellent customer service.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Awesome System!
Comment: I purchased my iMac a few weeks ago (it's now 6/25/08) and I've configured it to use Boot Camp, as I have Windows XP Pro installed as well. The reason for doing so is that I had a gazillion applications on my old computer (Windows) and I didn't want to go out and purchase new software. I totally lost my faith in Dell to put out a decent system anymore and totally hate the direction that Microsoft is going with their OS, so I converted over to a Mac. I couldn't be happier!! I can jump back and forth between both operating systems with ease, and use the Mac side for my primary system. I also updated the computer with 4GB of RAM, which was the easiest thing to do. And then added a 500GB external USB drive which allows me access from both operating systems when I have a need to share files.
The purchase on Amazon was the best experience. No hassles, no tax, no shipping, and the system was here within a few days.
I couldn't be happier!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Much Better Than Windows in Almost Every Way
Comment: I recently purchased the 20 iMac with the 2.4 GHz Intel Dual Core processor and 1 GB RAM. This is the aluminum version over the previous plastic one.
First of all, I was shocked at the size of this monster. I have a 17 monitor at work and pretty much measured out how large this one should have been. Boy, was I off the mark. I swear this thing comes in at close to 30 diagonally. Not that Im complaining, mind you, Im just glad I didnt get the 24 unit. That would have been larger than my TV.
I had eye strain problems with my 13 MacBook so this definitely is a welcome change. If you cant read this screen you really need to get a guide dog.
Now for the good points:
Bright screen, great graphics. Some complain that the glass screen reflects glare. If it does, I havent noticed it.
Thunderous sound coming from two discreet bottom firing speakers. Good enough that I stopped using my external Bose speakers. Not great in the bass department, mind you, but enough for most users.
Takes all of 30 seconds to boot and 10 seconds (or less) to shut down. Keep in mind that the boot up time is NOT when you see the screen (like Windows) but the time from when you push the power button until the computer is ready to use. Its even quicker now that Ive added another 3 GB RAM.
Unlike Vista which requires at least 1 GB RAM to run and prefers 2 GB, you can have Leopard zipping along with just 1 GB. The more the merrier.
Ever try to download a file over 2 GB with Internet Explorer? If you said no, there is a reason. You cant download a file over 2 GB with Explorer. Safari, Apples browser, doesnt care what you download.
Using wireless? Apples wireless N will suck in signals you didnt know existed. While at work one day it inadvertently locked on to an unsecured signal from the neighbor next door which happened to be stronger than my work signal. Making matters even more bizarre is the fact that my neighbor is a private college that apparently assigns various wireless signals to students. Before I realized it, my iMac was sucking in signals such as Student 1, etc and even went as far as to lock onto faculty signals. Good thing Im not into grade changing.
Solid aluminum structure with enough heft (around 30 pounds) that a casual bump will not send it flying. Ive knocked my flat screen monitor around at work with a slight bump. Youll probably break a collar bone long before you budge this one.
Wonderful keyboard that has minimal bulk. Its so thin youd think it would skip around a desk, but it doesnt. Crisp keystrokes and solid, sure footing.
The CD/DVD super drive seems to burn disks much quicker and easier than my Windows unit. Some of that may be due to the Toast software I added, but not even Nero on Windows could burn disks as quickly.
Much better graphics capability than the MacBooks (expect Pro). I was watching TV on it and the quality was just as good as the set I normally use.
Loading a new program on Windows can be a trick. You have to insert the disk, wait for Windows to find it (sometimes go fishing when it doesnt), and then wait until Windows decides whether or not to accept it. If you have Vista, you have to wait for a security check. With OS X on Apple, you get an on screen icon that advises you to drag it to the applications folder on the HD icon. Drag and drop and thats it.
Want to delete a file in Windows? You can do it the right way or the wrong way and it seems no matter which you chose, its wrong. Invariably you end up with scraps that will interfere with something. If you want to delete a program in Apple, merely go the Applications folder, find the offending program, and drag it to the Trash can. In less than 5 seconds its gone. Just how easy is this?
You can run Windows faster on this Mac than you can on a similarly equipped Windows machine. You can use Boot Camp (which comes standard), Parallels for Mac, or WM Ware to create a second Windows partition on your Apple. Pretty neat, actually. Dont even think of trying to run Mac on your Windows machine. Aint happening.
The button-less mouse is unique. Took some time to get used to a mouse without buttons but I did. Uses finger pressure to determine what you want. Would it be worth $50 or $60 as a separate purchase? No, probably not, but it is unique. Love the 360 degree roller ball, though. You can have on screen windows dancing all day with it.
Got a printer or camera and lost the drivers? No problem, just plug it in and the computer will search for the appropriate drivers without your intervention. Windows claims to do this but, more often than not, it failed miserably.
Customer service is tops. I had a problem the first day when an Apple download went awry because of a dropped Internet transmission. The machine went into an endless loop. I called Apples toll free number expecting somebody with limited English from a foreign country I couldnt locate with a map. I also expected to wait a good half hour to get a human. In the end I got an American within 5 minutes who took the time to correct the situation in all of 2 minutes. I had a previous laptop from a company I wont mention that claimed their service was tops. After talking to some guy from a country Id never heard of I finally gave up when our conversation consisted of me asking, What did you say? and I cant understand what youre talking about.
How much would Mac OS X Leopard cost in all of its variations (comes standard with the computer, but if you have an older machine you might want to upgrade)? $139 for the basic, $139 for the intermediate version and $139 for the advanced version. Fact is, only one version exists and it costs $139 period. If you opt for Vista you have your choice of Basic (so lousy its free with most computers), Home Premium (about $199), Business (about $300) and Ultimate (sky is the limit). Whats the difference? From what I can figure, about $100 per upgrade level.
Bad (needs improvement) points:
The keyboard has 2 included USB ports which is great, but they are hidden under the out edge lip of the keyboard. No way of connecting anything without lifting the board. If you have a fat USB dongle, forget it (itll make the board wobble when connected). By the way, if you opt for the wireless keyboard you do not get the extra USB ports.
The built in super drive is great until the CD/DVD refuses to eject. I had a CD that was slightly warped (I didnt see it, the drive did) and got jammed in the system. It finally came out but not without some finesse. Sometimes a door is better. Also, its side mounted which means you cant have anything within 4 to 5 inches of the right side of this unit. If you have limited space, this could be a problem (maybe a top loader?).
Fat chance youre doing any internal work on this puppy anytime soon. Looks to be a seamless piece of aluminum with just one screw and thats the RAM replacement door.
It weighs 30 pounds and has a stand that flops around when you pick it up. It doesnt fall off or come loose, but it does hit you at the most inopportune times (and the stand must weigh 10 pounds itself and is solid metal).
For aesthetic reasons, the USB, Firewire, and Ethernet ports are on the back. This keeps the wiring from interfering with the beauty of the aluminum front. Great until you need a port quickly. Minor irritation.
Earlier iMac versions could be wall mounted, but not this one. It weighs too much. Would be nice since this is such a nicely designed unit.
Limited programs as compared to Windows. Go into any office supply store and youll find hundreds of Windows programs and maybe 4 or 5 Apple versions. Oddly enough, in most cases the Apple programs work better than their Windows counterparts.
No card reader? Cmon, even the cheapest desktop has a card reader, but not the Mac. Sort of behind the times there, Apple!
If you havent figured it out yet, Im somewhat partial to the newer Intel based Macs. Mind you, I used Windows from the early 90s to present, but got tired of misfires such as Me and Vista. My last Vista laptop made it all of roughly one month before it dropped to the BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) and wiped out years of records. Making matters worse, when I got another Windows system with the same Vista level (Home Premium) it wouldnt allow the transfer of records because the machine I used before had a newer service pack than the one I just purchased. I had to download a GB of useless updates to get transfer records. Any wonder why Windows users are clamoring for XP?
Of course, most potential Apple buyers worry about the initial cost. My unit cost $1,100 and that may seem high, but do some comparisons. If you want a Windows desktop unit you first have to buy the CPU (about $600 with decent quality specs), then a monitor (about $250 for a decent unit) so youre out $850 already. Most Windows buyers will also opt for an upgraded keyboard and wireless mouse so add about another $75 to that and youre not far off the mark in the cost. Also, check on eBay and youll see that used Macs go for substantially more than used Windows computers. An iMac that is several years old may still go for $400 whereas a Windows desktop from the same era is considered a really nice paperweight. In fact, early clamshell Apple laptops running at less than 400 MHz still cost over $300 to buy in decent condition and these are computers over 10 years old!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Love it!!
Comment: New Mac user here. In fact, I bought the product online, got cold feet (fear that I wouldn't be able to figure it out), and canceled before it was set for delivery.... Thought about it some more over the weekend and ended up purchasing it on Monday.
Received the product quickly and when I took it out of the box, I thought, "Where are all of the cords and hard drive?".... There aren't any! Amazing... I'm totally 100% satisfied and am definitely a Mac lover now. I still have a lot to learn, but it's a lot of fun! Bought Microsoft Word & Excel and I am good to go. If you're contemplating on whether to convert to Mac, DO IT! It's much, much different than the one I used in the early 90's!
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Editorial Reviews:
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The all-in-one iMac packs a complete, high-performance computer?including the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors?into a beautifully thin, anodized aluminum and glass design. The latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor runs at 2.4GHz with advanced 45-nm process technology and 6MB of shared L2 cache, allowing you to run your applications faster and more efficiently than ever before. iMac features a glossy 20-inch widescreen display and ATI Radeon HD graphics that gives a blow-you-away level of detail and realism in games, three-dimensional graphics, high-resolution photos, and high-definition video that comes alive with rich, vivid color. Built into the top of iMac is an iSight camera. You'll hardly notice it's there until you want to launch iChat, Photo Booth, or iMovie. iSight is easy to use and highly advanced. The remarkable picture quality and color accuracy make this tiny feature huge. With iLife '08, Mac OS X Leopard, built-in wireless, speakers, and ultrathin anodized aluminum Apple Keyboard, you'll be creating, sharing, surfing, and playing within minutes of opening the box. 20 Glossy Widescreen TFT Active-Matrix (1680 x 1050, 290 cd/m2, 800 - 1 contrast ratio, 160°H/V viewing angle) Liquid Crystal Display Built-in iSight Camera with Microphone ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB GDDR3 Dedicated Video Memory Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x Double-Layer burning (DVD+-RW/CD-RW) Stereo speakers with 24-watt Digital Amplifier AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit) 3 x USB 2.0 (2 x USB ports on keyboard), FireWire 800, FireWire 400, Optical Digital Audio Output/Headphone out, Optical Digital Audio input/audio line in, mini-DVI with support for DVI, VGA, S-Video, and Composite Video connections via Optional Adapter, RJ-45 (LAN) Approximate Unit Dimensions - 18.5? (H) x 19.1? (W) x 7.4? (D) Approximate Unit Weight - 20 Pounds
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