[pamelah]

I have an interesting thought. I am currently waiting for a 17" alPB and a 23" cinema display which is besides the point other than the fact that I don't want to wait to get my first mac so I thought I might invest in the 17" imac in the meantime which I could then sell or give to my parents once I got the 17" PB (*if* I wanted to infact get rid of it...lol.)

Here was my major issue with the 17" imac...it's "one" piece and unchangable (other than ram). That is a major issue for me because I am used to being able to swap parts to upgrade or when parts fail because I'm on a pc desktop.

Basically you are "stuck" with this one configuration which might be fine for most people but I do heavy graphics work and wouldn't want to be "stuck" with a machine that I couldn't change (upgrade to match current technologies/programs) or fix if it was "broken". (we all know how fast technology changes and can't predict it or when it will die on you!)

BUT! Having said that. I just realized something! If I get the applecare protection plan for it that makes my warranty last for 3 years total...THEREFORE...If anything goes wrong (which within 3 years it's bloody likey) like a noisey hard drive or fan or dead pixels or bad video card...then they HAVE to fix it right? Which either means replacing that broken part OR if then can't REPLACE the broken part (because it's an all in one thing) then wouldn't they have to just give you a new machine?!?! If your machine goes down after say a year or two...that means you'll get the latest version/technology doesn't it?!?!??!

I THINK I'M ONTO SOMETHING HERE!! SOMEONE PROVE ME RIGHT OR WRONG!!! Is this too good to be true?!

[mbryda]

Sorry, it doesn't work that way. I bought the 15" iMac last year and also got Applecare. But, it just extends the warranty to 3 years. In my case, I was/am worried about the backlight in the LCD wearing out after 3 years or something else happening to the unit. (Because, like you, I came from the PC world and the 1-source thing had me a little worried.)

However, Apple will still have plenty of spares to keep them for 3 years. So the chances of getting "upgraded" if something goes wrong are pretty slim. About the only things you could get upgraded are the DVD-RW drive and/or the hard drive. However, that would only happen if production and refurbs of the drives become nonexistant. Which in the computer industry is rare in 3 years. Heck, you can still find Slot1 motherborads, RAM, and slott'ed P2's if you look hard enough....

I'm a PC (IBM) tehch by day and the iMac was the first computer I've owned that I did not build myself. It was a hard thing to buy an all-in-one, but the way I look at it like this: it's all Apple's problem if something goes wrong. If I wanted to, I could upgrade the hard drive (opening up pictures are on the 'net and it's not that hard - just have thermal compound ready) if I absoluteley needed to, but other than that, the lack of "upgradability" has not bothered me one bit. After all, every time I "upgraded" my PC it ended up being a full replacement anyway - new CPU, Motherboard, RAM, vid card, etc,etc...

[pamelah]

all very good points.

You sound like you've come from where I'm coming from. And you're right about the pc upgrading...it all gets upgraded eventually.

I'm starting to become more convinced about getting this 17" in the meantime.

[funkboy]

Apple's support is usually pretty decent as far as replacing things and fixing problems, but as far as getting a new, updated computer/mobo/whole shebang, I doubt it. They may do it if you've ordered an iMac and before they ship yours hey unveil a new product, but that's about the only very rare case where Apple would give you new, free hardware. Apple technicians will open up your iMac and gut it out, replacing your busted two-year-old parts with fresh, working two-year-old parts

As for parts failing on an iMac... I think you can put that worry to rest. I've owned and used Apple computers for over 10 years, and the only problem I've ever really had was with the Apple ][GS in 1989. Since then, every Mac (the ][GS was not even a Mac OS-based computer) I've owned has given me no problems. I once thought a hard drive fried on me - but turned out I just needed to boot from the CD and click a "fix" button of sorts. I reformatted the drive, but I really didn't have to. I also had to replace the clock battery in my 8-year-old Performa when it was about 5 years old... oh darn

This is at huge odds with most Windows users I see around, who regularly re-install Windows and/or reformat their entire hard drive. Also, it seems hardware goes out on them much more often - USB ports failing, drivers, etc. With all the Macs I've owned (four in the last 8 years), I've had absolutely no really bad technical problems, save for the aforementioned times.

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Also, I wouldn't be as worried about parts for your iMac as for the PowerBook - that thing's a much more delicate thing, with tiny little laptop components being lugged around everywhere. The chances for danger are much higher - I'd probably get AppleCare for that machine if I was getting it for one. However, I let my iBook's AppleCare expire after a year and, now that it's approaching two years old, I really haven't had anything go wrong with it except for a battery that needed replacing. Now it's back to happy old 4-hour battery life.

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And what's made you decide to switch over to Mac, may I ask? You say you do graphics work - what programs do you use? Have you noticed if they seem to work better on Mac at all, or are there some Mac-only apps that are interesting to you? Welcome over to the Apple side!

[AleroLeanne]

I can tell you with confidence that it's very unlikely that you'll have any major problems with your computer in three years (from a broad point of view). The "not being able to upgrade" thing did make me nervous at first, but I've had my iMac for 4 years now (mind you, it's the old style but same idea...an Apple product) and it's served me well. I also do heavy graphics work (I'm a Graphic Designer) and the iMac put me through school plus plenty of freelance jobs after. Apple was really great with Applecare when I had issues when I first received the machine (my computer would freeze after fifteen minutes of use, so I took it back and they gave me a brand new iMac...no questions asked). But since then I've went through two pc's in the time I've had my iMac and the iMac has given me no further troubles. It's the best computer I've ever owned. The only upgrading I did to it was adding RAM, and it's served me well. I think you'll be very happy with a 17" and you won't have as many troubles as you're perceiving.

[funkboy]

Originally posted by AleroLeanne:
I've went through two pc's in the time I've had my iMac and the iMac has given me no further troubles. It's the best computer I've ever owned. The only upgrading I did to it was adding RAM, and it's served me well.

Interesting, and glad you've had a good experience. You're even happy with the performance of the iMac in OS X? If so, that's awesome. I myself have gotten very used to OS X and its multitasking - but, you didn't say if you're using OS 9. If OS 9, I think any MHz G3 or G4 works just plain peppy.

Also, you can even upgrade the hard drive in older style iMacs, though it does take a bit of trying. Don't know how easy it is in my iMac - I bet a lot harder. But still, an external firewire drive isn't too tough to add otherwise.

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If the original poster (pamelah) is concerned with upgrading stuff, as in you want to, then I'd suggest go for a tower. Especially with that 23" monitor! My beige G3 tower has been really great to me, and putting stuff in and out is pretty easy - and the new G4s are much easier as far as upgrading goes, with the one-latch computer access hinge. Going to add a 120GB drive this weekend I think, since Best Buy's got 'em for $90 after rebate...

[xyber233]

I've had my bondi iMac for 4 years going on 5. No problems whatsoever. My dads 520c is going on 9 years with no problems . It has been dropped on a wood floor twice with only the latch being a little damaged. My 1400c is about 5-6 years old with no problems .