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YorkshireSammy · 09:29 AM

I gather my last post was a little too confusing.. sorry about that. What I really wanted to know was whether or not I would be better off purchasing an iMac or eMac, with a G4 processor, or whether the updated G3900mhz iBook (with 256mb of RAM) would be sufficient for most tasks, including games. I'd save the money and buy a desktop for more processing power, but I really like the iBook... Any comments would be appreciated.

SupahCoolX · May 7, 2003, 08:54 PM

Well, the iMac and eMac obviously have much better performance. The iBook is perfectly fine for most things (though you may want to look elsewhere for heavy duty 3d gaming, high end video editing, etc, obviously).
-The eMac probably has the most bang for the buck (Superdrive and 1Ghz G4 for $1300).
-The iMac has a great space-saving design and a beatiful LCD screen going for it.
-The iBook is portable.
So, weigh your needs. I personally could not live without a laptop (I'm lying in bed as I type this). If you don't need portability, then see if the iMac's screen is worth the extra $ for you.

bartman00 · May 8, 2003, 07:52 AM

dude.. they're not even in the same freeken class.. one is a desktop and the other a laptop... what do you need? The emac is faster..but hey guess what.. it's not a laptop.. the ibook is slower but hey guess what it's a laptop.

I meen not to be totally freeken obvious but I hope you can iron this one out for yourself!

YorkshireSammy · May 9, 2003, 08:49 AM

Aha, Yah, thanks. I gather that they r not the same class. The emphasis of the qustion is how much difference there is between a G3900 and a G4800 (or 1G), and in terms of performance, how "worse" the G3 would really be. Anywayz, I've decided to go with either the iMac or the eMac... iMac is kinda cool (LCD etc), but the eMac is better value for less money.. so yeh.

Sosa · May 12, 2003, 03:54 PM

Originally posted by YorkshireSammy:
I've decided to go with either the iMac or the eMac... iMac is kinda cool (LCD etc), but the eMac is better value for less money.. so yeh.

Get the eMac.
Although the new iMacs are beautiful, the eMacs are not exactly ugly either. And the eMacs are a better deal also. $999 gets you a 1ghz G4 and a 60 gig HD (I don't think the other models are worth it, you can add RAM yourself at less cost). The iMac will cost you $300 more for less performance and a little more RAM. It comes down to whether those $300 are worth the iMac styling.

MacMaui · May 12, 2003, 09:29 PM

Originally posted by Sosa:
Get the eMac.
Although the new iMacs are beautiful, the eMacs are not exactly ugly either. And the eMacs are a better deal also. $999 gets you a 1ghz G4 and a 60 gig HD (I don't think the other models are worth it, you can add RAM yourself at less cost). The iMac will cost you $300 more for less performance and a little more RAM. It comes down to whether those $300 are worth the iMac styling.

I've being going through this same debate and have reached the following conclusion after copious amounts of research.

True, strictly going by the numbers, the eMac is a much better deal. Though with the eMac you'll need the stand ($59) and the iMac does come with the $59? Pro Speakers (if that means anything).
The big question is whether or not Apple has worked out the eMac's large reliability/display issues. The problem is that it can't be known how these 1GHZ eMacs are going to perform until it's given some time. OTOH, the 15" FP iMac's have proven to be much more reliable (and quiet) machines, at least so far.

That makes it a tough decision. Specs and price are clearly in favor of the eMac. Yet the 15" iMac is more trustworthy and has a display that is easier on the eyes.

I'm also somewhat leary of a design that places a heat producing CRT in the same enclosure as a heat producing processor. Heat is really hard on all things electronic. Apple does it not because it's a superior design, but because it's superior for the bottom line via planned obsolescence.

Imho, even with the 15" iMac behind on the specs, I'd go with it, especially if it were needed for a business where down time costs $.

The eMac may prove to be great machine, but reading about all of its many problems over the past year has me leary until it can prove itself otherwise. An 800mhz iMac is going to run infinently faster than a 1GHZ eMac that's sitting in the shop!

And if the 15" iMac had gone 1GHZ, it would be a no brainer for sure.

YMMV