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emac or imac
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Weedon
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Join Date: Mar 2002
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Nov 21, 2002, 08:45 PM
 
Okay, I am going to the Apple store tomorrow to buy one or the other. I do not want to spend more than $1500. My inclination is buy the cheaper emac and load up on the RAM. Can anyone who has had experience with both machines tell me whether they prefer one or the other? I'd appreciate it. Oh, and please leave the looks out of the conversation - I agree that the imac is the best looking computer out there - but I am really looking more on the performance end with an eye to the price tage. Thanks.
     
D'Espice
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Nov 22, 2002, 01:46 AM
 
You should take other things into consideration, like noise or display. The iMac's TFT display is clearly better than the eMac's CRT, however some people prefer CRT-displays over LCD-displays. That's up to you, what you prefer.
Also, compared to the iMac, the eMac is terribly loud. There's a huge fan inside the unit that rotates at full capacity all the time and makes that eMac sound like a PowerMac. In contrast to that, the iMac is almost inaudible.
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one
pretty and well preserved piece, but to skid across the line broadside,
thoroughly used up, worn out, leaking oil, shouting GERONIMO!"
     
JNG
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Nov 22, 2002, 05:33 PM
 
1. My eMac's fan is barely audible. PowerMacs are an order of magnitude louder; the two aren't comparable. Also, the iMac has a fan, too; it shuts down sometimes but often it runs, and when it does it is at a similar volume to the eMac.

2. I can't imagine how the iMac's display is "clearly" better than eMac's. It's lighter at a similar display size, but doesn't have the color saturation or resolution, and is much more vulnerable to scratching etc.

It's worth pointing out that the eMac has been outselling the 15'' iMac, so obviously it's not as cut and dried as all that. I personally think the eMac is a better deal, but if you have to carry the thing back and forth often, like say from college to home like some people do, the iMac is a good choice (so's a portable, of course). It's less durable, though. I can't see paying extra for an LCD unless you are in love with LCD (with only 1024x768 resolution instead of up to 1280x960), and keep in mind the business of the iMac's Apple RAM slot and user RAM slot and warranty invalidation and blah blah. On the eMac both RAM slots are more easily accessible.
     
Weedon  (op)
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Nov 22, 2002, 09:14 PM
 
Thanks for the replies. We ended up with a 15" iMac and added extra ram and the airport card. Very nice machine. It was the noise of the eMac and the look of the screen on the iMac that finally tipped the scale. I really like the LCD display - I use it on my iBook all the time and it is very easy on the eyes. And I hated my old first generation iMac for the noise factor. Kids usually left it on; I'd come into the room and hear it and shut it off just for some peace and quiet. New iMac is very, very quiet. At least so far. My iBook started out quiet too. Anyway, thanks for the advice!
     
   
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