My New iMac - [T3]

“Mackintrash.”
I just typed the word out, and my iPad deleted it automatically. But it's the opinion I used to have of Macintosh computers, and it described my feelings towards Apple, too.

I have been a hardcore PC user since the beginning. Even before Windows. I cut my teeth on an old Tandy (from Radio Shack) typing command lines to have the computer carry out various functions. To me, a Mac was overpriced and over-rated. I could buy half a dozen PCs for the price of a Mac.

I had a friend a few years ago who offered to sell me his Mac G5 for $400. I passed, because of principle.

I currently have a 27” iMac sitting in my office.

Now in the interests of disclosure, and thankfulness, let me tell you that I don't actually own the iMac, but I did get to pick it out. When I moved to work with the church in Metropolis, IL, they agreed to get a new computer for the office. I agreed to populate it with software at my own expense. I'm so thankful to them for the upgrade, since my Lenovo is terminally ill. In fact, it blue screened and caused me to have to go through TWO system restores to make it functional again on the very day that I started working in my new office (it knew the iMac had been ordered).

Before I tell you of my impressions two weeks into using a Mac, let me tell you a little about what caused my “conversion.” It really all boils down to my iPad. I've had an Android tablet, and a Kindle Fire, but my iPad 2 has been amazing. It has become my choice Bible for study, and I use it to run the projector (using Keynote) on Sundays. It has pretty much replaced my laptop for working on the go (which was not my intention). But it doesn't always play well with PCs.

The iPad really drew me into taking a closer look at Macs. Now I (sort of) have one. So what do I think (if that matters to you)?

Aesthetics

The 27” iMac is a beautiful machine to look at. The large display is sharp, and the colors really pop. The default resolution (2560 x 1440) is greater than an HD television (1920 x 1080), and the detail makes me feel like I could crawl into the screen. I almost think a retina display could be overkill.

Now there is a (small) negative to this. Because the DPI (dots per inch) is so high, sometimes windows and text will be a bit on the small side. But there are shortcuts to zoom in and out, so that problem can be resolved without changing the screen resolution.

One other positive is the screen “real estate.” It's one of the reasons I picked the iMac over a MacBook. With 27” to play around with, there's tons of space for me to spread out notes, work on Keynote (PowerPoint) presentations, and work on “layout” projects like the bulletin or a flyer. I can work on a full page spread and see the whole page easily. I’m also looking forward to getting started on some video projects on that screen, too.

Apple certainly makes a beautiful product!

Ergonomics

Beauty doesn't always indicate comfortable use. Thankfully, that isn't the case with the iMac.

While the keyboard is okay, what I've really been impressed with is the “Magic Mouse” that came in the box. What sets it apart, and makes it “magic” is the touch sensitive top. You can use single and double finger taps and swipes to navigate various features of the OS. I knew about the mouse before I got the iMac, but actually using it has been a... well... “magical” experience. It makes using the computer a much more intuitive experience.

Value

As I mentioned before, my Lenovo seems to be terminally ill. I've had it for about a year, but it has “blue screened” on me at least a half dozen times, with each result being that I had to “System Restore” to get things working again. But this isn't new.

I'm pretty hard on PCs (not in treatment, but in demanding usage) because of what I use them for. If you do much graphic design or video work, you know that it's almost as hard to keep your hardware up to date and working with your software as it is to keep your software itself up to date. I'm not even going to start a discussion about compatibility issues. Because of that, I've been on a cycle of buying a new machine about every 18 months (between my wife and I).

I'm banking on this iMac being a long term investment. Because of the way that Apple develops the OS, it seems that most Macs can stay operable for several generations of updates. The hardware seems to be robust enough to last for a while, too.

I only have one word in regards to PCs being used for multiple generations: Vista. Remember when it was released how everyone had to buy a new computer to be able to use it? Admittedly, that's not as much of a problem as it used to be, but it scarred me.

PC vs. Mac

In the next week I will make my list of contrasts in the actual usage of a Mac over a PC. I also plan to post about some of the apps that I'm currently using to accomplish tasks that I used to do on a PC.

Until then, I'll leave you with what I've discovered to be one of the most important facts about my iMac:

"It just works."

-Daniel

P.S. - We are slowly getting settled in here in Metropolis. Hopefully I'll be back to blogging regularly in the next few weeks. Keep reading!