Tyger

Don't even think just buy it. For most people on this forum a Mac would be by FAR the best machine for them - but people don't bother researching. Don't wait either. The Current OS - Tiger offers anything Vista does already - the new OS Leopard will push Macs even further. It only costs about 80 quid to upgrade the OS, and if you have any fears about small bugs in the new OS then wait, you don't HAVE to buy it. All software will run on the current OS anyway. Buy your new iMac and enjoy years of a virus-free elegant computer experience Windows users can only dream of. Any questions you have - fire away or PM me.

Personally, I would prefer this version to the trainwreck that is Vista.

Or you could be really wild and try using an OS that has no need for antivirus and antispyware crapware in the first place? CPU cycles should be used for the USER and not for protecting software that YOU paid for from being violated. WHY do people put up with this? And as for UPgrading to Vista - I would take a look around on the web and you will soon see that it is a DOWNgrade. Stick with XP at LEAST until Service Pack 1 (read Bugfix Pack 1) is released later this year - it may be almost useable then. http://www.crucial.com/ is the place for RAM http://www.apple.com/getamac is the place to open your eyes and see how a computer SHOULD work.

:D

Safari 3.01 Beta has been released. Fixes some security holes (In the Windows version naturally...) Tried Camino years ago but couldn't be arsed to keep updating with all the nightly builds. It's OK. I love the Tab functionality in Safari and the Bookmarking, especially autoclick where many bookmarks of your choice open in multiple tabs with just one click. Snapback is useful too. Safari on Windows is many times faster than IE. On my XP machine anyway. Initial reports indicate Safari use has almost doubled since release.

A stroke of genius. Despite the amount of time spent discussing Leopard in the keynote, it's clear to me that Leopard is not really the main event at the show, nor is it the primary platform that Apple is really pushing going forward. No, that honor goes to Safari, Apple's Web browser, and its underlying rendering technologies. During the keynote, Jobs made two Safari-related announcements. First, Apple released a beta version of Safari for Windows, and this Web browser product is now available for free download. Jobs claimed that Safari already has about 5 percent market share on the Web, third behind Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) and Mozilla Firefox. But I don't think shipping a Windows version of Safari has anything to do with market share, per se. No, Jobs has something more dramatic in mind for Safari. That's because Safari now sits at the center of Apple's plan to support third party developers who want to create iPhone-compatible applications. This was the second Safari announcement: Previously, Apple had said that it would not open up the iPhone to developers due to security concerns. But at his WWDC keynote, Jobs revealed that Apple would in fact allow developers to create near-native iPhone applications that run on top of, you guessed it, Safari. These applications will use Web 2.0 technologies like Ajax and will look and feel almost exactly like the native iPhone applications that only Apple is allowed to create. Now you can see why Apple porting Safari to Windows is so important: Most iPhone developers, like most iPhone users, will be running Windows, and not Mac OS X. And for them to create iPhone applications, they will need a version of the iPhone runtime environment. That environment is Safari. If Apple can get even a small percentage of Windows desktop users and all iPhone users to adopt Safari, it will have created a next-generation Web-based computing platform that is far more compelling, and has a potentially larger user base, than the PC market itself. It's an astonishing strategy. And you read about it here first.

Since you ask I shall tell... There is only ONE reason a person needing a BRANDED computer would buy a PC and not a Mac - ignorance. I don't mean that to sound derogatory in the slightest, but it's the only word to use. (I have never said they are bug free - they are virus-free, and of course some develop faults. But yes they are way ahead of Microsoft as far as innovation and quality of their software is concerned - absolutely) *Bear in mind Apple has only been in this situation for less than a year, the switch to Intel chips and the ability to run Windows has removed the last remnants of reason NOT to buy a Mac. (I am sure there will be many who misunderstand the reasons behind this and think that Mac users NEED to run Windows for the software - this is absolutley NOT the case - it means that people who have invested in Windows in the past do not have to let anything waste and they have the chance to see OS X vs Windows on the same machine. Mac users know very well what OS will be the one chosen as preference. It also means Macs can run all PC games, which is the ONLY reason I ever boot Windows on a Mac.) Look at the HUGE increase in Mac sales and profits and AAPL share price in the last 2 years (hell the last 5 years). Anyone with any spare cash - you know what to do, and this is just the start.* People just don't know any better. - They don't spend any time researching an alternative to a Windows PC. - They haven't the SLIGHTEST clue what it's like to use a virus-free OS that WORKS. - They are scared of the unknown - They think they "know" about Macs, when in fact all they know are urban myths. I know this because I see it day in day out and have personally opened the eyes of HUNDREDS of people who will never touch a PC again. The ONLY difference between a new Mac user and a PC user is that the new Mac user had the balls to reasses the situation and to entertain the possibility that there is something out there so much better than what they are used to. AND SPENT TIME INVESTIGATING. If there is anyone with the balls enough to spend some time looking into this you are welcome to PM me. It gives me great pleasure putting people out of their misery. I would be happy to help. (Yes I have Apple shares, however this is NOTHING to do with why I am posting this, I have nothing to gain personally except forum abuse!) Mac users tend to be fanatical. There is a REASON for this. http://www.apple.com/getamac

Good ole "innovative" Microsoft... Go to YouTube & search for "Multi Touch" to see NYU professor's demo of this technology. This study was funded by Apple & others. Apple has patented their version of Multi-Touch with the iPhone, but that is just the tip of the iceberg. Leopard OSX 10.5 has been "optimized" for Multi-Touch apps & Apple has been researching Multi-Touch displays as well... Multi-Touch OS X & iPhone are less than a MONTH away, yet MS has been in "R&D" mode for FIVE YEARS on ...WHY did they choose NOW to talk about this? Because they are desperatley trying to steal thunder from Apple's forthcoming OS X Leopard. MS : great pitch / no follow through. Apple : delivers the home run. Linkys: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_quer...p;search=Search http://www.apple.com/iphone/technology/ http://www.blackfriarsinc.com/blog/2007/05...crosoft-surface iPhone + Multi-Touch technology at January 2007 Keynote Address : http://events.apple.com.edgesuite.net/j47d52oo/event/ - Microsoft's yet to be released solution currently costs about $10000 and is the size of a coffee table. - Apple's iPhone is out in a month and costs $499-$599

The eMac was a cut down educational CRT machine based on the coloured lozenge iMacs that preceded it. But there were MANY Macs MUCH older than this as RayKhan mentions.... http://www.apple-history.com/ Check the column on the right....

er... no... iMac.

Sounds like you have a prehistoric 1st gen coloured iMac! He is not awkward for having a Mac - he is awkward for not having upgraded it for about 7 years!!!

You need to be careful where you buy - some reports indicate many holiday lets are not being filled. It is very location dependent. Dubailand seems v promising. When I've sorted mine out I'll let you know where! ;)

I feel like I am in Groundhog Day... @ Brettster a) Come on - you don't BUY a version of Windows - you use the one you already have EITHER in Bootcamp or with Parallels which allows you to run many OS at the same time with drag n drop functionality between these OS. Or you use VM Ware and run Windows apps WITHOUT Windows... B) You cannot run OS X on a PC without HUGE compromise on speed and functionality. Gaming for a start. About 6 people have managed this and it's not pretty. Compare OS X "running" on a PC to a Mac and then tell me a PC can run OS X. You have to be a relatively expert user to achieve this anyway and it will have no impact on Mac sales - all it will do is to tease you and show up Windows for the crud that it is. c) Macs and PC's are the same hardware-wise!? Have you SEEN an iMac a Mac mini or an 8-core Mac Pro???????? Lets pretend for a minute this is true - that the OS is the only difference. To quote someone famous - "It's the OS stupid" - THAT'S THE POINT!! Google to compare OS X Tiger to Vista. Look at the catalogue of issues new Vista users have. It's a trainwreck. OS X Tiger is 2.5 years old or goodness sake. Vista is the best hting that has happened to Apple. People are waking up. d) Apple will NEVER repeat NEVER sell OS X for PC's. If you want to run the world's best OS you need to buy Apple hardware. But don't you see how daft what you said is? MACS RUN WINDOWS TOO...... IT'S THE SAME DIFFERENCE.... e) Apple are not in the game of making mediocre substandard trash that some companies pass off as computers. If someone is only prepared to pay £250 for a computer then they deserve what they get. @oldcro Firstly - there ARE no viruses for Mac OS X however there are some shi**y companies who should be ashamed of themselves trying to peddle their crapware to new PC to Mac switchers. Symantec and Norton spring to mind. PC users are quivering wrecks when it comes to viruses and are not knowledgable enough when buying their new Mac to know that they don't need this trash. Secondly - crap magazine. Look online for all the info you need. Or ask me. ;-P Thirdly - Let's not spread FUD. Leopard has not been delayed AGAIN it has been delayed ONCE only and for 3-4 months as opposed to 3-4 YEARS for Vista. I shall tell you the reason Apple are "delaying" Leopard and it has NOTHING to do with what you think. It is delayed because in June when Leopard was originally marked for 18 months ago the iPhone is released. The mobile worlds eyes will be on Apple and they do not wish to be seen to be doing ANYTHING else at that time. It also is a good excuse to put some more time into perfecting Leopard. Win Win. Mac users have Tiger which is miles better than Vista already. It's really no big deal. Fourthly - Your perception is about 6 years out of date. Seriously, have a look around the net. You would be amazed. http://www.apple.com is a good place to start. Yes Apple are great innovators. For a start, they invented the PC industry.

@ Parthiban If you have a good look at an iMac it takes up no more space than a flatscreen monitor.... it IS a flatscreen monitor that happens to have a computer stuck in it! Then you don't NEED the tower at ALL! If you must you could always leave your current PC tower under your desk if it makes you happy... ;) Limited? That makes no sense. Out of the box they are the most flexible machine money can buy. They run more software than any PC can, period. You are limiting yourself by buying PC hardware absolutely - you can only run Windows and Linux software.

@Ryo Can't argue with that! lol @Brettster Def stick with your PC - it will keep you occupied for years! ;) I guess it's a weird concept for a PC user to imagine a computer as a productive and fun tool rather than a box that causes hassle stress and strife. I didn't think of that before. Good point. ;-P

@Moffet Hi there. Well a stand-alone full-featured unlimited unprotected version of Mac OS X Tiger is about £80. I won't get into it here but detailed comparison will show you that Macs are extremely competitively priced when you compare LIKE for LIKE - which most fail to do when comparing hardware. The Mac Pro for example has no peer in the PC world, but if a similar machine is specced up from Dell or some other brand the PC is more expensive. YES you can build your own PC cheaper. So what? You are limiting your software choices if you do that. Apple are not in that market. Agree totally with your take on Linux. Any PC hardware owner should be running it if that are able. @Ryo Yes but THREE OS!?? What a waste of resources! Wouldn't it be nicer to have ONE OS that does everything...?

LexAzur: By changing your OS (upgrading is SO the wrong word) to Vista all you will be doing is giving yourself many software and driver issues, and introducing yourself to the clunkiest most frustrating security system ever devised. What you will gain is a slightly prettier front end and 15% slower gaming. Whoppy do. If you feel you HAVE to use this grotty OS then I would suggest waiting until Microsoft release Service Pack 1 for it (read Bug Fixes and Patches to Make it Useable Pack 1) So what if it's more stable than XP? That isn't saying very much. You have the same ole same old virus and spyware issues that Windows made famous. About 20% of your CPU cysles will be wasted on protecting your data. Unbelievable. Ryo: your solution is funny and tragic at the same time. How sad it is for a PC user that they feel the only way they can achieve what they want on their machine is to have THREE OS installed. Other non-invasive more advanced prettier virus and spyware-free OS are available at a fraction of the price. (Microsoft know this as they copied huge amounts of it to make Vista) http://www.apple.com/macosx Is it any wonder more people are buying Macs than ever before and profits are up 88% year on year? Vista is the best thing that ever happened to Apple.

Just because there is more of something doesn't make it better. You can play more games on a Mac than any PC. Why? On Macs you can play all Mac games and all Windows games and games of any other OS you choose to name. On a Windows PC you can play Windows games. Buying a Windows PC dramatically limits the software you can use. Darwin IS UNIX based... http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/unix/

... and the little detail that Linux will never be anything other than a curiosity for PC users fed up with Windows who don't have the balls to buy a Mac and use the world's largest *nix distribution - Mac OS X. Linux will never be a mainstream OS for countless reasons.

@ Terdencam: get a grip mate. Listen. The CURRENT Apple OS Tiger beats Vista hands down. Google for a comparison. It isn't hard to work out. Dont fall at the last hurdle and make a dumb mistake. If you buy a PC you will hugely limt the software you can run vs a Mac. What the hell difference does a few months make? Leopard will be much better but don't make the mistake of choosing Vista over Tiger. That's just the dumbest thing I ever heard. @Scarface What has crashing got to do with it? It's how productive and useable an OS is that is most important. Vista is already rife with security issues. Yea it's more stable than XP. Whooopy-do. OS X has been stable for years. @Aido The REAL reason Leopard has been delayed will become clear later this year. (BTW OS486 or whatever that godawful hack is doesn't count!)

Combodrive = CD burner Superdrive = DVD Burner This is a Mac you are buying not a bargain basement PC - you get what you pay for. Cheap PC's are cheap for a reason. Look at the DETAILED specs of the machine, it is worth every penny. You are getting a Mac OS X machine AND a Windows machine in one. Value for money!??? Come off it! iLife allows you to burn both DVDs AND CD's. You COULD use an external DVD burner.

Wiiiiiiii for meeeeeeeeeee. Neither the XBOX 360 nor PS3 are worth looking at until perhaps Xmas next year when devs have had time to take advatage of their real power. Price will be way down and games that can take real advantage of these systems will have had time to be developed. I have had EVERY console to date and these are the first I have NO interest in at present. Zelda and Sports on the Wii. WoW on the Mac. :)

M$ Office and OpenOffice are both available on the Mac. A Test Drive version of M$ Office (you can't save docs) will be on your new Mac. You can upgrade RAM easily, harddrive fairly easily. OS X loves RAM but the HD install is tiny compared to Winbloat. I can't make my mind up which screen I prefer. http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,129610-c...ks/article.html Remember the base MacBook model doesn't have a Superdrive - (DVD burner) Bear something in mind - when you have had this baby for a week or two you will a) never want a PC again B) wish you had bought a Mac Book Pro c) will take an axe to your "rig"

ANY of the iMacs except the 17" will play any games you want at outrageous widescreen resolutions beautifully. The MacBook Pro has a MUCH better gfx card than the MacBook.

If ur a gamer you will need a MacBook Pro. BUT... ...and it's a huge fat hairy butt... think VERY carefully as to if you really need a laptop as the iMacs are hugely more powerful and are much better value for money. iMacs are semi-portable and unless you ABSOLUTELY need portability, get an iMac.