Hello All!

I am struggling here.  I desperately need a new computer.  I really LOVE the looks of the new iMAC 20 inch one I haven been looking at. The PC I own is our first computer but we've had it for 7 years (its been good to me..lol) I am very comfortable with it.  If it jacks up I know ways to try and fix it blah, blah, blah.  I have learned all I know in Photoshop on a PC to except at school they used MACS so I used them there but not enough to get a real feel for the system and differences.  I hear MACS are known for system stability, that they dont get viruses like PC's  and also that u can't upgrade the operating system on them like you do when Windows releases a new versions.  I am not sure what all is true or not. 

Basically, I am just scared of the differences and having to relearn all my photoshop short key commands and owning a computer I know nothing about...but I really want something good and that doesn't crash all the dang time which I hear MACS doesn't do like windows.  I hear that once you go MAC you'll never touch a PC again.  I  dont really want to start a debate because I know there are hard core MAC fans and hardcore PC fans but I'd really like to know the pros and cons to owning a MAC.  I know enough about PC's to compare once I could get a real idea of a MAC and what it's about.

Also, the RAM on this MAC I am looking at is only 1GB I have been looking at new PC's with 2 GB RAM.  The MACS I worked on at school ran it so fast there weren't any delays, whatever you did, it executed right then but I don't know the system set up on those.  I really wanted the MAC to have 2GB too but so far I didn't see one that did. Can up upgrade RAM in a MAC?  Will only 1 GB run PS CS2 seamlessly?  I want my new computer to run it fast not wait and wait for each and every command to execute, it drive me nuts...but them I am only operating on 380MB RAM now : (   SEE....I definitely need a an upgrade.

Please, if you can offer any info/advice I'd love to hear it.  I plan to buy this new computer for my someday (hopefully soon) photography business so the main thing it that I need it to run photoshop fast and be stable.  I have been reading the reviews on this MAC and so far they are great.  Even some from people who did switch from using PC's but I just don't know enough about them to make an educated decision yet.

Sorry to ramble...I'll let you go now.

Thanks in advance ~Fudge
 

You will be quite happy with a Mac, especially since you say you've used them at school. That is how I made the switch. My dad built PCs and we had 3-4 all the time at home. When I got into school - all the used were Macs. Not that it was difficult to understand the differences, I decided to get one right away (in my first semester) so that I would be able to work on my own.

 I got an iMac first and then the following year my sister got into school and she took my iMac and I bought a PowerBook. I have 2GB DDR SDRAM - it only came with one but I had upgraded on my own, right before graduation. My processor is currently 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 ... which I don't think you can get anymore. I'm very happy with it ... and will use it until I can't start it up anymore! My next computer will definitely be a Mac.

Photoshop runs smoother with the second gig of RAM ... but I wasn't complaining when it only had 1GB. Filters and plugins still take some time to render - but I don't remember any delays in actually working in PS. You can set how much RAM Photoshop is actually using in the Pref menu.

Are still a student? You qualify for discounts if you are ... Where were you thinking of buying your iMac from?

Hi and thanks for your reply.  I am still a student and I plan to buy it at our base exchange because I can get it for $1489 and not have to play any taxes on it.  What kind of discounts can I get for being a student and how do I go about that..maybe I'll come out cheaper that way.  This imac has all the "tower" components built into the moniter.  Could I still upgrade the RAM  myself?  If I order it from apple I can get the ram upgraded to 2 GB for an extra $175 but then I have to pay taxes on the whole thing.

This is the one I am considering.  20 inch 2.16 GHz

http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPLE/WebObjects/AppleStore?family=iMac

I have a 20 inch iMac and I love it to death. The only thing about photoshop is, wait until CS3 comes out. CS2 is only native to the PowerPC macs and will run much slower. CS3 is native to Intel iMacs, as well as PowerPC ones, so it'll run perfectly on both without mosterous lag. If you have buy it on the Apple site and say that you're a student, you can get $100 off the computer and about $150 off their pro software if you have it pre-installed. That's what I did with Aperture. Oh! Try out Aperture. I find it much easier (for me anyways) to use that PS. 

Hey Fudge,That sounds like a pretty good deal to me!  Who told you that you can't upgrade the OS?  You sure can!  This machine will probably come with OS 10.4.  It will automatically notify you when upgrades to the software are available for free download.  Eventually it will hit 10.5 (if it hasn't already, I'm still on 10.4,) They usually do a big update that costs money every few years, but the older software still works for most applications.  On all the macs I've owned, installing more memory is a snap!  Good luck!

I switched from PC to Mac last June when I bought a Power Mac G5 quad with 6.5GB RAM and two 23" Cinema monitors.

Another thing you're going to love is the iSight camera.  It's both a still and video camera built in.

Hey Fudge - I send you a PM yesterday - sorry I forgot to post you here.

Thank you all esp.the info on student discounts.  I need to save every $.  I think I will be getting it just gotta get the funds in order.

I appreciate it .  THX ~Fudge 

If you want extra RAM do not get it from Apple, you can get it from other places at about half the cost.

 

cort 

I read the user manual today while I played with the computer at the BX.  The RAM just slips in a little compartment right under the monitor.  Should be cake to add more.  Manual shows you just unscrew and pop it in.  WAY simpler than putting RAM in my PC having to take whole cover off and stuff.  In that case I will prolly upgrade to 3 GB RAM, the max it will hold.

also..don't forget to check the Apple refub site on apple.com