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Hey guys,
I'm a new member of your forum and have just spent a very happy two or three hours browsing around the threads you've got here. Lots of super discussions and some very interesting information!
I have a selection of questions about buying a new iMac, some of which have been half-covered in other threads but which I would still like a bit more information on. I hope I'm not stepping on any toes by posting this; I'm sure, if I am, you will tell me promptly!
I'm not new to using Macs. My very first Mac was - I think? - an LCII, and I have very fond memories of the PPC lines. However, I have never really learned much about computers; how they work; capabilities; differences between Macs (yay!) and Windows-based PCs (boo!); etc.
I'm planning on buying a computer in the next few weeks. It will be a Mac. I need to decide which one to get. I'm hoping you can help.
My uses are almost entirely casual: the standard word-processing, internet use, iTunes, DVDs and gaming, etc. However, I hope to start exploring the world of photography and was intending to use the opportunity of Parallel/Boot Camp to expand my gaming to a whole fun new level.
I have been using a MacBook and have decided I don't need the portability. I have looked at the Mini and have decided that, pound-for-pound, both the iMac and the Mac Pro offer better value for money. However, I dont think I can afford a Mac Pro; reallistically, then, I think I'm looking at an iMac. So here are the questions:
If you've made it this far through the post, I'll start with expressing thanks for bearing with me so long. Again, sorry if I've stepped on toes - particularly by writing such a long post - but I'm feeling horribly confused by the options and I really want to understand what I'm doing a bit more. Hopefully some of you are willing to help me out and clear some of this up for me.
Thanks in advance,
--D
Edit: If there's somewhere better for me to find this information, where it's already written down and is much less hassle for everyone, please link it for me! I'm not wanting to make anyone write out a Dummies Guide to How Computers Work... :/
I'm a new member of your forum and have just spent a very happy two or three hours browsing around the threads you've got here. Lots of super discussions and some very interesting information!
I have a selection of questions about buying a new iMac, some of which have been half-covered in other threads but which I would still like a bit more information on. I hope I'm not stepping on any toes by posting this; I'm sure, if I am, you will tell me promptly!
I'm not new to using Macs. My very first Mac was - I think? - an LCII, and I have very fond memories of the PPC lines. However, I have never really learned much about computers; how they work; capabilities; differences between Macs (yay!) and Windows-based PCs (boo!); etc.
I'm planning on buying a computer in the next few weeks. It will be a Mac. I need to decide which one to get. I'm hoping you can help.
My uses are almost entirely casual: the standard word-processing, internet use, iTunes, DVDs and gaming, etc. However, I hope to start exploring the world of photography and was intending to use the opportunity of Parallel/Boot Camp to expand my gaming to a whole fun new level.
I have been using a MacBook and have decided I don't need the portability. I have looked at the Mini and have decided that, pound-for-pound, both the iMac and the Mac Pro offer better value for money. However, I dont think I can afford a Mac Pro; reallistically, then, I think I'm looking at an iMac. So here are the questions:
I want a 24" screen. (As a layperson in internal computing terms, the outer physical appearance of the computer is important to me!) The differences between the three specifications offered by Mac seem to be this:
Processor
What is the processor? What does it do? Will I notice a significant difference in performance between one option and the next? What about between the lowest- and highest-spec?
Is this something that can be changed? If I get one and later decide to upgrade, can I change the processor?
Memory
What does the memory do for the computer? Again, will I notice any particular differences between performance on one and performance on the other?
Can it be changed, or upgraded? I noticed in another thread someone talking aobut getting Memory from a source other than Apple; that it was cheaper that way. What does this involve? If I decided to get the 2*4GB memory sticks/slots/cards that make up the 8GB from a different source, can I put it into the computer myself - or with the help of a university CompSci department - or do I have to go through Apple?
Graphics Card
Uhm... what is a graphics card? I have it in my head that it's some kind of dedicated processor that only deals with graphics, but that could be wrong and - even if it's right - I don't actually know what it means. Obviously this will have most impact on gaming as I currently use my computer; would it have an impact on any future photography I get involved in? What's the difference between the three cards? And can I upgrade whatever's put in in the future? I know absolutely nothing about graphics cards - the more information you can give me, the happier I'll be. But please - be gentle...! ;D
Boot Camp/Parallel
How do these bad-boys work? I know the absolute basics - you can either load up Windows independantly of your Mac OS or you can load it up side-by-side. But what does that do to things like virus vulnerability? Do I suddenly have to start being a lot more careful about using anti-virus? If something gets onto my Windows OS, can it affect my Mac OS? With the kind of computing power available in a new iMac, is Parallel something I can realistically use to play games, or will it run too slowly? Should I just stick to Boot Camp? I have no experience running either of these things; again, any information would be greatly appreciated. Presumably the processing power/memory/whatever are the same whether you're running Windows or Mac?
AOB
What kind of potential will an iMac system give for playing games in the future? My main experience of gaming on my old computer has been WoW and Football Manager. I just want a bit more versatility and choice. Will an iMac give me the ability to play current leading-edge games? Is it likely to let me play future leading-edge games? I know that obviously any system will be quickly outdated and that the iMac is fairly inflexible in terms of upgrades, but looking ahead, say, a year or two - will I still be able to see a new game and say "ooh, that's pretty! I'll buy it."?
Processor
- 2.66Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
- 2.93Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
- 3.06Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo
What is the processor? What does it do? Will I notice a significant difference in performance between one option and the next? What about between the lowest- and highest-spec?
Is this something that can be changed? If I get one and later decide to upgrade, can I change the processor?
Memory
- 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
- 8GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
What does the memory do for the computer? Again, will I notice any particular differences between performance on one and performance on the other?
Can it be changed, or upgraded? I noticed in another thread someone talking aobut getting Memory from a source other than Apple; that it was cheaper that way. What does this involve? If I decided to get the 2*4GB memory sticks/slots/cards that make up the 8GB from a different source, can I put it into the computer myself - or with the help of a university CompSci department - or do I have to go through Apple?
Graphics Card
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 256MB
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 512MB
- ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB
Uhm... what is a graphics card? I have it in my head that it's some kind of dedicated processor that only deals with graphics, but that could be wrong and - even if it's right - I don't actually know what it means. Obviously this will have most impact on gaming as I currently use my computer; would it have an impact on any future photography I get involved in? What's the difference between the three cards? And can I upgrade whatever's put in in the future? I know absolutely nothing about graphics cards - the more information you can give me, the happier I'll be. But please - be gentle...! ;D
Boot Camp/Parallel
How do these bad-boys work? I know the absolute basics - you can either load up Windows independantly of your Mac OS or you can load it up side-by-side. But what does that do to things like virus vulnerability? Do I suddenly have to start being a lot more careful about using anti-virus? If something gets onto my Windows OS, can it affect my Mac OS? With the kind of computing power available in a new iMac, is Parallel something I can realistically use to play games, or will it run too slowly? Should I just stick to Boot Camp? I have no experience running either of these things; again, any information would be greatly appreciated. Presumably the processing power/memory/whatever are the same whether you're running Windows or Mac?
AOB
What kind of potential will an iMac system give for playing games in the future? My main experience of gaming on my old computer has been WoW and Football Manager. I just want a bit more versatility and choice. Will an iMac give me the ability to play current leading-edge games? Is it likely to let me play future leading-edge games? I know that obviously any system will be quickly outdated and that the iMac is fairly inflexible in terms of upgrades, but looking ahead, say, a year or two - will I still be able to see a new game and say "ooh, that's pretty! I'll buy it."?
If you've made it this far through the post, I'll start with expressing thanks for bearing with me so long. Again, sorry if I've stepped on toes - particularly by writing such a long post - but I'm feeling horribly confused by the options and I really want to understand what I'm doing a bit more. Hopefully some of you are willing to help me out and clear some of this up for me.
Thanks in advance,
--D
Edit: If there's somewhere better for me to find this information, where it's already written down and is much less hassle for everyone, please link it for me! I'm not wanting to make anyone write out a Dummies Guide to How Computers Work... :/