Torn between these choices...help me decide

• 20" iMac G5
• Mini + 20" Apple Cinema Display
• Mini + 20" Dell 2005FPW Monitor

I've gone back and forth between these choices for several weeks now, but I'm close to pulling the trigger. The only thing I'm waiting for now is to see if the Mini's get updated in the next week or so.

I love the iMac's, man those things are sweet. But I also have a decent Windows gaming machine that would look amazing on either the Apple or Dell monitors. The only reason I'm considering the Dell is the price, since it's supposed to be essentially the same monitor.

I should also mention this is my first Mac, but just from playing around with it at the Apple store, I know I'm going to have a good time with it.

Maybe the Mini and monitor, if you like mac enough after that, you could get a powermac G5 and use the monitor for that (saving you a little money later on.

I would have to recommend the iMac, only based on my personal experience with the mini. While the mini is a great machine and I love working with it, I have now regret buying it because it has cost me as much as an iMac would have. This was after buying a 19" monitor and getting my 1.42Ghz mini fully loaded. You can spend the same amount and on an iMac that will have a faster G5 processor, more RAM expansion, a larger hard drive, more firewire & usb ports, etc. That's just my $.02. Either way, however, I'm sure you will enjoy your choice.

Maybe the Mini combo since you aren't sure about whether you will like your first Mac or not. Sure, the iMac is nice but it's a risky investment considering your situation.

Got With The 20" Apple Imac G5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its The Best!!!

20" iMac. It's got a G5 proc running at over 2 gHz and a 7200 RPM HD. 128 Mb VRAM and more storage. This decision wouldn't even be close in my book.

If you can afford the iMac, get it. A 20" mini vs. a 20" iMac G5 is not logical.

But considering its his first mac, theres no gaurentee he'll want to fully switch to the platform. If he gets the mini and later decides that he doesn't want to switch then at least he'll have a 20" screen he could put to good use and like I said, if he really likes the platform, he'd be able to get a powermac without needing to spend any extra money on a screen.

Of course the imac is a much better machine, but I know I wouldn't have started with one just because I was unsure of if I wanted to switch fully. Even though I did :mac:

mini and screen, decide you like it and upgrade to powermac later on... decide you don't like the mac, go back to pc and have a banging monitor.

Go with the Mini and the Dell monitor. Since you have a nice windows machine, you'll want to be able to use the 20in monitor with it. I have a Dell 2001FP and 2005FPW, both are great monitors. I don't know if the mini is going to be upgraded soon or not, I think there is some Apple Educator conference at the end of this week, you might want to wait until then, maybe.

No matter which you decide on, GET RAM, I suggest a gigabyte just because memory is so cheap.

ryanmt said:

Got With The 20" Apple Imac G5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Its The Best!!!

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**nods** :bone:

get the 20"imac no contest in my book. you will be hard pressed to find better.

The only thing that is holding me back from the iMac is the fact that I won't be able to use my Windows machine with the great monitor. I do think that I will want to make a full switch to Mac, but I can't be certain. On the other hand, I've played around with the Mini's, and it's the noticeably slower machine. I just have this gut feeling that I'm going to love the MacOS and I'll be disappointed that I didn't get the iMac if I go with the Mini, but at the same time, I still like to game on my Windows machine.

I appreciate everyone's input, I really have to make a hard, informed decision considering the investment that is going to be made.

When I said to go to with the mac mini that was in case you don't like the mac. If you are sure you want to use the mac for the future, go with the imac it is alot more powerful... That is my opinion to get the mac mini if with the apple display since you are a switcher and there is not gaurentee (although macs are the best computers) that you will like it.

games are out grown before you know it, don't let that sway your decision The investment will end up to be more than just about games

HERE SHOULD BE THE MAIN QUESTION: What will you use the mac for?

Well, I'm throwing caution into the wind and going out and getting myself the 20" iMac today. Thanks for everyone's input, the iMac's are just too sweet to pass up.

Nice, let us know how you like it, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

By the way, has anyone used a 20" iMac with a 20" Apple monitor as a secondary monitor. I play to get both some time early next year but I'm wondering if they'll look odd together with the iMac screen being higher up. I'd sooner get a 17" if that meant the monitors would be level.

Yes, I want to know how you like it when you are using it... Congrats.

macwannabe said:

Well, I'm throwing caution into the wind and going out and getting myself the 20" iMac today. Thanks for everyone's input, the iMac's are just too sweet to pass up.

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Awesome!... you're gonna love it.