The 27inch monitor is massive.
16GB ram upgrade.
A week ago I ordered a new iMac to replace my dead PC (virus + dead motherboard). I couldn’t justify spending close to $6k for a fully loaded all in one mac so I opted for a basic configuration. After doing some research I realised that the $1k extra Solid State Drive (SSD) was an expensive option but one I really wanted. 4 times faster than a normal hard drive and dead silent too (no moving parts). I was too late to get Apple to edit my order so I had to refund the mac I initially ordered, get TNT to pick it up (Apple paid for this!) and then order my new mac with SSD.
I did even more research and it turns out that Apple overcharges for their ram upgrades. Apple charges $1400 for 16gb of ram. My research led to many people having problems with cheap aftermarket ram in the 16gb configuration (read up here) so I went for Apple factory ram (Samsung ram) but I bought it from OWC in the USA for $384.70 delivered (via FedEx in 1 week). $1k cheaper. That’s a massive saving huh?! Basically I’m getting my SSD for free. What’s more the Samsung ram I bought is made in Korea, the ram inside my mac was made in China.
A few things:
– Starting up is ridiculously fast. Never seen a computer start up so fast in my entire life. I’m thinking it might slow down once I bog it up with more applications? We’ll see.
– This new Apple mouse is retarded. You go back and forth through web pages by putting 2 fingers on top of the mouse and swiping the surface like you do with an iPhone. I can just imagine the apple guys sitting around the office in a creative meeting about trying to avoid having to put 2 more buttons on a mac mouse. Silly!
– The monitor and resolution is massive. I’m a 2 monitor fan (one for work, one for email) and I think 21inch monitors are nice in terms of being just big enough and having better legibility but I’m pretty sure I’ll get used to this set-up pretty quickly.
– USB ports on the back are a little annoying to get to and when you plug something in or out the entire monitor tilts (too heavy for the hinge on the stand).
– I’ve been told to be sure to eject discs. That means digital cameras, external drives etc. If you don’t do so macs will corrupt shit.
– MSN 8 for mac crashed within 2 minutes of operation.
– This tiny flat keyboard is missing a forward delete button (I love that button!).
– I’m starting to do mac things and sound like a mac person. I cashed in an iTunes voucher Caryn gave me years ago and I bought myself Kanye’s latest album (Track 10, Hell of a Life = awesome) through the iTunes store. iTunes even found album cover art for all the songs I’ve got, nice.
