Apple iMac 27 in. (MB953LL/A) Mac Desktop - with Front Row
- Form Factor: Desktop
- Operating System: Mac OS X Leopard
- HDD Size: 1000 GB
- Installed Memory: 4 GB (DDR3 SDRAM)
- Display: 27 in.
- Processor: Core Duo 2.66 GHz
Available From
Why are these offers here?
Lowest Price!
- Overview
-
Reviews
- Compare Prices
User ReviewRead All Reviews »
Mac Daddy iMac
Pros
Screen, Space Saver, Frontrow, Keep old applications
Cons
Need a new firewire connection converter. New iMovie Sucks.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
You want a mac? Go for this one. This is the best bang for your buck right now... Until apple announces a new release.
Intro: Fine Epinions, I'll write another review. Seeing as I got the email saying I'll be cancelled if I don't log in again before January 1st. =)
I've been an imac user since 2005. I've lived for a long time in mac envy. I built my own PCs since 1997 and have continued to own and operate both PCs and Macs. So... I like them both. But this is not a review to change your mind to go from PC to Mac or Vice Versa. This is simply a review for Mac users who already have their hearts set on getting a Mac.
Quest: My first G5 imac died on me in July 2009. a "logical board blew out" so I had to search for a new mac. I was debating whether or not to get a Macbook Pro or another iMac. The first iMac I had served me well, and it lasted me a long time, but I couldn't pay the cost to replace the logical board ($900).
I liked the Macbook Pro for the ease of use and portability. But I also needed to use it for Video Editing. I wanted to do something aggressive with video editing called "SDE" or "Same Day Editing". The Macbook Pro would give me the ability to have the portability to do this, however, there was also the fact that it cost roughly $700 more than the imacs out on the market.
I was interested to see what apple had to offer, but I didn't want to pay the premium price.
Old iMac issues:
I was frustrated with my old iMac G5 because my Final Cut HD express for some reason wouldn't capture anymore video from my professional video camera. After many tries and reloads, I finally gave up and started using iMovie because it was the only one that would capture my video. I spoke to a friend who had the same issue with Final Cut HD Pro. So I hoped that the new imac would solve the problem.
Glory:
Apple announced the newest imac was a 27 inch display and started at $1699. I was enthused! You should have seen the look on my face. I felt like a schoolboy again! Well, I was happy that I had waited. The price for the gear was lower than I expected. So I called the wife and asked her if I could get this. Being very supportive of my video ventures, she said "sure, if that's what you need."
Convincing the wife:
It wasn't too hard of a sale for the wife. I just brought her into the store and sat her down in front of the screen and showed her iMovie and said. "See? It's easier to use with a larger screen. I can see more while I'm editing". She agreed and blessed the purchase.
Ordering Woes:
We decided not to order it until the price went down a bit. Thank God for Black Friday! Black Friday gave us $100 off of any new iMac purchases. So we took the deal, got the upgraded version:
2.66 GHz Intel Core i5 4 gig ddr3.
BUT: The shipping was supposed to be from 3-5 business days. And this is my only concern with shopping online from Apple... It took over 2 weeks until they shipped it out to me. The excuse I got was that there was too large a demand and they were still in the process of making the units to ship them out. Great, I thought. please don't rush it just do it right. Thanks.
Well, I got the iMac and finally set it up last Friday.
Bonuses:
I didn't know that the iMac came with software to help you transition all of your old user accounts and programs from your old iMac to your new iMac. It was awesome. I transfered everything over... The only things that didn't transfer over correctly were programs like: DVD Copy software, Final Cut HD Express, Final Cut Pro Studio, and some other programs. But I did get my old iMovie version and iDVD and all of my iTunes library (which I was afraid I would lose forever).
Rating time: 60/70
Ease of use: 8/10
Very easy to use for mac users. Backwards for PC users but intuitive enough to figure it out.
Ease to set up: 10/10
I don't think it gets easier than plugging it into the wall and turning the mouse on and keyboard on.
Screen Quality: 10/10
I heard a lot about some people getting imacs with cracked / scratched or blown pixels, but mine is fine. I've got no scratches, dents cracks or broken pixels.
Speed of Processor: 8/10
Good. I can't complain yet. It handles my video processing very well.
Price: 8/10
If this was a PC it would cost half the price. But for macs, it's the best deal out there right now. (12/12/2009)
Standard Programs: 6/10
You don't have any Microsoft office programs that will come standard with this computer. The new iMove is too dumbed down to be functional for me anymore.
Video: 10/10
The best from PC and Mac worlds for watching videos and for managing and organizing pictures, video and music with iTunes and Front Row. Good Job Apple.
Tip: Get the Applecare protection plan. I had to use it on my old iMac once and it saved me $1000 dollars to replace a motherboard. It expired by the time the logical board blew and I wished they had the protection plan longer.
I've been an imac user since 2005. I've lived for a long time in mac envy. I built my own PCs since 1997 and have continued to own and operate both PCs and Macs. So... I like them both. But this is not a review to change your mind to go from PC to Mac or Vice Versa. This is simply a review for Mac users who already have their hearts set on getting a Mac.
Quest: My first G5 imac died on me in July 2009. a "logical board blew out" so I had to search for a new mac. I was debating whether or not to get a Macbook Pro or another iMac. The first iMac I had served me well, and it lasted me a long time, but I couldn't pay the cost to replace the logical board ($900).
I liked the Macbook Pro for the ease of use and portability. But I also needed to use it for Video Editing. I wanted to do something aggressive with video editing called "SDE" or "Same Day Editing". The Macbook Pro would give me the ability to have the portability to do this, however, there was also the fact that it cost roughly $700 more than the imacs out on the market.
I was interested to see what apple had to offer, but I didn't want to pay the premium price.
Old iMac issues:
I was frustrated with my old iMac G5 because my Final Cut HD express for some reason wouldn't capture anymore video from my professional video camera. After many tries and reloads, I finally gave up and started using iMovie because it was the only one that would capture my video. I spoke to a friend who had the same issue with Final Cut HD Pro. So I hoped that the new imac would solve the problem.
Glory:
Apple announced the newest imac was a 27 inch display and started at $1699. I was enthused! You should have seen the look on my face. I felt like a schoolboy again! Well, I was happy that I had waited. The price for the gear was lower than I expected. So I called the wife and asked her if I could get this. Being very supportive of my video ventures, she said "sure, if that's what you need."
Convincing the wife:
It wasn't too hard of a sale for the wife. I just brought her into the store and sat her down in front of the screen and showed her iMovie and said. "See? It's easier to use with a larger screen. I can see more while I'm editing". She agreed and blessed the purchase.
Ordering Woes:
We decided not to order it until the price went down a bit. Thank God for Black Friday! Black Friday gave us $100 off of any new iMac purchases. So we took the deal, got the upgraded version:
2.66 GHz Intel Core i5 4 gig ddr3.
BUT: The shipping was supposed to be from 3-5 business days. And this is my only concern with shopping online from Apple... It took over 2 weeks until they shipped it out to me. The excuse I got was that there was too large a demand and they were still in the process of making the units to ship them out. Great, I thought. please don't rush it just do it right. Thanks.
Well, I got the iMac and finally set it up last Friday.
Bonuses:
I didn't know that the iMac came with software to help you transition all of your old user accounts and programs from your old iMac to your new iMac. It was awesome. I transfered everything over... The only things that didn't transfer over correctly were programs like: DVD Copy software, Final Cut HD Express, Final Cut Pro Studio, and some other programs. But I did get my old iMovie version and iDVD and all of my iTunes library (which I was afraid I would lose forever).
Rating time: 60/70
Ease of use: 8/10
Very easy to use for mac users. Backwards for PC users but intuitive enough to figure it out.
Ease to set up: 10/10
I don't think it gets easier than plugging it into the wall and turning the mouse on and keyboard on.
Screen Quality: 10/10
I heard a lot about some people getting imacs with cracked / scratched or blown pixels, but mine is fine. I've got no scratches, dents cracks or broken pixels.
Speed of Processor: 8/10
Good. I can't complain yet. It handles my video processing very well.
Price: 8/10
If this was a PC it would cost half the price. But for macs, it's the best deal out there right now. (12/12/2009)
Standard Programs: 6/10
You don't have any Microsoft office programs that will come standard with this computer. The new iMove is too dumbed down to be functional for me anymore.
Video: 10/10
The best from PC and Mac worlds for watching videos and for managing and organizing pictures, video and music with iTunes and Front Row. Good Job Apple.
Tip: Get the Applecare protection plan. I had to use it on my old iMac once and it saved me $1000 dollars to replace a motherboard. It expired by the time the logical board blew and I wished they had the protection plan longer.
