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New Entry Level 21.5-inch iMac

apple.com

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Re: New Entry Level 21.5-inch iMac

#141

Post by [deleted] »

logicallee wrote: post #59
glibgil wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Calling something illegal is usually reserved for things that are in the criminal code. There is no law against running Mac OS X on non-Apple computers. No one will be going to jail. Nothing will happen. You don't even have to feel bad. Apple would have to sue in civil court and would have to prove damages. They would not be able to prove damages.

It would make more sense if you said "calling something a crime is...". I disagree with this comment due to the level of colloquial discussion. Illegal is (colloquially) whatever you can't do because of the law. (Just about the only exception is a contract, which you might be forced to follow because of the law, but we don't view as part of the law in a colloquial sense.) Regarding "nothing will happen, you don't eve…

[deleted]

Re: New Entry Level 21.5-inch iMac

#142

Post by rumbler »

cpher wrote: post #139
mgkimsal wrote: post #4

having just bought the $1299 model last year, glad to see they're trying to offer a cheaper model. Lowest used to be $1199 a few years back - another $100 to $1299 (essentially $1400 with tax) was a big hit to take. Yes, $200 is just $200 - these new $1099 ones aren't free , but... this may make the difference between someone getting a new one vs not. 1.4ghz seems awfully slow, but... I suspect for a lot of what many…

What's your opinion of using this for a kids' first computer? (Let's set aside the "toy" computers sold at Christmas). I'm assuming it's more than adequate for most things. Won't be used for video-encoding, playing hardcore games, etc. Literally for the family which means very simple needs. Is 1.4ghz really that slow? Really??!!

I got my kid a Panasonic Toughbook CF-18 when he was 5 years old. I bought it used for less than $200 and installed Linux Mint on it.

The small keyboard of the CF-18 is perfect for little hands, the rugged construction means he probably won't break it whatever he tries, and Linux Mint just works, as usual.

He uses it mostly for watching movies, playing educational games (GCompris and such), looking at small things with a USB microscope I got from DealExtreme, taking to Grandma on Skype, and recently, he has started making little Scratch programs. He's really proud to own a real computer.

Preschool children are not the target market of Panasonic Toughbooks, but they actually are a great fit.

Re: New Entry Level 21.5-inch iMac

#143

Post by jiggy2011 »

hatbert wrote: post #129
jiggy2011 wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do a few of those, but it's a matter of cost benefit. Growing all your own food would probably cost more than buying in many cases. You have to be extremely rich to value your time in the thousands per hour.

You could start by estimating the time cost correctly. You're assuming that the time required to select the right monitor is zero, that the time required to understand the various connection standards is zero, etc., etc., etc. The only cost you're counting is the act of unboxing and plugging it in. Maybe you and I keep track of this stuff professionally or as a hobby, but most "grandmothers" don't. Quick: What's the…

Not really the same thing, you could walk into any electronics shop and they will sell you a monitor that will work with a mac mini.

Re: New Entry Level 21.5-inch iMac

#144

Post by subsection1h »

Pxtl wrote: post #117
dublinben wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you elaborate a little on why you're looking for an AiO computer? I've always seen them as overpriced, underpowered computers for people who don't really want a computer. I don't know why anyone on HN would be in the market for one.

I want a computer in my kitchen breakfast nook. This is a space where I entertain guests - a rat's nest of cables and a large desk are completely inappropriate for that venue. This is a location where I'm willing to pay a premium for aesthetics. My man-cave basement machine is a proper desktop gaming rig.

One option is to duct tape an Intel NUC to the back of a monitor. ;-)

Re: New Entry Level 21.5-inch iMac

#145

Post by jeroen »

jiggy2011 wrote: post #143
hatbert wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You could start by estimating the time cost correctly. You're assuming that the time required to select the right monitor is zero, that the time required to understand the various connection standards is zero, etc., etc., etc. The only cost you're counting is the act of unboxing and plugging it in. Maybe you and I keep track of this stuff professionally or as a hobby, but most "grandmothers" don't. Quick: What's the…

Not really the same thing, you could walk into any electronics shop and they will sell you a monitor that will work with a mac mini.

Did you include that in your five minute estimate?

Re: New Entry Level 21.5-inch iMac

#146

Post by [deleted] »

subsection1h wrote: post #144
Pxtl wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I want a computer in my kitchen breakfast nook. This is a space where I entertain guests - a rat's nest of cables and a large desk are completely inappropriate for that venue. This is a location where I'm willing to pay a premium for aesthetics. My man-cave basement machine is a proper desktop gaming rig.

One option is to duct tape an Intel NUC to the back of a monitor. ;-)

[deleted]

Re: New Entry Level 21.5-inch iMac

#147

Post by nacs »

danford wrote: post #13

>1.4 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost Speeds up to 2.7 GHz, Intel HD 5000 graphics, 8GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive. Eh.. I got similar specs in laptop form for about half the price on black Friday last year. I'd like to get something like this for a desktop but I'm afraid my Ubuntu might have some issues on the hardware. I'll wait until I find it slightly used for half the cost. On a side…

Your laptop had a 21.5" IPS display?

That sounded cynical but leaving out possibly the most expensive component on the iMac to compare it to a generic laptop with a smaller screen on a Black friday sale doesn't make sense.

Re: New Entry Level 21.5-inch iMac

#148

Post by xiaoma »

dsr_ wrote: post #21

This has a 1920x1080 display. I fail to understand why someone would buy this over a Mac Mini and an external display: cheaper, more powerful, ability to change displays, only two more cables (power and data for the display). Anyone care to enlighten me?

It's more expensive to get a Mac Mini with equivalent performance, monitor, camera, speakers, keyboard, ram and mouse/trackpad, etc.

The gap is the closest I've seen yet—the mini used to be very underpowered and this is the lowest clock speed I've seen on an iMac in a long time. But the iMac is still the better value, especially if you want a top-quality machine. That said, I don't see how many people would want the $1100 model instead of the $1300 model now that there's such a gap between the two.

Re: New Entry Level 21.5-inch iMac

#150

Post by [deleted] »

e40 wrote: post #94
cmelbye wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Simplicity? My grandma doesn't want to buy an "external display", she would truly have no idea where to even start to do that. And then after she's got the Mac mini, the external display, and the cable to connect the display (assuming she was able to find the right one,) someone then has to set it up for her. Compare that to an iMac. Go to the Apple store, drop $1k, take it home, plug in the power cable, and she's on…

Let's be honest here, your grandma won't buy anything without help from someone. The leap from the iMac to a monitor+mini is not very far, with the help that will certainly be given.

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