Death of an iMac
- 2001.03.30
Low End Mac Reader Specials Memory To Go Special: New 2008 iMac 2GB $42 / iMac Intel Core2 DUO & MacBook Pro 2GB $36 - 1GB $20.
MacPro 8 Core Memory 8GB kit $286 / 4GB kit $143 / 2GB kit $93 -- Free shipping available. LIfetime warranty. Download Typestyler, still the Ultimate Styling Tool for Internet, Print and Video
Graphics. Works great in Classic with a Native OS X Version on the way. Free
Tryout: www.typestyler.com  LA Computer Company: Specials on AppleCare, iMac's, Apple Batteries and Apple A/C Adapters. Also Great prices on Used Apple Computers. Call 1-800-941-7654 Click Here.
OWC: Burn DVDs, DVD-DL, CDs, DVD-Ram - FAST! Superdrive upgrades from OWC starting from $31.99 with options for nearly every Mac. Models with Lightscribe, Blu-Ray too! Mac users can finally play Party Poker for Mac. Not only that, they can also learn how to play PokerStars for Mac.  Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
Compare products like desktop computers, laptops, and LCD TVs side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for a new cell phone GPS products or MP3 players. The Ciao network makes searching products easy for you.
When we bought our Rev. B
iMac, USB was a brand new thing. There was one consumer printer
available for the iMac, the Epson Stylus Colour 740 (not the 740i -
that came later). We bought the iMac (and upgraded the RAM to 64
MB) and the printer.
The old iMacs had a number of problems. First, as new printers
and USB devices were introduced, these iMacs wouldn't support a
number of them. Our printer didn't come with the iMac installer CD,
and after several hours of being on the phone with tech support, we
found out we had to download the software. The iMac was set up on
the Internet (that's where the 'i' in iMac came from), so we
downloaded it.
The iMac came with Mac OS 8.5, which was the latest from Apple
at that time. It was probably one of the most popular OS upgrades
ever. Of course, 8.5 wasn't bug-free, and soon came 8.5.1 and
8.6.
We downloaded the OS 8.6 update, but it wouldn't work on our
Rev. B iMac without a firmware update. We installed that, and then
the 8.6 update. Shortly after Mac OS 9 came out, we installed that
on the iMac, along with another firmware upgrade. It worked great,
but was a little slow. A RAM upgrade to 160 MB helped. The day 9.1
came out, we installed that. The old iMac ran it well enough.
We were all ready to install Mac OS X on it, but just two
days before that happened, my mom asked me to come look at the
iMac. She had noticed that it would make arcing noises when she
woke it from sleep. I told her to put it to sleep and wake it up
again, so I could see if it was just her imagination. We put it to
sleep, and I heard the noises as it went to sleep. I waited a
second and hit a key on the keyboard. I heard the hard drive spin
up, and then the noises started - but they got very loud this time.
My mom mentioned that it wasn't this loud before. They started
getting loud enough that I knew the end was near.
In just a couple seconds, the little power light blinked off,
and all was silent.
We immediately unplugged it and called our dealer. The dealer
thought it was going to cost about $300 to have it repaired.
Considering that a used iMac like ours can be had for $400 or less
on eBay, it
would probably be a better deal to buy a new iMac.
What model to choose? The entry-level iMac is a lot like the
Summer 2000 iMac DV (in fact, I
think it is the same). The 500 MHz
iMac  comes with twice as much VRAM (16 MB vs.
8), a CD-RW drive, and a 500 MHz G3 instead of the 400 MHz of the
entry-level iMac. Not to mention the 500 MHz model is available in
Indigo, Blue Dalmatian, and Flower Power.
The high-end iMac runs at 600
MHz, includes 16 MB of VRAM, a CD-RW drive, and is available in
graphite as well as Blue Dalmatian and Flower Power.
We generally keep our computers for 3-4 years, so the iMac was
due for replacement next year. In buying a new computer, part of
the question is "how long do you want to keep it?" If you want to
keep your computer for only one or two years, buy the base model.
If you want to keep it for three or four years, buy either the base
model and upgrade it as much as you can, or buy a higher end model
and upgrade as you go along. My mom chose the latter, buy a higher
end model and upgrade as she goes.
We ordered a 500 MHz iMac in Indigo blue. The next thing we have
to do is buy some more RAM, and then my mom will have a fast system
ready to run OS X.
Recent Apple Archive articles- iPods, notebooks, and other modern electronics more readily replaced than repaired, 12.07.
Whether it's an intermittent failure or a broken display cable, more often than not it's cheaper to replace a broken electronics device than repair it.
- Options for replacing your older iPod, 11.19.
Whether you've run out of space on your old iPod or want features it doesn't have, here are your options in new and used iPods.
- Could the $200 'green' PC with gOS Linux become a threat to Apple?, 11.14.
The low cost, low power Everex desktop comes with a customized version of Ubuntu Linux, has a Mac-like Dock, and sells for $400 less than the Mac mini.
- Leopard different, a bit buggy, but worth the upgrade, 11.02.
Leopard on a Power Mac G4 and a MacBook Pro: It runs well on both computers, but each has some odd bugs, and some of the changes are a step backwards.
- More in the Apple Archive index.
Links for the Day- Mac of the Day: Power Mac 8200, Apr. 1996 - The minitower version of 7200 was never sold in America.
- List of the Day: G4 List is for those using Power Mac G4s or G4 upgrades.
- October 6 in LEM history: 98: USB is a good thing - Can Apple save Emailer? - 99: Kihei iMacs - 00: Advice about PDS Power Macs - 03: A replacement PowerBook battery - 04: AirPort Express - 05: The Apple Lisa story - 06: Don't ignore battery recall - Use any networked computer as an additional Mac display
Recent Content on Low End Mac- $19,800 Bentley Ego Laptop Remarkably Similar to 1999 Clamshell iBook, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 10.06.
Granted, Apple's iBook didn't have white gold trim, a padded leather exterior, or come in colors to match your Bentley automobile.
- Use Your FileMaker Pro Databases on Your iPhone, Adam Rosen, Adam's Apple, 10.06.
Although there's no version of FileMaker Pro for the iPhone, FMTouch will let you use your data and layouts on it.
- The Cost of Moving to Small Business Server vs. Moving to Leopard Server., Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 10.06.
Upgrading the existing SBS 2003 Server would cost less, the the server will run up against hardware limitations long before a Mac Pro does.
- Best eMac Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.06.
Used 700 MHz CD, $110; CD-RW, $130; Combo, $170; 800 CD, $170; 1 GHz Combo, $250; SuperDrive, $280; 1.25 Combo, $290; SD, $360; 1.42 Combo, $359.
- Best MacBook Air Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.06.
Used 1.6 HD, $1,299; refurb, $1,499; new, $1,669 after rebate; 1.8, $1,919 a/r; 1.6 SSD, $2,294 a/r; used 1.8 SSD, $1,997; refurb, $2,299; new, $2,349 a/r.
- Best iPod shuffle Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.06.
Refurb 3G/1 GB, $39; 2 GB, $59; new 1 GB (3G or 4G), $47; 2 GB (3G or 4G), $67. Prices include ground shipping.
- Mac Netbook Coming?, $179 64 GB SSD, Apple Owns 20% of US Notebook Market, and More, The 'Book Review, 10.03.
Also head of Norton AntiVirus team uses a Mac, Toshiba demos new battery technology, 1 TB notebook drives due in 2010, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
- Getting the Most from Your G3 Mac, Simon Royal, Mac Spectrum, 10.03.
Most G3 Macs can be upgraded so they can run Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' quite nicely. Here's how.
- Apple Drops iPhone NDA, Defecting to Android, Auto Performance Apps for the iPhone, and More, iNews Review, 10.03.
Also more research needed on cellphone cancer link, file sharing app for the iPhone, three new power accessories from Macally, several new iPhone apps, and more.
- Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.03.
Used 450 MHz, $75; 500, $99; 733, $150; 800, $199; 1.25 GHz, C$349; 867 MHz dual, $225; 1 GHz, $349; 1.25, $499; 1.42, $600.
- OS X and Safari Shares Grow in September, Toxic Mac Pro?, Green Hard Drives, and More, Mac News Review, 10.03.
Also Vista terrible as Mac market grows, CrossOver Mac Pro reviewed, SimpleTech Pro Drives, and a new toolkit for working on computers.
- Best iBook G3 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.03.
Used 300 MHz clamshell, $150; 366, $199; 500 CD, $149; 800, $190; 600 CD-RW, $240; 800 Combo, $300; 900, $399; 14" 600, $360; 900, $469.
- Best Mac OS X 10.0-10.3 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.03.
Mac OS X 10.0.3, $30; 10.1, $20; 10.2, $60; 10.3 CD, DVD, $100; CD, $119; 10.1 Server, unlimited users, $65; 10.3 Server, unlimited, $150.
- Why I'm Switching from Windows Small Business Server to Leopard Server, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 10.02.
Windows SBS 2003 has served very well, but with SBS 2008 just around the corner, it's time to reconsider that choice. Leopard Server has a lot to offer.
- The Unwritten Rule Behind Apple's App Store Rejections, Tim Nash, Taking Back the Market, 10.02.
"If you want to work with someone, don't attack or try to take over part of what they think of as theirs."
- The Best Browsers for Older Macs Running Tiger, Charles W. Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 10.02.
A dial-up user's overview of browsers for Mac OS X 10.4 puts the emphasis on reliability, downloads, and speed.
- Best MacBook Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.02.
Used 1.83 GHz, $649; 2.0 SD, $750; refurb 2.1 GHz, $899; 2.4, $1,099; black, $1,299; new 2.1, $1,019 after rebate; 2.4, $1,204 a/r; black, $1,394 a/r.
- CodeWeavers Brings Google's Chrome Browser to Intel Macs, Alan Zisman, Zis Mac, 10.02.
Google's new Chrome browser uses separate processes for each tab and brings other changes to Windows users. Now Mac fans can try it as well.
- Best iMac G5 Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.02.
Used 17" 1.6 GHz Combo, $450; 2.0 SuperDrive, $500; 1.9 iSight, $625; 20" 1.8 GHz, $550; 2.0, $600; 2.1 iSight, $650.
- Best iPod touch Deals, Low End Mac Deals, 10.02.
Used 1G/8 GB, $160; refurb, $179; new, $198; used 16, $200; refurb, $219; new, $265; refurb 32, $319; new, $345; 2G/8 GB, $229; 16, $280; 32, $380.
- More links in our archive.
|
