Ars Technica Reviews the iMac 17" Core Duo

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/imac-coreduo.ars/1' target='_blank'>http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/imac-coreduo.ars/1</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The Big Switch has been publicly underway for a mere seven months, and it has borne fruit in the form of a new iMac and laptop, the MacBook Pro. The MacBook Pro is due to hit store shelves at some point in February. The iMac is available now, and we've had a 17" Core Duo iMac up and running at the Ars Orbiting HQ since we were able to get our hands on one. Externally, the iMac appears identical to its PowerPC predecessor. There's the small camera above the display, the same array of ports in back, and the same white keyboard and Mighty Mouse. It's the inside that's different. Instead of the venerable PowerPC 970 CPU, there's the latest from Intel: the Core Duo T2400."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/indexfrontrow20060109.jpg" /><br /><br />A nice, detailed review of the new Intel-based iMac. Worth the read!

[Damion Chaplin]

Macworld was just in town last week, so our lovely city is being flooded with Apple propoganda surrounding this release.

In case you haven't seen them, the ads say
"What's an Intel chip doing in an Apple? A lot more than it's ever done in a PC." :roll:

So my question is what, exactly, is the Intel chip doing in an Apple that it has never done in a PC?

Sounds like a bunch of hype to me...
And unless I'm missing something it's flagrant false advertizing...
"Gee, I was going to buy a PC, but since this billboard is telling me an Apple does more, I guess I should buy the Apple." :roll:

[Jason Dunn]

So my question is what, exactly, is the Intel chip doing in an Apple that it has never done in a PC? Sounds like a bunch of hype to me...

They're playing on the false stereotype that creative people can't possibly use a PC, and the Mac OS is the only "true" platform for doing "cool" stuff. Marketing is ALWAYS false advertising. :wink:

[Phronetix]

So my question is what, exactly, is the Intel chip doing in an Apple that it has never done in a PC? Sounds like a bunch of hype to me...

They're playing on the false stereotype that creative people can't possibly use a PC, and the Mac OS is the only "true" platform for doing "cool" stuff. Marketing is ALWAYS false advertising. :wink:

Heheh, like "Plays for sure"?

I think that Apple has always enjoyed poking fun at the market leader. It's an easy target, and appeals to its users. It is interesting to read the varied views on the Mac platform from DMT readers. It reminds me of when I was shopping for a new car and talking about the Jetta turbo diesel with my best friend. He replied that he was seriously considering that as well, but he couldn't stand how VW drivers would get so pushy about their vehicle, like it was the best thing since sliced bread, or NAND RAM or something of the sort, you get the idea.

That was the single issue that drove him away from the manufacturer. I was stunned, because that was the thing that attracted me to consider VW in the first place. Fierce owner loyalty has to mean something about the perceived and real value of their purchase. Why did that make my buddy decide against even considering a VW? Why was he suspicious of loyalty?

So it also was when I was replacing my well used Pentium II that I was intrigued by what Mac enthusiasts had to say. Not to single out Jason specifically, but he has commented before that MacFans have been partly to blame for him resisting the Mac platform. Do they ever make you curious instead? I know that your enthusiasm about the Windows Mobile OS has helped me remain interested in soon returning to using that OS.

Sorry for being offtopic here. Imperium's comments were frustrating enough to me to want to bring up my thoughts too.

[Damion Chaplin]

Fierce owner loyalty has to mean something about the perceived and real value of their purchase ... Sorry for being offtopic here. Imperium's comments were frustrating enough to me to want to bring up my thoughts too.

Sorry to continue the off-topic thread here, but what was it that you found frustrating about my comments? Was it my comments themselves or my topic that you found frustrating?

In any case, in my experience, Apple's fierce customer loyalty has more to do with ease-of-use and asthetic appeal than benchmarks or any empirical data...

And sometimes I do wish my Archos came with a glossy white finish... :P

[Phronetix]

Sorry to continue the off-topic thread here, but what was it that you found frustrating about my comments? Was it my comments themselves or my topic that you found frustrating?

In any case, in my experience, Apple's fierce customer loyalty has more to do with ease-of-use and asthetic appeal than benchmarks or any empirical data...

I was frustrated at the Mac bashing element in your comment. I'm better now. ;-)

Imperium, the thing about benchmarks is that a computer with outstanding benchmarks is less useful to me if it can't do what I want it to do... simply, reliably and repeatedly. Perhaps you find your pc can do that for you. I couldn't, so I switched. That doesn't mean you necessarily should though. Only you know your needs best.