Im close to buying an apple imac 5 desktop. what upgrades should I spring for?

Question

should I get any apple preinstalled software? anything else anyone else has to add regarding the imac would be appreciated

Im interested in downloading (a lot), movie making, photo editing, web surfing, work applications, and gaming

should I opt for the Aperture 1.5 preinstalled software? or should I hold off and just download what I need for free via the internet?

I havent seen any of the new adds, Ive been overseas for the last 4 years, no USA TV

Answer 1

I use both an iMac and a PC at home. The iMacs are really nice computers. The one I had came with 512MB RAM. I bought another 1GB. The Apple memory was pretty expensive, but I ended up buying mine from www.crucial.com. The website is pretty easy, and guides you to the exact one you need. The cost is < 50% what Apple charges.

If you are editing photos, and if you have a lot of photos, I would recommend buying an external drive in the near future. Again, though you can get them from the apple store, you can get a much better deal from any vendor, as long as the drives are USB2.0 or Firewire. I use Firewire drives.

If you live near any CompUSA store that is closing, Aperture is >30% off.

Of course, if you have the money, an iPod goes really well with an iMac.

Answer 2

I'd say go for as much RAM as your budget allows. A nice big hard drive for media is good. As for software, the iLife suite is pretty nice and user friendly to get started.

Other people here are commenting that Macs are crap and only good for music. Baloney. I'm a PC user myself, however Macs are typically industry standard for any type of media editing and creation. Recording Studios, Photographers, Video Editing Houses, Graphic Designers usually are using Macs. They're idiot proof and quite reliable. Just expensive :) If I had the cash I'd own one as well as my PC.

Answer 3

you recognize, those flaws are consumer-friendly on living house windows as nicely, heck, you examine information approximately living house windows flaws customary. i'm no longer asserting that OS X is bulletproof, yet being carful is adequate, while in comparison with living house windows, being careful would not help plenty, you need to place in a pile of antivirus apps. There are no longer any unquestionably time-honored trojan horse or virus or secret agent ware presently. and whether the Macintosh community grows, it has constrained enhance; maximum human beings see computers as equipment, they do no longer care if it somewhat is bright or no longer, that is that computer marketplace, yet there is the minorty who desire to pay the better to get some thing bright and funky. anyhow, in case you desire to talk approximately how risky Mac OS X is, XP is not any better. of those 'malicious code' assaults, you relatively ought to be careful no rely which OS you're utilising.

Answer 4

Really dont get a MAC, get windows, MAC is a poorly written OS, there computers arent much good for anything other than surfing the net and listening to music (if thats all you do then never mind this) and if you get a mac anyhow, just download for free, but seriously just dont buy a mac go to newegg.com and order a windows pc, you can get em' pretty cheap on there

Answer 5

I see Apple is luring in another unsuspecting customer with their misleading ads.....then you better scratch gaming off of your list of requirements!