The Applecare protection plan is 149$ and all the software I saw
(filemaker, logic express, aperture, final cut, Iwork) had a price
tag. Is this for pre-installation only or does Apple supply the
media and let users install it for free?
If I were to get a Mac, I would probably get a iMac and dream about a
Mac Pro. Those cinema displays are also very beautiful.
I wouldn't get AppleCare with any Mac that I can open easily and change
parts, i.e. Mini, Mac Pro. I have it for my iMac and MacBook, neither of
which are easy to open. MacBook is easy to open only for RAM and hard
drive. iMac opens easily only for RAM. You need large suction cups to
remove the front before you can get to the drives and mobo. I didn't buy
AC for our G4, G5, CRT iMac or any earlier Macs, but AC more than paid
for itself with the lemon iBook.
FileMaker, Final Cut, etc. are professional programs that home users are
not likely to need. iWork preinstalled is $49. NeoOffice and OpenOffice
are free. iLife is free with a new Mac. Many Unix apps are free but need
X-11 [free] to run.
My husband calls my 24" iMac a drive-in theater [remember those?]. The
24" cinema displays alone cost $900. Several other manufacturers use
similar LG.Philips display panels for much less. Geeks.com had 20-24"
refurbs with LG Philips H-IPS/S-IPS panels recently. Cavan bought a
rotating HP display for his Mini for $149. Some have HDMI, USB hub,
speakers.
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