Hi Macers:
I'm going to try an cover all the replies to my original message with
this one response, so it's going to be a bit long, sorry. Okay, here
goes...
At 12/13/02 9:32 PM -0500, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
>No way. A component station is the only way to go---the all-in-ones are cute
>and compact, but repair costs are extraordinary, and it means one whole
>station is offline during repairs.
I think you're correct on all of the above counts, but there's no way
that we can currently afford a new component system. I think it's the
best way to go, but with Apple's lineup it's just too far out of our
budget range. Now if they made a low end component system like Dell,
etc. that would be different.
At 12/14/02 1:27 AM -0500, Charles Martin wrote:
>It doesn't if you're smart. If you're smart, you buy AppleCare and then
>replace the machine when or shortly after the extended warranty expires.
As I a rule, we don't buy service contracts, extended warranties,
etc. and I don't think I want to start now with Apple computers.
Although I'd like to have a new computer every 3 years, I don't think
realistically that I'd need a new one that often, let alone afford
one that often.
>I wouldn't worry about it much. The odds of you getting the raster
>shift problem are very low -- particularly now that Apple has
>identified the problem as an expensive one (for them). You can be sure
>that when a problem like this crops up (a component flaw or a design
>flaw) they work quickly behind the scenes to correct the problem.
The number of complaints does seem to have died down, but I think the
whole thing has made me gun shy right now. Maybe after Christmas and
Macworld I'll feel differently and get one.
At 12/14/02 9:07 AM -0600, Jeremy Derr wrote:
>on the optical drive front.... in both the flat-panel iMac and the
>eMac, the optical drive is Ye Olde Standard EIDE drive. If it goes
>south, replace it with whatever you feel you can afford.
Somewhere I read that the flat-panel iMacs optical drive was shorter
than a standard drive, so not all drives would work in it. Also, from
what I gather replacing an optical drive or anything else for that
matter inside an FP iMac or eMac was not something for the faint at
heart and involved thermal paste and pads, etc.
>On the display front... the difference in price between repairing a
>built-in display and buying a new monitor is almost completely absorbed
>in labor. If you know how to do it, you can sometimes find the
>iMac/eMac parts for cheaper than a monitor costs.
From my understanding the eMac's PAV (Power/Analog/Video), basically
everything above the optical drive is a one piece non-repairable unit
unlike the earlier iMacs that has separate components.
>Beyond that.... the problems you sight from various forums are
>relatively rare: you'll rarely see anyone posting "HEY, My iMac's
>working great, just thought I'd let you know!"
Yeah, I realize that generally the only people you hear from are
people with problems, that only makes sense. According to reports
that appeared on MacFixit.com from Apple dealers, the raster shift
problem is affecting from between 15-60% of eMacs. One dealer even
said they stopped selling them because of the bad will it was
creating with customers.
>All-in-One computers (both mac and pc) have almost always been the
>realm of the first-time-buyer. That is, that's who the company in
>question is trying to sell to. Sure, many long-time MacAddicts are
>going to buy them, but that's probably not who Apple is really aiming
>at with the iMac and eMac. For anyone seriously concerned about repair
>costs, or needing internal expandability, go with a PowerMac G4. For
>$1699 (less than some of the iMacs, and only marginally more expensive
>than the high-end eMac), you can get the G4 867MHz DP and use any
>monitor you want (quite literally, as it has ADC and DVI connectors,
>and comes with a DVI->VGA dongle).
The other reason that iMacs and eMacs appeal to longtime Mac users is
because, they meet our needs better than Apple's towers do. I'd love
a component system, but they're just too expensive. I could probably
find a way to come up with the cost of the low end tower, but by the
time you add in a monitor, speakers, software upgrades, etc. it's
just not feasible anymore. Plus, the eMac would do everything I need
a mac to do for just slightly over $900 (after rebates).
And to Bobp, Michael Shaw, Vic, Ralph Plumb, Amber <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
Sherry Landry, John Haumann, Art Landrey, Brian Norwood and Gerald
Uhlan thanks for taking the time to write and tell us all about why
you bought an iMac/eMac and how reliable they have been for each of
you. Also, some of you mentioned space as one of the considerations
and although I agree that space is an important consideration for
many, we have the space for either a component system or an
all-in-one, so it really isn't an issue for us.
The iMac I'm writing this on was our second Mac purchase. The first
Mac, a Performa 600CD, has worked flawlessly since day one (1993) and
has never been repaired. This iMac on the other hand hasn't been as
fortunate, it had it's CD-ROM drive replaced during it's one year
Apple warranty. The CD-ROM is acting up again (with a different
problem) which I understand will lead to the death of the drive. My
in-laws also own a iMac (a Rev. C) and they had their keyboard
replaced during the one year warranty.
The above warranty repairs combined with the current display problems
on the eMac goes to show that although the all-in-ones can be great
computers, under certain circumstances could be expensive to
maintain. I understand that the repairs that my in-laws and myself
had done were covered under warranty, as are the eMac's display
repairs, but if the failures weren't during the warranty period it
could be rather costly.
I think I've rambled on long enough. I know that ultimately, I have
to make up my own mind. I have to decide if the cost savings of an
eMac outweigh the potential repair cost, and I will...eventually.
--
Regards,
Allen
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iMac (Rev. B)/160MB RAM/4GB HD/Mac OS 8.6
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