Need help choosing options for 24" iMac

<p><a href="http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB585LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA2Mg&mco=MzE3MDE4NA">Service options may include the following:*</a></p>

<ul>

<li><a href="http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB585LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA2Mg&mco=MzE3MDE4NA">Take your Mac to an Apple Retail Store or other Apple Authorized Service Provider</a> </li>

<li><a href="http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB585LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA2Mg&mco=MzE3MDE4NA">Request that a technician come to your work site</a> </li>

</ul>

<p><a href="http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB585LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA2Mg&mco=MzE3MDE4NA"><br /> </a> <br /> <a href="http://store.apple.com/us/product/MB585LL/A?fnode=MTY1NDA2Mg&mco=MzE3MDE4NA">*Repair service options for iMac may include onsite and carry-in service; specific availability of each option depends on country in which service requested and location of Apple Authorized Service Provider. Apple may also request that the customer replace components with readily installable parts. <strong>Onsite service is not available in all locations.</strong> </a></p>

<p>Here with our 20" iMac we got 2 years of Apple Care; since it was 1 year old when we bought it. We kept the original Apple Box the iMac 20" unit came in; since there is no service available where the 20" unit is; except by phone. The power company's Graphics dept and the local Newspaper ships away their Macs for any thing that cannot be fixed over the phone; thus they have spares</p>

<p>Kelly, Apple representative double-checked since they were all giving me different answers and yes, they will send a local Authorized Apple Technician to my home. I mentioned that in the post above yours. It is a very confusing system that they use and it is all according to your area code in regards to how close you are to a Apple Store and if there is an Authorized Apple Technician near by...I guess:) That is probably why there have been so many different replies as to Apple Care options on this thread. Sorry for the mispellings in my previous post. I never installed the spell check or it would be very busy. For inquiring minds, I am going with the Macs. Just waiting for approval. I am in a program that pays for part of cost. Hopefully I will know by end of the week. I was seriously looking at the Dell XPS, but I kept thinking of the virus problems and also reading lots of noise issues with the XPS. My current Dimension sounds like a coffee pot brewing. I keep it below my desk and have gotten used to it, but I am surprised that the new ones still have noise issues. All your comments helped me with my decision. Thanks for the group effort. lol</p>

<p>The noise is probaby from a fan; hopefully not the hard drive. In a economy computer a bushing fan is used; is no ball bearings. Many times these dry out and just make a big racket. If the fans speed drops too low on a fan on a CPU; any computer can get abit slow and weird.The fans in the box can also be just gunked up with crud; a tiny wrapper in a fan blade will make a huge racket. A filing HDA is a serious matter; save an data or back it up.</p>

<p>Replacing a fan is not a big deal, just make sure that you get one that moves at least as much air (CFMs) as the one you're replacing. A noisy hard drive is a lot more critical, it's going out, and the bearing is what is making the noise. That needs immediate attention. </p>

<p><em>John, if you buy a new car, and you have trouble with it do you expect the manufacturer to send someone to your house to address the problem? Are you really willing to pay what that level of service actually costs?</em></p>

<p>In the Fall, a friend of mine phoned Dell on a Tues aft. Thursday morning a float plane pulls up to the shared private dock. A neighbour strolls down the beach in her house coat and slippers and asks her if she's expecting company? "Yes, a Dell tech." Dell spent $2K on airfare to repair a nvidia chipset plagued $1800 laptop. Nothin special on her warranty, no "extended" care, just a simple laptop purchase. I was stunned when she told me. What was Apple doing after nvidia fessed up in the summer and said sorry to everyone that owned Dell/HP/Mac laptops with this same chipset problem? They were still still shipping units and refusing warranty. Right up until October.</p>

<p>My next laptop will be a Dell.</p>

<p><em>I was seriously looking at the Dell XPS, but I kept thinking of the virus problem...</em></p>

<p>This was the hinging factor? You're serioulsy paying twice as much to go half as slow while changing platforms, and compromising hardware and software options over the possibiltiy that you <strong>might</strong> get a virus? Three threads in three weeks with what...250 resonces...why didn't you mention this before now?</p>

<p>Carl, the gurgling sound has been going on for a couple of years. I'm don't have a clue what could be causing it. I just happen to mentioned that I needed to free up some space and maybe it was contributing to causing the sound. Does that eliminate the hard drive as the culprit?<br>

Garrison, not sure what your trying to say here <em>"John, if you buy a new car, and you have trouble with it do you expect the manufacturer to send someone to your house to address the problem? Are you really willing to pay what that level of service actually costs?"</em> I have already explained what Mac told me. <strong>They will come to the house for the iMac if it cannot be fixed by phone if i have the AppleCare Service.</strong> Not sure why your debating it.I thought my message was clear. Your Dell story was cute. Regarding the factors in my choice. It was more then the virus problems. It was all the info that was posted here and more. Also, after adding up the Dell package, surprisingly it was just about the same amount as the iMac. As you can see, I had a problem deciding. I thought you would be happy that you helped me decide:)</p>

<p><em>Garrison, not sure what your trying to say here...</em></p>

<p>I was citing Carl.</p>

<p><em>Your Dell story was cute.</em></p>

<p>Thanks. I like cute stories.<br>

<em><br /> </em><br>

<em>Also, after adding up the Dell package, surprisingly it was just about the same amount as the iMac.</em></p>

<p>How? Dell is blowing out thier old hardware, the same as iMac's spec's, for a fraction of the cost of an iMac. You can not compare todays Dell with the latest techonogy, an i7/6 gigs ram/WD 640, against iMacs old quad core and 4 gigs of ram and state "about the same amount". The new Dell is blindlingly quicker, runs CS4 in 64-bit, and costs about the same as the slow poke running CS4 in 32-bit.</p>

<p>I'm just torturing you, John :) Let us know how the Mac is when it arrives.</p>

<p>dam! 132 answer for a *should i get a Imac thread ?*..</p>

<p>i didtn even have that many answer when i offer 4 yearly free subscription! </p>

<p>; )</p>

<p>I have an iMac 24" OS X version 10.4.11 with 2.33 GHz almost 2 years old. I have 3 GB Ram which I think is the maximum for this model. Am I correct about 3 GB being the maximum? I thought you couldn't put 2 2's in mine but maybe my memory is faulty.</p>

<p>Steve</p>

<p>Steve, you can put in 2 2's and if you get matched 2's you will get a little speed bump. But the mother board limitation will only see 3 and a little +. Some people think its worth it, but I never did it.<br>

Steve. since we have close to the same machine, let me ask you. Are you using Tiger or Leopard, and if Leopard how does it work with photoshop etc.? I've stayed on Tiger because I've felt that Leopard uses a little more ram and I feel that I need all the ram I can spare for programs.</p>

<p>Barry: I'm on Tiger and use Photoshop CS3. I do not do anything hugely complicated and mostly use it for Black and White. I have had no issues and find it to be a decent set-up.</p>

<p>Yeah, I'm the same way. Everything works well, CS3/Lightroom. But I do work with large images these days.</p>

<p>Steve; The max ram a Imac holds depends on its model; for a 24" Intel based one its either 3Gigs for an older one; or 4 for a newer one. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMac_(Intel-based)"><strong> Your processor a 2.33 Ghz points to the older one under memory on this link. </strong> </a><br>

There a GOBS of errors about the max memory a PC or Mac holds in written form and on the internet. If you jot done down the info on the bottom foot of an Imac; a totally positive id can be made.<a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1463"><strong>;The EMC number defines the computer.</strong> </a></p>

<p>The imac 20" we have here from early <a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/SP35"><strong>; 2006 holds only 2 gigs of ram;</strong> </a> ; in about 1/2 dozen threads others say ALL imac 20" hold 3 or 4 gigs; which is radically wrong.</p>

<p>Steve; The max ram a Imac holds depends on its model; for a 24" Intel based one its either 3Gigs for an older one; or 4 for a newer one. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IMac_(Intel-based)"><strong> Your processor a 2.33 Ghz points to the older one under memory on this link. </strong> </a><br>

There a GOBS of errors about the max memory a PC or Mac holds in written form and on the internet. If you jot done down the info on the bottom foot of an Imac; a totally positive id can be made.<a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1463"><strong>;The EMC number defines the computer.</strong> </a></p>

<p>The imac 20" we have here from early <a href="http://support.apple.com/kb/SP35"><strong>; 2006 holds only 2 gigs of ram;</strong> </a> ; in about 1/2 dozen threads others say ALL imac 20" hold 3 or 4 gigs; which is radically wrong.</p>

<p>Kelly, Steve has it right...I have the same exact computer...it can hold 4 but will only "see" a little over 3. The 24" iMac's went to 4 gig usable ram when they moved from the white models to the Aluminum bodies. All 24" before that were as I said. There was never a 24" model that only took 2 GB max. <br>

Kelly do you not think people believe you that your early 2006 model only holds 2 GB?, You keep repeating it, and I don't see anyone disputing it, so why do you think we all need further convincing? Officially now for the record, I believe you, and at the end of the day, who cares?<br>

But if anyone has doubts about a 2 GB intel iMac, just check Wikipedia for Intel Imac history. Early 2006 Intel iMac 2GB max. Is it all clear now?</p>