Monday, January 31, 2011

I Love Lucy (Limited Edition Entertainment Utility)

I Love Lucy (Limited Edition Entertainment Utility)The EZ Connect N 150Mbps Wireless USB2.0 Adapter (SMCWUSBS-N3) enables wireless connectivity to your desktop or notebook computer and provides improved throughput and range while maintaining full backwards compatibility with the Wireless-G (802.11g) and Wireless-B (802.11b) standards. It's based on IEEE 802.11n technology to deliver incredible speed and range. With security being a key consideration, SMCWUSBS-N3 supports the latest WPA and WPA2 wireless encryption standards, which prevent unauthorized access to wireless networks and ensure data is secure.

Price:


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Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery 2010 Desktop Edition with 12 Months Essential Support

Symantec Backup Exec System Recovery 2010 Desktop Edition with 12 Months Essential SupportSymantec Backup Exec System Recovery 2010 Desktop Edition is a simple, cost-effective backup and recovery solution for small businesses that helps minimize downtime and avoid disaster by easily recovering individual data files/folders or complete Windows desktops or laptops in minutes – not hours or days – even to different hardware, virtual environments, or remote locations.

Price: $84.87


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Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition

Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac EditionDesigned exclusively for the Windows switcher, Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition helps you move to Mac the smart and easy way.

Price: $99.99


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Introduction to Autodesk Land Desktop 2005 and Civil Design 2005

Introduction to Autodesk Land Desktop 2005 and Civil Design 2005

This text introduces the beginning student to Autodesk's Land Desktop software.

Table of Contents

1. Reviewing AutoCAD Basics
2. Land Desktop Impacts on the AutoCAD Environment
3. Setting AEC Points
4. Point Groups and the Land Desktop Project Manager
5. Importing and Exporting AEC Points
6. Rotation, Translation and Datum Adjustment
7. Lines and Curves
8. Line Labeling
9. Line and Curve Tables
10. Point Labeling
11. Parcel Computations
12. Creating a Surface
13. Faults (Breaklines)
14. Creating Contours From Surface Data
15. Contour Labeling and Editing
16. Land Desktop Cross Sections
17. Earthwork Volumes
18. Alignments
19. Project Stationing and Setting Points by Station/Offset
20. Civil Design Profiles
21. Civil Design Cross Sections
22. Civil Design Section Plotting
23. Drawing Civil Design Templates
24. Defining Civil Design Templates
25. Civil Design Control-Templates
26. Civil Design Control-Alignments
27. Civil Design Control-Profiles
28. Volume Computation in Civil Design by Average End Area Method

Price: $59.95


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# 1: Apple Mac Mini Desktop MC270LL/A

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98 of 104 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful machine and great to work with, June 16, 2010 This review is from: Apple Mac Mini MC270LL/A Desktop (Personal Computers) We've already put these new minis thru the paces here at Macminicolo and they're great. A few things to know:

-The RAM on these minis is VERY easy to upgrade. This machine comes with 2GB but can be upgraded to 8GB. Just twist off the bottom with your fingers and replace the RAM. (Literally, no tools required.)

- If you're looking to use the Mac mini connected to your TV, you'll be glad to hear that it now comes with HDMI. Nearly every current HDTV should have HDMI and it's a great fit.

- Speaking of TV watching, the new GPU (video card) is great. A wonderful upgrade.

- This Mac mini was reduced in power consumption AND the power brick is now internal instead of the big external one from before. That makes for a cleaner looking hookup.

- We use all our Mac minis as servers here and they're great. They run 24 hours a day and have no problems.

- This machine still has the IR capability so it can be controlled with the Apple Remote or one of the Harmony remotes with no problems.

All in all, a good upgrade.

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176 of 192 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars MM GOOD + BAD, July 26, 2010 This review is from: Apple Mac Mini MC270LL/A Desktop (Personal Computers) The Mac Mini was updated on June 15th 2010. There are some upgrades and minor changes between the 2010 Mac Mini and 2009's model, detailed below.

UPGRADES

HDMI audio/video output (HDMI version 1.3 and supports up to 1920-by-1200 resolution and multichannel audio.) Allows you to connect the Mac Mini to your HDTV easily.

Nvidia Geforce 320 M integrated graphics processor. More powerful than last years Nvidia Geforce 9400 which was in the 2009 Mac mini. Useful for content creation.

320 gb hard drive - Last years base model had a 160gb hard drive.

Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot - Useful for transferring photos and videos from Cameras.

Unibody aluminum body.

STANDARD FEATURES - from last years model (minor changes noted in brackets) are

Core 2 Duo Processor ( 2.4 ghz - up from 2.26ghz )
2 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 Ram
8x slot-loading SuperDrive DVD burner

Mini DisplayPort video output with support for up to 2560-by-1600 resolution
Combined optical digital output/headphone output
Four USB 2.0 ports (1 less than the 2009 Mac Mini)

One FireWire 800 port
Wi-Fi - 802.11n specification; 802.11a/b/g compatible, Bluetooth 2.1 and Gigabit Ethernet -10/100/1000.

Software included is OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and the iLife 09 suite of content creation tools. A 1 year warranty on parts and 90 day telephone technical support is standard.

As one can see, not much has changed. Apple is using older Core 2 Duo processors while the majority of the computer industry has moved on to using Intel's "i" series of processors and it's still shipping the Mac mini with 2gb of ram which is inadequate for multi-tasking effectively.

However, whatever little has changed, is for the better.

Apple has finally acknowledged that people connect their Mac Mini's to HDTV's and use them as media centers. So it's added an HDMI port to the machine. This makes hooking up your Mac mini to a HDTV really easy. No Blu-ray drive though.

It's also included an SD card slot at the rear (Which also supports SDXC cards) - so you can transfer your photos / videos / data directly from an SD card without having to connect your camera / card reader to the machine.

Also, new in this year's Mac mini is a removable panel on the bottom of the Mac mini which allows you to easily upgrade the ram. This is a welcome addition considering that accessing the ram slots in earlier Mac mini's was a tedious and time consuming process. And since the Mac mini only comes with 2gb of ram, a ram upgrade should be one of the first things you choose to do. Kingston Apple 4GB Kit (2x2GB Modules) 1066MHz DDR3 SODIMM iMac and Macbook Memory (KTA-MB1066K2/4GR) for $101 currently. The operating system STRUGGLES with multi-tasking when there's only 2gb of ram present. Note to Apple. Stop skimping on the ram. Thanks.

Unfortunately, there are some negatives too.

First up is the power supply unit. In the 2009 Mac mini, the power supply was an external power adapter, which meant if anything went wrong with it, you'd take the adapter for servicing, not the whole machine. However, the power supply unit is now inside the June 2010 Mac mini. This may look better / cleaner from a design / clutter point of view but it also means that if it ever malfunctions, instead of the power adapter, you'll have to take your Mac mini in to an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Store Provider and leave it there for repairs which may lead to more downtime.

The SD card slot is at the back of the machine, and reaching behind to insert a card gets tedious fast.

Also, the machine is STILL not designed to not let users access the hard drive easily (or without voiding the warranty). This forces the customer to be dependent on Apple for servicing, replacing or upgrading the hard drive. Considering the amount of confidential data customers store on their computers, they should be allowed to take out the hard drive when they need or feel like instead of being forced to take their machines into an Apple store if there are any issues. This is definitely a privacy / security risk for many customers and Apple should address this in the next iteration of the machine.

The price has also gone up by $100. Cost is an important aspect to consider. If you decide to upgrade the ram and also need to purchase a LCD monitor, keyboard and mouse, once you total it all up, the Mac mini will end up costing almost as much as a Macbook(which is more portable) or the entry level iMac (21.5 inch screen, 4gb of ram, dedicated graphics and bigger hard drive). If that's the case, you better off examining those machines as purchase options instead of buying a Mini.

The Mac mini is a capable machine for general tasks such as watching videos, working on documents, listening to music and surfing the web. It's small and occupies very little space. It's also very energy efficient which is good for the environment and your energy bill. I would have loved to rate it 4 stars but I can't ignore Apple still including only 2gb of ram which is inadequate for multitasking, not including a Blu-ray drive, STILL not allowing customers to access the hard drive AND increasing the price by $100.

If the issues mentioned above don't affect you in any way and you want a small, power efficient and capable machine (After upgrading the ram) the Mac Mini may be the machine for you.

Hope this helps!

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42 of 46 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Very Impressive Little Guy!, June 22, 2010 This review is from: Apple Mac Mini MC270LL/A Desktop (Personal Computers) The new Mac Mini has been an impressive little beast so far!

It sits on your desk and looks so small, yet it packs a powerful punch inside.

I bought a Mini Displayport to VGA connector to integrate this into my KVM setup with the intention of only using it on one of my three monitors, and when I realized that I could also use the HDMI port to hook up a second monitor, it was like a new world.

The new Nvidia Graphics card handles my 24" and 22" monitors just fine.

I also picked up Parallels 5.0 software from Amazon as well, and I don't flinch when I say that this little Mac Mini is running Windows 7 Professional better than my Quad Core PC does!

I am also going to throw Ubuntu on here as well to play with.

The Snow Leopard install is very snappy, and opens programs and installs things in a breeze.

This little guy is also handling syncing to my iPad and iPhone like it was nothing, and it amazingly will handle multiple programs open with no problem.

This is actually the first Mac I have owned, and I am so impressed that I may be converted forever.

The SD card slot, HDMI, and new Graphics card is what really sets this apart from the older models.

The new case is also a very nice piece of engineering! I have no idea how they fit the power supply in there! No more power brick laying around on the floor!

So user friendly, and could be the pinnacle of a Home office or be a great HTPC in the living room!

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Laplink PC Mover Moving Kit

Laplink PC Mover Moving KitWith PCMover you can finally enjoy upgrading to a new computer without the fear of losing important data. This powerful, intuitive migration tool is compatible with any version of Microsoft Windows. It can transfer all your existing applications, settings, data files, and even registry settings to another PC. And you don’t need to tell PCMover where to find anything; it already knows exactly how to complete the move swiftly and accurately. PCMover is also ideal for copying your current configurations to a new notebook or to another computer that you plan to use in addition to your PC. Your new computer will be ready to go; complete with your important files and applications form the old computer and all of the new computer’s pre-existing software.

Price: $69.95


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Sunday, January 30, 2011

# 9: HP TouchSmart 310-1020 all-in-One Desktop PC-Black

Most helpful customer reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Nice but a bit disappointing, December 29, 2010 this review is from: HP TouchSmart 310-1020 all-in-One Desktop PC-Black (Personal computer) I got 310 for about a month. Size is great-Nice big clear screen but compact, then it is not in the way. The touchscreen function is quite handy and after a very short time find us a lot.

Wireless Lan is not very powerful. I wanted to use the computer in the bedroom, but just get two bars on the meter when my little laptop gets 5 and older. So will probably have to move it somewhere. DVD/CD should be a lot better. The fastener at the bottom of the handle broke the first day and I had to glue it Back on. Also, is a downloadable manual too much to ask?

My biggest complaint is the control of the startup disk. It is supposed to give you a count of 10 to hit any key before you start disk checking. This is before you start. Then hangs at "1" and nothing happens. This is a flaw in windows 7 with some computers that was discovered soon after windows 7 came out. There is a hotfix for it, but HP or not know or chose to ignore it and let the buyer to fight with it. First you need the computer to start up before you can solve the problem. Not too bad, if there is another computer at home, but if this is not how you might learn what is the problem.

Would buy it again? I do not know. Judy

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars 310 HP touchsmart Computer, December 31, 2010 this review is from: HP TouchSmart 310-1020 all-in-One Desktop PC-Black (Personal computer) I believe that the computer is great and the sensitivity of the touchscreen and the response is exceptional than others. The large screen is perfect for watching movies and videos, wireless keyboard and saves space and looks a bit more organized. One great thing about this computer is the fact that I just need to connect a wire. I don't need to worry about finding a plug when I have one right there. It is completely worth the money, considering how fast processes. The actual memory that processes during a game, too, is exceptional. Everything runs totally smooth and the webcam is crystal clear. The microphone is very sensitive, but makes a big sound quality through the other side. Windows 7 makes the computer a joy much easier to use and use all his skills. This computer is the best so far and is perfect for anyone. I hope that everyone loves and enjoys doing. help other customers find the most useful reviews This review was helpful?

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars buy big!, December 16, 2010 this review is from: HP TouchSmart 310-1020 all-in-One Desktop PC-Black (Personal computer) are really happy w/this purchase. I bought this PC to my mom and she loves it too. I was shopping at Walmart and snapped a photo of the barcode with my Amazon app on my phone to compare prices and the picture was not clear; but by the time I made home, Amazon has left me an e-mail regarding the image explaining how they found the product for $ 200 cheaper than Walmart! And the rest is history technological sweet. help other customers find the most useful reviews This review was helpful?
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# 5: Apple iMac 27-inch Desktop MC510LL/A

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 65 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Upgrading from an old iMac, July 29, 2010 This review is from: Apple iMac MC510LL/A 27-Inch Desktop (Personal Computers) First things first: the iMac offered on this page has the dual-core Intel Core i3 processor. A configuration with a quad-core i5 processor is also sold by Amazon. In addition, an even more powerful quad-core processor, the i7, is available as a build-to-order option from the online Apple Store. Be sure you're looking at the configuration you want. Apple makes four 27" Aluminum iMac processor setups in all: an i3, two with the i5, and an i7 (see the Comments on this review for a link to Apple's official tech specs).

Now then, on with the show. Many reviewers of the previous release of the 27" Aluminum iMac have already discussed the essential hardware and software features. So, rather than repeating stuff that has already been said, I am going to focus this review on my experience of upgrading from a G4 igloo iMac that was running System 10.5.8 .

Migration Assistant
*I used a Firewire 400 to Firewire 800 cable to move the contents of my old computer to the new machine with Migration Assistant.
*The process was virtually seamless, with only a few minor adjustments necessary to the transferred data. Only four applications required reinstallation: ClamXav, iTunes (due to the Soundflower plugin--in any case, no music was lost or damaged), Microsoft Expression Media 2, and a Juniper Networks remote access program (part of a corporate telecommuting package).
*Rules for Little Snitch, a third party utility, need to be reestablished.
*Customized preferences for Spotlight must be reentered.

Magic Mouse
*iMacs now come with a wireless mouse as standard equipment. The Magic Mouse is a vast improvement over the Apple Mouse (aka Mighty Mouse) because it doesn't have a roller ball that eventually stops working. In fact, there aren't any external moving parts on the Magic Mouse, other than the on/off switch.
*Expos? and Dashboard functions are now on the top row of the keyboard, not on mouse buttons.
*If you're interested in the new Magic Trackpad, you'll have to order it separately. It doesn't come as standard equipment right now.

Keyboard
*The chiclet style keys took me a little while to get used to, but now I prefer them to traditional "long stroke" keys.
*For some reason, Apple has made a compact laptop keyboard the standard iMac keyboard (Steve Jobs must be nostalgic for the original 1984 Mac keyboard). Anybody who relies on Page keys for navigation or on a numeric keypad for data entry is out of luck.
*An extended keyboard with Home/Pg Up/Pg Dn/Delete keys and a number pad is available as a build-to-order option, along with additional memory and other treats, at the online Apple Store.

Audio System
*Optical digital audio input and output requires cables or cable adapters with 3.5mm plugs. Standard size TOSLINK connectors won't work. Also, digital audio I/O is run through the microphone and headphone ports. It is consequently impossible to use headphones or an external mic when the computer is setup for optical digital audio use.
*The speakers are a weak point in the design. They are small, underpowered, and sound tinny. I think the igloo iMacs had much better sound. If I recall correctly, they had a specially tuned amplifier--plus the speakers were fairly large and were not built into the computer housing. Users who use their iMac as their main music source or who work with music and sound will want to buy a separate pair of speakers.

Using the computer: screen, fan noise, heat, Rosetta
*This iMac is all about the gigantic 27" screen. It's incredibly sharp and bright, with better-than-HD resolution. Excel users will love being able to see columns A-AE and rows 1-95 all at once at 100% zoom. No more wasting time scrolling around and splitting windows. Photos, movies, and graphics all look absolutely fabulous.
*I initially thought I would hate the glossy finish on the screen, especially after seeing how much glare demo models at the Apple Store showed. But, as it turns out, the shiny glass isn't distracting at all in my home office. That said, anybody who hasn't ever seen a glossy screen computer in person should go check one out before placing an order.
*Something that I miss from my igloo iMac is the ability to move the screen both from left to right (x-axis) and up and down (y-axis). Aluminum iMac screens can only be swiveled up and down, in a fairly limited range.
*Under most conditions, the computer runs very quietly. Fan noise is normally inaudible.
*The top of the computer can become noticeably hot to the touch. Not hot enough to cook the proverbial egg, but definitely warmer than most other electronic devices (except for the original PlayStation3, otherwise known as the Sony Spaceheater).
*PowerPC applications run well under Rosetta. Once it is downloaded automatically, upon demand, it runs invisibly.

Bottom line: it's the screen, the SCREEN, THE SCREEN!! Massive amounts of screen real estate, combined with fast performance, make the 27" Aluminum iMac a true joy to use for both work and play. One star penalty for not making an extended keyboard standard and for the terrible built-in sound system.

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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars More Than I Expected, October 7, 2010 This review is from: Apple iMac MC510LL/A 27-Inch Desktop (Personal Computers) This was a transition from the PC for me, and I was originally going to get a Macbook, until a friend convinced me to try the all-in-one iMac. Great decision, and this has been a perfect experience. I've never had a machine go from in-the-box to in-use in such a short-time. My first reaction when I opened the box was "uh oh, where are all the cables and books?" It set up in no time. The display is nothing short of amazing, it's surprisingly intuitive for someone coming from a PC, and it comes with a stunning array of features like chat, photo apps, utilities, etc. It's nice to be able to turn it on, and use it in seconds instead of several minutes waiting for things to load. I've not had a single software or application conflict or install problem. The Time Machine backup runs silently and reliably in the background, so backing up is not a huge deal like it was for me before. The built-in web camera is clear and the sound is excellent. I use this with photo apps that get memory intensive, and it works remarkably well with them. I would definitely recommend this.
The only negative I can think of at all is that my financial software, Quicken, is not available in a comparable version for the Mac - there is a version of Quicken for the Mac, but it doesn't have the features that I need that the Windows version has. The other negative is that iWork doesn't substitute for Microsoft Office -- I can't create spreadsheets in it and have them open up in Excel, so if you really have to use Microsoft Office, you will need to buy the Mac version of it instead of trying to move between Office and iWork.
Small things though, and it is worth working around them. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars iMac Easy, September 17, 2010 This review is from: Apple iMac MC510LL/A 27-Inch Desktop (Personal Computers) What a computer this is! I bought an iMac to replace my Toshiba laptop. I believe this is one of the best investments I've ever made. Sure you can buy a Windows computer for substantially less, but what have you got? A computer that crashes constantly and never lives up to the hype that Microsoft puts out. Windows Vista and Internet Explorer are a constant irritant. And I've used Windows 7 and can't say it's any better than all of the previous versions.

What a breath of fresh air from Apple. One reason I replaced my Toshiba laptop with the big 27" iMac was because I almost never took the laptop off my desk. I have another at work, so it wasn't necessary to move it. The big screen is nothing like you have seen before. I also got the Airport Extreme and hooked up the printer so we can print from any computer in the house. This is a really handy and nice feature, especially for our daughter's homework. The wireless keyboard and mouse is great. I also ordered the trackpad. It's easy to maneuver the pointer around the screen, and you can do so much more with it than a regular touchpad e.g. you can use 1, 2, 3, or 4 fingers to navigate. I also got 8GB of RAM on this particular model.

Do yourself a favor and get the iMac with the 27" screen. The i3 processor is very fast and handles anything I do. Another plus, you don't have to worry about viruses on Apples. Thats quite a savings right there. You only live once, so do it right. I bought my first Apple product about a year ago -- an iPod. Results count, and I'm a believer now. I just wish I hadn't waited so long. As I noted above, I also got the Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station (Simultaneous Dual-Band) (MC340LL/A) to go with my iMac, and I can recommend that as well.

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CA Desktop Dna Migrator R11

CA Desktop Dna Migrator R11Computer Associates Desktop DNA Migrator DSKDNAM11TS01

Price: $59.99


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Serif PagePlus X5

Serif PagePlus X5Boost your business, organization or club with professional-quality advertising, sophisticated print designs and electronic documents from PagePlus X5, the best-in-class, award-winning desktop publisher. Whether you're new to design or have prior experience, PagePlus X5's intuitive workspace, eye-catching artwork, flexible features, broad compatibility and industry-standard output will give you the confidence to create fantastic publications yourself. And this version brings you even higher quality design, ease-of-use and end results! From brochures to books, menus to magazines, flyers to forms and pro printing to PDF editing PagePlus X5 makes professional desktop publishing easy. It's like having a design agency at your desk!

Price: $99.99


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Serif PagePlus X4

Serif PagePlus X4Welcome to PagePlus X4: professional desktop publishing made easy. When you make publications for sharing with co-workers, attracting new customers, defining your business image, projects at school or college, informing the public, advertising events, and more, you inevitably do more than just layout and print the page. You’re writing, designing graphics, enhancing images, cropping and reformatting, importing content from elsewhere, and sharing your work in print, as emails, as high quality or efficient PDFs... so choose PagePlus X4, a design package as versatile you are. PagePlus has always been a leading DTP program but now it offers even more graphics power, greater compatibility, and enhanced productivity. It’s never been easier to achieve the highest quality printed and electronic publications, using a design package that is more rounded than ever. PagePlus X4 is so easy to use that you can start creating fantastic results straight away, and yet the deeper you dig into PagePlus’s rich feature set, the more publishing power you’ll find. When you need to know how to put that power to good use, or achieve a publishing task new to you, you’ll really appreciate the new Learning Zone, accessible from the Startup Wizard. Being able to open designs sourced from almost anywhere thanks to incredible PDF editing power is a real asset for PagePlus users, and that PDF power just got better. Import and edit wide variety document types accurately; edit or replace photos, text, and artwork; and export your designs as optimized, professional PDFs. All this means you can edit PDF files better than ever – better than any other DTP program, at any price! So whether you need to edit and export PDFs, create and distribute newsletters, design flyers and posters, write a book, or complete any other desktop publishing task, PagePlus X4 is the perfect solution.

Price: $99.99


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# 6: Apple iMac 27-inch Desktop MC511LL/A

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

69 of 72 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Upgrading from an older iMac, August 5, 2010 This review is from: Apple iMac MC511LL/A 27-Inch Desktop (Personal Computers) First things first: the iMac offered on this page has the quad-core Intel Core i5 processor. A configuration with a dual-core i3 processor is also sold by Amazon. A more powerful quad-core processor, the i7, is available as a build-to-order option from the online Apple Store. Be sure you're looking at the configuration you want. Apple makes four 27" Aluminum iMac processor setups in all: an i3, two with the i5, and an i7 (see the Comments on this review for a link to Apple's official tech specs).

Now then, on with the show. Many reviewers of the previous release of the 27" Aluminum iMac have already discussed the essential hardware and software features. So, rather than repeating stuff that has already been said, I am going to focus this review on my experience of upgrading from a G4 igloo iMac that was running System 10.5.8 .

Migration Assistant
*I used a Firewire 400 to Firewire 800 cable to move the contents of my old computer to the new machine with Migration Assistant.
*The process was virtually seamless, with only a few minor adjustments necessary to the transferred data. Only four applications required reinstallation: ClamXav, iTunes (due to the Soundflower plugin--in any case, no music was lost or damaged), Microsoft Expression Media 2, and a Juniper Networks remote access program (part of a corporate telecommuting package).
*Rules for Little Snitch, a third party utility, need to be reestablished.
*Customized preferences for Spotlight must be reentered.

Magic Mouse
*iMacs now come with a wireless mouse as standard equipment. The Magic Mouse is a vast improvement over the Apple Mouse (aka Mighty Mouse) because it doesn't have a roller ball that eventually stops working. In fact, there aren't any external moving parts on the Magic Mouse, other than the on/off switch.
*Expos? and Dashboard functions are now on the top row of the keyboard, not on mouse buttons.
*If you're interested in the new Magic Trackpad, you'll have to order it separately. It doesn't come as standard equipment right now.

Keyboard
*The chiclet style keys took me a little while to get used to, but now I prefer them to traditional "long stroke" keys.
*For some reason, Apple has made a compact laptop keyboard the standard iMac keyboard (Steve Jobs must be nostalgic for the original 1984 Mac keyboard). Anybody who relies on Page keys for navigation or on a numeric keypad for data entry is out of luck.
*An extended keyboard with Home/Pg Up/Pg Dn/Delete keys and a number pad is available as a build-to-order option, along with additional memory and other treats, at the online Apple Store.

Audio System
*Optical digital audio input and output requires cables or cable adapters with 3.5mm plugs. Standard size TOSLINK connectors won't work. Also, digital audio I/O is run through the microphone and headphone ports. It is consequently impossible to use headphones or an external mic when the computer is setup for optical digital audio use.
*The speakers are a weak point in the design. They are small, underpowered, and sound tinny. I think the igloo iMacs had much better sound. If I recall correctly, they had a specially tuned amplifier--plus the speakers were fairly large and were not built into the computer housing. Users who use their iMac as their main music source or who work with music and sound will want to buy a separate pair of speakers.

Using the computer: screen, fan noise, heat, Rosetta
*This iMac is all about the gigantic 27" screen. It's incredibly sharp and bright, with better-than-HD resolution. Excel users will love being able to see columns A-AE and rows 1-95 all at once at 100% zoom. No more wasting time scrolling around and splitting windows. Photos, movies, and graphics all look absolutely fabulous.
*I initially thought I would hate the glossy finish on the screen, especially after seeing how much glare demo models at the Apple Store showed. But, as it turns out, the shiny glass isn't distracting at all in my home office. That said, anybody who hasn't ever seen a glossy screen computer in person should go check one out before placing an order.
*Something that I miss from my igloo iMac is the ability to move the screen both from left to right (x-axis) and up and down (y-axis). Aluminum iMac screens can only be swiveled up and down, in a fairly limited range.
*Under most conditions, the computer runs very quietly. Fan noise is normally inaudible.
*The top of the computer can become noticeably hot to the touch. Not hot enough to cook the proverbial egg, but definitely warmer than most other electronic devices (except for the original PlayStation3, otherwise known as the Sony Spaceheater).
*PowerPC applications run well under Rosetta. Once it is downloaded automatically, upon demand, it runs invisibly.

Bottom line: it's the screen, the SCREEN, THE SCREEN!! Massive amounts of screen real estate, combined with fast performance, make the 27" Aluminum iMac a true joy to use for both work and play. One star penalty for not making an extended keyboard standard and for the terrible built-in sound system.

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37 of 37 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Very fast, very quiet, plays burned DVDs just fine (will update review frequently), August 15, 2010 This review is from: Apple iMac MC511LL/A 27-Inch Desktop (Personal Computers) BURNED DVDS:
My big concern is that the DVD drive would not play burned DVDs. (Out of the box, my MacbookPro did NOT play burned DVDs very well, if at all. After a couple OS updates, that seems to be a thing of the past, but a new concern for this drive.) DVDs tested that worked on the new iMac are: Imation DVD-R 8x; Taiyo Yuden white; Verbatim DVD+R DL; Verbatim DVD-R; Memorex DVD-R 4x; Princo DVD-R 'white star'.

MEMORY SLOTS and UPGRADING MEMORY:
Upgrading memory on the iMac is easy. There are 4 slots for memory: 2 'upper' and 2 'lower', as Apple calls them, but they are really 4 side by side slots on the bottom (behind the Apple logo.) The 2 upper slots are populated by Apple's memory, but the 2 lower slots are open (unless you upgraded already.) The 4 memory slots are accessed by unscrewing 3 screws with a Philips screwdriver (a normal size will do.) Apple recommends "For the iMac (Mid 2010) models, use 2 GB or 4 GB RAM SO-DIMMs of 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM in each slot." Removing the aluminum screen is a one-screw deal, then push in the memory, and power the iMac back on. That's it. If you are planning on running VMWare, or playing games, or doing video, you will likely need to upgrade to another 2 or 4GB. I recommend 2 cards of 2GB each. VMWare running Win7, while OSX is running PS and a browser takes up about 60-75% of the 4GB installed memory. And remember: saving a little and buying janky memory is like putting used, dirty oil in your car - what are you really saving by doing that?

REMOTE CONTROL:
The older remote control for my MBP worked just fine. That is until we started watching some streaming video through Safari. For some reason that video knocked out the ability to use the remote, and I had to restart the iMac to get it to see the remote again. Don't know why, and it was only for video being played through todocast.tv website. May be a rare issue.

LOADING HARD DRIVE:
It only took 63 mins for me to move 93GB of data from an external drive using USB 2.0 cable. Loading Mac Office took less than 10 minutes to load from DVD (default config) - fastest I have ever seen, yet. One thing I noticed is that I can hear this hard drive writing to the disc, whereas I cannot here my older iMac's drive at all. I have to put my head up near the screen, but I can hear the thumping more prominently than I can on the 2-year old iMac. This might be due to the way the housing/area around the drive is designed: might be creating an echo chamber? Don't know why, just do.

WIRELESS KEYBOARD and MOUSE:
Whoa! The wireless keyboard worked from over 50-feet away! I walked through a thick wood door, down the hall (cinderblock walls) and around the corner and it still worked! I have no idea how far away I can go, but across the room is no problem. Same goes for the wireless mouse. The mouse does not have the right-click set up as a default. I also found that the left-right swipe action was dangerous while browsing websites, for a left-swipe is the same as the 'back' button - and when filling out an online form hitting the back button (or accidentally swiping left on the mouse) can erase your inout data.) The vertical swiping action of the mouse is just like the iPhone, smooth and screen slides to a stop. Best mouse ever made.

WIRELESS CARD:
This card is definitely showing a stronger signal than my MBP sitting the same distance from the router (which is a G-band). It also shows a lot more networks to choose from than the MBP.

UDATES:
Out if the box, the iMac needed to be updated. Nothing ridiculous, just about 7 updates (Safari, Java, AirPort, iTunes, OSX security...) with a half hour of download and updating.

RETAIL BOX CONTENTS:
People new to Mac, and those that haven't bought one in years, will find the contents of your retail box sparse: keyboard, iMac, mouse, 2 DVDs, small booklet, power cord and batteries for the keyboard and mouse (installed.) That's it. PC users/converters will be shocked at how little documentation there is in your box: no yellow pieces of paper screaming out warnings and 'do this first!' type messages. This is true plug and play.

SPEAKERS:
These speakers sound just the same as the 2-your old iMac I am comparing all of this to. Maybe a little less tin/bright... Still not the best, most amazing speakers out there, but are far better than the majority of embedded computer speakers. I still recommend you buy a set of desktop speakers if plan on watching movies, playing music loud, or want a rich deep sound.

SCREEN:
Still not super-stoked about the glossy screen, but I think I am starting to get used to it. Bright rooms (especially where the light behind you is brighter than the light behind the iMac) just suck to work in. That's when I break out the MBP and it's matte screen. The 178-degree viewing angle statistic is ONLY for the most optimum viewing conditions! Again, a bright room where there are reflections on the screen will just turn it all to a kaleidoscope: colors are seen but good luck figuring out what you are seeing! In a pitch black room, yes, you can benefit from the 178-degree viewing angle and all is good.

QUAD CORE, THE BASICS:
While having the quad core CPU makes for a very snappy and almost lag-free iMac, it does NOT speed up your old programs. It's NOT like Office programs are suddenly using all four cores to compute your Chemistry spreadsheet or create that graph. It just means that there are more pipelines for your programs to run on. In short, the program has to be written to utilize the multiple cores at the same time. Not even my Adobe CS4 is using all four cores.

THINNER PEDESTAL:
The new thinner pedestal ("foot") is great for pushing back the keyboard/work. The old iMac had a 1/4 inch tall foot, almost brick-like, whereas this one about an 1/8 of an inch or less. Works like a ramp.

All said, I have to say that this is the best iMac so far. I know that should go without saying, but you can't always take this for granted. If you have a 1-year old iMac, I can't see upgrading unless you are having problems with it. If you have a 2+ year old iMac, or even a G5 rig, I can easily say that you should/could upgrade to this one. You will not be disappointed.

Will update this review as I come across more revelations.

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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Better than ever, August 12, 2010 This review is from: Apple iMac MC511LL/A 27-Inch Desktop (Personal Computers) I got this to replace my three year old iMac. Transfer of files,settings and apps was easy. It took me less than ten minutes to pull the new iMac out of the box and set it up for transfer. The transfer took about 2.5 hours and occurred perfectly while I was away.
The 27 inch display allows me to have as many as three large pages open in the same view. The resolution is incredibly high.
Photos appear like I'm looking through a window.
I use a lot of video and photo software. The processor speed is high. I can render videos about three times faster than I could with my older iMac that I thought was pretty fast.
A bonus for buyers of Macs is the high quality service you get from Apple Care. Wait time is reasonably short and the competence of the tech service staff is higher than any computing organization I've had experience with in the past 45 years. Apple Care covers you for three years and costs about 170 bucks from Amazon. Most of my questions were answered on Apple's website, but Apple Care bailed me out a number of times.
Hardware reliability is unknown because the machine is so new. My past experience tells me that, if something doesn't work, then Apple Care will either figure it out or help me get service without the hassle I used to get from HP and,especially, Dell. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 
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Saturday, January 29, 2011

Parallels Desktop 6 for Mac

Parallels Desktop 6 for MacParallels Desktop 6 for Mac is simply the fastest, smartest and most powerful way to run Windows applications on a Mac, even the most demanding graphical ones, side by side without rebooting. You can even access your Windows programs from your iPad/iPhone with our Parallels Mobile app. No wonder customers have made Parallels number one!

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Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium

Microsoft Windows 7 Home PremiumMicrosoft Win Home Prem 7 English US Only DVD

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Garmin Garmin Mobile PC

Garmin Garmin Mobile PCAdd full-featured navigation to your Laptop or ultra mobile PC with Garmin Mobile PC. Get maps, millions of POIs, easy-to-use navigation software, turn-by-turn directions that speak street names (English only), route planning and more all from the trusted leader in GPS navigation, Garmin.

Navigate with Your Laptop
Packed with preloaded maps, millions of destinations and full GPS navigation capabilities, Garmin Mobile PC software turns your laptop into a powerful street navigator. Its intuitive interface greets you with two simple options "Where to?" and "View Maps." Easily look up addresses and services and get turn-by-turn directions that announce the names of exits and streets to your destination. Also receive automatic corrections if you stray off course. With Garmin Mobile PC, you can upload custom points of interest, such as safety cameras, and conveniently navigate to Outlook? Contacts.

Plan Ahead
Garmin Mobile PC includes advanced navigational features to take the worry out of traveling. With route planning you can save routes, specify via points and preview simulated turns on your computer. In addition, Garmin Mobile PC automatically sorts multiple destinations to provide an efficient route for errands, deliveries or sales calls. A trip computer automatically records trip data and a trip log provides an electronic bread crumb trail, so you can see where you've been on the map. Even avoid certain roads or areas.

Get Travel Information
Check the weather, gas prices, your flight status and hotel information when you travel with your laptop and Garmin Mobile PC. Get the weather forecast for your location or anywhere in the world. View hotel rates, ratings and amenities information from hotels.com. Check the status of your flight along with departure and arrival information. Even compare local gas prices when out and about. These free, real-time services from Garmin Online put essential travel informatio

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Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional UpgradeMicrosoft Win Pro 7 English Version Upgrade US Only DVD

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# 2: Apple iMac 21.5-inch Desktop MC508LL/A

104 of 106 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Fast, Loaded, but check your Display for the yellow, September 10, 2010 this review is from: Apple iMac 21.5-inch MC508LL/A Desktop (Personal computer) waited anxiously for this update summer 2010 line of iMac.

offer better value from an iMac one might think, and the space savings that have compared to having many components scattered on a desk, make them an attractive offer from Apple.

My current iMac was a model of aging, summer 2007. The first iMac with aluminium housing. Honestly, though, is not far away the cars today particularly notebook models. Stay the iMac are nicely, and I'm sure this new model will be too. iMac tend to offer better value of notebooks and because they are not transported around, can have a better reliability/longevity too.

When I open this new computer, I loved the widescreen display. This view is similar to a television, 16 x 9 widescreen monitor while conventional were 16 x 10 (including my old iMac). Extra width gives you more space to fit the documents through your desktop (screen) while you work. I like it.

Also, don't let anyone suggest that this is not a fast computer. His i3. 3.06 GHz hyper-threading processor has to give you up to four core "," virtual ". Some argue that this feature is not useful, or that not enough applications use hyper-threading. However, I was able to watch the CPU and see video encoding software on my computer using multiple threads. Was fast.

I chose the model by 21.5 inches, why does my desktop is just too small for the 27-inch model. 27 is absolutely staggering in size. I would choose if I had the room but the 21.5 is far from being a slouch and is looking a little more reasonable.

Comes with standard 4 GB of memory, which can be easily upgraded to 8 GB with purchase of two additional 2 GB sticks. A 500 GB hard drive, standard on this model will be plenty for everyone, but the hard pack rats out there. While optical media are today less popular, don't forget this iMac can play DVD and burn DVD. DVD burning can also be useful for backing up important data, such as photographs of families. The drive speed is satisfactory, and the cool variety of loading slot.

An SD card slot is located beneath the DVD drive, easily upload pictures to your computer directly from the camera's SD card.

Why choose this model 1199 over 1499 21.5 inches? Both are machines actually responsible. The model 1499 gives you a larger hard drive (1TB plus 500 GB, so twice the size), and has a faster processor, which is useful when the game and other graphics intensive applications. While I chose the model of 1499, 1199 not missing much if that final ten tenths of graphics performance and extra hard drive space is not something that you think necessary.

$ 1,199 model is the right choice, unless you "know" the benefits specific to the model 1499 (hard bigger and faster processor). Really, this model for $ 1199 is one of the best values of any Mac now.

The iMac are great values on notebook, if you do not need portability. You get more performance, greater storage capacities and a huge screen comparison of a MacBook Pro. All at an attractive price.

One of my favorites? iMac have included for the past year standard bluetooth keyboard and mouse! This means that when you take the iMac out of the box, if you have wireless internet connection, simply by plugging the power cord can be installed and running. Magic Mouse and keyboard are wireless and works perfectly. They are easier on batteries than you might think too, even if they take easy capture AAs.

Included Software? The latest Mac OS X Snow Leopard is included, plus the iLife 09. iLife includes great and useful applications such as iPhoto, iMovie and Garage Band.

Someone new to Mac might consider getting the student/teacher/Home edition of Microsoft Office for Mac. Works beautifully and has a Mac feel to it, despite being a Microsoft product.

My final verdict? I absolutely adored the machine. It was a solid update and the fastest Mac ever I used on my old iMac. However, a week in properties I discovered that the bottom and right side of my screen had a yellow gradient/aspect to it. A white background, as Amazon.com page, it seemed nice and white in the upper left, but the rest of the display, it turned yellow. I had invested so much time to transfer my data from my old iMac to my new one. I had to transfer all back and delete a new safely before returning them. I didn't want to go through the whole process again, during my busy time of year, so that you have just returned for a refund. Once I have some free time to go through all the trouble, I will try again. Just be sure to check the monitor when it arrives because I read some other having a similar problem on the Mac Rumors forum.

In general, this iMac was an impressive update. Features the latest processors, plenty of storage and offers one of the best Mac values. The display is a great size and proportions, but be sure to check it for the yellowish when it arrives.

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51 of 53 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars best entry level mac ever!, August 4, 2010 this review is from: Apple iMac 21.5-inch MC508LL/A Desktop (Personal computer) *** this model has been out for two weeks so that the guy saying that he "held for 18 months" has a different model ****

The new intel I3 is ridiculously fast compared to my old imac dual core (2.0 ghz/3 gb) the value of the car really speaks for itself. LED SCREEN!! The ram is upgradeable to 8gig and new ATI rock; It is assumed that, although I haven't really tested it out yet. Spend $ 160 extra to get the apple protection plan, especially on this new update one.

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Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 3-User

Kaspersky Internet Security 2011 3-UserKaspersky 2011 Internet Security, 3 users; 1 year

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Friday, January 28, 2011

CA Desktop DNA Migrator R11

CA Desktop Dna Migrator R11Computer Associates Desktop DNA Migrator DSKDNAM11TS01

Price: $59.99


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Remote Control Desktop Pro 3000

Remote Control Desktop Pro 3000Remote Control Desktop 3000 is affordable cutting edge technology that allows you to view and control any windows PC remotely as if you were in the same room!
Control any Windows based PC remotely! Powerful software allows you to view the host machine's desktopn with full mouse and keyboard control! Works over any type of network connection including modem, LAN and the Internet!
Literally hundreds of applications from retrieving important files from home, to helping a relative who needs "tech support". This software will pay for itself over and over again in time saved! ...

System Requirements:
Windows 95 - XP
486DX / 66 MHz or higher processor.
32MB of memory; more memory improves performance.
240 MB of free hard disk space, but may range between 180 MB to 400 MB, depending on your system configuration and the options you choose to install.
CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive
VGA or higher-resolution monitor.
Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.

Price:


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iYogi Online PC Tune-Up & Optimization Support Service

iYogi Online PC Tune-Up & Optimization Support ServiceOnline professional PC tune-up and optimization service. Award winning service is available 24/7 to improve performance of your PC. Get instant help from Microsoft Certified technicians for cleaning up junk files and speed up System Registry. Remove unwanted programs and get help downloading latest Windows updates. Schedule automated PC tune tasks and defragment hard drive for better performance. Service is available for Microsoft Windows Vista (all editions) and Windows XP (all editions).

Price: $39.99


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Puzzle Master 1,000,000

Puzzle Master 1,000,000This one-size fits-all keyboard cover is imprinted with Hebrew/English characters. Easily converts keyboard layout to Hebrew so you don't have to buy a second keyboard or shut down your computer. English characters are also imprinted on each key top. It covers only the 4 alpha-numbers rows. Easy ON and easy OFF. No more sticky, permanent stickers. Patented. Sold to many Hebrew schools in last 12 years.

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Monday, January 17, 2011

# 2: Apple Mac Mini Desktop MC270LL/A

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97 of 102 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful machine and great to work with, June 16, 2010 This review is from: Apple Mac Mini MC270LL/A Desktop (Personal Computers) We've already put these new minis thru the paces here at Macminicolo and they're great. A few things to know:

-The RAM on these minis is VERY easy to upgrade. This machine comes with 2GB but can be upgraded to 8GB. Just twist off the bottom with your fingers and replace the RAM. (Literally, no tools required.)

- If you're looking to use the Mac mini connected to your TV, you'll be glad to hear that it now comes with HDMI. Nearly every current HDTV should have HDMI and it's a great fit.

- Speaking of TV watching, the new GPU (video card) is great. A wonderful upgrade.

- This Mac mini was reduced in power consumption AND the power brick is now internal instead of the big external one from before. That makes for a cleaner looking hookup.

- We use all our Mac minis as servers here and they're great. They run 24 hours a day and have no problems.

- This machine still has the IR capability so it can be controlled with the Apple Remote or one of the Harmony remotes with no problems.

All in all, a good upgrade.

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170 of 186 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars MM GOOD + BAD, July 26, 2010 This review is from: Apple Mac Mini MC270LL/A Desktop (Personal Computers) The Mac Mini was updated on June 15th 2010. There are some upgrades and minor changes between the 2010 Mac Mini and 2009's model, detailed below.

UPGRADES

HDMI audio/video output (HDMI version 1.3 and supports up to 1920-by-1200 resolution and multichannel audio.) Allows you to connect the Mac Mini to your HDTV easily.

Nvidia Geforce 320 M integrated graphics processor. More powerful than last years Nvidia Geforce 9400 which was in the 2009 Mac mini. Useful for content creation.

320 gb hard drive - Last years base model had a 160gb hard drive.

Secure Digital (SD) memory card slot - Useful for transferring photos and videos from Cameras.

Unibody aluminum body.

STANDARD FEATURES - from last years model (minor changes noted in brackets) are

Core 2 Duo Processor ( 2.4 ghz - up from 2.26ghz )
2 GB 1066 MHz DDR3 Ram
8x slot-loading SuperDrive DVD burner

Mini DisplayPort video output with support for up to 2560-by-1600 resolution
Combined optical digital output/headphone output
Four USB 2.0 ports (1 less than the 2009 Mac Mini)

One FireWire 800 port
Wi-Fi - 802.11n specification; 802.11a/b/g compatible, Bluetooth 2.1 and Gigabit Ethernet -10/100/1000.

Software included is OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and the iLife 09 suite of content creation tools. A 1 year warranty on parts and 90 day telephone technical support is standard.

As one can see, not much has changed. Apple is using older Core 2 Duo processors while the majority of the computer industry has moved on to using Intel's "i" series of processors and it's still shipping the Mac mini with 2gb of ram which is inadequate for multi-tasking effectively.

However, whatever little has changed, is for the better.

Apple has finally acknowledged that people connect their Mac Mini's to HDTV's and use them as media centers. So it's added an HDMI port to the machine. This makes hooking up your Mac mini to a HDTV really easy. No Blu-ray drive though.

It's also included an SD card slot at the rear (Which also supports SDXC cards) - so you can transfer your photos / videos / data directly from an SD card without having to connect your camera / card reader to the machine.

Also, new in this year's Mac mini is a removable panel on the bottom of the Mac mini which allows you to easily upgrade the ram. This is a welcome addition considering that accessing the ram slots in earlier Mac mini's was a tedious and time consuming process. And since the Mac mini only comes with 2gb of ram, a ram upgrade should be one of the first things you choose to do. Kingston Apple 4GB Kit (2x2GB Modules) 1066MHz DDR3 SODIMM iMac and Macbook Memory (KTA-MB1066K2/4GR) for $101 currently. The operating system STRUGGLES with multi-tasking when there's only 2gb of ram present. Note to Apple. Stop skimping on the ram. Thanks.

Unfortunately, there are some negatives too.

First up is the power supply unit. In the 2009 Mac mini, the power supply was an external power adapter, which meant if anything went wrong with it, you'd take the adapter for servicing, not the whole machine. However, the power supply unit is now inside the June 2010 Mac mini. This may look better / cleaner from a design / clutter point of view but it also means that if it ever malfunctions, instead of the power adapter, you'll have to take your Mac mini in to an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Store Provider and leave it there for repairs which may lead to more downtime.

The SD card slot is at the back of the machine, and reaching behind to insert a card gets tedious fast.

Also, the machine is STILL not designed to not let users access the hard drive easily (or without voiding the warranty). This forces the customer to be dependent on Apple for servicing, replacing or upgrading the hard drive. Considering the amount of confidential data customers store on their computers, they should be allowed to take out the hard drive when they need or feel like instead of being forced to take their machines into an Apple store if there are any issues. This is definitely a privacy / security risk for many customers and Apple should address this in the next iteration of the machine.

The price has also gone up by $100. Cost is an important aspect to consider. If you decide to upgrade the ram and also need to purchase a LCD monitor, keyboard and mouse, once you total it all up, the Mac mini will end up costing almost as much as a Macbook(which is more portable) or the entry level iMac (21.5 inch screen, 4gb of ram, dedicated graphics and bigger hard drive). If that's the case, you better off examining those machines as purchase options instead of buying a Mini.

The Mac mini is a capable machine for general tasks such as watching videos, working on documents, listening to music and surfing the web. It's small and occupies very little space. It's also very energy efficient which is good for the environment and your energy bill. I would have loved to rate it 4 stars but I can't ignore Apple still including only 2gb of ram which is inadequate for multitasking, not including a Blu-ray drive, STILL not allowing customers to access the hard drive AND increasing the price by $100.

If the issues mentioned above don't affect you in any way and you want a small, power efficient and capable machine (After upgrading the ram) the Mac Mini may be the machine for you.

Hope this helps!

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41 of 45 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Very Impressive Little Guy!, June 22, 2010 This review is from: Apple Mac Mini MC270LL/A Desktop (Personal Computers) The new Mac Mini has been an impressive little beast so far!

It sits on your desk and looks so small, yet it packs a powerful punch inside.

I bought a Mini Displayport to VGA connector to integrate this into my KVM setup with the intention of only using it on one of my three monitors, and when I realized that I could also use the HDMI port to hook up a second monitor, it was like a new world.

The new Nvidia Graphics card handles my 24" and 22" monitors just fine.

I also picked up Parallels 5.0 software from Amazon as well, and I don't flinch when I say that this little Mac Mini is running Windows 7 Professional better than my Quad Core PC does!

I am also going to throw Ubuntu on here as well to play with.

The Snow Leopard install is very snappy, and opens programs and installs things in a breeze.

This little guy is also handling syncing to my iPad and iPhone like it was nothing, and it amazingly will handle multiple programs open with no problem.

This is actually the first Mac I have owned, and I am so impressed that I may be converted forever.

The SD card slot, HDMI, and new Graphics card is what really sets this apart from the older models.

The new case is also a very nice piece of engineering! I have no idea how they fit the power supply in there! No more power brick laying around on the floor!

So user friendly, and could be the pinnacle of a Home office or be a great HTPC in the living room!

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# 4: AspireRevo AR3700-U3002 slim and compact Desktop acer-Blue

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars What a bargain!, October 5, 2010 This review is from: Acer AspireRevo AR3700-U3002 Slim and Compact Desktop - Blue (Personal Computers) This is just a quick note to fill in a couple of details not in the listed specs, now that I've actually received and set up 2 of these.

The version of ION graphics is listed on the box as "GT218-ION" They work perfectly, so far as I can tell for You Tube HD (and Hulu) videos. (I did first upgrade Flash to version 10.1.)

The "wireless" mouse and keyboard work via a nano-size dongle installed in a USB port, and are fine up to a distance of about 5 feet. They are seen by Windows as 2.4GHz, but are not listed as Bluetooth.

Both the VGA video to a 20" 1600 x 1200 pixel LCD PC monitor and the HDMI video to a 46" 1080p (1920 x 1024 pixel) LED TV work fine. (I did reduce the resolution slightly on the TV due to the TV's overscanning otherwise hiding the edge of the PC display screen. I'm sure the overscan can also be adjusted in the TV settings to resolve this without reducing resolution, but didn't find the place to do so quickly enough.)

Speed is listed as 3.5 on the Windows Experience, compared to 2.1 on our Asus Eee PC 1000 running the 32 bit version of Windows 7 Home Premium. (These new PCs run the 64 bit version.)

These are marvelously quiet. The only time the fan is ever audible is for a moment during the initial power-on sequence.

I had no trouble installing our Samsung USB DVD player. Just plugged it in and it was immediately recognized. Likewise, pointing to my HP 2605 networked color laser printer - found and configured automatically. (One suggestion: when the printer installer offers to update its list of printer drivers, let it.)

It wasn't initially clear how I would reinstall everything if the hard drive ever fails. The PC didn't come with any media to be used for that. (I later discovered the included program eRecovery creates an image of the factory setup on 3 DVDs, with a fourth DVD for drivers, and easily made a set on DVD+RW disks, using the above-mentioned external DVD driveSamsung USB 2.0 8x DVD Writer External Optical Drive for Mac and PC SE-S084C/RSBN (Gloss Black).)

Another day in and I've removed some of the unneeded pre-installed programs, disabled unwanted startup programs with msconfig, installed Microsoft Security Essentials, Firefox (along with add-ins Firefox Sync, NoScript, Flashblock, and BetterPrivacy), and Microsoft Office 2007 (2010 comes pre-installed, but would have cost me extra.) Windows Update has found and installed dozens of security upgrades.

Day 3: Telecommuted using this PC today. The VPN link was fine, as was management of a remote database application and a GoToMeeting that included both audio and video. Nothing I did today spiked CPU utilization about 40%! I also checked electricity used, and found it usually under 25 watts, barely more than the 20 watts used by our Asus Eee PC 1000 netbook, despite this Acer having more cores (2 rather than 1), faster clock speed (1.8GHz in place of 1.6GHz), and a 216GB hard drive (rather than 40GB of SSD.) Both 802.11b WiFi and Gigabit Ethernet Internet links work fine.

I'll keep adding more as I finish configuring these, but wanted to post now in case anyone else has been wondering whether these actually exist and are any good. The answer is yes!

Update: Two weeks in, this has still been a perfect choice for both of us. Everything is now configured just the way we like, and a full system backup made, just in case. (I used our USB external DVD+RW drive, but any external USB drive with enough space would do.)

For anyone wondering whether the standard 2GB of RAM is enough, neither of ours has yet used even half of that yet, even though one of our PCs typically has a dozen windows open in different applications simultaneously.

Highly recommended!

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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful: 3.0 out of 5 stars Flash performance == good : Silverlight performance == not good, October 18, 2010 This review is from: Acer AspireRevo AR3700-U3002 Slim and Compact Desktop - Blue (Personal Computers) The unit is very small and generates little noise and heat. Just be sure to not block the exhaust vent like I initially did (otherwise the fan will run harder and louder). This has several USB 2.0 ports but no ESATA port (unlike previous models). Connected to my Samsung 40 inch LCD TV via HDMI and runs well. The power button on the front is a bit mushy / unresponsive so you must press it firmly and in the dead center.

Acer claims the wireless card is a LITE-ON WN6602R with an RaLink RT3390 chipset. Currently running unit with a Netgear Rangemax WNDR3700 Dual Band Wireless router. Win7 says my wireless connection is excellent and shows 4 bars / 150mbps. Flash 10.1 video performance is acceptable (not great but acceptable). Silverlight 4 performance is woeful. This is unfortunate because Netflix uses Silverlight to implement their streaming video. Netflix is very choppy to the point I can't tolerate it. In contrast, my PS3 and Roku are flawless in streaming Netflix over my wireless network. Don't think I blame Acer so much as I blame Microsoft for lack of hardware acceleration support in Silverlight 4. Come on Microsoft, you are on version 4 of Silverlight and still don't have hardware accelerated video? Adobe Flash 10.1 does and so should you. Be sure to ditch Internet Explorer in favor of Google Chrome on this box. Google Chrome runs circles around I.E. 8.

Possible upgrades for this box might be increasing from 2gb to 4gb RAM.

Here is what Acer shows for the memory:
Support Memory size per socket: 1GB,2GB
Support memory type: DDR3 SO-DIMM
Support memory interface: DDR3 800MHz
Support memory voltage: 1.5V
Support to parity check feature: Yes
Support to error correction code (ECC) feature: No
Pin: 204 pin

Another option might be to replace the traditional hard drive with a SSD. I suspect an SSD would speed Media Center up quite a bit.

Update: 11-12-2010
I attempted a few tweaks to facilitate a better viewing experience:
1. Upgraded from 2gb to 4gb RAM
2. Switched win7 resolution to 1280 x 720
3. Upgraded NVIDIA Driver to 260.99
4. Upgraded from I.E. 8 to I.E. 9 beta (Some netflix is viewable some is not. Family guy is fine while Discovery Channel Dirty Jobs is very choppy).

Update: 12-6-2010:
Good news. ScottGu (Microsoft VP) announced on his blog (12/2) that Silverlight will finally be getting GPU support when Silverlight 5 rolls out. Check out Scott Gu's blog for more details. This should help with Silverlight / Netflix viewing.

Update: 01-08-2011
Still waiting for Silverlight 5. Thought I would post some more specs in the meantime:

Windows 7 Scores
Processor 3.5
Memory 4.8 (with 4gb ram)
Graphics 5.0
Gaming Graphics 5.7
Primary Hard Disk 5.8

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21 of 22 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars What you get for the extra $150., October 6, 2010 This review is from: Acer AspireRevo AR3700-U3002 Slim and Compact Desktop - Blue (Personal Computers) The Acer AspireRevo AR1600 cost $199.99 at Amazon.com.
The Acer AspireRevo AR3700 costs $349.99 at Amazon.com.

I purchased both for home use. I am not a "Power User."

What did I get for the extra $150? Was it worth spending more for a dual core microprocessor and newer operating system? Does it have enough power to justify the higher price?

Here is why I believe the answer is yes.

There is no built-in wifi with the AR1600 unlike the AR3700.

The AR1600 is sold with Windows XP and the AR3700 with Windows 7 Home Premium Edition. While few of Microsoft's costly changes are great improvements (Of what real use is the Aero theme or the Ribbon?), it is a more smoothly working operating system.

The AR1600 handles most tasks easily, but it couldn't operate a WinTV HVR 850 usb tv tuner card. It worked perfectly with the AR3700. (This is the major reason for my purchase of the AR3700.) The AR3700 also comes with Windows Media Center.

The AR1600 was adequate for everything else.

P.S.
1) Both the AR1600 and AR3700 have nice keyboards, but I find them a bit too small for extended keyboarding sessions, so I use a full-size Logitech keyboard.
2) In your favorite search engine, type "Replay AV8". It's an inexpensive stream-recorder program. I wouldn't own a PC without it.

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Sunday, January 16, 2011

# 10: Apple's 27-inch iMac Desktop MC511LL/A

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65 of 68 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Upgrading from an older iMac, August 5, 2010 This review is from: Apple iMac MC511LL/A 27-Inch Desktop (Personal Computers) First things first: the iMac offered on this page has the quad-core Intel Core i5 processor. A configuration with a dual-core i3 processor is also sold by Amazon. A more powerful quad-core processor, the i7, is available as a build-to-order option from the online Apple Store. Be sure you're looking at the configuration you want. Apple makes four 27" Aluminum iMac processor setups in all: an i3, two with the i5, and an i7 (see the Comments on this review for a link to Apple's official tech specs).

Now then, on with the show. Many reviewers of the previous release of the 27" Aluminum iMac have already discussed the essential hardware and software features. So, rather than repeating stuff that has already been said, I am going to focus this review on my experience of upgrading from a G4 igloo iMac that was running System 10.5.8 .

Migration Assistant
*I used a Firewire 400 to Firewire 800 cable to move the contents of my old computer to the new machine with Migration Assistant.
*The process was virtually seamless, with only a few minor adjustments necessary to the transferred data. Only four applications required reinstallation: ClamXav, iTunes (due to the Soundflower plugin--in any case, no music was lost or damaged), Microsoft Expression Media 2, and a Juniper Networks remote access program (part of a corporate telecommuting package).
*Rules for Little Snitch, a third party utility, need to be reestablished.
*Customized preferences for Spotlight must be reentered.

Magic Mouse
*iMacs now come with a wireless mouse as standard equipment. The Magic Mouse is a vast improvement over the Apple Mouse (aka Mighty Mouse) because it doesn't have a roller ball that eventually stops working. In fact, there aren't any external moving parts on the Magic Mouse, other than the on/off switch.
*Expos? and Dashboard functions are now on the top row of the keyboard, not on mouse buttons.
*If you're interested in the new Magic Trackpad, you'll have to order it separately. It doesn't come as standard equipment right now.

Keyboard
*The chiclet style keys took me a little while to get used to, but now I prefer them to traditional "long stroke" keys.
*For some reason, Apple has made a compact laptop keyboard the standard iMac keyboard (Steve Jobs must be nostalgic for the original 1984 Mac keyboard). Anybody who relies on Page keys for navigation or on a numeric keypad for data entry is out of luck.
*An extended keyboard with Home/Pg Up/Pg Dn/Delete keys and a number pad is available as a build-to-order option, along with additional memory and other treats, at the online Apple Store.

Audio System
*Optical digital audio input and output requires cables or cable adapters with 3.5mm plugs. Standard size TOSLINK connectors won't work. Also, digital audio I/O is run through the microphone and headphone ports. It is consequently impossible to use headphones or an external mic when the computer is setup for optical digital audio use.
*The speakers are a weak point in the design. They are small, underpowered, and sound tinny. I think the igloo iMacs had much better sound. If I recall correctly, they had a specially tuned amplifier--plus the speakers were fairly large and were not built into the computer housing. Users who use their iMac as their main music source or who work with music and sound will want to buy a separate pair of speakers.

Using the computer: screen, fan noise, heat, Rosetta
*This iMac is all about the gigantic 27" screen. It's incredibly sharp and bright, with better-than-HD resolution. Excel users will love being able to see columns A-AE and rows 1-95 all at once at 100% zoom. No more wasting time scrolling around and splitting windows. Photos, movies, and graphics all look absolutely fabulous.
*I initially thought I would hate the glossy finish on the screen, especially after seeing how much glare demo models at the Apple Store showed. But, as it turns out, the shiny glass isn't distracting at all in my home office. That said, anybody who hasn't ever seen a glossy screen computer in person should go check one out before placing an order.
*Something that I miss from my igloo iMac is the ability to move the screen both from left to right (x-axis) and up and down (y-axis). Aluminum iMac screens can only be swiveled up and down, in a fairly limited range.
*Under most conditions, the computer runs very quietly. Fan noise is normally inaudible.
*The top of the computer can become noticeably hot to the touch. Not hot enough to cook the proverbial egg, but definitely warmer than most other electronic devices (except for the original PlayStation3, otherwise known as the Sony Spaceheater).
*PowerPC applications run well under Rosetta. Once it is downloaded automatically, upon demand, it runs invisibly.

Bottom line: it's the screen, the SCREEN, THE SCREEN!! Massive amounts of screen real estate, combined with fast performance, make the 27" Aluminum iMac a true joy to use for both work and play. One star penalty for not making an extended keyboard standard and for the terrible built-in sound system.

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36 of 36 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Very fast, very quiet, plays burned DVDs just fine (will update review frequently), August 15, 2010 This review is from: Apple iMac MC511LL/A 27-Inch Desktop (Personal Computers) BURNED DVDS:
My big concern is that the DVD drive would not play burned DVDs. (Out of the box, my MacbookPro did NOT play burned DVDs very well, if at all. After a couple OS updates, that seems to be a thing of the past, but a new concern for this drive.) DVDs tested that worked on the new iMac are: Imation DVD-R 8x; Taiyo Yuden white; Verbatim DVD+R DL; Verbatim DVD-R; Memorex DVD-R 4x; Princo DVD-R 'white star'.

MEMORY SLOTS and UPGRADING MEMORY:
Upgrading memory on the iMac is easy. There are 4 slots for memory: 2 'upper' and 2 'lower', as Apple calls them, but they are really 4 side by side slots on the bottom (behind the Apple logo.) The 2 upper slots are populated by Apple's memory, but the 2 lower slots are open (unless you upgraded already.) The 4 memory slots are accessed by unscrewing 3 screws with a Philips screwdriver (a normal size will do.) Apple recommends "For the iMac (Mid 2010) models, use 2 GB or 4 GB RAM SO-DIMMs of 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM in each slot." Removing the aluminum screen is a one-screw deal, then push in the memory, and power the iMac back on. That's it. If you are planning on running VMWare, or playing games, or doing video, you will likely need to upgrade to another 2 or 4GB. I recommend 2 cards of 2GB each. VMWare running Win7, while OSX is running PS and a browser takes up about 60-75% of the 4GB installed memory. And remember: saving a little and buying janky memory is like putting used, dirty oil in your car - what are you really saving by doing that?

REMOTE CONTROL:
The older remote control for my MBP worked just fine. That is until we started watching some streaming video through Safari. For some reason that video knocked out the ability to use the remote, and I had to restart the iMac to get it to see the remote again. Don't know why, and it was only for video being played through todocast.tv website. May be a rare issue.

LOADING HARD DRIVE:
It only took 63 mins for me to move 93GB of data from an external drive using USB 2.0 cable. Loading Mac Office took less than 10 minutes to load from DVD (default config) - fastest I have ever seen, yet. One thing I noticed is that I can hear this hard drive writing to the disc, whereas I cannot here my older iMac's drive at all. I have to put my head up near the screen, but I can hear the thumping more prominently than I can on the 2-year old iMac. This might be due to the way the housing/area around the drive is designed: might be creating an echo chamber? Don't know why, just do.

WIRELESS KEYBOARD and MOUSE:
Whoa! The wireless keyboard worked from over 50-feet away! I walked through a thick wood door, down the hall (cinderblock walls) and around the corner and it still worked! I have no idea how far away I can go, but across the room is no problem. Same goes for the wireless mouse. The mouse does not have the right-click set up as a default. I also found that the left-right swipe action was dangerous while browsing websites, for a left-swipe is the same as the 'back' button - and when filling out an online form hitting the back button (or accidentally swiping left on the mouse) can erase your inout data.) The vertical swiping action of the mouse is just like the iPhone, smooth and screen slides to a stop. Best mouse ever made.

WIRELESS CARD:
This card is definitely showing a stronger signal than my MBP sitting the same distance from the router (which is a G-band). It also shows a lot more networks to choose from than the MBP.

UDATES:
Out if the box, the iMac needed to be updated. Nothing ridiculous, just about 7 updates (Safari, Java, AirPort, iTunes, OSX security...) with a half hour of download and updating.

RETAIL BOX CONTENTS:
People new to Mac, and those that haven't bought one in years, will find the contents of your retail box sparse: keyboard, iMac, mouse, 2 DVDs, small booklet, power cord and batteries for the keyboard and mouse (installed.) That's it. PC users/converters will be shocked at how little documentation there is in your box: no yellow pieces of paper screaming out warnings and 'do this first!' type messages. This is true plug and play.

SPEAKERS:
These speakers sound just the same as the 2-your old iMac I am comparing all of this to. Maybe a little less tin/bright... Still not the best, most amazing speakers out there, but are far better than the majority of embedded computer speakers. I still recommend you buy a set of desktop speakers if plan on watching movies, playing music loud, or want a rich deep sound.

SCREEN:
Still not super-stoked about the glossy screen, but I think I am starting to get used to it. Bright rooms (especially where the light behind you is brighter than the light behind the iMac) just suck to work in. That's when I break out the MBP and it's matte screen. The 178-degree viewing angle statistic is ONLY for the most optimum viewing conditions! Again, a bright room where there are reflections on the screen will just turn it all to a kaleidoscope: colors are seen but good luck figuring out what you are seeing! In a pitch black room, yes, you can benefit from the 178-degree viewing angle and all is good.

QUAD CORE, THE BASICS:
While having the quad core CPU makes for a very snappy and almost lag-free iMac, it does NOT speed up your old programs. It's NOT like Office programs are suddenly using all four cores to compute your Chemistry spreadsheet or create that graph. It just means that there are more pipelines for your programs to run on. In short, the program has to be written to utilize the multiple cores at the same time. Not even my Adobe CS4 is using all four cores.

THINNER PEDESTAL:
The new thinner pedestal ("foot") is great for pushing back the keyboard/work. The old iMac had a 1/4 inch tall foot, almost brick-like, whereas this one about an 1/8 of an inch or less. Works like a ramp.

All said, I have to say that this is the best iMac so far. I know that should go without saying, but you can't always take this for granted. If you have a 1-year old iMac, I can't see upgrading unless you are having problems with it. If you have a 2+ year old iMac, or even a G5 rig, I can easily say that you should/could upgrade to this one. You will not be disappointed.

Will update this review as I come across more revelations.

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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Better than ever, August 12, 2010 This review is from: Apple iMac MC511LL/A 27-Inch Desktop (Personal Computers) I got this to replace my three year old iMac. Transfer of files,settings and apps was easy. It took me less than ten minutes to pull the new iMac out of the box and set it up for transfer. The transfer took about 2.5 hours and occurred perfectly while I was away.
The 27 inch display allows me to have as many as three large pages open in the same view. The resolution is incredibly high.
Photos appear like I'm looking through a window.
I use a lot of video and photo software. The processor speed is high. I can render videos about three times faster than I could with my older iMac that I thought was pretty fast.
A bonus for buyers of Macs is the high quality service you get from Apple Care. Wait time is reasonably short and the competence of the tech service staff is higher than any computing organization I've had experience with in the past 45 years. Apple Care covers you for three years and costs about 170 bucks from Amazon. Most of my questions were answered on Apple's website, but Apple Care bailed me out a number of times.
Hardware reliability is unknown because the machine is so new. My past experience tells me that, if something doesn't work, then Apple Care will either figure it out or help me get service without the hassle I used to get from HP and,especially, Dell. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews Was this review helpful to you? 
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# 6: HP Omni 200-5250 all-in-One Desktop PC-Black


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# 1: Apple iMac 21.5-inch Desktop MC508LL/A

100 of 102 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Fast, Loaded, but check your Display for the yellow, September 10, 2010 this review is from: Apple iMac 21.5-inch MC508LL/A Desktop (Personal computer) waited anxiously for this update summer 2010 line of iMac.

offer better value from an iMac one might think, and the space savings that have compared to having many components scattered on a desk, make them an attractive offer from Apple.

My current iMac was a model of aging, summer 2007. The first iMac with aluminium housing. Honestly, though, is not far away the cars today particularly notebook models. Stay the iMac are nicely, and I'm sure this new model will be too. iMac tend to offer better value of notebooks and because they are not transported around, can have a better reliability/longevity too.

When I open this new computer, I loved the widescreen display. This view is similar to a television, 16 x 9 widescreen monitor while conventional were 16 x 10 (including my old iMac). Extra width gives you more space to fit the documents through your desktop (screen) while you work. I like it.

Also, don't let anyone suggest that this is not a fast computer. His i3. 3.06 GHz hyper-threading processor has to give you up to four core "," virtual ". Some argue that this feature is not useful, or that not enough applications use hyper-threading. However, I was able to watch the CPU and see video encoding software on my computer using multiple threads. Was fast.

I chose the model by 21.5 inches, why does my desktop is just too small for the 27-inch model. 27 is absolutely staggering in size. I would choose if I had the room but the 21.5 is far from being a slouch and is looking a little more reasonable.

Comes with standard 4 GB of memory, which can be easily upgraded to 8 GB with purchase of two additional 2 GB sticks. A 500 GB hard drive, standard on this model will be plenty for everyone, but the hard pack rats out there. While optical media are today less popular, don't forget this iMac can play DVD and burn DVD. DVD burning can also be useful for backing up important data, such as photographs of families. The drive speed is satisfactory, and the cool variety of loading slot.

An SD card slot is located beneath the DVD drive, easily upload pictures to your computer directly from the camera's SD card.

Why choose this model 1199 over 1499 21.5 inches? Both are machines actually responsible. The model 1499 gives you a larger hard drive (1TB plus 500 GB, so twice the size), and has a faster processor, which is useful when the game and other graphics intensive applications. While I chose the model of 1499, 1199 not missing much if that final ten tenths of graphics performance and extra hard drive space is not something that you think necessary.

$ 1,199 model is the right choice, unless you "know" the benefits specific to the model 1499 (hard bigger and faster processor). Really, this model for $ 1199 is one of the best values of any Mac now.

The iMac are great values on notebook, if you do not need portability. You get more performance, greater storage capacities and a huge screen comparison of a MacBook Pro. All at an attractive price.

One of my favorites? iMac have included for the past year standard bluetooth keyboard and mouse! This means that when you take the iMac out of the box, if you have wireless internet connection, simply by plugging the power cord can be installed and running. Magic Mouse and keyboard are wireless and works perfectly. They are easier on batteries than you might think too, even if they take easy capture AAs.

Included Software? The latest Mac OS X Snow Leopard is included, plus the iLife 09. iLife includes great and useful applications such as iPhoto, iMovie and Garage Band.

Someone new to Mac might consider getting the student/teacher/Home edition of Microsoft Office for Mac. Works beautifully and has a Mac feel to it, despite being a Microsoft product.

My final verdict? I absolutely adored the machine. It was a solid update and the fastest Mac ever I used on my old iMac. However, a week in properties I discovered that the bottom and right side of my screen had a yellow gradient/aspect to it. A white background, as Amazon.com page, it seemed nice and white in the upper left, but the rest of the display, it turned yellow. I had invested so much time to transfer my data from my old iMac to my new one. I had to transfer all back and delete a new safely before returning them. I didn't want to go through the whole process again, during my busy time of year, so that you have just returned for a refund. Once I have some free time to go through all the trouble, I will try again. Just be sure to check the monitor when it arrives because I read some other having a similar problem on the Mac Rumors forum.

In general, this iMac was an impressive update. Features the latest processors, plenty of storage and offers one of the best Mac values. The display is a great size and proportions, but be sure to check it for the yellowish when it arrives.

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51 of 53 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars best entry level mac ever!, August 4, 2010 this review is from: Apple iMac 21.5-inch MC508LL/A Desktop (Personal computer) *** this model has been out for two weeks so that the guy saying that he "held for 18 months" has a different model ****

The new intel I3 is ridiculously fast compared to my old imac dual core (2.0 ghz/3 gb) the value of the car really speaks for itself. LED SCREEN!! The ram is upgradeable to 8gig and new ATI rock; It is assumed that, although I haven't really tested it out yet. Spend $ 160 extra to get the apple protection plan, especially on this new update one.

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