Mainly Macintosh

My mom bought a Macintosh last week

My mom and step dad just purchased a brand-new Apple iMac last week.

They bought bought one of those Intel Duo (dual core) based iMacs, opting for the one with the 20-inch screen.

I think they are going to be very happy with it.

Unlike their very old PC - this one comes with a recmote control, can burn DVDs (they can make their own home movies on it), has a flat screen display, takes up practically no deskspace at all (just do not put it close to the wall so it cannot cool itself), comes with built-in high-speed wireless transceiver, and has nice stereo speakers in it.

I think it cost a lot less than their old computer too. It was an old Dell notebook. The company that made the operating system for Dell, has stopped all support for that product.

Dell does not make their own OS, so basically the defects remaining in the product will never be fixed. She could buy the latest OS - but there is no way to know if it would be compatible with her model.

With the Apple OS+computer, Apple can certainly tell her as each new OS comes out whether it is compatible with her model or not.

I know she is going to like the state-of-the-art Tiger (Mac OS X 10.4) operating system that comes with her Mac. It just came out last year, and it is the cat's pajamas.

I think when Leopard (Mac OS X 10.5) comes out next year, she will really like that one too.

Apple upgrades their OS about every year and a half. They charge a very reasonable $129 for it. They support the previous OS and, for a good while, the one before that one too.

The real key to being able to upgrade your computer to new operating systems for a long time is to have Dell or Apple install more RAM in it. You can do this when you buy it. Or you can do it later.

If you do it later, you can save a little bit of money by doing it yourself, if you know what you are doing. If you do not know how to do it safely, you can save yourself a lot of money and time by paying a technician at the store to do it.

Operating systems, and application programs, have steadily increasing appetites for RAM.

The Dell was my Mom's first non-used computer. She used it for about six years. I am hoping she gets just as many years and even more happiness out of this new Macintosh.

posted by John Collins @ 7:14 AM