By HEATHER HEMINGWAY
Introducing the iMac computer. It’s new. It’s stylish. But is it as good as Apple claims it to be?
Henry Bortman of Macworld Magazine said Steve Jobs took the world by surprise when he introduced the iMac to the consumer for $1,299.
The iMac is a futuresque computer package all in one, with new-age color, design and even a catchy slogan: “I think, therefore iMac.”
Ben Henwood, the Marketing/Advertising director of Mad Mac in Orem, said the iMac was released August 15 and within two weeks, Apple Computer sold 400,000. The Mad Mac stores in Orem and Salt Lake City sold 100.
Justin Barrett, the hardware buyer for the Computer Dept. of the BYU Bookstore, said there is a mixed reaction concerning the iMac among BYU students.
“Some think the iMac is pretty cool and some think it looks like something from Toys-R-Us.,” Barrett said.
However, the Bookstore’s first shipment of iMacs went fast and the second shipment is also gone, Barrett said.
“The iMac is different than any computer on the market,” Henwood said.
“A lot of people have said it looks like something seen on The Jetsons.”
Barrett said iMac is ideal for students.
“It is an easy solution for students in dorms as well as off-campus housing because it can fit in small spaces,” Barrett said. “It is a complete package that can run any software students need that is Macintosh compatible.”
Some of iMac’s features include a 233 MHz PowerPC G3 processor–which has been proven to be 40 percent faster than a Pentium II/400, a 24x CD-ROM drive, a built-in high-speed 56K modem and a 4GB IDE hard drive.
In spite of iMac’s good qualities, the lack of a floppy drive was the biggest topic of discussion after the iMac was announced, Bortman said.
He added that there are three reasons people use floppies: to install software, to back up, and to transfer small files back and forth.
“Most software these days ships on CD-ROMS or is available online. At 1MB a pop, floppies are too small to be useful for backing up the iMac’s 4GB hard drive,” Bortman said. “A removable cartridge drive, such as an Iomega Zip drive, an Imation SuperDisk drive, or a SyQuest SparQdrive, makes more sense. Finally, in large organizations, using the iMac built-in Ethernet to back up a remote server is a possible solution.”
Henwood agreed that the floppy drive is becoming obsolete.
“Floppies” are old and the worst way to transfer information,” Henwood said.
However, most people in the BYU community were disappointed in the lack of a floppy drive, Barrett said.
But a solution to the problem is on its way. The LS120, which is a combination ZIP drive and floppy drive, is anticipated to be released the end of September, Barrett said.
Yet, another problem is iMac’s ability to upgrade.
Barrett said compared to other computers such as Toshiba and Compaq, iMac is difficult to upgrade.
“Once the (iMac) hardware is out of date, it will be time to buy a new machine, whereas in other computers that will not be the case.”
Although the iMac is a speedy machine with many new-age features, it may lack some of the standard amenities. In the end the consumer will have to decide to iMac or not to iMac.
