[(( p g ))]

About a month ago, I bought a new 17-inch flat-panel iMac. I still have the box sitting in my office and while I'm tempted to just toss it in the recycle bin, I have this nagging worry...

If I ever need to send my Mac away for repair, will Apple expect that I ship it in the original box? Maybe that sounds silly...but I seem to recall reading that somewhere.

 

[PosterBoy]

No, they wont necessarily want it in the original box (but probably they will), but you're crazy if you think you can get it packed as well (read: safe for travel) in any other packaging.

I usually advise people to keep the box (dont break it down if you can avoid it either) at least as long as you have warranty coverage.

--PB

 

[MacDoc]

Keep it for two reasons.
Repair
Resale

 

[minnes]

Saving the box will definatley add value to the resale value of your mac, save it for sure.

 

[MACSPECTRUM]

Absoultely save the box.

Helps show that you kept good care of your 'puter. Not prove, but help.
Great for shipping for repair or resale.

 

[Kosh]

I'll add my name to the list of people who say keep the box. If you move, repair the Mac or sell it later, it's best to have the original box. I've got every box for my 3 Macs and every other major peripheral. Yeah, they take alot of space, and in some cases make nice tables (my 19" Samsung display box is big), but there's nothing better than the original.

 

[minnes]

but if you have to keep just one original shipping box, keep the Mac box, it is the most worthy of keeping.
A mac128, mac plus, Color Classic or Mac TV in the original box is at least double the market value of the basic unit sans box.

 

[Dr.G.]

PGant, not to change this discussion away from boxes, but what are your impressions of this iMac? This is the unit I intend to order in the next number of weeks, and I would like to hear any tips about the initial experience from a pro. Merci.

 

[(( p g ))]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Guess I'll be making room in the garage for this box.

Dr. G, to answer your question, I'm quite pleased with my new Mac. The bigger monitor has really made a difference for me in helping to manage multiple windows. Also, the extra performance from the G4 is really noticeable...especially when I go back to my G3 iBook...in which everything takes twice as long (especially startups and shutdowns...not sure why that is the case). If you're going to buy one, Dr. G, juts be sure to get at least half a gig of RAM. The difference between 256 and 512 is that things run smoother (especially in iMovie and Photoshop).

The only design flaw (apart from the single button mouse...but I won't go there) is the headphone jack, which unlike the G3iMac, is located inconveniently at the rear of the machine. You see I often work late into the night, so I like to keep Charles Mingus or John Coltrane blaring in the background....so headphones are de-rigeur for this household/office. It's a minor annoyance and one that I have learned to live with.

 

[MacDoc]

900 mHz wireless headphones are pretty good these days and then you can roam PLUS avoid the headphone jack issue.

Many speakers have a headphoen jack ont he front too......did you happen to check??

I too don't like the setup of the jacks - needs some thought - the power button sucks

 

[Dr.G.]

PGant, thank you for your candid views. Macdoc has suggested a 512RAM upgrade in addition to the 256 that comes with the basic 17" model, rather than spend the extra for the full gig of RAM.

As for the location of the ports, the one other person I know who has this computer had the same complaints, and I showed him what he might do (at times) to correct this problem -- turn the computer around when the drive is not needed. Thus, the ports on the back are now facing you for easy access, thanks to the screen that swings around.

I like the idea that I am able to utilize a 600 x 800 stretched resolution for working with text, and that the screen comes to me rather than my needing to come closer to the screen (which I have to do at times due to my vision),

 

[Dr.G.]

Macdoc, while we are in the thread of "odd questions", is it technically possible for a Bluetooth configeration where a Mac could download a tune off the internet into iTunes, send it wirelessly to an iPod, that, in turn, sends it wirelessly to a pair of headphones?

 

[pras]

They ARE worth keeping. But my crawl space is filling up quickly with boxes. Fortunately the foam packing from the iMacs make great coffee tables.

 

[(( p g ))]

Macdoc: my model came with the Apple Pro speakers...so there's no extra headphone jack. Wireless headphones would be nice, but I just don't see myself shelling out the dough for that kind of thing.

DrG. regarding your question about BlueTooth, no, I don't think you can do that. As I understand things, the only devices that are currently supported by BlueTooth are certain models of keyboards, mice and cellphones (but only in the US, with respect to the phones...I might be wrong about this). Is the Bluetooth module worth the extra $80 bucks? In my view, at this point, no. The iMac with the 80gig drive comes "BlueTooth ready" (module can be added later) and that suited me just fine.

 

[Penner]

I agree that the location of the ports on an iMac is a bit awkward. I've discovered that instead of having to crawl around behind the machine to plug something in, if you just grip the base with both hands you can quite easily rotate the entire computer 90 degrees or whatever you need in order to gain access to the ports. Plug in, then rotate it back. Just be sure you don't hit your head with the display. The bottom of the iMac doesn't have any kind of rubber grip feet or anything so it slides quite easily despite it's weight (and it is heavier than it looks).

Penner

 

[CubaMark]

I think it was the last issue of MacAddict that had a review of a totally cool product for the iMac. It's a round USB hub, white, same size as the iMac base. It also has a switchable blue ring of light around the base that adds to the cool factor. The iMac sits on top of it, and it gives you extra USB ports and Firewire ports on the front - but no headphone jack (since plugging the hub into the jack would mute your external speakers).

That brings me to another point: I'd like to have a feature whereby the headphones could remain plugged in but not automatically mute the audio. It's getting to be a pain plugging and unplugging the headphones for late-night gaming

M.

 

[ehMax]

When reading this:

Dr. G, to answer your question, I'm quite pleased with my new Mac. The bigger monitor has really made a difference for me in helping to.....

I couldn't help but envision a talking head with some banjo music in the background.

 

[Kosh]

This email reminds me, it's gonna be fun packing up all my Macs... I'll be moving in a couple of months. See... those boxes do come in useful. My new house is a dream home...

 

[(( p g ))]

Ha ha. Who is that guy...never seen him before

 

[ehMax]

Hey, that's make a good Avatar! Although HE looks REALLY psychotic!

HA! Gotcha back!