Approaching from this "is this a deal" angle and not the Mac/PC religious war angle:
Yes, for a Mac this is a deal. You have to understand that even 5% off an Apple product is a "deal" - and 12% off (like this deal) is almost unheard of. I bought this for the kids for Christmas last year (the only real difference is ours has an i3 processor.)

It's our only Mac, otherwise I use PC for business and personal. From the "I'm a PC" angle, I can say the iMac a pretty solid, trouble-free computer. It's definately built well, probably better than any other $1k PC I've seen.

I love my iPhone, but the Mac OS is not for me. It's great for the kids or my wife who just want a computer for basic web browsing, email and word processing.

porlando wrote:MACS!!! FINALLY!!! WOOT IS SELLING MACS!!! Worth every penny of the retail price. For those of you who think they're expensive, so is indoor plumbing.

Porlando, I can agree w/ you that Macs are good machines but from a completely literal, neutral standpoint (and from someone who can order all that hardware as an OEM) they are absolutely NOT worth every penny of retail. There is no way cost to Apple is more than $300 which means they should be on shelves for 400-600.

If people would build their own Windows machine from high-end components (or, order one custom built from a reputable builder) instead of buying the cheapest brand-name piece of crap off the shelf, they would find their computing experience much more gratifying, less problem prone and with a higher level of support, when needed. You might even end up paying the same or more than a Mac, but you would have more computer, in my view. The only limiting factor, arguably, would be the OS.

Crappy PC's operated by people who don't know a serial port from a cereal spoon = an unhappy computer user.

On the other hand, I routinely get 5 years useful life from a Mac, where only 1 of the PCs I've owned (HP, clones and Dell) have lasted 3 years, due to component failure. The Dell lasted 4 years, but it took proprietary memory so I couldn't add enough memory to it to run Windows with acceptable performance.

So it's my experience that the components in Apple machines are generally better quality/last longer than in PCs.

To all the folks talking about the Apple Tax I made a PC on newegg with as close to the same parts as I could and I got

Grand Total: $1,146.89 (includes Windows a display, a keyboard, and mouse.)

Now obviously there are great benefits to doing a PC like picking specific hardware, and not having to go with that specific arrangement, but I don't think Apple tax is super relevant here.

Should I consider it a sign from God that my last freelancing check was for 1050.00?

kcpike wrote: I made the move to Mac because I wanted something that just worked and didn't become a drag on my time. If you have the financial means and are dissatisfied with Windows, give Mac a try. You won't regret it.

This a pipe-dream, my friend. I gave it a try and switched back. No matter what machine you get, you will end up frustrated in the end. Either pay more up front and then try to convince yourself that all the glitz makes up for the lack of function, or pay a lot less and deal with it when the blue screen of death comes (you can still get another machine and be cheaper than one Mac).

5-years ago, at the height of my Apple brainwashing, I would have been on this deal like an anarchist at an occupy protest. But now I just think, "me wants it, my precious", and know better... I still need to make that trek to Mordor to toss this "precious" Mini back into the fires from which it came.

Jethro70 wrote:It maybe a 3rd gen. Nano [squarish 4 GB model] But the point is that it didn't work with the Mac, but it did work with the PC. Completely blew all the pro-Mac BS I'd been listening to out of the water. "Macs just work". Right.

It needed 10.4. Why don't you go whine about how you can't run windows 7 software in xp. It was listed right in the specs. The nano 3rg gen came out in 2008. A year after 10.5 was out. Btw, just how much does Microsoft charge for upgrades? More than apple does. Especially if you want the pro versions.

This unit as a refurb is only $1019 from Apple here (same warranty coverage, AppleCare available for $169).

$150 cheaper than the special deals I get from Expercom. Very nice unit and a great price.

deemery wrote:On the other hand, I routinely get 5 years useful life from a Mac, where only 1 of the PCs I've owned (HP, clones and Dell) have lasted 3 years, due to component failure. The Dell lasted 4 years, but it took proprietary memory so I couldn't add enough memory to it to run Windows with acceptable performance.

So it's my experience that the components in Apple machines are generally better quality/last longer than in PCs.

This is not true. The hardware is all made in the same factories in China (primarily). Mac does not make any of their own hardware. The same potential hardware failures you would have in a Mac, you would have in a PC and vice-versa. Mac seems to last longer because people who can afford them tend to be a little more caring. Anyone can afford a pc, and for the price it's more of a disposable PC. You are going to treat your Mercedes nicer than you would your Chevy... but remember you are driving that Chevy everyday not worrying what potholes you hit, not washing it, not changing the oil, not maintaining it- but then you complain that American cars aren't built as well as your Mercedes.

nickmcmahon wrote:I agree. I am a technician, and I havent gotten a virus in a long, long, long time...you have to go to the right sites, and if you go to the wrong ones, go to the right wrong ones (lol)

On another note, here is a nice little analogy for the iPad

iPad= iPaid too much

Take a windows machine and Mac out of their box's and plug them both into the raw un-nated/un firewalled Internet and see which one gets compromised first. This has been done multiple times over the years. Windows always go down within hours if not mins.

Why is the tco always less for a Mac in all the reports.

ventifact wrote:[quote postid="4773571" user="Joshocaust"] . . .

I personally think the Magic Mouse is terrible. I immediately plugged in a Logitech mouse, figured out how to disable mouse acceleration and haven't looked back.

. . .

It will grow on you.

So do warts. That doesn't make it a good thing.

longlocks wrote:Or we could just admit that we're all at least a little bit bi.

Trying to convince my wife of that... for selfish reasons.

kcpike wrote:
I have a MacBook Pro that's 2 1/2 years old and it runs exactly the same as the day I bought it. I've never even needed to reboot it once. There's not a Windows laptop user that can make this same claim. You buy a PC, load it with bloatware (i.e. anti-virus, anti-spyware, defrag, etc.), clog the registry over time, and impact performance. I was a Windows user for 15 years and have buillt several PC's. I became tired of the constant diagnosing of problems and maintenance of my PC's, including the inevitable hard drive wipe/clean OS install that I'd have to do after owning my PC's for a few years. I made the move to Mac because I wanted something that just worked and didn't become a drag on my time. If you have the financial means and are dissatisfied with Windows, give Mac a try. You won't regret it.

I did regret it.

Mac's don't "just work." A little bit ago I installed an update to OS X. After my macbook power cycled, I couldn't log in. The update corrupted my macbook, and there was nothing I could do about it. I had to reinstall OS X to get my $1500 piece of it out of paperweight mode.

I've never updated a Windows or Linux box and had to reformat the drive because the OS update was bad. Worst thing too is that Apple hasn't realized that its OS update is turning macs everywhere into bricks.


My macbook also doesn't "just work" with the wifi in my house. It tells me I need to reboot my router because its too stupid to connect properly to it. All manner of windows pcs, laptops, nooks, smart phones, linux boxes, and printers have connected without a problem, Apple is special.

I've tried it, I hate it, and I hate that Mac people are still spouting off propaganda about things they overpaid for.

wootbitDude wrote:It needed 10.4. Why don't you go whine about how you can't run windows 7 software in xp. It was listed right in the specs. The nano 3rg gen came out in 2008. A year after 10.5 was out. Btw, just how much does Microsoft charge for upgrades? More than apple does. Especially if you want the pro versions.

Because PC zealots aren't the ones saying, "it just works". The Nano worked just fine on a PC *of the same generation as my mini*. I know it pains you Jobites to read that, but it is the truth. I don't want to pay for the next fat cat OS that comes down the line -- if it "just works", then I shouldn't need to upgrade the OS every year!

milkham wrote:One advantage of having a Mac is that when other people ask you to fix their computers you can just say you're a mac user and don't know The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) about windows pcs.

That may be the best part of being a Mac user, for me.

I switched during the Windows XP era, so I have little-to-no experience with Windows Vista or 7.

When people need me to fix something, I can tell them that I have no idea how to fix it. Now that most people I know are on Windows 7, I rarely have to fix anything for anyone.

There's a MacBook Air under the tree for my girlfriend - that will eliminate the last of the Windows XP computers I'm expected to maintain.

I know everyone complains about the tendency of Macs to be more expensive, but there is a good reason.

I costs those good folks at Apple about $200.00 to put that little apple on the things they make, and they pass that branding right onto you, the consumer!

Which is great, because I'm convinced the reason people buy Macs like to have miniature fruit icons on their computers, and they get the little decal to stick on their cars.

[quote=""] "Apple is much more likely to use proprietary components." If this were true, Boot Camp and virtualization software wouldn't work. They do and you're wrong. [/quote]

The key word here was "COMPONENTS". Software is not a component. Keyboards, power cords, video cards, etc... those are components.

c0dyh wrote:You can buy it from apple for less with free shipping.

http://store.apple.com/us/product/FC309LL/A

That deal does cost a bit less, but you'll have to buy a keyboard and mouse on your own.

jcarr wrote:This unit as a refurb is only $1019 from Apple here (same warranty coverage, AppleCare available for $169).

although tax on Apple brings it up to 1075.00

I don't understand why any mac deal offered anywhere always brings out this dumb mac vs windows debate. If you are a windows person, move on. Why do you feel it necessary to belittle people who prefer a mac? If it works for someone else's lifestyle what does it matter to you?

We have many computers in my house. WIndows, UNIX, Mac and even a few old Solaris boxes. I can assure you that they all coexist fine.

You don't have to choose one over the other and there certainly isn't any need to put down the people that choose one over the other.

On a side note, several years ago, I tried for a long time to make movies of the kids on my old windows machine. I tried many different video makers and just had a really hard time with them. Once I figured them out, they would crash or the movie didn't really look good. (this is several years ago so I'm sure there are better programs now) I did get it done eventually. My spouse ended up buying me an iMac not long after that and IMO iMovie is a breeze and gives a good output product. Can I make movies on a windows machine? Yes. However, I choose to use my mac for movies because I find iMovie to be easy and seamless.

Machines and people can coexist. It doesn't have to be one or the other.

TheFaz wrote:Yeah but they have a fatal flaw. It's called windows.

Then put the Darwin EFI on it, or Crunchbang, or, hell, Haiku.

So am I going to have to add the Apple logo to my COEXIST bumper sticker? ;)

Let's not pretend you were ever a Mac user. If you were, you would have used one of the two USB ports on either side of the keyboard and left the back ports for peripherals.

Christmas Eve- all the hostility between Mac purists and the hard nosed PC people. Can't we all just hold hands and sing Kumbaya? Or at least band together and make fun of the Linux people that actually think they have a functioning OS? Just a joke- guys, I love Android the bastard child of Linux.

jeffemming wrote:How could anyone stomach spending this much on a computer only to not be able to max out graphics on games 1-2 years from now?

You can't max them out now; it's a 6700 series MOBILE GPU. Even a standard 6750 couldn't.

echelon3 wrote:Let's not pretend you were ever a Mac user. If you were, you would have used one of the two USB ports on either side of the keyboard and left the back ports for peripherals.

Yeah those keyboard USB ports are a godsend. nothing ever gets in your way after you plug something into one of those. And if the keyboard is wireless (as this one) it does not have usb ports.

echelon3 wrote:Let's not pretend you were ever a Mac user. If you were, you would have used one of the two USB ports on either side of the keyboard and left the back ports for peripherals.

Not sure who you are responding to, but my USB powered scanner was not an option for the keyboard USB jack, and when I plugged in a 32GB flash drive, the Mini said, "white tundra frost are you doing?" and I had to turn the dadgum mini (and all the other cables) around to plug the flash drive in. But hey, it just works...

pearmask wrote:I don't know a ton about what's necessary to type in a language with a different script. What I do know is that for Romance languages and others like that which require a large number of diacritical marks and other slightly different characters, the default keyboard shortcuts are exceptionally intuitive. Very few keyboard presses, very very fast - no noticeable loss in typing speed. I go back and forth between Spanish and English constantly, with regular use of IPA as well (there's a great palette for that which is Mac compatible and easy to pull up from the language menu), with brief forays into Catalan, Italian, and various other languages. Recent versions of Windows are beginning to include better support for things like this, but here's a comparison of what you'd need to produce a character + diacritical like "é" on OS X vs Windows (with default input settings):

Windows: [ALT+0201] (or open the character palette and hunt and peck, which is the only thing a lot of my technically-inept students can figure out)
Mac: [Option+E, E]

Which would you rather memorize if you had to type multiple pages in Spanish every day? (Option + E is all you need to know to put an acute accent on any letter. So ó is [Option+E, O], whereas on Windows you'd need [ALT+162]. Similarly intuitive shortcuts exist for a variety of other diacriticals.)

Like I said, this doesn't matter for most people, but as a linguist focusing on Hispanic languages, I can't have a PC until they make it easier for me to type just as fast in Spanish as I do in English without memorizing random numerical strings.

...you can change keyboard layouts on the fly with the language toolbar in Windows.

Wish I could get this for the kid.. she really needs a new thinkybox.. Stoopid cancer..took all my money. >8-(

dernst_ca1 wrote:Wish I could get this for the kid.. she really needs a new thinkybox.. Stoopid cancer..took all my money. >8-(

Clearly, it didn't take your life, so I'd call that one a victory.

monix wrote:Or you know, you could get a PC with the same specs for a fraction of the price...

and...do you know, if you know the difference, you don't care?...buy it and fee the christmas joy

Does Food Network somehow look better on this overpriced computer?

Christmas Eve, right when everyone's broke from urinating money away like the Mayan apocalypse is coming, and Woot rolls out the most expensive Woot I can remember. Um... Good luck, I guess?

Shinespark wrote:Clearly, it didn't take your life, so I'd call that one a victory.

Werd. Here's to hoping cancer has the sense to stay down, and not come back for another a$$ kicking.

Im far from being a computer wizard and have only used PC's. Would like to know if Macs are truly invinceable against virus attacks as some people claim.

zeekz wrote:Im far from being a computer wizard and have only used PC's. Would like to know if Macs are truly invinceable against virus attacks as some people claim.

I'm a Mac user and the answer is "no". There are less viruses out there which infect Macs because most viruses are written to infect Windows.

Having said that, as a former Windows user, once you go Mac, it's highly doubtful that you'll go back.

zeekz wrote:Im far from being a computer wizard and have only used PC's. Would like to know if Macs are truly invinceable against virus attacks as some people claim.

Invincible? No, but 1. there is far less malware for OSX than Windows (for various reasons, one of them being ~10% marketshare), and 2. the kernel, again for various reasons, is generally less vulnerable to exploits/backdoors.

That being said, MSE, a software firewall and a healthy dose of Common Sense, even on Windows, takes care of the vast majority of problems.

Jethro70 wrote:Because PC zealots aren't the ones saying, "it just works". The Nano worked just fine on a PC *of the same generation as my mini*. I know it pains you Jobites to read that, but it is the truth. I don't want to pay for the next fat cat OS that comes down the line -- if it "just works", then I shouldn't need to upgrade the OS every year!

It's not rocket sience!!!
http://support.apple.com/kb/SP14
That's the spec that was in the box and available to look at before buying. It's common sense if you are buying something new and have an os that is two versions below the current shipping version to check what that new product requires before you buy it!!! You would have been in the same boat on any os that is multiple versions behind.

As for the USB ports, they are just as tightly packed on pc's. There are plenty of times I have cursed having to swap around USB cables to make room for one that is fatter than others on pc's. Flash drives are the worst. I carry a short extender cable for just that reason.

I have one of these at work. With VirtualBox (free), you can boot Windows without having to reformat your hard drive. It really is a great deal!

zeekz wrote:Im far from being a computer wizard and have only used PC's. Would like to know if Macs are truly invinceable against virus attacks as some people claim.

Virus yes, Macs don't get viruses. However a Mac can get other malware, but just like with PCs you have to be very careless. With a Mac you would have to lets say illegally download some software from a torrent site and try to install it.

If you take care of your computer you will not get any viruses whether you are using Windows, Mac OS, or Linux.