“Big things are happening in personal computers this winter. On the Macintosh side, Apple Computer has begun its momentous rollout of Macs with the Intel processors found in Windows PCs — a big shift from the company’s traditional anti-Intel stance,” Julio Ojeda-Zapata writes for The St. Paul Pioneer Press. “Nothing quite as seismic is occurring on the Windows side, but Intel has just debuted ‘Viiv’-branded PC designs for those seeking decent multimedia machines in simple-to-buy configurations. We tried out two computers, an Intel-based iMac and an affordable Viiv PC from Dell — one of dozens of PC makers to offer such machines beginning this year. Our test machines have one major factor in common: They use Intel ‘dual core’ processors that essentially consist of two processors on a single chunk of silicon. This means they can juggle more tasks at once without bogging down [and] they’re amazingly quiet.”
“The Viiv label makes PC shopping easier, because you know what you’re getting. The [Dell] XPS 200 is nice, but a bit more cash will get you a Viiv with iMac-caliber performance… Apple’s iMac includes the superb iLife, which also incorporates music-composing and Web-authoring apps. Our Dell loaner, though, only included Adobe’s Photoshop Elements photo-editing program. If it’s absolute peace of mind you crave, the virus-and-spyware-prone Windows isn’t the way to go. Get a Mac,” Ojeda-Zapata writes.
Full article here.
Advertisements:
• MacBook Pro. The first Mac notebook built upon Intel Core Duo with iLife ’06, Front Row and built-in iSight. Starting at $1999. Free shipping.
• iMac. Twice as amazing — Intel Core Duo, iLife ’06, Front Row media experience, Apple Remote, built-in iSight. Starting at $1299. Free shipping.
• iMac and MacBook Pro owners: Apple USB Modem. Easily connect to the Internet using dial-up service. Only $49.
• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
• iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
• Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Computerworld: Apple’s MacBook Pro ‘fast, really fast – looks like a real winner’ – January 28, 2006
MacSpeedZone: Apple’s iMac Core Duo nearly as fast as Power Mac G5 Quad – January 26, 2006
InfoWorld: Apple perfects the desktop personal computer with new iMac Core Duo – January 25, 2006
Flawed CNET review pans Apple’s iMac Core Duo with 7 out of 10 rating – January 23, 2006
Washington Post: Wait a month or so before buying Apple’s appealing new Intel-based iMac – January 22, 2006
Apple’s Intel-powered iMac provides a smooth transistion from PowerPC – January 21, 2006
PC Magazine review gives Apple iMac Intel Core Duo 4.5 out of 5 stars – January 20, 2006
Time names Apple iMac Core Duo ‘Gadget of the Week’ – January 20, 2006
Mossberg: New Intel-based iMac the best consumer desktop with the best OS and best software bundle – January 18, 2006
Get a Mac…. advise from someone in the ‘know’.
mw-‘clearly’
My iMac is due today at any time!
Mac – Because life is GREAT!
It will be interesting to note how SALES of PC web cams will be affected with the integration of iSight into iMacs, Mac Book Pros, and future Apple products.
Will PC users re-visit the idea of Web Cam chats and if so, will that too spur a copy-cat integration of Web Cams into PCs?
me: “Will PC users re-visit the idea of Web Cam chats and if so, will that too spur a copy-cat integration of Web Cams into PCs?”
I’m sure Dell’s subcontractors are busy drilling holes in Dell’s notebook housing right now.
Many PC laptops have had built-in webcams for years now. I know a few peole who insist on having this feature in every laptop they buy, but then nobody uses it. I’ve always thought this is because PC software frequently makes a buggy and unstable connection with peripherals, usually because of driver conflicts. People are also frequently not 100% sure that their camera is off when they want it off.
Of course, Apple solves both of these problems.
Does anyone know if the new Mac cams can be switched off by physically masking the lens the way the iSight can?
“This means they can juggle more tasks at once without bogging down”
Why is it that MacWorld failed to make that realization when reviewing and benchmarking the new iMacs? They only seeming intereted in seeing how the new iMac compared to the old one doing one thing at a time, making the assumption that their tests can be extrapolated to reach any kind of useful conclusion. They were wrong.
So why are all Mac owners wanting to have Windows on their Mactels???
You ever here of Wintel owners wanting OSX on thier Windows computers????
Numero Elf,
I would love to have OS X on my PC. That way I could enjoy the lovely virus free Mac Environment on my PC. Until I get my own mac, that is!
Nemero Elf:
They want windows on their macs so they can get along with their IT staff at work who (incorrectly) believes that nothing but Windows can live on the network, and (correctly) believes that if everyone in the company got Macs, the IT staff would no longer have a job cleaning up the mess that is Windows.
Unfortunately, someone in every business chooses a software package that runs only on Windows, and all their workers suffer for it.
Having XP or VISTA on a Mac would allow the user to have the simple, elegant computing solutions from Apple, and still have a safe sandbox to run the kludgy horror of Windows that their job requires. When they leave for the day, they can log off windows, go back to the beautiful OS X desktop, and sleep peacefully in the knowledge that their laptop is not being eaten alive by spyware and viruses while plugged in and charging while running Windows.
That’s why. And you knew the answer, too. You just tried to make a point, but didn’t do it very well.
DavidLow,
Yes you can turn off the iSight camera built into the new iMac and MacBook Pro. I don’t know how, but you can. Maybe in the System Preferences?
Obviously, buy a Mac – how many Mac users are worried about the Feb 3rd worm that has already infected 300,000 machines? Please raise your hands? OK, you in the back – are you really a Mac user or are you just trying to skew our stats? I see… you wish you had a Mac.
Same processor – differnt results… and VISTA will be so safe that there will be no security-ware included in the operating system… Hmmm, I guess bouncing Ballmer and Giveaway Bill just haven’t gotit figured out yet.
BUY A MAC!!!!
Because it does matter.
MDN: matter – MacOS X is real as in “matter” not vapour ware.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”raspberry” style=”border:0;” />
Amen brothers and sisters! Just what I’ve preaching for a little over two decades now.
However the idea of putting Windows on one of the new Macs is insane!
the iSight camera has no “off” setting, per se; there is a little green indicator that tells you when the camera is “live”. if this is off, so is the camera. usually, it comes on only when using iChat or PhotoBooth. there is no shutter mechanism, as the stand-alone iSight has. i just put a piece of opaque tape over it, to be sure. i know that this is not very Mac-like, but what can you do…?
numero elf are you really this dumb? Not so much think different, just think in your case.
billysmom–
Are you sure that you can not turn off the cam? It seems that it would be silly to have it powered up and running down the battery if not in use… Perhaps there’s something in the energy saver control panel. Of course, no one has a MacBook Pro yet, so we’ll have to wait and see. I’m guessing though, that at least on the portables, there will be a way to turn it off.
MW: Strength, as in battery strength.
numero elf’s question: “So why are all Mac owners wanting to have Windows on their Mactels???”
-No choice, some business software is written only for PC. (Though Macs are more and more handling business needs. Example of inventory, records, etc: http://www.apple.com/business/profiles/whitehall_lane/
-And some games only run on PC.
For those of us who might be FORCED to use a PC at work, and aren’t into having EVERY video game at home, a nice virus/spyware/worm free, high tech, space saving, best operating system (written on the best base in the world–UNIX) choosing a Mac seems logical to us.
AND
Your second question:
“You ever here of Wintel owners wanting OSX on thier Windows computers????”
1. No, because they usually want the WHOLE computer. A Winduhz box is U-G-L-Y and the laptops are even uglier.
2. I know people who have a mac and a pc–Mac to safely surf and do e-mail and use all the cool stuff. PC because they have to for work. PC sits idle with only specific purpose use.
Why put Windows on a Mac?
The answer is so obvious I can’t believe you have to ask.
SOLITAIRE!
and minesweeper!
“So why are all Mac owners wanting to have Windows on their Mactels???”
“ALL” Mac owners do not have this affliction. I would imagine the actual percentage of Mac owners willing to perform this lobotomy to be closer to 5%.
If we wanted Windblows, we wouldn’t have bought a Mac. If we NEEDED Windblows, we could always buy one of those $300 PCs that PC-sufferers seem to think makes them superior.
No thank you very much.
Why are there so few viruses for the Mac? Because they have a tiny share of the desktop market. When more people have macs, we’ll see more mac viruses.
Buy a mac to avoid viruses is very short sighted advice.