Just a glance at the clutter on the top of my desk and you’ll appreciate my affection for the striking new flat-panel iMac computer from Apple. Next to the eye-catching, space-saving, all-in-one Apple resides an eyesore: a homely, back-bulging 17-inch Gateway tube-type monitor connected to a Pentium-based Dell PC. So maybe it’s not a fair comparison. The Dell, after all, is a workhorse that dates all the way back to the fall of ’99; its mini-tower is actually hidden behind my desk. And the very visible Gateway monitor has even more rings around its trunk.
The latest Apple, on the other hand, doesn’t fall far from the tree. The machine represents the kind of dramatic design breakthrough that only further solidifies Apple’s reputation as a radically impressive innovator. Not that most consumers seem to notice or care — the company still holds a measly single-digit market share. Remember, many in the press went gaga over the PowerMac Cube delivered summer before last, but hardly anyone bought it.
Apple comes at the masses (read: the Windows crowd) with a seductive digital hub for handling music, movies and pictures (and, yes, regular computing chores) with panache. Based on looks alone, this Windows user, for one, was ready to bite. Sitting down to work at the machine only confirmed my impressions
Let’s start with the flicker-free 15-inch flat-panel display, which provides the same viewable screen area as the 17-inch Gateway monitor. It appears to be defying gravity. The svelte LCD is encased in a protective crystal-clear ’’halo’’ and supported by a jointed and sturdy stainless-steel neck mounted on a dome base. Though you shouldn’t mistake it for a portable, you can grab the neck with one hand and lug the 21-pound system around the house.
The flat monitor swivels up to 180 degrees, tilts 35 degrees, and can be raised or lowered by more than 7 inches — making it possible for every member of your family to find a comfortable sweet spot. Even a small child can effortlessly position the display with his fingertips. Pull the screen close so it blocks your view of the neck or the base, and it seems to be floating free. A word of caution: The design is so inviting, you might be tempted to start redecorating the rest of the room.
over all a great buy ..if you can afford it