All-In-Ones

[catdude33]

I want to buy one.  Hey computer geniuses, which is the best for my money?  I like to surf the web, store a lot of pics, videos and songs, and mess around with some video editing and stuff.  I have a Mac lappy, which I like, but it's kinda old. Is the iMac 21.5 a good deal?  There are ones that are a lot cheaper but maybe they are crappy?  

I will hear arguments from both PC dorks and Mac dorks.  Go.

[ew2x4]

Get an HTPC and a big ass TV.

[ECN]

I want to buy one.  Hey computer geniuses, which is the best for my money?  I like to surf the web, store a lot of pics, videos and songs, and mess around with some video editing and stuff.  I have a Mac lappy, which I like, but it's kinda old. Is the iMac 21.5 a good deal?  There are ones that are a lot cheaper but maybe they are crappy?  

I will hear arguments from both PC dorks and Mac dorks.  Go.

the iMac's are always your best deal when wanting what you want. no such thing as a crappy imac. i do a lot of video editing, photoshopping, webdesigning, and have tons of programs open at once. not one crash in years. i dont want this to be a stupid PC and MAC agrument - just sayin.

[Duncan]

I have a 21.5" iMac (1TB, ATI Radeon HD 4670 version).  Love it.  The screen is gorgeous.  iLife comes bundled free.  iMovie '09 is good, so is iPhoto.  Though some people like iMovie '06 HD better (you can't download from Apple anymore though, so torrent), mainly because it's timeline editor is similar to Final Cut.  But for basic, amateur movie editing, iMovie '09 is sufficient.  Final Cut Express is an option, much cheaper than Pro.  You can create some really nice looking projects with iMovie, the themes and such included are top notch.

I run Adobe CS3 and Lightroom, and it works great.  Also Windows XP via BootCamp (for CAD).  If you are going to be doing a lot of graphic intense programs, I would definitely suggest the model I have, or the 27"ers with i7/i9 chips.  I have no idea how iMovie and iPhoto run on the base model.  Although right now I think Apple is delaying the 27" models because of display issues (flickering, yellow tinting).  Haven't heard anything about the 21.5" models.

No clue about PC models.  Have heard the Gateway One ZX4800-02 ($699 or so) is a good middle of the road PC.  Cheaper option would be the Asus Eee Top ET2002 ($550).  Though less powerful.  More expensive would be the HP TouchSmart 300 ($800+) or HP Touchsmart 600 ($1,000+).

[BigCat]

I want to buy one.  Hey computer geniuses, which is the best for my money?  I like to surf the web, store a lot of pics, videos and songs, and mess around with some video editing and stuff.  I have a Mac lappy, which I like, but it's kinda old. Is the iMac 21.5 a good deal?  There are ones that are a lot cheaper but maybe they are crappy?  

I will hear arguments from both PC dorks and Mac dorks.  Go.

the iMac's are always your best deal when wanting what you want. no such thing as a crappy imac. i do a lot of video editing, photoshopping, webdesigning, and have tons of programs open at once. not one crash in years. i dont want this to be a stupid PC and MAC agrument - just sayin.

Have a ten year old desktop that just keeps humming along. No problems whatsoever. Ditto for my 17" Pro. My brand new top of the line HP which I have to have for work? Takes like ten minutes to boot and it doesn't have a thing in the world stored on it. Crashes, etc. God PCs are junk.

[ew2x4]

I want to buy one.  Hey computer geniuses, which is the best for my money?  I like to surf the web, store a lot of pics, videos and songs, and mess around with some video editing and stuff.  I have a Mac lappy, which I like, but it's kinda old. Is the iMac 21.5 a good deal?  There are ones that are a lot cheaper but maybe they are crappy?   

I will hear arguments from both PC dorks and Mac dorks.  Go.

the iMac's are always your best deal when wanting what you want. no such thing as a crappy imac. i do a lot of video editing, photoshopping, webdesigning, and have tons of programs open at once. not one crash in years. i dont want this to be a stupid PC and MAC agrument - just sayin.

Have a ten year old desktop that just keeps humming along. No problems whatsoever. Ditto for my 17" Pro. My brand new top of the line HP which I have to have for work? Takes like ten minutes to boot and it doesn't have a thing in the world stored on it. Crashes, etc. God PCs are junk.

Sorry dude, but there's no such thing as "top of the line HP". That brand is garbage.

PS. What speed was your hard drive on it?