17" vs. 20" iMac (purchasing)

Qion

Qion

Uber Nothing
Hola...

I'm sure this question has popped up somewhere, and if it has, just redirect me, but my quick search left me with no cigar.

What are you guys' opinons on buying a 17" Intel iMac vs. a 20" model? I'm also thinking about waiting to buy this machine later, so I don't have to have that post-latent buyer's remorse when they release another iMac a week later.

Thanks.
 
My recommendation is to get whichever you can afford ! :) There's not that much difference in the specs as far as I can see other the slightly faster processor speed in the 20" which I doubt you'd even notice and larger hard drive. The only major difference is the screen size.
 
no, the major difference is the screen. the 17" is a cheap laptop screen, with crap viewing angles along with it. the colours are awful on the 17". the 20" is the same screen as the apple 20" cinema display, and full pro screen. the 20" is lovely, a really nice screen, the 17 is workable, but very flawed.
 
20", all the way, unless you're on a tight budget.

Off topic, but I did this when I bought my car: they told me not to test drive the V6 because I'd never be satisfied with a 4-cylinder, but I did test drive it, and bought the 4-cylinder, which I've never been satisfied with after experiencing the V6. Buyer's remorse -- if only I would have splurged a little more...

Get the 20". You won't regret spending the extra cash on it.
 
Thanks.

I'm a photographer, so having accurate color and a decent canvas is a big thing to me. I figure I could get by with another 17", but if the color and viewing angle isn't there... no way.

But that still leaves the waiting question...
 
basically, go and have a look at both. the general effect of the 17"'s viewing angle is a completely inverted colour set at about 60-70° vertical (assuming 0° is eye level). it's poor. brightness and contrast are strange too. 20" is almost flawless.
 
I've always loved my G4 iMac's 17 inch screen. Having said that, it does have rather tight vertical viewing angles before a nasty color shift. If you depend on accurate color, I think the recommendation of the 20 inch screen is a good one.

Many people suggest waiting for the second revision of any new model. In the case of the iMac, this is the first revision of the Intel iMacs. It might be a good idea to wait (up to) four or so months for the second revision.

If you can wait that long. :)

Doug
 
I think it's a test of personal ability to not conform -which of course I wouldn't condone- and jump on the high-powered band wagon of mega-bandwidth'esque beauty and two 2Ghz processors sitting atop a 256MB graphics card... *drools*

But whatever. My eMac still works for pretty much everything...

I do have to say however, Live and UT2004 can get a bit annoying with only 1Ghz of legroom.
 
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