iMac Issues

I've used Apples since 1986, and in all that time I've only had one problem (1988) with the power supply. I'm currently using an iMac which is more than a year old, and I've had no problems whatsoever. My wife has had an Apple laptop for the same length of time with no probems either.
If you disagree with Apple's assessment, maybe take it to small claims court???

Buy used from a reputable dealer like I do. I've had my 2004 G5 iMac since 2007 bought from PowerMax for $1200. The power supply crapped out last month and I replaced it with a used PS for $100 and installed it myself.

Besides you really don't need all that horsepower anyway. Return it for an exchange or get your money back and buy used.

Just know there are those that like to go beyond the call of loyalty to Apple because they seem to love their iMacs more than I would:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfPwAD_x2HI

I have that model and don't have bad capacitors.

Nobody's perfect, not even Apple.

I haven't had the same experience with iMac but I just switched to Mac after years with Windows and I must say I am not surprised by your report. Why did I switch? Simple; I was bored with Windows and wanted a change of pace. I like the look and feel of Mac and thought it would be better for what I do with it (photos and video). And I do like the interface better than Windows, so I'm not sorry. Yet.

But I see that in my future. Apple, you see, markets to three kinds of people: morons who can't find their way around a computer; old people who can't find their way around a computer (nor should be expected to); and "progressive" reactionaries who just hate Microsoft. They perpetuate the fiction that Apple is better for "artists," but I think anyone on this board who knows their way around a computer will tell you there is no difference between what you can do on a Mac and what you can do on a PC.

If Macs and PCs were political philosophies, PCs would be libertarians and Macs would be the Supreme Soviet, telling you constantly "you don't need to access that and you don't need to know how to do that because we'll do it for you." And like any paternalistic state regime, they view Mac users as a captured base and have little interest in customer service. Hence the high fees for basic service issues, and the unreasonable exclusions from warranty that you experienced. And forget trying to get the "bar" to think outside the box or truly help with an issue.

In antitrust law this behavior is well known. Mac users have a sunk investment and face high costs to switch to another platform, particularly if they have invested in third-party programs made for Mac. So Apple can treat us however it wants, essentially. Like the "cool white look" and "mod" feel of the Apple Store and of Apple products? You should; it's what you're paying for, after all.

In short, Apple doesn't sell computers. It sells a lifestyle and an image. So that's what you've paid for and things like customer service and making sure that the product actually works like it's supposed to, are given lower priority than they are at a struggling PC maker who is competing with dozens of other PC makers for customers.

Like I said, I'm not sorry yet. But I immediately found that the slogan "It just works" is a load of crap. I've had to force-quit more applications on my brand-new Macbook Pro than I ever did on my old PC. Every time I open GarageBand it tries to download a guitar lesson and fails, giving me an error message and saying to "try again later." Apple's "geniuses" said that they couldn't help with it and also said that I had used up my one free "issue" and that further inquiries or inquiries on other issues would be fee-based. Check back with me in 6 months and I suspect I will by then be wistfully recalling the days when I could fix the problem myself.

"I've used Apples since 1986, and in all that time I've only had one problem (1988) with the power supply. I'm currently using an iMac which is more than a year old, and I've had no problems whatsoever. My wife has had an Apple laptop for the same length of time with no probems either."

And I've used Windows PCs over that same time period without any major issues. At this point, I can't see any reason to switch to Apple. They did pique my interest with the ZFS file system, but that's been scrapped. So I'll buy a new Windows 7 PC this year. Apples run, after all, on Intel hardware now, so there isn't any reason to expect superior performance from an Apple.

I have had only positive experiences with the many Macs I have had - both desktops and laptops. Your problem is not a Mac problem. If you purchased Apple Care when you bought the computer, it extends the warranty to three years. Software problems are not caused by hardware; there are many things that can corrupt files, but on Mac you'll have few if any. Perhaps you moved corrupted PC files over to your Mac; perhaps some with viruses. Macs don't get viruses either. Also, beware downloading third party applications; they can cause problems. You can fix the problem you describe yourself by doing a clean install. Just be sure to save the files you may want somewhere off of the computer's hard drive. This could be a CD or an external hard drive, which is most handy for storing photos. Apple Care will help you through the process. You can also check your manual or Google the process online. Get your Mac clean, and forget about those PCs.

Here we bought in 2007 a used imac 20" intel core duo built in 2006. Recently it would not turn on. sometimes it would boot into a light blue screen. Iused the original mac install discs 1 and 2 and now all is well; the reinstall even left all data; CS2; and illustrator all intact. Failures sometimes are not all total failures; have a mac guru look at your unit

"Macs don't get viruses either"

Funny, I made quite a living cleaning virus from macs. But that was when they were popular.

The only reason there is no abundance of virus on a mac, is because it is not convenient to do so yet . Think about it, how many users have installed AV software? The moment one comes along it will spread faster than swine flu.

"Apple, you see, markets to three kinds of people: morons who can't find their way around a computer; old people who can't find their way around a computer (nor should be expected to); and "progressive" reactionaries who just hate Microsoft"

You missed one. Me. I use what's in front of me. I look for something to run what ever software I need, that's it. I've had one since a Mac+, but I am old enough to go back to CP/M and know that Steve was not the first to use a mouse.

But the real answer to this thread is hardware fails and software breaks - period. That is life with computers.

I've had and heavily used my iMac since summer of 2007 - never a problem. I like it so much better than the PCs at work.

Bernard,
While I understand your frustration, Apple did not corrupt your hard drive, you did by downloading a corrupted file(obviously not on purpose but still it was you or someone in your family). If you bought a car and put the wrong kind of gas in it, thus ruining the engine, would that be the manufacturers fault, would you expect that to be covered under warranty, after all it is the engine that failed. Regardless a clean install should do the trick and not cost you anything, just move your important stuff to your external hard drive. I have been using macs for 15+ years and really have never had a problem(my first was a g3 35O if that tells you anything) it still works just fine but has been replaced by a faster imac. We also have a ibook. I use PC's at work and while I am sure they are fully capable of doing anything a Mac will do, it just seems like it always takes a little longer or there are more hoops to jump through. My PC locks up all the time, my Macs very rarely(usually because I have tried to run something I don't have the software for.) Anyway good luck with your clean install and I hope things clear up for you.