It's my first Mac. Touch to Apple I had for years about my children and grandchildren, the Apple disciples are all. I was in the family is the only Windows-grandfather, and the very brave and fearless. I have to admit that I went quite excessive online race a few years ago (Live for Speed, Nascar ...), a discipline in which an Apple eh not occur. Well, this passion has subsided, what remained was my hobby music and video. Here I used last Cubase and Magix Video palette.
After my current high-end computer (Win7, i7, GTX680) to me so slowly seemed like a hinfauchender right to dinosaurs, I decided quite spontaneously to switch to an iMac. Meanwhile, I had some experience with Apple collected (iPad, AppleTV) and was - apart from the ridicule of my humped relationship - quite impressed.
In December I ordered from the Apple Store online an iMac 27 '' in all the extras. With i7 3.4GHz, 3TB Fusion Geforce GTX 680MX and a SuperDrive DVD drive. In an expansion of memory, I have deliberately omitted when ordering and ordered me for at Cyberport 32GB RAM. I mean, you may be money, of course, throw out the window. Instead 600.- Euro charge at Apple I've paid at Cyberport about 200.- euros and get to sell the 8GB built again about 40.- Euro in the bay. But I ordered me the programs Pages, Numbers and Keynote.
After 3 weeks, the iMac rolled in and everything was different.
Interlude:
As each transfer passengers was of course my main concern, to use the (few) essential Windows programs on. There were among others my tax software subscription and hmmm .... uh, ok: one or the other favorite game * cough *. A key consideration was whether I now wanted to run Windows with Boot Camp (= native, quickly, without loss of performance) or virtual (Parallels Desktop, Fusion VM = from the graphics performance rather moderate). Unfortunately, unfortunately, came shortly after the presentation of the new iMacs, the message that Boot Camp does not work with 3TB hard drive. Of course that was bitter because I depend on a large hard drive - alone instruments my DAW devour over 1TB. So I had to sit down to a virtual machine apart because any craft instructions on how to get up and running Boot Camp anyway, I did not do this to me. My choice was to much research on "Parallels Desktop Switch to Mac Edition 8".
Then the iMac was so there. Even the packaging was absolutely consistently designed - the Mac fell speak out on their own.
The first act was the migration of e-mails, accounts and important programs and data from your PC. Thanks to Parallels a breeze. It did not take long, and the Mac ran. And as he ran. Just as if nothing is running. A rest in my room, amazing. My Dinosaur PC, with its 1000W PSU and felt 23 fans on the other hand had a bit of a starting jumbo jet.
I felt like in paradise in and immediately began to establish myself in my new Mac world. My DAW (Cubase 7) could be absolutely easy to install and for my future video projects I got my Final Cut Pro X, together with Motion 5 from the App Store. At last farewell to this unspeakable Magix crap. I also upgraded my consistent peripheral to, so an AirPrint-enabled printer, which necessitated a new router, plus a Bose ComPENion 20 a new sound system.
The eulogies about my new computer luck could still fill pages. The screen, with its super-resolution is a dream, the basic operation of the programs is like a new birth. Everything is going smoothly, is well thought out, logical, intuitive - just as how it nachsagt Apple. Working with Parallels (Windows) is something of awesome. With a single wipe (see below -> Mouse) switching between fullscreen OS X and Windows 7, drag and dropt back and forth data between operating systems, that's just terrific.
Sure, I have not yet mentioned a few highlights, but now it is time for the bitter pills, and which are also available:
The design of the new iMac has fallen prey to the built-in DVD drive. Apart from the fact that Apple stubbornly closes the BluRay standard, a next posed DVD drive is suboptimal. And yes, you need it, of course. Alone my instrumental library (Native Instruments Komplete 8) comes on 12 DVDs bulging. And did I mention that I use Cubase? Just. And with this shortcoming of the external drive, I'm the next downside: 4 USB inputs. 4, in words * four *. Has anyone told USB hub? Easier said than done. Many peripheral devices must be connected directly. The SuperDrive for example. And my e-Licenser dongle. And my MIDI sound device. Have you counted? Those were 3. 4. must of course remain a hub to my camera, my USB flash drive to connect this and that. This has already led to that I had to buy for my MIDI master keyboard separately an optional power adapter, because I can not connect directly via USB it. You remember what I'm saying: 4 USB inputs are simply a joke. And a poor to do so. Since the USB 3.0 standard comforting not over it.
The fact that Apple forecloses against anything, is known. Safari can be persuaded, so I switched to Google Chrome and also very happy with it only indirectly to Flash content.
The Bluetooth Keyboard Mouse Combo looks quite cute, but really is not ergonomically. Although the keyboard rests flat on the desk, it clatters while writing very uncomfortable and the lack of some key (erase, NumPad) is troublesome. I'd like to upgrade to the larger USB keyboard, but you know: USB .... The mouse is the gesture control pretty awesome, but after a long work hand in pain. As the design has been important. Too Bad ..
Epilogue:
I have no regrets day to be switched to Apple. Even if it "is no longer cool" today, as I betrayed my son. Haha. Apple is indeed now the evil. As earlier Microsoft. Since I have time caught the right train.
One star deduction for the considerable disadvantages. But a recommendation? Of course.
Addendum on 03/24/2013: In the meantime I have replaced the keyboard and mouse. It now comes the "big" USB keyboard from Apple to use as well as the LS1 Laser Mouse Logitech: Everything Paletti!
Addendum on 20/04/2013: In the meantime, the iMac is compatible with the 3TB Fusion plate also Bootcamp. Now I would upgrade to 4.5 stars.
