Best buy in family PCs 2002

Life

1 April 2005

Shopping for a PC is difficult at the best of times. If you are going out there as a first time buyer, without the appropriate knowledge, you could be a lamb to the slaughter at the hands of some unscrupulous PC vendor. To help you avoid the wolves and get a handle on what you should expect from a desktop PC, bundle and its provider, we invited the top PC manufacturers on the Irish market to provide us with an all-round family PC so that we could comparatively test it with other offerings out there.

Before the TechCentral.ie test lab team were given the opportunity to break open the boxes and start playing and working with the machines, we set out a clear set of guidelines for the manufacturers in terms of what we were looking for in a Best Buy PC. We believe that a great family PC is the sum of all its parts and not just a speedy processor so the quality of the components in each system were examined and evaluated carefully. We looked for a quality chipset, a large hard disk and ample memory under the hood.

Outside of it, we wanted to large 17-in CRT or 15-in LCD monitor with a crisp resolution, the presence of USB 2.0 plug and play connections were compulsory; while a bundled printer, scanner or gaming joystick won test systems extra points in line with our expectations of an all-round family PC. Of course, hardware is not enough on its own and software is required to make a PC truly productive. We looked for a Microsoft or Lotus suite, anti-virus and 3D gaming titles. You would also expect bundled software from an Irish ISP to connect the machine to the Internet. An easy set up guide and pre-installed software also makes it easier for a first time buyer to get to grips with computing and the inclusion of a graphical chart also won the manufacturers extra points. In fact, we also gave a Best Ease-of-Use award to the manufacturer who excelled in offering a quick set-up.

For the benefit of the real PC enthusiasts and speed demons out there, we also tested for the fastest IBM-compatible PC using the internationally recognised PC World Bench 4 bench marking application. Given its unique architecture, the Apple iMac was excluded from this speed test. Traditionally the default choice of desktop publishers, film professionals, educators and style-conscious computer users, we treated the Mac as a special case – but as a very viable alternative to a Windows PC for any user looking for a break from the norm.

From any manufacturer, regardless of whether it is Apple Macintosh or one of the Wintel, good technical support and a reliable warranty is an essential thing to look for. Computers are not like VCRs or games consoles. They’re much more complex and less robust, any numbers of things can go wrong and invariably do – and very often it comes down to the user’s lack of knowledge rather than a hardware or software fault. This is where an understanding and reliable vendor comes in to provide help and resolve problems that may arise. With this in mind, we also gave an award for Best Technical Support.

Finally, we know that not every prospective PC buyer will be able to pay EUR1900 for a desktop PC. Their limited budget or computing needs might prevent them from doing so. For the benefit of these shoppers, we nominated a Best Budget Buy.

Finally, we ask you to remember that if you are thinking of buying a PC this Christmas, look at what you plan to use the PC for before you buy it. This should dictate the kind of machine you invest in. Business users who only want a PC for word processing, e-mail, Web browsing and spreadsheet work, will require only the most basic of spec. Children and teenagers with their hunger for multimedia-rich educational software and 3D games will be more satisfied by a high end configuration closer to EUR1900. CAD and graphic designers will also need the processing power that money buys. And remember if you do opt for a machine that outweighs your needs, the chances are it will last you well into the future and save you money in the long term.

 

*** Best Ease of Use ***

Paradise PC – EUR1699

The Paradise PC was awarded best ease of use for its simple, step by step instructions and colour coding.

Hardware:  Athlon XP2100+ with 256Mbyte DDR RAM, DVD ROM, CD RW drive, AOpen Geforce 4 Ti 4200, 80Gbyte hard disk drive, Lucent modem, Genius NetScroll mouse, Genius Multimedia 2 channel speakers, keyboard, Lexmark X75 all-in-one printer, scanner and copier, and GemView 15-in LCD monitor. 

Software:  Windows XP, WinDVD, Legoland, TypingTutor 10, Pepsi Max Extreme Sports, The Weakest Link, ECDL, Nero Burning Rom V5, Lego Racers 2, Driver, Sky Sports Football Quiz, Eircom.net, Ability Office 2002, Norton AntiVirus 2002, Real Home Magazine 3D Designer, Shrek Storybook Collection.

Setting up:  Setting up the PC was quite simple. Each box of items contained individual instructions tailored to the package. Bright colours and big shapes made the process even easier, and earned this PC the Best Ease of Use award. The printer/scanner/copier X75 all-in-one was a dream to set up – it communicates to the computer through a USB connection, so it takes very little effort to get it working. Although a free Eircom disc was provided with the package, it was not pre-installed – which may cause problems for the less tech-savvy consumers.

Hands on:  This PC failed to set our world alight, and in fact, was rather uninspiring. The good packaging and instructions partly made up for this, but sadly, it wasn’t enough.

There is nothing outstanding about the PC’s appearance. Some moulding has been included to make it look a bit less ordinary, but apart from that, there is very little to distinguish it from the rest of the beige boxes sitting on the shelf. 

One area that it did make up in was its performance. The machine was the best-placed among its Athlon-powered brethren. Game performance would likely be the best – or at least among the best – thanks to the Aopen GeForce4 Ti 4200 and 256Mbyte DDR RAM.

The peripheral bundle included with this machine isn’t exactly spectacular.

The Genius NetScroll mouse wasn’t the best quality we’ve ever come across and the speakers can only be described as reasonable. However, the inclusion of the Lexmark X75 is definitely a plus for the bundle – the three functions in one means that it will take up less space in your home.

The LCD screen included with the package was good quality, so your PC will fashionable as well as functional.

This PC received bonus points for situating its USB ports, headphones and microphone jacks on the front of the PC for easy access. 

The warranty covers three years back to base and a 12-month telephone help line access.

Software for who?:  The software bundle included with the PC is definitely aimed at the home user. The Shrek Storybook collection is definitely one for the kids, while the adults can get on with playing Driver, pitting themselves against Ann Robinson in The Weakest Link, or getting interactive with Kirsty Gallacher for the Sky Sports Football Quiz. Definitely a good all-round package that covers most family software needs.

Verdict:  A good all-rounder, although a better peripheral bundle would have placed this PC higher in the ranks.

  • Ease of use: 9
  • Warranty & support: 8
  • PC performance 8
  • Software bundle 8
  • Peripheral bundle 8
  • Total: 41/50

Where to buy: Emcee Distribution +353 (0)1-456 7911

 

PCPro Professional – EUR1899

The PC Pro machine deserves some points for effort when it comes to style, but it still looks quite ordinary.

Hardware:  Pentium 4 2.0Ghz with 256Mbyte RAM, DVD/CD RW drive, Creative Geforce4 MX460, 60Gbyte hard drive, Modem, ISDN Adapter, 17-in monitor, keyboard, mouse, Microsoft  Sidewinder USB Joystick, Creative Surround Sound speakers, PC Flash 800 Multimedia Work Station, Epson Stylus C42UX, Epson Perfection 660.

Software:  Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Office, Starting School – Toddlers, Starting School – Years 3-5, Microsoft Flight Simulator, ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) OEM Courseware on CD ROM.

Setting up:  Setting up the PC was relatively easy. Colour-coding simplified the process, and an instructional poster helped matters along. Once again, the free ISP disk was enclosed in the package, but was not pre-installed.

One problem we came across quite early on was the ISDN adapter; it wasn’t set up correctly. Users with only basic computer knowledge may find correcting this a daunting task.

Hands on:  Although the PC has some moulding that elevates it above standard PCs, it still looks quite ordinary. The blue flash on the front of the case is nothing spectacular, although we have to give the manufacturers points for at least trying to make the PC a little different.

The machine itself may be somewhat uninspiring, but a good bundle and extras compensates for this. Gamers will enjoy the Microsoft Joystick and Creative Surround speakers. The inclusion of the desk and plug board make this far and away the best bundle.

The included monitor is non-flat CRT – a little outdated, but perfect for those who want to keep costs down.

One of the negative aspects of the PC was the lack of front access to USB or multimedia ports.

PC Pro offers a three-year warranty on the monitor and a standard one-year warranty return to base to its resellers, but as the PCs are distributed through resellers, each reseller may offer an additional warranty.

Software for who?:  The software bundle covers educational and recreational programs, with Microsoft Office for productivity. Something aimed at older children would have rounded out the software bundle. These discs were provided in a very good folder for keeping them all together – no more missing software!

Verdict:  Overall, the PC delivers a good performance, although it couldn’t be described as spectacular. The main area it falls down in is with games and multimedia, due to a cheap, low capability video card.

  • Ease of use: 7
  • Warranty & support: 7
  • PC performance 8
  • Software bundle 8
  • Peripheral bundle 9
  • Total: 39/50

Contact: PC Pro +353 (0)21-480 9900

 

*** BEST BUY ***

Iqon Multimedia PC by Philips – EUR1699

Hardware:  Pentium 4 2.4GHz with 256Mbyte RAM, DVD ROM, CD RW drive, i845 Embedded Video, 60Gbyte hard drive, Intel V.92 Modem, Logitech optical mouse, Logitech Internet Keyboard, Onboard Pro100 LAN. Phillips PCS705 Sound, Philips Seismic Edge 5.1 Surround Power speakers, Epson Stylus C42UX, Visioneer 4400 USB scanner, Philips 17-in 107x Monitor.

Software:  Windows XP, MS Works Suite 2003 (Word, Works, AutoRoute, Encarta, Picture It!, Money), Norton AntiVirus, DVD software, CD-RW software, Full ECDL courseware, Child Protection Software (PixAlert and PC Eye), Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Championship Manager, Deus Ex, Project IGI, Commandos O2, Sky Sports Football Quiz, Home Creator Studio, Lego Racers, Publisher 3, Encyclopedia Britannica 2002.

Setting up:  Setting up this PC was extremely easy, thanks to the above average instructions that came were included with the box. We encountered no problems or mishaps getting the PC hooked up and ready to go. Internet addicts will be pleased to know that a free ISP disc was included with the packages, so you can get online in minutes.

Hands on:  This was easily the best looking machine here. The silver external panels matched the silver accessories perfectly. The PC achieved a level of taste that is rarely seen in these devices, and it certainly wouldn’t look out of place in the living room. 

The Philips 107x monitor is a flat CRT screen, and is definitely one of the better looking monitors out of those supplied for this group review.

The Philips 5.1 Surround Speakers are ideal for those who want to use their PCs to play games or for multimedia purposes.

The inclusion of the Epson Stylus C42UX printer and the Visioneer 4400 USB scanner raises this bundle up a couple of notches.

We did have one small quibble with this machine – the lack of front access to ports or USB connection is questionable, especially in a multimedia machine.

This PC scored the highest performance of all in the benchmark tests, but we suspect this score would be significantly reduced in a games test and possibly in a multimedia benchmark test, due to the embedded Intel graphics option. The PC comes with a full three-year warranty on the PC base unit and monitor

Software for who?:  The software bundle was a good mix of games and educational software, with some productivity software included. Once again, the Sky Sports Quiz made an appearance – perfect for the football addicts – while the Encyclopedia Britannica 2002 package should take care of the budding brains in the house. There is also a good choice of games in the package, such as Lego racers and Deus EX.

Verdict:  This PC earned itself the TechCentral.ie ‘Best Buy’ award. Aimed solely at the family user, the PC covered all the aspects important for a multimedia home PC.

  • Ease of use: 8
  • Warranty & support: 9
  • PC performance 10
  • Software bundle 8
  • Peripheral bundle 7
  • Total: 42/50

Contact: iQon Technologies +353 (0)42-93 27270

 

*** Best technical spec ***

Dell Dimension 4550 – EUR1849

The Dell Dimension 4550 has a good technical spec, but needs more family software. 

Hardware:  Pentium 4 2.5GHz with 512Mbyte RAM, 80Gbyte hard drive, 64Mbyte GeForce4 Ti 4200, DVD ROM, CD RW drive, BCM V.92 Modem, Intel Pro100 LAN, SBLive Value Sound. Lexmark Z35 printer, Harman Kardon 395 speakers, Dell enhanced Multimedia speakers, Dell UltraScan 17-in monitor, MS PS/2 Intelli 2 Button Wheel Mouse.

Software:  Microsoft XP, Microsoft Office XP Small Business, Norton AntiVirus 2002.

Setting up:  We didn’t have any major mishaps while setting up this PC – at least, none that could be blamed on poor instructions. The set up guide may have been nothing special, but it was enough to get us going within a short space of time. A free ISP disk, also not pre-installed, was included.

Hands on:  The Dell PC comes in midnight grey – nothing spectacular, but a little more acceptable than the ubiquitous beige that seems to dominate the desktops at the moment. The bundle may be small, but it is good quality equipment. A flat CRT Monitor heads the list, followed by Harman Kardon speakers and a Lexmark printer. The Dell machine allows users to have front access to USB ports, microphone and headphones jack.

The PC has a good video card for multimedia, and also boasts very good soundcards. However, its performance was extremely poor. Although it was the fastest clocked machine in the group, with 512Mbyte of RAM, it placed sixth in the performance test, behind two Athlon-powered machines.

The PC comes with an enhanced support pack offering three years on-site next business day support. However, there was no mention of a telephone help desk, which might help out for the little problems that arise when setting up a PC.

Software for who?:

The software included has very little for the home user, although it is more than adequate to cover devices and office applications.   However, this wasn’t really the focus of this group – we would have preferred to see more educational software and games included in the bundle.

Verdict:  This PC earned itself the Best Technical Spec award, in then eyes of the TechCentral.ie test lab team. However, it does need some more software aimed at family users, instead of the office-designed package it came with.

  • Ease of use: 7
  • Warranty & support: 8
  • PC performance 8
  • Software bundle 6
  • Peripheral bundle 7
  • Total: 36/50

Contact: Dell 1850 333 200 (Ireland only)

 

HP Compaq Presario 6195EA – Price: TBA

The Compaq Presario 6195EA was easy to set up, and its black and silver appearance was a little out of the ordinary.

Hardware:  Athlon XP200+, with 512Mbyte RAM, 80Gbyte hard drive, GeForce4 MX 420, DVD ROM, CD RW, Onboard 10/100 LAN, Conexant HCF modem, Soundmax Onboard sound, flat CRT monitor, Compaq PS2 Internet Keyboard and Scroll Mouse, speakers. 

Software:  Microsoft Windows XP, Microsoft Word 2002/Works 6.0, Norton Antivirus 2002, Real Player 8.0 (in selected languages only), Microsoft Media Player 8.0 (with OS), Roxio Easy CD Creator 5.11 (w/CD RW and DVD R/RW units only), Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0, Internet Explorer 6.0, Norton Internet Security 2002 (includes Norton Anti-Virus), Documentation Library, Compaq Restore CD, Roxio Easy CD Creator 5.11.

Setting up:  Getting to grips with this PC didn’t cause any major problems. The instructions were good, but nothing special. The printed sheets that were supplied as set-up instructions weren’t for the specific model, but rather for the generic range.

A free ISP disk, which was not pre-installed, was included to make an Internet connection.

Hands on:  The black and silver appearance of the Compaq PC is attractive, but won’t be inconspicuous in your living room.

Feature-wise, nothing catches the eye about using this PC. The bundle was quite poor. A flat CRT monitor was included, as were good speakers, but apart from that, nothing else worth mentioning.

The front access to USB and Firewire (IEEE 1394) ports, microphone and headphones jacks are a definite bonus for this machine – but it’s not enough to move it up any higher in the rankings.

In the performance tests, this PC rated quite poorly. Despite being the fastest clocked Athlon here, it only placed ninth overall – last place in the tests.

Software for who?:  Once again, an adequate software bundle to cover devices and office was supplied, but little for the home user. No games or educational software was included, which could cause disappointment for younger family members.

Verdict:  An attractive PC, but looks aren’t everything. The PC failed to hold the interest of the TechCentral.ie test lab team. A software bundle aimed more at home users would have improved this PC’s standing.

  • Ease of use: 7
  • Warranty & support: 7
  • PC performance 7
  • Software bundle 5
  • Peripheral bundle 5
  • Total 31/50

Contact: HP +353 (0)1-615 8200

 

*** best warranty and support ***

Fujitsu Siemens Scaleo 600 – EUR1879

The Fujitsu Siemens Scaleo 600 mixed home and productivity software well.

Hardware:  Pentium 4 2.4Ghz with 256Mbyte RAM, Radeon 9000 Pro, DVD ROM, CD RW drive, 60Gbyte hard drive, AC97 onboard sound. Modem, Realtek 8139 10/100LAN, CRT monitor, Epson Stylus C42UX, Epson Perfection 660, keyboard, mouse.

Software:  Windows XP, Works Suite 2003 (Word, Encarta, AutoRoute, Money, Works, Picture It!), Norman Virus Control, Adobe PhotoShop Elements, Security for Children Internet filter, ECDL DVD courseware.

Setting up:  There were no difficulties in setting up this PC, once you followed the instructions included with the box. In fact, we were able to get the PC up and running within a few minutes.

Hands on:  The PC casing is beige with tacked-on style points, so aesthetically, we considered it to be quite poor. The standard CRT monitor included with the package may be a little outdated, but good speakers, a printer and a scanner made up the rest of the bundle. Once again, the free ISP disk was not preinstalled.

This PC placed second overall in benchmark tests. Its top quality video card would ensure that it would perform well as a multimedia device, but the sound may be less than cutting edge. The machine also allows users front access to USB ports, microphone and headphone jacks, eliminating the need to rummage around the back of the PC every time you add a new peripheral. However, the detachable panels that cover these access ports are too easy to lose, which could be a problem. 

The warranty and support is excellent, with three years on site covered, in addition to three years help desk support.

Software for who?:  This software bundle offered some applications for home users and some productivity software. The bundle includes Works Suite 2003 with Microsoft

Word, Works, AutoRoute, Money Picture It! and Encarta software. A child security filter for Internet access is also included. The ECDL DVD courseware is included with the PC, but at the time of this group review, it wasn’t available.

Verdict:  Since this group review was completed, Fujitsu Siemens has increased the speed of the processor from 2.4Ghz to 2.5Ghz for the same price. The PC performed better than others on the software bundle, with a good mix of educational software and productivity packages.

  • Ease of use: 8
  • Warranty & support: 9
  • PC performance 8
  • Software bundle 7
  • Peripheral bundle 7
  • Total: 39

Contact: MyPc.ie 1850 697 243 (Ireland only)

 

IBM Netvista A30p – EUR1877

The IBM PC also aimed its software bundle at the office user, but at least it departed from the usual beige box that most PCs appear to favour.

Hardware:  Pentium 4 2.0Ghz with 256Mbyte RAM, Nvidia GeForce4 MX 420, 40Gbyte hard drive, DVD ROM, CD RW, AC97 Onboard sound, modem, Intel 10/100pro, USB keyboard, speakers, monitor.

Software:  Microsoft XP, Microsoft Works Suite, PC Doctor Windows, Norton Anti Virus 2002, Rapid Restore PC, Access IBM, IBM Update Connector, Access Support, Connected Client.

Setting up:  The Instructions for this PC were straightforward and easy to follow. The USB peripherals hook up in seconds and the ports are easily accessible, thanks to the front USB ports. 

Hands on:  The IBM NetVista is another black PC, trying to buck the beige trend. It also has a strange, almost 1980s styling with black and pastel shades on keyboard. The most notable part of this PC package was the speakers. The monitor is small and, our review team found, not the best quality. The included keyboard is USB only. Front access to microphone and headphones jacks is provided.

The included free ISP disk is not preinstalled – something that was common throughout the entire group review. Our advice? Home users had better brush up on installing the ISP CD ROMs. The Pentium 4 processor in the IBM PC is at least 400Mhz less than others. In speed tests, it performed adequately, but poorer than most Athlons at much lower clock speeds.

Software for who?:  Once again, the software bundle appears to have been aimed at the office user, with very little on the offer for the home user. Microsoft Works Suite does have some home software, such as Encarta, but other than this, there is little to hold the interest of home users.

Verdict:  Easy to set up, this PC could have made a little more effort with the software bundle. A better monitor would also have upped the PC’s score.

  • Ease of use: 8
  • Warranty & support: 7
  • PC performance 7
  • Software bundle 6
  • Peripheral bundle 5
  • Total 33/50

Contact: IBM 1850 205 205 (Ireland only)

 

MaxData Favorit – Eur1709

The MaxData PC appears to have been a business PC masquerading as a home model, and didn’t even include a modem.

Hardware:  Pentium 4 1.8Ghz with 256Mbyte RAM, Radeon 9000, 40Gbyte hard drive, DVD ROM drive, AC97 Onboard Sound, Intel Pro10/100 LAN, Belinea LCD monitor, speakers, mouse, keyboard.

Software:  Windows XP, Word 2002 and Power DVD, Recovery disk and Utilities disk.

Setting up:  Setting up the PC could cause some tension, as the instructions included with the box were barely adequate. Those with short fuses should definitely avoid this PC on Christmas day!

Hands on:  There isn’t much different about this PC that you haven’t seen before. The coloured fascia of the MaxData PC reveals a half-hearted attempt at style, but other than that, there is very little to make it stand out in the crowd.

The package included a nice Belinea LCD monitor, but very little else. We were quite disappointed with the speaker set, which had a cheap feel to it.

This PC is also the only one in the round-up that didn’t include some kind of rewritable drive. The Favorit performed well considering the clock speed, but was beaten an Athlon at a lower speed.

MaxData is also guilty of a cardinal sin in the eyes of the TechCentral.ie test lab team – it failed to include a three-pin plug for the monitor. The last thing you want to have to do on Christmas Day is fiddle around with plugs for hours or trawl the few open stores for an adapter. 

If these had been the only problems, maybe they could have been overlooked.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the case. When we tried to use the PC, we encountered a device conflict with the video card, which could cause tears of frustration for users at Christmas and countless phone calls to technical support helplines. Combine this with the lack of a modem, and this PC lost favour with the review team. It had an Ethernet port, which can be used for broadband Internet access, but as the majority of home users still rely on dial-up Internet access, this oversight would leave customers with no online access. Come on MaxData – you can do better than that!

The three-year onsite warranty is usually a privilege reserved for businesses, but MaxData’s information indicates that this has been extended to those who buy this PC.

Software fo who?:  We have our suspicions that this PC was merely an office PC that was submitted with a set of speakers for the review, with very little thought for this application – a suspicion that was reinforced when we laid eyes on the software bundle. Once again, it appeared to ignore the home market. Given that the home user is the main target of this group test, this is a little unusual. 

Verdict:  A PC aimed at the home market is what was asked for here, but it appeared that this PC was a business machine. With a bit more thought, this PC could have been a contender in the round-up. Its performance in the speed tests indicated that it was a good machine but unfortunately, a lack of home-focus has put it down the list.

  • Ease of use: 6
  • Warranty & support: 8
  • PC performance 7
  • Software bundle 6
  • Peripheral bundle 4
  • Total: 31/50

Contact: MicroWarehouse +353 (0)1-616 0400

 

*** Best Budget PC ***

PC Superstore Apollo – EUR1299

The PC Superstore Apollo is our Best Budget Buy. 

Hardware:  Athlon XP 2000+ with 256Mbyte RAM, Radeon 8000, 60Gbyte hard drive, DVD ROM, CD RW drive, modem, no LAN connection, keyboard, mouse, speakers.

Software:  Windows XP, PC Works Suite Millennium Deluxe edition which includes Lotus SmartSuite Millennium Edition, Encyclopedia Britannica 2003, McAfee Scan 6, MusicMatch Jukebox 7, Photo Express My scrapbook edition, Print Artist 12, Quicken 2002 new user edition, World Tours Golf, Eudora pro e-mail, OpenOffice.org, RealOne Player, Stuffit Expander, Zoner Draw 3.

Setting up:  This PC included very little in the way of set-up instructions, although the colour-coding of different parts makes it easy enough to put together.

Hands on:  The best thing about this PC’s design is the ease of access to ports and connections. However, its rounded fascia is not extraordinary enough to make it stand out from the crowd, and the blue buttons seem a rather half-hearted attempt at adding colour.

This bundle was extremely poor. For a start, it left out one of the most vital pieces of equipment for a PC – a monitor. We are reassured that a monitor does ship with this machine at this price, to customers as standard. The bundle also lacked a printer and a scanner, and the speakers were cheap. Once again, there was no front access to ports or USB connections.

This PC performed well in the test, considering the clock speed of the PC.

It contended well with the faster Athlons. A three-year back to base hardware warranty is included, while technical support can be obtained from any of the PC Superstore shops.

Software for who?:  The software bundle didn’t really have much aimed at the younger user, which is a shame as this test was aimed at family users. The emphasis appeared to be on productivity software, although additions like World Tours Golf and Encyclopedia Britannica 2003 were welcome.

Verdict:  A good PC with an array of software and a good choice for home users who want to buy a PC out of the box and get straight to work.

  • Ease of use: 7
  • Warranty & support: 7
  • PC performance 7
  • Software bundle 7
  • Peripheral bundle 6
  • Total: 34/50

Contact: PC Superstore +353 (0)21-425 4265

 

Apple iMac G4 15-in LCD – Eur1934

The iMac would make a stylish addition to any household.

Hardware:  700Mhz Power PC G4 processor, 256k on-chip level 2 cache running at 700Mhz, 256Mbyte SDRAM, 40Gbyte Ultra ATA hard drive, DVD/CD RW drive (maximum speed 12x 8 x 32x), 15-in viewable LCD monitor, GeForce2 MX graphics processor, 32Mbyte DDR video memory, built-in 56k V90 modem, 10/100BaseT Ethernet, two 400Mbit/s FireWire ports, mini VGA output port, ApplePro Speakers, optical mouse, USB keyboard.

Software:  OS X.2, Appleworks 6, iChat, iTunes3, iPhoto, iMovie2, Sherlock, QuickTime6, Adobe Acrobat 5, FAXstf, Ottomatic, Deimos Rising, Top Calculette Pro, Mac OS X Chess.

Setting up:  When it comes to setting up the iMac’s hardware, the whole thing can be accomplished in a matter of minutes. As the 15-in LCD monitor is attached to the base already, all you have to do is plug in the keyboard, mouse and Apple Pro speakers.

Getting started on the system itself is quite another thing. The iMac we reviewed needed to have the system set up using the software recovery discs supplied with the machine, although this may not always be the case.  If you want to upgrade to OS X.2 (also known as Jaguar) this will take over an hour before you can use your system.

Hands on:  While some of us may be dedicated PC users, the iMac could just be the machine that changes your mind. There’s something very stylish a bout the machine – its 15-in LCD screen is attached to the white curved base by a silver tube and can be moved in almost any direction you wish. The screen itself is crystal clear and bright.

However, the white keyboard isn’t exactly practical for family use – sticky fingers will make sure that it’s grubby before you know it.

Former PC users may find some aspects of the iMac mystifying, such as the absence of a button on the DVD/CD RW drive to open it. It’s actually located on the keyboard – not too difficult to find if you read the instructions, but a little confusing nonetheless. 

We particularly liked the stylish Apple Pro speakers. The round silver and white objects are compact but give an impressive level of sound.

Mac OS X is a nice operating system to work on. When a program needs attention, the icon will bounce up and down at the bottom of the screen, which isn’t too intrusive but will still get your attention.

Software for who?:  The software bundle is a good mix of games and productivity software. Children – even big ones – will enjoy playing Ottomatic, while the more serious among us can test our skills in Mac OS X Chess. AppleWorks 6 covers word processing, spreadsheets, databases, etc, while iTunes and iMovie turn your iMac into an entertainment hub.

Verdict:  Definitely something out of the ordinary. The iMac was described by different members of the PC Live! test lab team as stylish, different, or just plain strange – it’s all a matter of personal taste, it seems. A good software bundle is a bonus point for the iMac. Slightly over the price limit set, but for these good looks, we would pay the extra EUR34.

  • Ease of use: 8
  • Warranty & support: 7
  • PC performance 8
  • Software bundle 8
  • Peripheral bundle 8
  • Total: 39/50

Contact: Apple www.apple.com/iestore 

 

<u>Overall verdict

This year’s Editor’s Choice for best buy in Family PCs went to Dundalk-based iQon, for the iQon Multimedia by Philips PC. Not only did the PC have a good technical specification, but it also had quality peripherals and a diverse software bundle. The iQon machine was also one of the best looking machines in the round-up, and performed best in the PC World Bench4 speed test.

The Best Ease of Use was a toss up between the Paradise PC and the Apple iMac G4; the Paradise PC eventually walked off with the prize.

The Dell Dimension machine won the Best Technical Spec award, with its 2.5GHz Pentium 4 chip, 512Mbyte RAM, 80Gbyte hard drive, 64Mbyte GeForce4 Ti 4200 graphics card and a DVD ROM drive and CD RW drive.

The Best Warranty and Support badge was awarded to Fujitsu Siemens for an impressive three-year on-site warranty, with three year of telephone help desk support.

Finally, the best budget PC was awarded to PC Superstore for offering an impressively specified PC for EUR1299.

Read More:


Back to Top ↑

TechCentral.ie