akmac - 7:39 pm on Sep 3, 2008 (gmt 0)

I'll second that the Imac is a great work machine-I've had 5 of them. However, I have not had the trouble-free experience that others here claim.

The first Imac I purchased back in 2005 arrived with a dead ethernet port. They shipped me out a new machine after a couple hours with tech support. That machine lasted almost 4 years, when I noticed a few weeks ago that it was emitting a high pitched whine. I pulled it apart and determined that the sound was coming from the power supply. Apparently there were some power supply issues with the particular model I had, but it had lasted long enough to put me outside of Apple's Extended Exchange program for the component. ;-)>

Apple wasn't much help on the phone, as I was out of my warranty/applecare period-and they estimated it would be $500-$700 for me to send it in for repairs. So, I ordered a new Imac, and replaced the power supply in the old one myself for $125 (and about 15 minutes of my time (it's now back in the box-ready to go on ebay).

The new machine is beautiful-glass screen, aluminum case-but it's got a problem as well. In the two weeks I've been using it, it's powered down with no warning a half dozen times. I'll be working, and suddenly the screen is black, and I have to turn it on again using the power button. So, I spent almost two hours yesterday on the phone with tech support and they are sending me a new machine overnight, and an ipod nano for my trouble.

So, I guess you can take my experience for what it's worth-I have an Imac at home for almost 3 years as well that I've had no problems with (apart from my kids coloring on the screen).

All in all-my apple experience has been positive, and my current imacs will not be my last.