iMac Clone

Haha, haven't used the term "clone" in a long time.

Dell now offers a Windows 7 competitor to the iMac and even includes a 2560x1440 Samsung PLS monitor.

No eSata, and the video card is not top-shelf, but it sounds like there's room for an SSD along with the included HDD, and it does have HDMI out (and in), and an i7 processor.

I'm ready to order one. What other questions should i be asking?

How much?

mike_d wrote in post #14617878
How much?

From $1,400 for an i5, 6GB, 1TB up to $2,000 for an i7, 8GB, 2TB w/SSD but, the Samsung display is $900 or so by itself. I found some good reviews and a couple that worry about the heat management. Dell has a "No Hassle" 21 day money back guarantee with no shipping costs, so I went ahead and ordered one. I'm sure I'll like the monitor but if the heat buildup turns out to be a problem, back it goes.

cacawcacaw wrote in post #14616476
I'm ready to order one. What other questions should i be asking?

Why do you want an all in one?

The form factor is nice for aesthetics but terrible for anything else.

Moppie wrote in post #14619738
Why do you want an all in one?

The form factor is nice for aesthetics but terrible for anything else.

Agreed, all-in-ones are for store displays, kitchens, and your parents.

Moppie wrote in post #14619738
... The form factor is nice for aesthetics but terrible for anything else.

I mostly agree with that but I'm willing to accept a few compromises in exchange for the clean design.

Dell has a pretty good return policy. If the reality of the thing doesn't live up to my expectations then I'll go back to my original plan of building a new PC with a case small enough to keep on top of my desk.

I wish Intel would push a new standard for chassis design for these kinds of machines. I like the aesthetics of an all-in-one design, but I don't want a machine that requires major surgery (which may be almost impossible to accomplish safely without an unobtainable service manual) to do something as simple as upgrade/replace RAM or a hard drive. I HATE throwing out a perfectly good machine because one thing is broken.

That was the first thing I checked on the Dell. The RAM and disks are user-upgradeable and I even found a blog that shows how to upgrade the video card. Does the all-in-one design require a proprietary motherboard? That could be a problem four or five years down the road.

There should be a recycling charge (like they have for monitors) for computers that use non-standardized, non-replaceable components.

most, if not all of the all in ones are like laptops in terms of design. not really user serviceable and their logic boards are purpose designed and proprietary.

cacawcacaw wrote in post #14622192
Does the all-in-one design require a proprietary motherboard? That could be a problem four or five years down the road.

It doesn't technically require a proprietary motherboard, but as far as I know, there's no standard for motherboards in such machines. So just like laptops, they wind up being proprietary. Its too bad because it probably wouldn't take much to standardize the chassis, motherboard, and screen enough to make them serviceable. But sadly things are going the other direction toward completely non-serviceable, glued together, disposable, devices.