So I need a new computer for this house. My daughter is starting to get homework when she needs a word processer and printer, we don't have either. Thinking about getting an iMac.

Does an iMac come preloaded with a Word type program or do I need to purchase office?

Is it worth the $200 to go from the 1.6GHz to the 2.8GHz processer? I have ZERO knowledge of computers.....ZERO. In fact, other than thinking that means "faster"....don't even know what that means.

This will be something to do homework on, surf the net, process photos, listen to Pandora. We do not game.

Only reason I'm thinking Mac, which appears to be significantly more, is that we have obviously gravitated to Apple products. All of us have iPhones, have 2 iPads ect.
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Reading over this http://www.cigarasylum.com/vb/showth...highlight=iMac but it's 5 years old.
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One of these things is not like the others.

I no NOTHING about Apple products. But I do know that 'process photos' can be a whole other ballgame when it comes to the demands it can place on your computer. A little more detail about your intended photo processing might help the Apple dudes direct you better.
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Take a bunch of photos, look over them, process the ones I consider keepers.

Hobby, not professional.
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I own an iMac.
I would definitely get the 2.8GHz processor.
MS Office for Mac does not come with the computer. However, Apple does have equivalent products. Pages (Word), Numbers (Excel), & Keynote (PowerPoint). I don't know much about the Apple versions of the products. I bought MS Office for Mac long before these were available. This link may help - http://www.apple.com/mac/pages/compatibility/
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So it appears that now, iMacs do come preloaded with Apples version of Word, Excel ect....so unless I wanted, I would not need to purchase MS Office.

Thanks!
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Yes and you can import and export back and forth from the Microsoft product, so Keynote to and from Powerpoint, etc., Sometimes they take a little tweaking and alignment after you export them but nothing major.
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Outside of Google Docs etc for word alternatives, Libre Office also has a mac version that can open/edit/save word/excel and power point.
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Good machines and wickedly fast. Look at the memory as well. That will have a great bearing on speed, ability to work large files and multitask. I work on a windows machine at work with windows7 - horrible pc. Go home to a mac mini, which is a Ferrari in comparison.
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It was a done deal(kinda thinking the entry 27" is the best bang for buck, right?) then got the BOOM. My son, who is a monster student and a gamer, ask me why would I do it. Said he hates his MacBook Pro and would give that to me, if I'd buy him a PC laptop. Said he's gone his life working on PC and now learning a new way is meh. Still runs a gaming PC. Not terrible, but like an itch. Said, "Why make her learn everything twice, at the same time."
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For sorting photos, this app is included:
http://www.apple.com/osx/photos/
and it also makes it REALLY easy to edit pictures and make them look better, without being an expert.

I would dig into how much of your son's objection is about gaming. Macs don't have as many games, no question. But they should be easy to learn.

If you haven't yet, go look at the retina display on the iMac, which is stunning- and consider whether you're going to get that on a PC.

One last thought, if you end up getting a "stock" model (not customizing RAM for example) - check at your USPS to see if they have change of address packets. These used to have a best buy 10% off one item coupon which could be applied to macs. I used one maybe 8 months ago - but last time I went to my post office they had no more packets, just a sign saying to do it online.
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Libre office is great office clone on PC, so i'd go with that as well
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Best Buy Black Friday

$150 off the new 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display
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I'm confused if he has a Mac book then what new way does he have to learn? As far as games all the major titles are out on Mac, this isn't 20 years ago, hell you can always throw a virtual system on it, fun fact that Windows runs faster and more stable on Macs (using the ol' bootcamp) than it does on PCs.
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One of these things is not like the others.
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One is not banned, and the other is you?
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This is a blast from the past. BTW buying a 27” MAC was a great decision!

Adam, it wasn’t him that had to learn(he was, had both) it was him asking for my daughter. He did give us the MacBook, he hated it.
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Hello. I need your advice. My son went to college and will live on campus. Tell me which adult diapers are better to buy? He needs some so that he can go to class without fear of crapping his pants Affordable Diapers, sometimes watch dirty movies and listen to satanic radio, and surf the dark web. BTW, he doesn`t play any games, at all. He gets right down to his nasty business, even when alone. Guys, what is your advice? Which model is suitable, not too expensive. I am very grateful to everyone for your help.
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