The Energon Pub

I am looking into an iMac due to a possibly very good deal. I can't stand the little wireless keyboard though, you know the "chicklet keyboard". Does anyone have any experiences with these machines? I am wondering if a standard PC Wireless USB Keyboard would work with one of these things. I have read a few articles and it seems that some work and some don't. Has anyone had luck with using keyboard that was not intended for an iMac.......with an iMac.

Also, what are your general impressions with the iMac in general. I have never owned an Apple product, so it is a new idea to me. Please give me the scoop. Thanks everyone.

On the keyboard thing:
depends how does your keyboard connect, does it come with it's own blue-tooth port you connect via usb? If so it might but if you don't already have a keyboard you may want to buy a mac keyboard to go with the imac, there are also pretty good 3rd party keyboards that go well with it and cost the same as a Microsoft one.

On your question with iMac:
I've worked with numerous Windows os and made the jump to mac I think almost 2 years ago and I really like imac. It works really well and you don't need any security software as it's pretty much built in. I can recommend you to get an imac, however, there are downsides.
If you want to play games, there aren't that many for the mac and pretty hard to come by in stores, at least around me. Also mac isn't super compatible like for instance windows, so you'll have to buy special mac compatible stuff which can in some cases cost more than the Windows equivalent.
Software you'll have to get accustomed with open source programs and learn where to find the mac ones.
Mac has a few of it's own problems like the white screen of "F**k ME", but that can be fixed easily and is supposedly no longer a problem witht he current generation. But don't expect the mac to be the "be all end all" of computing.

Basically if you get rid of the standard mouse and keyboard the machine is pretty awesome.

You might have a bit of a shock when first using it and it will definitely take some getting used to, just go to your nearest store that has macs and try playing around with one of the "try me" ones (can't be bothered looking up the real term..) and also ask the clerks for advise on what you'll need depending on the purpose of your mac purchase.

I hope this was of any help.

That is actually very helpful-however, I ended up having to go with a PC. I was thinking that I had a chance to get a really good deal, but it turned out to be nothing. I am really disappointed about it to be completely honest. It really all came down to the fact that for what me and the lady are going to use it for couldn't justify the cost. Maybe sometime that will change.

I am happy to hear that you are really happy with it, and I have heard so many stories about people really being happy with theirs. So, I am hoping that in a year or so we might go ahead and grab a new iMac (or Mac in general) and use the PC for other things. The PC I bout today is good for the money, and I won't have any complaints, but there are some things about Mac that really make me want to go that direction at some point.

I appreciate the advise, Dead Metal. I will certainly keep that information in mind.

I have to add one thing here. There is a lot to like about Apple/Mac, and I was very ready to jump ship from the PC side of the fence. I am actually a little upset that I couldn't justify changing over, and it was all due to the unbelieveably huge difference in the price point. I paid a total of $560 a computer and monitor. I got a slightly more robust processor, twice the hard drive (1T) and 2 extra Gig of RAM compared to the lowest priced iMac that I can find available. I just couldn't justify spending literally twice the money for it-and that is with a company discount through work! I am not saying I don't want Apple to make money on their computers, but i wish they'd at least get competitive at this point. Oh well.