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Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

post #1 of 25
2/24/08 at 11:16am
Thread Starter 
After many years of working on it I finally talked her into going Mac. She's been through 3 pc's since her first. On one hand I'm excited because I can actually help her when she calls with some annoying computer question. Being a Mac guy for many years I only know the very basics of windows and always found it very annoying to attempt to trouble shoot over the phone. On the other hand me thinks I'll hear from her more often...

Now I'm hoping that screen sharing works as well in Leopard as promised being able to control her machine remotely (we live 350 miles apart) should simplify life considerably.

-EJ
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post #2 of 25
2/24/08 at 3:02pm

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Did the same thing for my Mom a few months ago.

Her windows PC was having problems. She was just
getting used to Windows (she's a novice) when I switched
her over to a 20" iMac.

Took her a mere day to get the hang of Leopard. Was no big
learning curve for her. She only checks email and browses the web.
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post #3 of 25
2/25/08 at 8:08am

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Eric - let me know how well screen sharing works, as I have had the same idea for my grandparents. They're currently running Windows ME on an old 700mhz PC with 16MB of RAM and I keep telling them that it's time for a new computer. Screen sharing would help me convince them to go OSX, as my grandma is constantly "clicking on that thingy next to the other thing and then the thing disappeared and now a different thing is there", which results in me driving to their house to make a toolbar come back or something else equally easy, but impossible to determine over the phone due to the lack of a cohesive definition of the problem.
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post #4 of 25
2/26/08 at 5:05am
Thread Starter 

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffrey Johnson
Eric - let me know how well screen sharing works, as I have had the same idea for my grandparents. They're currently running Windows ME on an old 700mhz PC with 16MB of RAM and I keep telling them that it's time for a new computer. Screen sharing would help me convince them to go OSX, as my grandma is constantly "clicking on that thingy next to the other thing and then the thing disappeared and now a different thing is there", which results in me driving to their house to make a toolbar come back or something else equally easy, but impossible to determine over the phone due to the lack of a cohesive definition of the problem.

Yup. Been there done that way too many times. I'll keep you posted. Machine ships in a few days.

-EJ
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post #5 of 25
2/27/08 at 1:28pm

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Just received mine. Wow!

Would it be faster than my G5 2.5ghz dual tower generally?
Certainly quieter.
Opening iMovie HD is worlds apart. I hate to think (FEEL) a small iMac is better than the tower I paid big mulla for.
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post #6 of 25
2/27/08 at 8:42pm

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffrey Johnson
Eric - let me know how well screen sharing works, as I have had the same idea for my grandparents. They're currently running Windows ME on an old 700mhz PC with 16MB of RAM and I keep telling them that it's time for a new computer. Screen sharing would help me convince them to go OSX, as my grandma is constantly "clicking on that thingy next to the other thing and then the thing disappeared and now a different thing is there", which results in me driving to their house to make a toolbar come back or something else equally easy, but impossible to determine over the phone due to the lack of a cohesive definition of the problem.

I would agree it is probably time for an upgrade but you could use the free version of LogMeIn to get remote access to that system from OS X. However, it does require some kind of basic broadband, are they using dial up?

In any event, you can check it out at http://logmein.com

-Keith
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post #7 of 25
2/28/08 at 1:25pm

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith Plucker
I would agree it is probably time for an upgrade but you could use the free version of LogMeIn to get remote access to that system from OS X. However, it does require some kind of basic broadband, are they using dial up?

In any event, you can check it out at http://logmein.com

-Keith

Keith - Thanks for the recommendation! I'll have to check it out. They do have broadband, so that's not a problem. But this is also a very good excuse to have them get rid of their ancient technology (I was shocked to see recently that their PC doesn't even have a USB port)...
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post #8 of 25
3/8/08 at 3:21am

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Ok,

I really feel like a Windows user now...I just tried installing it (to run ONE PC program) after no luck with Parallels.

AND IT FAILED (Boot camp install kept looping - I QUIT with F3), and now I can't boot into ANYTHING.

I just have the chime and a blank grey screen.

I tried Target disk mode, install discs, Leopard disc. NOTHING. Just allows me to eject discs.

Someone please have a solution, other than APPLE repair?
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post #9 of 25
3/8/08 at 7:16am

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

The BootCamp installed failed? And this hosed your whole Mac? I've only done one BootCamp install, on my system, and it went smoothly and by the directions. I've had a few glitches since then because of Parallels, but that's not what you're describing.

Have you called AppleCare? Can they help with a BootCamp inflicted damage?
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post #10 of 25
3/10/08 at 2:10am

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Yumbo,

With my limited knowledge....

Did you try booting the computer with Leopard disc in drive
while holding down the "C" key?

I know that's how you can at least tell the computer to reinstall
the OS or format.
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post #11 of 25
3/10/08 at 2:18am

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Bula Ron,

I took it to AVS, where OPTION, boot was suggested, but nothing was working...so I asked a customer of mine who took the old iMac G4 lamp off my hands, who suggested OPTION-S, which allowed me to boot off the external.

Friggin Windows Setup had wiped my internal drive.

I have little desire to re-attempt installing Windows - DOS is still UGLY.

So, I've re-installed everything which was a snap, and understandable as well, not to mention PRETTY, lol.

So many of our customers keep admiring it, and want to order one as well. I quite like the new keyboard, but not the mouse. I still prefer my Kensington Orbit trackball.
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post #12 of 25
3/10/08 at 6:08am

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Yumbo,

I don't quite understand your response. Forgive me.

I know I may have given an obvious answer, but was that
the fix that got you back up and running?
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post #13 of 25
3/10/08 at 12:28pm

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Nothing was working except for OPTION-S-BOOT.

C-BOOT didn't.
Boot with external didn't.
OPTION-BOOT kept freezing after external listed (no C drive).

Reformatted my internal drive with Disk Utility and re-installed OSX.
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post #14 of 25
3/12/08 at 9:17pm

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Finally got Parallels running today with Windows XP off an ISO.

Ran the PC program which is out of date after all. That's all she wrote.
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post #15 of 25
3/13/08 at 1:53am

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

I rarely resort to having to fire up Vista on my Mac
via Parallels, but whenever I do, I am amazed at how
great Parallels works.

That has to be the best software ever produced for OS X.
I have had it for a year now. It was "good" back then, but
today it has gotten so much better. The ease of dragging
and dropping files between operating systems is amazing.
The software is 100% perfect except for the fact that it still
can't support the aero graphics as was promised.

Anyone looking to have some fun should invest in Parallels
and install XP or VISTA on your Mac. It really works that well!
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post #16 of 25
3/30/08 at 6:35pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeffrey Johnson
Eric - let me know how well screen sharing works, as I have had the same idea for my grandparents. They're currently running Windows ME on an old 700mhz PC with 16MB of RAM and I keep telling them that it's time for a new computer. Screen sharing would help me convince them to go OSX, as my grandma is constantly "clicking on that thingy next to the other thing and then the thing disappeared and now a different thing is there", which results in me driving to their house to make a toolbar come back or something else equally easy, but impossible to determine over the phone due to the lack of a cohesive definition of the problem.

Forgot about this thread... Happy to report that screen sharing has worked very well with both machines at my house. Mom just took her machine home today so we'll see it 350 miles between the two makes a difference.

Unfortunately running Leopard on my iMac G5 is another story...

-EJ
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post #17 of 25
8/2/08 at 11:30am
Thread Starter 

Finally talked my Mom into switching (edit: frustrated in iMac land!)

Well after several months of only minor glitches things aren't looking good for my mom's new iMac. She's been getting regular kernel panics. Have to say I'm a little frustrated considering I spent years trying to get her to switch and now only 5 months of owning one her iMac is bombing???!!!!

-EJ
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post #18 of 25
8/2/08 at 12:07pm

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching (edit: frustrated in iMac land!)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Eric M Jones
Well after several months of only minor glitches things aren't looking good for my mom's new iMac. She's been getting regular kernel panics. Have to say I'm a little frustrated considering I spent years trying to get her to switch and now only 5 months of owning one her iMac is bombing???!!!!

-EJ
What does AppleCare say about it? That's definitely not normal. I've had a few kernel panics but nothing like you've described. I hope you can get it fixed: Apple or Windows, no one wants these problems.
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post #19 of 25
8/2/08 at 12:14pm

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Hi,

Could be:

1. Dust (clear it out)

2. Bad software (run the updates or re-install if it persists)

I had my laptop do that badly after I dropped it - re-install helped.
My tower was doing it last month - dusting, and updates helped.

I am referring to the black filter screen that forces you to restart.

Run the software updates remotely if you need to.
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post #20 of 25
8/2/08 at 12:17pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching (edit: frustrated in iMac land!)

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
What does AppleCare say about it?
Haven't gone that far yet. I'm troubleshooting it now, although that's hard to do when there's 350 miles between you. There a firmware update that I'm going to try first and if that doesn't work I'm going to have her take it to the local Apple service center. There are no Apple stores close to her.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DaveF
That's definitely not normal.
I hope so, although I'm getting a little discouraged. I had a smilier issue with my G5 iMac. I had to take it to the Apple store 3 times and argue my point each time until they finally conceded and decided that it needed a new logic board. Granted it has worked fine since but that was a 2 month ordeal I would not like to duplicate!

That said I had never had hardware issues with the prior 4 Macs I had before the G5 iMac.

-EJ
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post #21 of 25
8/2/08 at 12:24pm

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Use the screen sharing feature to control the iMac yourself to troubleshoot.
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post #22 of 25
8/2/08 at 12:31pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yumbo
Use the screen sharing feature to control the iMac yourself to troubleshoot.

Already have been...
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post #23 of 25
4/2/09 at 9:05pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Well, it has been over a year since the purchase and Mom's iMac is still giving me problems. I was able to fix the previous kernel panic issues by wiping the system and completing a full reinstall. Now the optical drive seems to be dead, makes loud clunking noises and won't boot a disk. Worse yet we totally planned having her extend Apple Care but both of us forgot about it and now it's one month expired over the first year of the original warranty. Grrrr! I'm not too happy considering how much easier having a Mac was suppose to be for her. Now she has a year old $1400 dollar machine that's probably going to be several hundred $$$ to get repaired! Don't mind me just needed to vent a little!

-EJ
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post #24 of 25
4/4/09 at 6:25pm

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Eric,

You definitely want to explain the situation to someone at your local Apple store or over the phone to one of their support reps. Ask to speak to supervisor if necessary.

It is not unheard of for Apple to fix something out of warranty.

-Keith
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post #25 of 25
4/6/09 at 3:04am

Re: Finally talked my Mom into switching ordered her a 20" iMac...

Eric,

Keith is correct. If you really make a pointed effort to explain
all this to Apple, they are likely to replace or fix it out of warranty.

Please keep us updated.
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