Commentary--CNet's New iMac Review: Limited Upgrade Options and Sparse Documentation are Cons? Since when?

I take issue with my good colleague Gene Steinberg's review on these points, more so on the limited upgrade options. The new iMac, like the one it replaces, is the quintessential consumer computer, the computer for the rest of us, to paraphrase Apple's slogan for the original Mac. Limited upgrades and "sparse" documentation are features of any ultimate consumer appliance and the iMac is no exception. The real question is are they too limited or too sparse?

The ultimate consumer computer should do it's job right out of the box and not need upgrades of any kind. It should have a fast enough CPU and GPU, enough ports, enough RAM and a large enough hard drive to get it through at least 3 years of use without needing anything. The new 800 MHz iMac scores on all these, not to mention its superdrive. One might question 256 MB of RAM but that is easily upgraded, one of the "limited upgrade options." So where's the "bad"? No other consumer product, particularly an electronic one, will be cutting edge at three years of age and the new iMac won't be either. No one can predict for certainty where things will go but based on recent history the 800 MHz iMac will certainly not be reduced by father time to a pile of useless junk relegated to the basement because of its limited upgrade options.

The ultimate consumer computer should be able to come with virtually no documentation beyond the warranty and other legally required material. If the computer is a true consumer device, sparse documentation is a good sign that it has hit its mark. Well, is the new iMac's documentation too sparse? Apple certainly doesn't think so. It has direct experience in selling millions of iMacs to consumers to back up its decision. This is not to say that some people wouldn't like more help, particularly with the operating system. So okay, with regard to the OS X aspect of the documentation I will relent a bit and give Gene a push at this stage of its development. But I do not agree with the statement in general. Sparse documentation is not automatically the sign of a "bad" thing, rather it is the contrary.

Otherwise, Gene's review of the new iMac is excellent as usual. [Update:He posted his counterpoint with regard to documentation on today's MacNightOwl.] He also has an informative review of the new inexpensive, dual-monitor ATI Radeon 7000 graphics card on CNet.