From where I come from the Dell Ultrasharp U2711 is the equivalent of 935$ and the same iMac that the OP ordered is the equivalent of 2725$. If we take the panel out of the iMac that leaves us with 1790$ to build a machine. For this kind of money you can set up a system that is waaay much better that what's in the iMac. Even with half the amount you can build a better machine that the iMac and still have the beautiful IPS monitor. I don't even want to think about the upgradability of a PC. I forgot to mention that the warranty for the iMac is one year and for extending it with a year there's an additional 160$. The only justifiable purchase of an iMac is for one to be totally addicted to the looks of the machine, doesn't like many cables under his desk and from time to time wants to move it around to other locations easily.
You cannot build your own computer into a monitor, unless you either want to void a $1000 monitor's warranty, or you want to attach the computer to the back of the monitor. Attaching to the back makes it hard to use things like optical drives. I know, I tried. It was a PITA.
The entire purpose of these all in ones is to take up ONLY the footprint of a monitor, while still being a full fledged computer.
This makes a difference to some of us. In my bedroom, I have no room for a larger desk, nowhere on that desk to put a tower (or even a mini), and nowhere on the floor to put a computer. All-in-ones are the only type of computer I can have there.
The
ONLY thing you can compare these all-in-ones to fairly, is other all-in-ones. Comparisons to any other type of machine are completely irrelevant and invalid. The entire purpose of buying an all-in-one, is to have an all-in-one. People looking to buy these are very specifically looking to
NOT buy a tower. Seems pretty straight forward to me.
You pay extra to use the smaller components. The same holds true for the other all-in-ones on the market. But the other all-in-ones on the market have much crappier screens. When other OEMs start putting good panels in their all-in-ones, I'll consider them.
So, again, move along anti-Mac people. Nothing to see here.