It is just barely understandable that Apple would continue to use vulnerable parts (as must have been apparent at the latest shortly after the release of the slot-loaders) if they had in stock a zillion of parts that had been built or bought to a specification. I have toyed for years, because of those iMacs' reputation, with the idea of a ducted active exhaust system with intakes just over the handle area of each iMac. Given no trouble, however, the project has lapsed into the 'round tuit' basket.

If my acknowledgment of the iMacs' virtues above is now rewarded by their prompt failure, you may all be assured that I shall be passing around the hat for some tokens of your sympathy (preferably folding rather than coin). I have recently replaced two of their HDDs with 40GB 7200rpm Seagate units. Very nice performance, too. Time will show what extra heat load that will generate.

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