“Apple’s popular iMac line has gone through radical changes since it emerged in 1998 as the all-in-one Mac that helped turn around the company financially,” Scot Finnie reports for Computerworld.
“The current line-up, updated in April, looks just like the iMacs released last summer; the modest-but-welcome changes are all on the inside. Apple currently offers two 20-inch models and two 24-inch models. Prices start at $1,199 for the entry-level iMac with a 2.4GHz chip and run up to $2,199 for the top-of-the-line 24-inch version with a 3.06GHz processor,” Finnie reports.
“The new iMac starts with the recently introduced Intel 45nm Penryn Core 2 Duo processor, which offers larger Level-2 caches and greater energy efficiency. Because of the Penryn and its chipset, the new iMacs now sport 6MB of shared Level-2 cache and a faster 1066MHz front-side bus,” Finnie reports.
“My 24-inch test model offers the best blend of power and price, with a 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB RAM, a 320GB 7200-rpm serial-ATA hard drive, an 8x double-layer SuperDrive, and ATI’s Radeon HD 2600PRO video with 256MB of memory. Compared to the previous generation iMac, you get twice as much RAM and the next-generation Core 2 Duo processor at 2.8GHz instead of 2.4GHz for the same price: $1,799,” Finnie reports.
“Were I to buy a new iMac (and the kids insist that’s something we have to do) after the review unit goes back, I’d buy exactly the unit Apple sent,” Finnie reports. “Sure, you can buy a less expensive Windows machine for home or office desktop, but as Macs go, the new iMac is a great deal. And by using Apple’s Boot camp software or Parallels or VMWare, you get the best of both worlds: You can install Windows XP for full application flexibility, giving you essentially two computers in one.”
Full article here.
More and more publicity …
Yes, but it’s true.
The graphics card going on my white iMac was the best thing that happened to me. I got a brand new machine – the design of which I prefer, 1GB extra ram (because 3GB wasn’t an option) and the new keyboard which is just the greatest keyboard I’ve ever used.
I always find it funny when reviewers say you can get “the best of both worlds” by being able to boot into Windows. If you want the best of both worlds, don’t use Windows. It’s just that simple.
“Sure, you can buy a less expensive Windows machine for home or office desktop, but as Macs go, the new iMac is a great deal.”
No true; a similarly equipped Windoze machine would not be less expensive. And the whole experience would pale in comparison.
These sentences should be qualified better- “Sure, you can buy a less expensive Windows machine…”
Positive or negative reviews lob these sentences in there without following with something like- “but you get less too.”
Recently purchased the 24″ iMac with 3.06 Ghz processor. Sweetest Mac I have ever owned. Whisper quiet so far, and compared to my G5 iMac, it rips through work like a hot knife through butter.
Awesome machine.
@solid
Kudos and dittos re: your comment! Working on my 24″/3.06 right now and have never been so happy with a desktop machine. Perfection with a glossy screen. (Oh, gawd, not THAT can of worms!)
Just saw the mobile version of MDN. I was blown away.
Kudos to MDN.
That is like offering Camels milk with a Camels milk chocolate cream topping, how tasty is that?
“And by using Apple’s Boot camp software or Parallels or VMWare, you get the best of both worlds: You can install Windows XP for full application flexibility, giving you essentially two computers in one.””
Where have I heard that before. ?????
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“…You can install Windows XP for full application flexibility, giving you essentially two computers in one.”
Correction: One and a half
Good review. Posting this on my 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo. The nicest Mac I’ve ever owned. Quiet, and with an awesome keyboard. Can’t say I’ve ever found the glossy screen to be a problem, but maybe that’s just the lighting in my home office. And 10.5.3 has made it sna……. OK, let’s not do that.
When’s the student back-to-school discount program supposed to start back up? I need a new iMac.