“Here’s the best thing I can say after trying out Apple’s new iMac computer with an Intel processor: I didn’t notice much difference from Apple’s previous iMacs with PowerPC processors from IBM,” Mike Langberg reports for The San Jose Mercury News. “I borrowed a 20-inch Intel iMac from Apple last week, and found it responded very quickly. But then again so did the previous iMac that I reviewed, a G5 model, in September 2004.”
“Switching from the G5 processor to Intel chips is a huge step forward in the long run. IBM couldn’t or wouldn’t design processors for personal computers that keep pace with those from Intel and rival Advanced Micro Devices. Apple will get elbow room to continue creating innovative hardware and software by leaving the PowerPC behind,” Langberg reports. “The new iMac reliably runs Apple’s elegant and easy to use Mac operating system and related software, including the outstanding new iLife ’06 suite for managing photos, music, video and Web pages. Ordinary users would have no reason to suspect there’s a new chip under the hood.”
“One small disappointment: Apple doesn’t include its AppleWorks program — an unexciting but useful word processor, spreadsheet and desktop publishing package aimed at home users — on the new iMac, unlike previous models where it was included free,” Langberg writes. “Apple now wants Mac users to spend $79 to unlock a copy of iWorks ’06, a combination of the Pages program for word-processing and the Keynote program for making presentations, that’s included on the new iMac. Or pay anywhere from $149 to $499 to unlock Microsoft Office, also included. AppleWorks remains available for purchase separately from Apple, also for $79.”
“On the other hand, Apple deserves applause for iLife ’06. I had a lot of fun trying out new features that make it drop-dead easy to share pictures online, write blog entries and create podcasts — provided you’re willing to spend $99 a year for Apple’s .mac online service. iLife ’06 is also available at $79 for older Macs running the 10.3 Panther or 10.4 Tiger versions of the Mac OS X operating system,” Langberg writes.
“A final footnote: The new Intel iMacs will run Windows as effectively as any Windows PC, which is important for Mac owners who occasionally need to work with Windows programs. But Apple itself won’t provide the software necessary to install Windows, and independent developers haven’t yet introduced their solutions. So if you need to run Windows on a Mac, hold off a few months,” Langberg writes. “For everyone else, the new iMac is safe to buy right now. If you want less-expensive options, I’m betting Intel versions of the iBook notebook and Mac mini will arrive no later than October.”
Full article with more about Rosetta for running PowerPC-only non-Universal Binary applications here.
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Related MacDailyNews article:
PC Magazine review gives Apple iMac Intel Core Duo 4.5 out of 5 stars – January 20, 2006