“Apple’s new iMac improves on its predecessor’s design and performance,” Melissa J. Perenson reports for PC World.
“Though the physical dimensions of [Apple’s] new iMac differ only slightly from those of its predecessor, the changes make a tremendous difference in appearance: The new iMac looks sleeker, more stylish, and less squared off than the older, plasticized version. The design is both simple and seamless, with air vents at the back of the screen and beneath it to facilitate airflow (The unit does get a bit toasty after it has been on for a while, but according to Apple that’s to be expected, given the aluminum chassis). The only screw on the entire chassis is beneath the screen; removing the screw gives you easy access to the memory slots. A 640-by-480-resolution Webcam and microphone are subtly built in to the screen,” reports for PC World.
“Accompanying the new iMac is a redesigned matching keyboard with two USB 2.0 ports (the previous generation’s keyboard had USB 1.1 ports). These new ports have enough juice to handle devices that draw up to 500 mA, including an iPod and some portable external hard-disk drives,” Perenson reports.
“When I used the keyboard, I was surprised at how easily my touch-typist fingers adapted to the MacBook Pro-like [sic] keys. Despite having a key height of 0.33mm (versus 0.89mm on the previous version), the keys were distinct and crisp to the touch, and they felt roomy enough to accommodate my fast-flying fingers,” Perenson reports.
“Though the new iMac doesn’t come with a next-generation Blu-ray Disc drive, the integrated graphics on the 24-inch model we tested can decode high-definition (1920-by-1080-pixel) H.264, VC-1, and MPEG-2 video streams of the type used by Blu-ray. Consequently the iMac may be able to support an external Blu-ray Disc option, when a drive and playback software ship for the Mac,” Perenson reports.
Full review here.
MacDailyNews Note: iMacs do not feature “integrated” graphics. The 2.0GHz 20-inch iMac features the ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics processor with 128MB of GDDR3 memory. The 20-inch model with 2.4GHz processor and the 24-inch model feature the ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO graphics processor with 256MB of GDDR3 memory.
Blu-ray-Hu-ray. Maybe later.
MW- progress
If I’m not mistaken, since not long ago, Apple quietly began installing megapixel iSight cameras in their iMacs. You can easily test this by snapping a few PhotoBooth shots in an Apple (or CompUSA) store and checking the resolution.
Regarding the USB 2.0 ports on the keyboard… Will the power USB 2.0 devices even if the keyboard itself is plugged into a USB 1.1 port?
^^^^
Should read: “Will they power” not “Will the power.”
“macbook pro-like” keyboard? do the new MBP’s have chicklet keys like the macbooks? mine has regular keys.
@ macca
No, they don’t. The guy was mistaken. He meant to say macbook.
“Regarding the USB 2.0 ports on the keyboard… Will the power USB 2.0 devices even if the keyboard itself is plugged into a USB 1.1 port?”
No
Though the new iMac doesn’t come with a next-generation Blu-ray Disc drive, the integrated graphics on the 24-inch model we tested can decode high-definition (1920-by-1080-pixel) H.264, VC-1, and MPEG-2 video streams of the type used by Blu-ray.
No, it’s a dedicated graphics card, not integrated. It is true that you cannot change it, but that is not what “integrated” means.
MW: high — which explains this error.
@ron
I usually wait until something is well into our culture before I buy anything, like the cool Commodores and Vanilla Ice cassettes I just bought. This time though I was sucked into the coolness of Blu-Ray when we bought a new TV. I purchased a BR DVD player which will probably cost 8 bucks next year but I did it anyway. The picture is amazing and am happy with the fact that NetFlix has Blu-Ray dvds for rent. I do wish that BR wins the competition so I don’t have to shell out another ungodly amount of money for an HD player.
That being said, I think I will wait – once again – until a Blu-Ray burner is available for a computer before I get one of those. By that time I’ll probably be listening to that cool group Air Supply.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” />
…and maybe I’m just misunderstanding, but what’s with this .89mm height of the previous version? I’m using a previous-version keyboard now, and the key height is defnitely way over .89mm. If they meant key-travel, well, it’s far beyond that as well.
With every new generation of iMac after the original iMac G5, Apple has shown complete disregard for ease of service. Apple doesn’t realize that by making their iMacs and laptops so difficult for technicians to take apart, Apple is also forcing customers to wait longer for repairs to get done. Believe it or not, technicians actually have more than one customer each day. So a technician can’t afford to spend all day working on a single computer while the phone is ringing off the hood and other customers are waiting in line.
If Apple does not start making dramatic improvements in ease of service, then technicians should start taking matters into their own hands. If customers continue to act like ease of service is not their problem, then technicians should make it the customer’s problem. Technicians should automatically put all iMac repairs on lowest priority regardless of whether that iMac came in first. In fact, they should just let the iMac sit on the shelf for a couple of days out of spite before even looking at it. Another way for repair shops to screw with Apple is to wait for the Mac technician to get swamped with iMac and MacBook Pro repairs, and then load him up with a dozen other repairs that same day. If the Mac tech complains that he can’t take any more calls because he is too busy, the call dispatcher should respond with a smartass remark like “But I thought Macs were so easy to work on”. Apple authorized repair shops should also complain constantly to Apple Service Provider Support regarding the poor serviceability of iMacs. They should refuse to work on iMacs locally, and just ship all iMacs out to Apple. This provides the added benefit of making the iMac owner wait longer for repairs. Repair shops should not be afraid to punish iMac owners. If Apple won’t make iMacs easy for technicians to repair, then Apple should repair all iMacs themselves, and customer service be damned.
“and they felt roomy enough to accommodate my fast-flying fingers”
*hot*
@ MrMcLargeHuge
…the guy named Melissa.
Shiva: Don’t take this the wrong way but we’re going to have to cut off your Air Supply.
It is possible to upgrade your 128mb video card in the imac. I was told that it has memory that can be replaced. Good luck with figuring that operation out.
I don’t think Apple cares about the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray thing.
Consumers aren’t biting, nor do they seem to care. Apple will use the next gen disc system when the target demographic has made it’s choice, I believe. Or they will come out with a third option, something not so bound by the industry and focused on what consumers, not lawyers, actually want.
so basically, you think that technicians should give a big proverbial finger to their customers? yeah, that’s smart. then people will just schedule appointments with, and take their computers to Apple’s Geniuses, which, as long as you have the service plan, is free! now, not if you want to ugrade something, of course, but if there’s something wrong with the computer that’s covered by the Apple One Care, then it is. that is the smartest thing i’ve ever heard someone say on behalf of computer technicians. “that’s right, if you say screw you to a growing percentage of your customer base, it’ll help you in the end!” bravo MSBlaster, bravo.
??? What a tool!!!
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
First let me say that I have worked on Air Force aviation electronics so I know about putting 10 lbs of sh-t in a 5 lb package. It is hard to work on, a real pain.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
But having said that, my Macs have been very dependable. My iMac G5 had an early powersupply failure and I took it into the shop. It took them 1 hour to test, fix, and return the unit. Its worked fine (over a year now) with out a glitch.
“But I thought Macs were so easy to work on”. —- They are. Just buy a Mac Pro, open the cover and hot swap hard drives.
“With every new generation of iMac after the original iMac G5, Apple has shown complete disregard for ease of service. “—— Hey, the Bundi Blue iMac was no easy unit to service either.!! Of couse you could change memory and get at the CD drive pretty easy.
But wait, You want a computer, large LCD screen, CD and Hard drive, microphone, camera, speakers, etc all in one package barely bigger than the components themselves, and of course you want it easy to get to. YEP, Try the 8th dimension. LOL
“So a technician can’t afford to spend all day working on a single computer while the phone is ringing off the hood and other customers are waiting in line.” —- You sound like a computer technician for a one person shop yourself. Sorry, most places have a customer service to take calls, schedule equipment and the techs just work on the unit.
I opened up my work Dell tower a few days ago to replace a hard drive. BOY, the thing was empty. Everything was big and bulky yet it was mostly empty. Must be a lack of design going into the case.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
But I do agree, it would be nice if you could just undo one screw and have the guts slide out like a drawer and have everything unplug for replacement. I am sure the techs would like that.
” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />
Picky picky, but your recalcitrant unscientific standards-rejecting Yanqui dog brains didn’t spot the mistake on the key height. They’re 3.3mm and 8.9mm, not 0.33mm and 0.89mm.
(0.33mm is 1/77th of an inch)
It may just be semantics, but since I don’t get to the pick the graphics chip used, nor can I change it after the fact, it sure sounds “integrated” to me.
I’m not complaining, in fact I ordered a 24″ Extreme iMac myself, but I don’t think referring to the graphics as “integrated” is necessarily inaccurate.
Steve made is biggest philisophical point against physical media during the Special Event this past Tuesday.
Why have a HD Disc player at all, when you can deliver your content to your website, iPhone, YouTube?
Of note, is no more Intel integrated graphics. These boxes are made for Apple’s upcoming iTunes HD movie and TV show downloads, which these ATI cards can easily handle 720p data streams.
As for h.264, its life may remain in the balance… It is rumored Apple has been working with Purdue or Penn St. in compression technology…
Perhaps h.264 compression will live, but Apple may deliver their own codec, capable of delivering HD video with smaller data rates…
Apple has zero interest in promoting HD DVD or BlueRay players and media – none. After all, physical media is so 80’s….
@Tom,
Since you can’t upgrade the graphics card yourself, for all intents and purposes in this case, you’re right. BUT… “integrated” graphics are a graphics subsystem built into the motherboard — right on there… whereas this is a separate card, not “integrated” into the motherboard.
Apple doesn’t care about iDVD either.
“there are people who still wants to use this” Jobs
Who cares about Blu-ray… we just need faster internet.
Good Apple!!!! No more plastic junk!!!! F#$% all the industry.
@Tom:
I forgot to mention that “integrated” graphics chipsets almost always use “shared” memory, meaning it takes a chunk of your system’s main RAM for its use, as opposed to a separate graphics card that has its own (usually faster) RAM, and also almost always has a faster GPU (graphics processing unit). Integrated graphics chipsets are really the bottom of the barrel… see Mac mini for an example of an integrated graphics chipset.
Beauty is only skin deep, but then again, most fanboys are attracted to the external. Let’s wait for the objective real world reviews before crowning the next Miss iMac America in absentia, OK? Sheesh, it’s been only 4 days and all I’ve seen are unboxing photos and all I’ve read are comments from persons with limited experience.