CNET reviews Apple’s newest iMac, released Monday:
“A bump to the frontside bus and a smidge more L2 cache can safely be classified as a minor update. But even slightly improved specifications, when they come at a lower price than those they replace, are appreciated,” Matthew Elliott reports for CNET Reviews.
“Last September, we tested the highest-end 24-inch model, which carried a baseline price of $2,299 and featured Intel’s 2.8GHz Core 2 Extreme X7900 processor. We’re happy to report that the new $1,799 iMac sped past the previous model in CNET Labs, though it features roughly the same specs: a 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of faster 800MHz RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and a midrange ATI Radeon graphics card. What’s changed is that this model uses a Penryn-class processor that serves up 6MB of L2 cache to the 4MB the previous Merom-class chip provided, while operating on a faster 1,066MHz frontside bus–up from 800MHz,” Elliott reports.
“Given its strong application performance and competitive price, we give the iMac a strong recommendation as a mainstream desktop in addition to being best in class in the all-in-one niche,” Elliott reports.
“A slight bump to the specifications for the same price in addition to a much appreciated option to upgrade the graphics means the 24-inch iMac keeps the Editors’ Choice it earned last year when the brushed-aluminum-and-glass design was first introduced,” Elliott reports.
Full review here.
