Apple iMac review

Posted by Ian Osborne on Tue 17 Mar 2009

T3 tests the new iMac, announced just two weeks previously

Just over ten years ago, the iMac revived the fortunes of an ailing Apple. Boasting a G3 PowerPC processor, a CRT monitor and a form factor which combined the computer and the screen into the same casing, the original ‘Bondi Blue’ iMac became a design classic, inspiring a generation of industrial designers both inside and outside the computing industry. The dull, beige box was dead – personal computers were fun again.

A decade later, the latest release of the iMac hits the shelves, and though still an object of desire, it’s a very different beast under the hood. Boasting a flatscreen LCD monitor and a state-of-the-art Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the all-in-one approach is retained, but can it keep the Apple brand at the forefront of computing and design excellence? You bet it can!

The new iMac comes in four configurations. They all boast Intel Core 2 Duo processors with speeds ranging from 2.66GHz to 3.06GHz, hard drives from 320GB to 1TB in capacity and prices from £950 to £1800. The cheapest two have an NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor, with the top-of-the-range model enjoying an NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 GPU with 512MB memory.

They all offer 4GB super-fast 1066MHz DDR3 onboard RAM and a 24-inch screen, except the entry-level model, which has 2GB and 20-inches respectively. Wireless connectivity has been cranked up to the new 802.11n standard for faster networking and a better range, and the iSight camera mounted above the screen puts most webcams in the shade. We’re talking quality here, with lovely sharp pictures and excellent colour reproduction.

We tested the second-most powerful machine of the quartet, a 24-inch model with a 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, a 640GB hard drive, an NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics processor with 256MB memory and a price tag of £1500.

In our benchmark tests, we found the new iMac takes full advantage of the improved graphics processors, doubled on-board memory and faster RAM chips. Last year we tested the top-of-the-range model from last year’s release set, and this second-from-top model out-performed it in every department, despite having a slower processor speed.

And naturally, the new iMac is drop-dead gorgeous. For those not familiar, it’s a beautifully slim machine with a brushed aluminium finish. The optical drive is a slot-loader to the right-hand side of the display, and it boasts a fantastic widescreen flat-panel LCD screen with a 1920-by-1200 resolution. Just the thing for watching movies, viewing your photos, making videos or just about anything else you might want to do with your Mac. And while we’re on the subject of productivity, all the new iMacs come preloaded with iLife ’09, the latest release of Apple’s excellent productivity suite.

Amongst all this gushing there’s one or two gripes, but thankfully, the new iMac doesn’t give us much cause for complaint. We’re not convinced by Apple’s decision to bundle the new version of its aluminium USB keyboard, which offers the same form factor as the wireless model, ie. no numeric pad. To be fair, some might welcome the extra desk room and if you buy online you can swap it at no extra charge for the older version, replete with the keypad. But maybe the larger keyboard should’ve been the standard one and the smaller model the option?

You’re also stuck with a glossy screen, something not everyone welcomes, and despite years of moaning on Mac forums, Apple STILL hasn’t included a facility to adjust the height of the screen.

Yet these are minor moans. Apple’s new iMac is a gorgeous machine and an incredibly good performer. It might not change the world in the same way the Bondi Blue G3 did all those years ago, but it certainly raises the bar for all-in-one computing. Prices start from £949.

Link: Apple

Buy one here: Apple | PC World | Amazon

User Comments

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2|09|2009 14:57

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By hunthunt

24|03|2009 16:24

can you send me a free 1 to try thanks

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By PLP1969

17|03|2009 14:51

The comment about the keyboard is invalid. At time of purchase, the buyer can get the full keyboard at no extra cost. Some folks do like the small keyboard since they may have limited desk space. It may also remind folks of the first Macintosh with its diminutive keyboard and one unit computer box with display.

Just making sure everyone is aware that this small keyboard is not the only choice.

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