Product Notes: Apple iMac

October 20, 2009

Apple announced significant updates today to its iMac line of all-in-one desktop systems. This update follows a previous iMac refresh in March 2009.

Design and Changes

This latest generation of iMacs retain the same general enclosure as iMacs have had since the introduction of the "aluminum" iMac in August 2007, with some modifications in ports and port arrangement. The most easily visible change is the move from 16:10 displays to 16:9 displays. Thus, the medium display size changes from 20-inch to 21.5-inch and the large display size changes from 24-inch to 27-inch. These new displays are LED backlit In-plane Switching (IPS) units and both come with wide (178 degree) viewing angles - the medium display is no longer substantially deficient to the large display in this regard.

Changes in these latest iMacs include increased maximum RAM (now 16 GB) and the return of the availability of discrete video cards to the medium model. All systems now include SecureDigital (SD) card slot and the 27-inch systems add a DisplayPort input port. Apple also offers a VESA mount adapter kit for the 27-inch system.

Missing from this latest update are the availability of Blu-Ray drives. There is still no matte screen option, which matters to some users for both color precision and ergonomic reasons.

These new iMacs meet or exceed the specifications in the newly-revised Performance PC Buyer's Guide.

Both versions of the iMac are EPEAT Gold-compliant and Energy Star 5.0-certified.

Ordering Notes

Several considerations when ordering an iMac:

1. Depending on screen size, the iMac is available with Intel's current Core 2 Duo, Core i5, and Core i7 processors. Information Systems & Computing (ISC) sees the 3.06 GHz processors as the best choice for the 21.5-inch configuration - for most users the 3.33 GHz processor will not show enough speed improvement to justify the extra cost. For the 27-inch systems, ISC strongly suggests the Core i5 or Core i7 processors - over the life of these systems the extra performance will be worth the additional cost.
2. It is important to note that the standard keyboard for an iMac is now the compact Apple Wireless Keyboard, which does not include a numeric keypad. Providers configuring to order from the University's Apple pages can choose the wired Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad or the wired Apple Keyboard at no additional charge.
3. The default mouse has also been changed - it's now Apple's multi-touch wireless Magic Mouse. Providers configuring to order from the University's Apple pages can choose the wired Mighty Mouse (now renamed the Apple Mouse) at no additional charge.
4. These iMacs require Apple's Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard operating system, which is not compatible with all Mac OS applications in use at the University. For more information, see the Mac OS 10.6 Snow Leopard for Providers page.
5. Though Apple has not made it part of the default configuration for the iMac, ISC believes that AppleCare should be considered by Schools and Centers ordering desktop systems.

See ISC's Performance PC Buyer's Guide for more configuration hints. As of October 2009, configuring an iMac to the Performance PC specification can be done for approximately $1,150 (the previous-generation 20-inch iMac and the Mac mini are the best choices for a Mac OS-based Value Desktop). The University's Computer Connection has four new iMac configurations available for order.

Analysis

ISC sees the updated iMac as being a solid choice among desktop systems available in late 2009 and the iMac will continue to serve as the Apple component in the University's Desktop Recommendations. Continuing improvements in the standard specifications once again have dropped the barrier to entry for appropriately configured models.

ISC will follow up with a full review of the iMac as soon as testing has been completed.

iMac graphic courtesy of Apple

--John Mulhern III, Lead for Client Technologies, ISC Technology Support Services (October 20, 2009)