Product Notes: Apple iMac

July 27, 2010

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

Design and Changes

This latest generation of iMacs retains the same general enclosure that iMacs have had since the introduction of the "aluminum" iMac in August 2007, with some modifications to account for the move to 16:9 displays in October 2009.

Changes in these latest iMacs include the availability of Core i3 and i5 processors for the 21.5-inch model and the elimination of integrated graphics in favor of discrete video cards across the product line. The new discrete graphics cards are all from ATI, marking a move away from the NVIDIA integrated video and discrete graphics cards available with the previous generation of iMacs.

Missing (again) from this latest update is the availability of Blu-Ray drives. There also is 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 i3, Core i5, and Core i7 processors. Information Systems & Computing (ISC) sees the Core i5 processor as the best choice for the 21.5-inch configuration. For the 27-inch systems, ISC believes either the Core i5 or the Core i7 processors are appropriate.
2. Though a 256 GB solid state drive is available with the 27-inch iMac, ISC does not believe that this is currently an appropriate choice for many users because the cost and capacity trade-offs are too great.
3. It is important to note that the standard keyboard for an iMac continues to be 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.
4. The default mouse continues to be Apple's multi-touch wireless Magic Mouse. Providers configuring to order from the University's Apple pages can choose the wired Apple Mouse at no additional charge. Apple's newly announced Magic Trackpad is available at an additional cost.
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. For larger orders, LSPs may wish to consider 4-year AppleCare.

See ISC's Performance PC Buyer's Guide for more configuration hints. As of July 2010, configuring an iMac to the Performance PC specification can be done for approximately $1,600 (the recently updated Mac mini is the best choice for a Mac OS-based Value Desktop). The University's Computer Connection will have new iMac configurations available for order as soon as possible.

Analysis

ISC sees the updated iMac as being a solid choice among desktop systems available in mid-2010 and the iMac continues to serve as the Apple component in the University's Desktop Recommendations.

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 (July 27, 2010)