Images
No one wants to design desktop towers any more, but they've still failed to match Apple's aesthetic for all-in-ones. Rivals like the EeeTouch, Acer Aspire Z5610, Sony Vaio L or Lenovo's IdeaCentre are technically worthy, but design-wise they just don't compare.
The iMac is an astoundingly beautiful computer, all shiny unibody aluminium and unblemished sight lines. And with the latest revision to the 27in model, what's behind that attractive facade is quite likeable too.
Good value
The iMac isn't the cheapest or most powerful all-in-one available, but it's not bad value for money.
The model we reviewed came with Intel's entry-level Core i3 CPU. Even though it runs at 3.2GHz, it's hard to accept that this dual-core chip, coupled with a paltry Radeon HD 5670 graphics processor, is worthy of such a superior machine.
The two cope well surprisingly well, though, easily running Blizzard's World of Warcraft and Starcraft II at maximum detail settings in the native resolution of the 27in screen. If you're editing a lot of HD video you'll want to go for the pricier quad-core option, but for most desktop work you wouldn't notice the difference.
Which brings us onto the value-for-money part: Sony's Vaio L may come with a quad-core CPU for less, but the size and quality of the iMac's IPS display is worth a good percentage of the asking price. Dell's equivalent monitor, for example, currently sells at nearly £900 by itself.
Problematic panels dogged previous 27in models, with several software fixes released to cure green tinges in the LED-backlit screen. Apple says that those problems have been fully cured – and the colours in the panel we tried out are amazingly accurate, leaving other all-in-ones looking wan and washed out.
Magic of multitouch
The one thing that is commonplace in Windows all-in-ones but hasn't reached the iMac yet is a multitouch screen.
Instead, there's the Magic Trackpad: a simple glassy slate, which acts exactly like a four-point MacBook touchpad, but is slightly raked thanks to the battery compartment at the back.
It's not as clever as a touchscreen, but is arguably more practical. It's a fun alternative to a mouse, and works well with pinch, zoom and contextual menu gestures – but it's not exactly a replacement.
In games, for example, interfaces are designed for a mouse and really need one to work, while on the desktop if you try to move a window the full length of the screen, you'll run out of trackpad about halfway through.
Review continues after the break...
Headphone hassle
The only real complaint, though, is that the stunning body of the iMac means the headphone sockets are round the back of the screen. That's a hassle if you need to get to them regularly.
Fortunately, everything else is superlative. The speakers are the best builtin ones we've heard and it runs silently, even with a disc in the drive. Even if the iMac isn’t the most powerful, it's still the all-in-one to beat.
Buzz-o-meter
Tech Specs
- Bluetooth
- Yes
- Dimensions
- 517x650x207mm
- DVI
- Yes
- Graphics card
- AMD Radeon HD5670
- HDMI
- No
- Operating system
- OSX Snow Leopard
- Processor
- Intel Core i3 3.2GHz
- RAM
- 4GB
- Screen resolution
- 2560x1440
- Screen size
- 27in
- Storage
- 1TB
- Weight
- 13.8kg
- Wi-Fi
- Yes
Comments
baxiepeede63
16 weeks ago
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lenoreuprichard35
17 weeks ago
If you think Roger`s story is impressive..., 3 weeks ago my doughter got a cheque for $5823 working seventeen hours a week from their apartment and their roomate's aunt`s neighbour has been doing this for four months and made over $5823 part time On there computer. use the guidelines available here... =============bit90.com=============
lenoreuprichard35
17 weeks ago
my roomate's aunt makes $68/hr on the laptop. She has been without work for nine months but last month her income was $13477 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Read more on this site =============bit90.com=============
lisabetty385
18 weeks ago
Zachary. if you think Jesse`s comment is impressive... last week I bought themselves a Mini Cooper since I been earnin $5965 this past five weeks and-a little over, ten grand this past-month. this is certainly the easiest job I've ever done. I started this 4 months ago and immediately began to bring in more than $83... p/h. I follow instructions here,, http://www.bit90.com
wak124
22 weeks ago
My mothers neighbour is working part time and averaging $9000 a month. I'm a single mum and just got my first paycheck for $6546! I still can't believe it. I tried it out cause I got really desperate and now I couldn't be happier. Here is site where I do, ask22.com
meggilord
22 weeks ago
as Josephine answered I'm shocked that anyone able to earn $8263 in one month on the computer. have you read this site link. WWW.ASK22.COM
wmike1503
44 weeks ago
Opinionsman - Really, save your money. Shiney, overrated - not reliable. Certainly no better than Microsft PCs. See my earlier comments.
wmike1503
44 weeks ago
Update
My first experience with Apple has been poor. My 18 month old, top of the range iMac 27" has caused me nothing but repeated difficulties. Too many problems to document here. Culminating in total HD failure. Apple could not be less interested.
So, £1600 lighter in the wallet, I am forced back to Microsoft. I would advise people to think very carefully before wasting their money on Apple.
Full story here - http://www.thematerconsultancy.com/apple-computers-customer-care-a-lesson/
doibi
1 year ago
wow.. this is an awesome review and thanks for that at least I know now. video to Flash converter / hulu to ipad / ipad 3 converter
racking
1 year ago
1. The post of racking is cold rolled steel with double hole punch in post. The pitch is 50mm. The hole is to connect beam with post.
2. Normally us “P” profile beam, what’s is also called step beam. The height of step is the same with the height of shelf.
3. Steel shelf is cold rolled steel with four sides bending.
4. Upright frame join together to be frame. Put shelf on the beam. Then the whole medium racking system is finished.
racking and shelving
optionsman
1 year ago
I would definitely want one, are mad about Apple, but I can not close them, are too expensive for me, but maybe in a distant future I will have one. respect and all the best.
NigelD
2 years ago
Fantastic piece of kit - get one!
wmike1503
2 years ago
Clearly one of the lucky ones :)
wmike1503
2 years ago
A long time Windows user - got fed up with the unreliability of Windows machines.
Convinced by my son (used to work at Stuff) that the Mac was the bees knees.
Everyone tells me how wonderful the Apple world is. Well, frankly, it's been turning me green.
My iMac regularly locks up - various apps are guilty of this, particularly Safari - other browsers run badly on this machine also.
Purchased from Amazon - very reluctant to replace it. Currently in a battle with them.
My view, so far, with the wonderful World of Apple. No better than Microsoft / PC in my short experience.
I'm sure, all of the Apple lovers out they will cry foul.
I can only report what I have in front of me. That is a machine that is nice when it works - but is proving no more reliable than a Windows PC .
My 3 months of Apple have left me with a sour taste in my mouth.
A final point - I am amazed that Apple have seen fit to disallow the searching of NAS in Mac OS X - I am not a power user, but I do expect the much vaunted Spotlight to be capable of searching ALL of my drives - this, in my view, is a fundamental requirement of any OS.
mitchscottrosen
2 years ago
To call the i3 iMac underpowered is wrong. Especially as the reviewer goes on to say "The [CPU and graphics processor] cope surprisingly well, though, EASILY running Blizzard's World of Warcraft and Starcraft II at maximum detail settings in the native resolution of the 27in screen". This statement suggests that the iMac is MORE than adequately powered. The correct amount of power one might say. The reviewer goes on to say "If you're editing a lot of HD video you'll want to go for the pricier quad-core option, but for most desktop work you WOULDN'T NOTICE THE DIFFERENCE". This further contradicts his own point. For the majority of users, who will no doubt do little more than word processing, browsing and possibly some gaming, the iMac perfectly caters to their needs. After-all...this is the base model (at this resolution). The reviewer appears to state that the iMac is underpowered when compare to the Sony Vaio L, but the Vaio DOES NOT come with a quad-core as standard (the standard version is lower powered than the Mac). The Vaio L may still be cheaper than the base Mac when the quad-core is added, but the reviewer has told us how much better the Mac is in build quality, design and screen resolution AND screen quality! Well there you go, thats the difference in price explained! The reviewer refuted his own claim and made a stronger case in favour of the iMac having the perfect amount of power. This being the case, and the Mac being superior in every other way then it seems an unfair and unfounded criticism to place upon it (especially as the quad-core does not come as standard on the Vaio L). What a wonderful machine the iMac is, beautiful in design, superlative functionality. The epitome of computing excellent. Unless you’re a hardcore gamer, who live without Windows, get the Mac...get a Mac. (Or get a Mac and run Windows on it - but only for gaming!)