Apple's latest redesign of the iMac has certainly garnered a fair share of attention, but is the machine under the hood any good?
Out with the teardrop, in with the dome. Apple's latest reinvention of the iMac houses the computer in a 27-centimeter-diameter white hemisphere and tops its north pole with a thick, stainless-steel, articulating arm supporting a crisp, 15-inch LCD. Its combination of striking design, ease of use, and decent performance adds up to another quality consumer system from Apple.
The new family
Apple offers the iMac in three configurations, all run by a PowerPC G4 CPU and an Nvidia GeForce2 MX graphics chip. The AU$2,995 entry-level model has a 700MHz processor, 128MB of RAM, a 40GB hard drive, and a CD-RW drive. The AU$3,495 midrange version bumps the memory up to 256MB, adds a set of Apple Pro Speakers, and replaces the CD-RW drive with a DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo drive. We tested the snazzy AU$4,195 top-of-the-line unit, which ups the G4 CPU speed to 800MHz, increases the hard drive to 60GB, and incorporates the SuperDrive, a Pioneer DVD-R/CD-RW drive.
Given the new specs, the iMac's performance held no surprises. On most of our tests, the 800MHz G4 processor outscored a 700MHz G3 by about 30 percent to 40 percent and lagged behind a dual-procesor 800MHz Power Mac by a broader range of 10 percent to 40 percent.
Ah-inspiring design
Overall, the new design is unusual but mostly practical. The arm that holds the display is impressively flexible and strong. With it, you can turn the display 180 degrees, tilt it 35 degrees, and raise or lower it 17 centimetres each way. Moving the arm requires very little pressure, but it stays put where you leave it. You can also lift the 9.9Kg iMac by its display arm. As with the older iMac, internal expansion is limited. You can add a single RAM module and an AirPort card in minutes by removing the bottom cover, but that's about it. The older model iMac managed this via a slot on the back of the unit, but the methodology for the new iMac is decidedly clumsy. You have to turn the unit on its side and rest the LCD display on a soft surface, such as a towel. Replacing the original factory RAM module requires dealer service. The new iMac doesn't skimp on external expansion ports, though. These include three USB and two FireWire connectors, modem and Ethernet ports, and jacks for headphones and the Apple Pro speakers; however, there is no mike jack. For sound input, you have to use the iMac's internal mike or get a USB-based adapter.
We have only a few complaints. The left, rear-mounted power switch is awkwardly positioned; we kept missing it whenever we wanted to turn on the unit. However, most consumers will probably leave the unit in low-powered Sleep mode when it's not in use. In addition, as with the Power Mac line, there's no Eject button on the optical drive. To open the drive via hardware, you have to press the Eject keyboard button or hold down the mouse button for 15 seconds at start-up. And though the front looks pristine, once you've hooked up all the necessary cables, the back of the system will start to look like Medusa. Also, you should probably opt for a model that includes the Pro speakers; the internal speaker sounds quite tinny and generally music-unfriendly.
Primed for action
Apple gives you plenty to do right out of the box. The iMac's software package is fairly comprehensive, featuring the AppleWorks office suite and Apple's multimedia applications, such as iDVD, iMovie, iPhoto, and iTunes. You also get World Book Mac OS X Edition; a small number of games; and a set of Internet software that includes Apple's Mail and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Typical of Apple computers, a simple setup assistant gets you up and running in minutes, after which your best resources for guidance are the help menus. The supplied 38-page user guide is well written and illustrated but strictly bare bones. As usual, Apple's warranty is fairly limited: just one year for parts and service and a mere 30 days of toll-free technical support. Apple's Web site, however, is packed with information to help you get over the rough spots, including FAQs, a knowledge base, technical notes, and an active message board. An AU$249 AppleCare warranty extension buys you an additional three years of parts, service, and phone support.
The new iMac satisfies the needs of home, student, and small-business users alike with its easy setup and good performance, not to mention its space- and energy-saving flat-panel display. And the computer's striking appearance makes it one desktop you'd probably be glad to have on your desk. For the price, Apple delivers a capable basic computer with a ton of extra style points.
Apple iMac
Company: Apple
Price: AU$4,195
Distributor: Apple
Phone: 133 622
4%
4%
