We’ve featured plenty of news lately about updates to laptops but here’s news for Mac-lovers who like their computers to "stay at home". Apple has unveiled an all-new iMac range featuring bigger and brighter LED-backlit 21.5 and 27-inch widescreen displays in a new edge-to-edge glass design and seamless all-aluminum enclosure. Apple says the new models are the fastest iMac’s ever, with Intel Core 2 Duo processors starting at 3.06GHz, and Core i5 and i7 quad-core processors for extra performance. What’s more, new iMacs come with a wireless keyboard and the all-new wireless Magic Mouse, the world’s first mouse with Multi-Touch technology pioneered by Apple on the iPhone.
The new iMacs feature LED-backlit displays with a 16:9 aspect ratio that makes improves the experience of watching high definition movies and TV shows from iTunes, and editing and watching your own videos or photos using iLife even easier.
The 27-inch iMac features a whopping 2560 x 1440 pixel display that provides 60 percent more pixels than the previous 24-inch model. The new 21.5-inch iMac has a high resolution 1920 x 1080 pixel display. Both the 21.5 and 27-inch displays use IPS technology to deliver consistent color across an ultra wide 178° viewing angle.
The iMac comes standard with a wireless keyboard and the impressive new Magic Mouse featuring Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch technology. No buttons, scroll wheels or scroll balls on this device because the entire top of the Magic Mouse is a seamless Multi-Touch surface that lets users navigate using familiar finger gestures. The wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse work seamlessly with the iMac’s built-in Bluetooth capabilities to provide a cable-free desktop.
Better graphics are delivered across the iMac line with NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics or ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics in the 21.5-inch model, and ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics or ATI Radeon HD 4850 discrete graphics in the 27-inch model.
Memory can be ramped up from 4GB of 1066MHz DDR3 to 16GB across four SO-DIMM slots and every iMac features a built-in iSight video camera, mic and stereo speakers integrated into the thin aluminum and glass design.
Thankfully, there’s still room in your iMac for built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, and four USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 800 port and a new built-in SD card slot.
Mini me
Apple today also announced that the Mac mini, what it claims is the world’s most energy efficient desktop, is now faster, offers more storage and comes standard with double the memory. The entry level Mac mini (US$599) is no tiny performer, boasting a host of features including a faster 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of DDR3 1066MHz memory, a 160GB hard drive, five USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics and a SuperDrive.
The US$799 Mac mini features a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of memory and a larger 320GB hard drive. And for US$999, you can purchase an Apple ‘big brother’ Mac mini that is specially configured with Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server, with 1TB of server storage (two 500GB hard drives) in the tiny 6.5-inch square by 2-inch tall Mac mini enclosure.
iMac and Mac mini meet the new Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieve EPEAT Gold status.
Every Mac comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, and iLife - Apple’s suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music.
Pricing and availability
The new 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo iMac and Mac mini lines are currently available through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The Intel Core i5 and i7 quad-core iMacs are available for order and will begin shipping this November.
Features
The new 21.5-inch 3.06GHz iMac retails for US$1,199 and includes:
- 21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display;
- 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
- 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
- 500GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
- a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
- mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
- built-in iSight video camera;
- Gigabit Ethernet port;
- four USB 2.0 ports;
- one FireWire 800 port;
- SD card slot;
- built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
- wireless Apple keyboard, Magic Mouse.
The new 21.5-inch 3.06 GHz iMac, for US$1,499 also features:
- 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache;
The new 27-inch 3.06 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of US$1,699, features:
- 27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display;
The new 27-inch 2.66 GHz Core i5 iMac, for a suggested retail price of US$1,999, also features:
- 27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display;
Build-to-order options for the 27-inch Core i5 quad-core iMac include a 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core processor.