Among a few other changes to the iMac, Apple has truncated the default wired keyboard by lopping off the right-hand number pad. If you truly want to minimise the iMac's desktop footprint, we can see how this option might have some appeal. Thankfully, you can configure the old, pad-equipped model for no extra charge.
That's also one of the few hardware customisations you can make to the iMac. Apple offers an upgrade to 8GB of RAM for an extra £800 (a fantastic rip-off), a 1TB hard drive for a more reasonable £80 extra, and wireless versions of the mouse (£14) and keyboard (£20). Sadly, the once-standard Apple Remote will also cost you an extra £15.
Otherwise, most of the iMac's core features are intact. You still get a webcam along the top edge, a slot-loading DVD burner on the right side of the case, and FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, and audio output and input jacks next to the new ports mentioned earlier. 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth still come as standard. Apple's iLife '09 digital media suite also comes in the box, and that remains a distinct advantage, as many Windows desktops come with few software extras.
Performance
We won't make too much of the fact that the iMac falls behind the more expensive Sony all-in-one and a few cheaper Windows desktops on some of our tests. That's because the iMac's performance is acceptable overall, and also because it thrashed its competition in our multitasking test. The older iMacs impressed us on that test, and, by outpacing two systems with Intel's quad-core flagship Core i7 CPUs, this new dual-core iMac sets itself apart as well. For the price, the iMac is among the best all-in-one PCs for the way most people actually work on a day-to-day basis.
In addition to its multitasking capability, one of the hallmarks of the new iMac is an improved, integrated Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics chip. We got the iMac to run Quake 4 at a 1,920x1,080-pixel resolution with all of the detail settings turned on, including 4x anti-aliasing. The results weren't 100 per cent smooth, but it was certainly playable. You can expect to sacrifice image quality on more recent games like Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Rendering multiple CPUs | |
Rendering single CPU |
Conclusion
The updated 24-inch Apple iMac is affordable and offers good overall performance. If you're after a straightforward desktop computer from your all-in-one, it's definitely worth checking out.
Additional editing by Charles Kloet
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lacko 16 July 2009
Good: performance,quality and excellent design
Bad: nothing yet
Comment: My personel opinion is that i had Sony VAIO laptop before and i used it only 2,5 year.Why?Reason is it broked and can't be fixed.So only 2.5 year hold it Laptops from Sony and plus so many problems with a windows OS.So I decide to go for iMac 20'' and my answer is that best decision what ever made.First 2 days was a bit confusing but then was it very easy to use it.Incredible fast performance compare to laptop MAC OS X is the best operating system.You get other softwers include like iPhoto or iVideo and otehr many apss.Not like windows many times freeze or slow.and what you get in windows?Some crap softwer what takes ages to use it.Apple offers you simple softwers to easy iuse it.If don't like windows and others manufacters go for Apple iMac.
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