2006 iMacs Reviews & Information
Apple updated the iMac in September 2006 with new 64 bit 1.83GHz, 2GHz, and 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo 2 processors. Configure-to-order options include a $250 option to upgrade your iMac with a 2.33GHz CPU. Apple also introduced a $1999 24-inch iMac with a 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo processor. The 24" iMac offers 30% more viewing area than the 20" iMac with 1920x1200 resolution. Apple lowered prices on 17" and 20" models, with the 17" iMac now starting at only $999. The current iMacs are the fifth distinct family and fourth form factor to bear the iMac banner, and keeping with tradition are also the Mac value-leaders, with the 17" model starting at $999 (there is also an education model available for $899 to education customers only).
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iMac Model Chart:
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iMac Core 2 Duo
by Charles W. Moore
The current Intel Core 2 Duo powered iMacs are the second generation MacIntel, fifth distinct family and fourth form factor to bear the iMac banner, beginning with the original Bondi Blue 233 MHz G3 iMac in 1998, through a second generation of "teardrop" G3 iMacs, the extremely stylish G4 iMacs with a flatscreen display mounted on an articulated gooseneck arm, the comparatively minimalist G5 iMac, and the original Intel Core Duo iMac which carried over the G5 iMac form factor.
Aside from the faster, cooler-running, 64 bit, Core 2 Duo CPUs, the big news with the August, 2006 iMacs was the new 24" model, albeit with a suck-in-your-breath price tag of $1,999. However, not long ago, 24" inch displays were the astronomically expensive and exclusive domain of high-end graphics and video professionals. Now you can get one on a "consumer" Mac.
The iMac lineup includes four models: 1.83 GHz and 2.0 GHz 17-inchers, a 2.16 GHz 20-incher and the top-of-the-line 2.16 GHz 24-inch iMac.
The 24-inch iMac, which Apple pitches to both consumers and professionals, boasts a 1920-by-1200 pixel resolution that offers 30 percent more screen real estate than the 20-inch iMac and is brighter to boot. The 24-incher also sports a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB of shared L2 cache (double the previous Core Duo model's configuration), 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory, a 250GB Serial ATA hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics with 128MB of GDDR3 memory, a DVD-burning SuperDrive, and 24-watt digitally amplified speakers. You can also order your 24-inch iMac with a 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 3GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory, a up to a 750GB Serial ATA hard drive and the NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT graphics processor unit (GPU) with 256MB of GDDR3 video RAM.
At the other end of the scale, the 17" entry-level model has a friendly price of $999.00, but its video performance is hobbled by Intel's kludgy Graphics Media Accelerator 950 video technology that annexes up to 80 MB of the computer's system RAM for video support. This cost-reducing scheme, disparagingly referred to by some as "vampire video," results in comparatively sluggish video, especially if you're interested in gaming on the iMac. Our advice: if you can possibly scrape up an extra $200.00, definitely go with the 2.0 GHz 17" model, which has a real ATI Radeon X1600 GPU with 128MB of dedicated GDDR3 video RAM, plus twice the standard RAM and an 8x SuperDrive instead of a Combo drive. The extra $200.00 in value is easily there and more.
The middle, 20-inch iMac is arguably the best compromise of all between screen size, performance and price, selling for a middle-of-the-road $1,499.00, and featuring a 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, and a 260 GB hard drive.
All four iMac models come with a built-in iSight video camera, built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, built-in AirPort Extreme, a total of five USB ports (three USB 2.0) and two FireWire ports (including one FireWire 800 port on the 24-inch model).
The iMac range also comes bundled with Apple's iLife 06 digital lifestyle application suite featuring iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand and iWeb, and the current version of Mac OS X 10.4.
If you're in the market for a desktop Mac and on a budget, you can't beat the iMac for value. While the Mac mini has a lower sticker price, you don't get a whole lot with it - just last year's Core Duo CPU, no keyboard, no mouse, no display, a generally inferior architecture. The 1.66 GHz dual core Mac mini starts at $599, but Apple's wired Keyboard & Mighty Mouse Kit is $78. Apple's cheapest 20 Cinema Display sells for a whopping $699, but you can get a plain vanilla 17 flat panel display from Philips, Sony, Dell, or Acer for around $200 which would bring you up up to just $877 - or $122 less than the base $999 1.83 GHz iMac, which comes with a really nice built-in 17" display, has a 160 GB 3.5" desktop hard drive and a 24x Combo drive. It's not hard to divine where the value lies in this saw-off. The amount of standard bells and whistles and bundled software, plus a built-in widescreen display make the iMac, whichever model you choose, and awesome deal. The biggest knock against the iMac is its limited expandability, but an awful lot of Mac users never upgrade from the hardware configuration that their computer ships with, and if they do, it's usually RAM, for which the iMac has ample headroom for most of us.
iMac At A Glance
The iMac, with a suggested retail price of $999 to $1.999, includes:
1.83 GHz - 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors;
A 17-, 20-, or 24-inch widescreen flat-panel display with 16:10 ratio
512 MB - 1GB of memory expandable up to 3GB;
Intel GMA 950, ATI Radeon X1600, NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT, or NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT graphics support
160 - 750 GB Serial ATA hard drives running at 7200 rpm
Combo Drive or 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support
Three USB 2.0 ports and two FireWire 400 ports (one FireWire 800 port on the 24" model)
mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);
built-in stereo speakers and microphone (24-watt digitally amplified speakers on the 24" model)
Ships with Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.
In addition to the four base configurations, build-to-order options and accessories include: a 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 3GB DDR2 SDRAM, NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT with 256MB GDDR3 video memory and a 750GB Serial ATA hard drive on the 24-inch iMac; a 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 3GB DDR2 SDRAM, 256MB GGDR3 video memory and a 500GB Serial ATA hard drive on the 20-inch iMac; a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 3GB DDR2 SRDAM and a 500GB Serial ATA hard drive on the 2.0 GHz 17-inch iMac; and up to 2GB of DDR2 SDRAM, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and Apple Remote on the 1.83 GHz 17-inch iMac. Additional build-to-order options also include: pre-installed copies of iWork 06, Logic Express, Final Cut Express and Aperture; AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme Base Station; Apple Wireless Keyboard and wireless Mighty Mouse; Apple USB Modem; and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
http://www.apple.com/imac/
iMac photos:
http://www.apple.com/imac/gallery/