Apple launches 21.5-inch, 27-inch iMacs
updated 12:25 pm EDT, Tue October 20, 2009
iMac redesigned for 16:9, Core i7
Apple today completely revised its iMac with a new design and much faster performance. The series now switches to wider 16:9 aspect ratio, LED-backlit displays and a new look with edge-to-edge glass and a seamless aluminum body. The displays are also much denser and start at 1920x1080 (1080p) for a 21.5-inch display and an extremely sharp 2560x1440 for a new, largest-ever 27-inch model. Both now use color-accurate IPS (in-plane switching) displays versus the cheaper TN (twisted nematic) panel from the old 20-inch iMac.
The lineup also marks the first appearance of Intel's Nehalem architecture in a Mac outside of the Mac Pro and sees certain 27-inch models use Core i5 or Core i7 quad-core processors that should dramatically speed performance; the Core i7 part supports Hyperthreading and theoretically behaves like an eight-core processor under certain circumstances.
Apple's design also incorporates important design changes such as the addition of an SD card slot, four notebook-sized RAM slots that handle up to 16GB of memory, Mini DisplayPort output, and the inclusion of both a wireless keyboard and Apple's new multi-touch aware Magic Mouse.
The line starts at $1,199 for a 21.5-inch iMac with a 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB of RAM, GeForce 9400M integrated graphics, a 500GB hard drive and a DVD burner. A higher-end version of the smaller system at $1,499 adds dedicated ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics and doubles hard drive space to 1TB.
27-inch models begin at $1,699 with the same specifications as the higher-end 21.5-inch model. A $1,999 model brings a 2.66GHz Core i5 and Radeon HD 4850 video without changing other features. A build to order option exists for a 2.8GHz Core i7 processor.
The 21.5-inch model is shipping immediately from the online Apple Store, but 27-inch models won't arrive until November.
Wow...
10/20, 12:53pm (1 reply) reply
27" wide, and still not able to find room for a second hard drive? Too bad still glossy screen (not that I'd even buy an all in one desktop.)
And how come the mac mini of all things has more USB ports than the iMac?
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
impressive
10/20, 12:54pm (2 replies) reply
These are great updates. I am glad that these new iMacs come with a good amount of memory and storage and are ready to go. I work right by an Apple Store and am going to check them out lunch :)
Climb AZ
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Joined: Aug 2009
cracking the piggy bank!
10/20, 12:55pm (1 reply) reply
I'm not sure if I should crack the piggy bank or put the piggy bank on crack because a fully pimped iMac can now run over $4000 plus sales taxes. Who on earth would pay that kind of money? As always Apple are charging double the market price for additional RAM to it's a quick shufty over to macsales or somebody for realistic prices!
Feathers
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 1999
'ere we go again
10/20, 12:57pm (1 reply) reply
Let me be the first foreigner with a "$999 + 17.5% tax equals £715 not £799" whinge!
miawj
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Joined: Mar 2005
Re: 'ere we go again
10/20, 01:02pm (1 reply) reply
Hey, it could be worse. You could be in Israel and pay twice US prices!
And I'm sure you're not taking some costs or taxes in order. Apple isn't about trying to s**** over it's foreign customers.
testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001
nice
10/20, 01:05pm (1 reply) reply
Great price, the performance should be out of this world with the 2.8 i7... 2TB, 16gb ram...wow. Makes the Mac Pro look a little week sauce. To bad mercans are now too poor to afford it!
mbpcedric
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Joined: Oct 2007
Correct slang
10/20, 01:16pm (3 replies) reply
The pejorative applied to our friends in the New World is "Merkin" and not "Mercan". The word dates back to the days of Shakespeare and is worth looking up for the laugh and a warning that it's not exactly pleasant and therefore quite an insult. I'm guessing also that mbpcedric hasn't worked out how much all that pimping the iMac would cost.
Feathers
Forum Regular
Joined: Oct 1999
comment title
10/20, 01:21pm reply
Why no matte screens? We've waited for years for Apple to listen to us. We need more petition comments at http://macmatte.wordpress.com - so far there are close to 600 comments. We need to get into the 1000's before Apple will listen.
JS2008
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Joined: Nov 2008
comment title
10/20, 01:22pm reply
Why no matte screens? We've waited for years for Apple to listen to us. We need more petition comments at http://macmatte.wordpress.com - so far there are close to 600 comments. We need to get into the 1000's before Apple will listen.
JS2008
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Joined: Nov 2008
Who's we?
10/20, 01:25pm reply
" We've waited for years for Apple to listen to us."
You and Testudo apparently.
lkrupp
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Joined: May 2001