Review: 24-Inch iMac Core 2 Duo
Posted by Sean Fallon on September 24, 2006
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Does the new 24-inch iMac deliver more than just an impressive display?
Reviews:
PCMag: (4.5 out of 5) “If you need a high-powered all-in-one PC or replacement desktop, look no further than the new 24-inch Apple iMac. With Boot Camp, it will run Windows XP (and, we hope, Vista in the future), and as I expected, it’s a powerhouse running Mac OS X. Once Adobe comes out with PhotoShop/Creative Suite 3 and updates its other Intel-native apps, the iMac will be powerful enough to run a graphics arts business out of your home. As is, it matches or even beats older Power Mac towers for power.”
CNET: (7.6 out of 10) “Other vendors might offer more flexible configurations and better deals on components, and the specter of HD video looms darkly, but the 24-inch iMac’s sprawling display and convincingly capable features should set most people’s minds at ease. We highly recommend this new iMac as a PC that doubles as a secondary home-entertainment system.”
Macworld: (4.5 out of 10)“Since it scores basically the same as the 20-inch iMac, the $500 difference gives you a larger and brighter display, a FireWire 800 port, and a better graphics system. Compared to the Mac Pro, you gain a built-in display and a degree of portability, but you sacrifice the Mac Pro’s quad processing and significant internal expansion options. If you’re looking for the ultimate iMac with a taste of the pro-level features the Mac Pro provides, you’ll find the 24-inch iMac to be the perfect middle ground.”
Click “continue reading” for product information and bottom line.
Product Information:
- 24-inch widescreen LCD display
- 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
- 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 3GB
- 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
- PCI Express-based NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT with 128MB GDDR3 memory
- Built-in iSight video camera
- Built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
- 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
- Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately)
- Built-in stereo speakers and microphone
- Infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard
Price: $1999
Bottom Line: The 24-inch iMac lives up to the quality standards we have come to expect from Apple. It makes for the perfect bridge between the iMacs and the Mac Pros. The only real con to the system is it’s lack of upgrade options.
By the way, if this is your first Intel Mac, consider running Parallels instead of Boot Camp. It is one of the best pieces of software I have ever used.
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