Apple iMac 27-inch (3.1GHz, spring 2011)

The good: The new 27-inch iMac offers the best performance among current all-in-ones, along with the largest display, the best design, and exciting potential from its Thunderbolt ports.
The bad: We still miss built-in HDMI inputs for easy media component integration, and, as usual, custom hardware options for the iMac remain more expensive than those for its Windows-based competition.
The bottom line: We recommend Apple's new 27-inch iMac to digital media editors and others with serious performance needs on the strength of its impressive speed, its connected device potential, and its market-leading 27-inch display.

With a fast new second-generation Core i5 CPU, a high-end 3D card, and support for promising Thunderbolt high-bandwidth peripheral connection ports, the new, highest-end iMac has plenty to offer media professionals and enthusiasts in terms of performance and peripheral device flexibility. For consumers, while the iMac still claims industry bests in terms of its display and its design, this system will feel like overkill in some respects, and underfeatured in others. We don't recommend the most expensive new iMac for those looking for an OS X-based alternative to the recent crop of Windows-based all-in-ones that act as home entertainment kiosks. For serious media editors, or those looking for a vanity desktop, the $1,999 Apple iMac remains one of the fastest, most attractive systems available.
Windows all-in-one makers like Dell, HP, and Sony have improved their all-in-one designs over the last year or two, but none of them approaches the iMac for sheer visual appeal. The metal-and-glass unibody chassis, along with the expansive 27-inch display, still have no design peers roughly 18 months after their debut. We actually find it strange that you still won't find a 27-inch all-in-one from anyone other than Apple. We wonder how long that will last.

SPECIFICATIONS

General

Type Personal computer
Product Form Factor All-in-one
Built-in Devices Antenna,
Stereo speakers,
Infrared receiver
Width 25.6 in
Depth 8.1 in
Height 20.4 in
Weight 30.4 lbs
Localization English
Desktop type All-in-one desktop system , Monitor included

Processor

Type Intel Core i5 3.1 GHz
Multi-Core Technology Quad-Core
64-bit Computing Yes
Installed Qty 1
Max Supported Qty 1
Processor Main Features Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2

Cache Memory

Type L3 cache
Installed Size 6 MB
Cache Per Processor 6 MB

Environmental Parameters

Min operating temperature 50 ï¿½F
Max operating temperature 95 ï¿½F
Operating humidity range 5 - 95% (non-condensing)
Sound emission 18 dBA

RAM

Installed Size 4 GB / 16 GB (max)
Technology DDR3 SDRAM
Memory Speed 1333 MHz
Memory Specification Compliance PC3-10600
Form Factor SO DIMM 204-pin
Configuration Features 2 x 2 GB

Storage Controller

Type 1 x Serial ATA - Integrated
Controller Interface Type Serial ATA-300

Storage

Floppy Drive None
Hard Drive 1 x 1 TB - Standard - Serial ATA-300 - 7200 rpm
Hard Drive (2nd) None
Hard Drive (3rd) None

Optical Storage

Type DVDï¿½RW (ï¿½R DL)
Read Speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
Write Speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVDï¿½R) / 4x (DVDï¿½R DL)
Rewrite Speed 16x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW)

Optical Storage (2nd)

Type None

Storage Removable

Type None

Monitor

Monitor Type LCD display - TFT active matrix
Diagonal Size 27 in
Max Resolution 2560 x 1440 ( Full HD )
Widescreen Display Yes

Graphics Controller

Graphics Processor / Vendor AMD Radeon HD 6970M
Video Memory 1 GB GDDR5 SDRAM
Digital Video Standard DisplayPort

Audio Output

Type Sound card - Integrated
Sound Output Mode Stereo
Speaker(s) 2 x Right / left channel

Camera

Form Factor Integrated

Keyboard

Keyboard name Apple Wireless Keyboard
Keyboard connectivity Wireless
Keyboard interface Bluetooth
Keyboard localization and layout English - North America

Input Device

Type Mouse,
Keyboard

Mouse

Mouse connectivity Wireless
Mouse technology Laser
Mouse interface Bluetooth
Mouse features Multi-Touch

Audio Input

Type Microphone

Telecom

Modem None

Networking

Networking Network adapter - Integrated
Wireless LAN Supported Yes
Data Link Protocol Bluetooth 2.1 EDR,
IEEE 802.11a,
Fast Ethernet,
Ethernet,
Gigabit Ethernet,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11n,
IEEE 802.11g
Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11g,
Bluetooth 2.1,
IEEE 802.11n,
IEEE 802.11a,
IEEE 802.11b

Printer

Type None

Expansion / Connectivity

Expansion Slot(s) 4 (total) / 2 (free) x Memory - SO DIMM 204-pin
Interfaces 2 x Thunderbolt - Apple mini-DisplayPort,
1 x IEEE 1394b (FireWire 800) - 9 pin FireWire 800,
4 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A,
1 x Audio - SPDIF output/headphones - Mini-phone 3.5 mm / TOSLINK,
1 x Audio - SPDIF input/line-in - Mini-phone 3.5 mm / TOSLINK,
1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45,
1 x Remote control - Infrared

Miscellaneous

Cables Included Power cable ( 1 pcs.)
Features 802.11n Wireless LAN,
Bluetooth 2.1,
Camera

Power

Device Type Power supply
Power AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )

Operating System / Software

OS Provided Apple MacOS X 10.6
Software Apple iCal,
Apple QuickTime,
Apple iTunes,
Apple Dashboard,
Apple Spotlight,
Apple XCode Developer Tools,
Apple Address Book,
Apple Safari,
Apple DVD Player,
Apple iLife,
Apple Time Machine,
Apple Quick Look,
Apple Spaces,
Photo Booth,
Front Row,
Apple Mac OS X Mail,
Apple iChat

Manufacturer Warranty

Service & Support 1 year warranty
Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year,
Technical support - Phone consulting - 90 days

Card Reader

Card reader Card reader
Supported flash memory cards SD Memory Card,
SDXC Memory Card,
SDHC Memory Card

Sustainability

ENERGY STAR Qualified Yes

Technology News Updates

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Sunday, 29 May 2011