Photo gallery: Apple iMac 24-inch (2009)You may find Apple's new AU$2,499 iMac attractive, if only because it's one of the most affordable 24-inch all-in-one PCs on the market. Otherwise, Apple's latest update to the iMac line mostly serves to keep it competitive with its Windows-based competition. As usual, you get more flexibility for your money by way of a traditional desktop and monitor combination at the same price. You can also find a few all-in-ones from the Windows world with functionality the iMac can't match. Overall though, we find that Apple's formula for this product line still works, and we'd recommend the iMac to anyone in need of a fast, feature-rich all-in-one.
The most significant change to the AU$2,499 iMac is its 24-inch display. In addition to providing more desktop real estate, the screen can also scale up to its native resolution of 1920x1080, better known in home entertainment parlance as 1080p. Apple has not added a Blu-ray drive to the iMac, so you cannot take advantage of its HD resolution that way (Apple CEO Steve Jobs famously referred to Blu-ray as "a bag of hurt"). Still, it opens the door for watching and editing other HD video content at its proper resolution.
Cosmetically, little else has changed with the iMac. Its industrial design remains the best in the PC industry, with no excessive branding, case detail or other visual distractions. Indeed, the only changes to the outside of the case come to the row of ports on the back of the iMac. Apple added an additional USB 2.0 port, and also replaced the Mini DVI output with a Mini DisplayPort jack.
Apple added an extra USB port and a Mini DisplayPort to the back of its new iMacs. (Credit: Apple)
Apple is currently the only vendor selling Mini DisplayPort hardware, both on its new iMacs and Mac Minis and Mac Pro desktops, as well as on its new LED Cinema Display. As you might imagine, you can connect the desktops to the Cinema Displays via a Mini DisplayPort cable. You can also purchase an adapter for either VGA (AU$49), single-link DVI (AU$49) or dual-link DVI (AU$149) outputs if you want to connect an older monitor. Thankfully VESA, the computer display standard body, has plans to incorporate Mini DisplayPort into its future specifications, so we don't anticipate that it will be unique to Apple for long. Still, anyone with an existing DVI-based 30-inch will likely cringe at having to pay an additional AU$149 for the necessary dual-link adapter.
Although the outside of the iMac received relatively few changes, Apple gave the internal hardware a fairly extensive overhaul. The 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo is actually the same as in the previous AU$2,499 iMac, but the default hard drive, graphics chip and memory have all been upgraded. With 4GB of RAM and a 640GB hard drive, especially, the iMac's specs are now more or less in line with Windows-based all-in-ones in the same price range.
You would be right to raise a concern, though, that while the iMac's core features have improved, Apple hasn't evolved the iMac to match other all-in-ones, particularly Sony's 24-inch Vaio LV line. Those living-room-orientated systems are wall-mountable and have a dedicated button that lets you switch between the desktop and an HDMI video input signal (perfect for connecting a game console or an HD camcorder). The iMac also has no touchscreen, as with HP's TouchSmart series; we've already mentioned Apple's feelings towards Blu-ray; and even the highest end of the new iMacs lack a quad-core CPU option.
As useful as we find some of those features on other all-in-ones, the new iMac is also most definitely a computer first, as opposed to a walk-up household kiosk, like HP's TouchSmarts, or a dedicated digital entertainment system, like Sony's Vaio LV series. With the iTunes ecosystem of connected and networked devices, the iMac can certainly serve up digital media as well, but it's perhaps indicative of Apple's vision for the iMac's role in your home or office that Apple hasn't implemented any features that might significantly alter the way you actually use an iMac.
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We won't make too much of the fact that the iMac falls behind the more expensive Sony all-in-one and an AU$2,000 or so Windows desktops on some of our tests. We say this because the iMac's performance is acceptable all-around, and also because it dusted its competition on 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. Dollar-for-dollar, the iMac is among the best complete PCs (meaning the system and the display) for the way most people actually work from day to day.
In addition to its multitasking capability, one of the hallmarks of the new iMac is an improved integrated GeForce 9400M graphics chip from Nvidia. Apple actually made a bigger fuss about this chip in the Mac Mini, which is now finally a semi-capable gaming system. For the iMac, we got it to run Quake 4 at 1920x1080 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.
Among the few other changes to the iMac, Apple has also 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 AU$1,700 (an amazing rip-off), a 1TB hard drive for a more reasonable AU$180 extra, and wireless versions of the mouse (AU$30), and the keyboard (AU$40). Sadly, the once standard Apple Remote will also cost you an extra AU$29.
Otherwise, most of the iMac's core capabilities 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 around back. Bluetooth and 802.11n wireless networking still come standard. Apple's iLife 09 digital media suite also comes in the box, and that remains a distinct advantage for Apple, as many Windows desktops come with few software extras.
Apple's service and support policies remain one of its disadvantages, however. The one-year parts and labour policy fits in line with the rest of the industry. The 90-day phone support limit, as always, is subpar. At least Apple's online support site is far ranging and comprehensive, and the active user forums may very well be able to solve any of your problems. You can also purchase various support upgrades, including extended phone support, and assuming you live near one, you can always drag your system into one of Apple's stores.
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