Apple's power play in the all-in-one computer market is right on target.
Written: Dec 05 '06 (Updated Dec 05 '06)
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Pros: Big, bright, crisp screen, powerful processor and 256-MB graphics card, thin and attractive case design.
Cons: Expensive for a system with no upgrade potential, RAM slots both used at purchase.
The Bottom Line: Users looking for a very powerful media-system that looks stylish yet simple, your computer is in stock. Those wishing to tinker or upgrade might look to a MacPro tower instead.
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| openroad's Full Review: Apple iMac (Z0DD24IN233GHZ) Mac Desktop |
Apple 24" iMac Intel Duo Core
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT 256MB SDRAM (Add $125)
Processor: 2.33 GHz Intel Core Duo (Add $250
Hard Disk: 250GB Serial ATA drive
Memory: 1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM - 2x512MB
MSRP: $2374.00
----- Introduction -----
In the average home there's now more uses for a computer than ever before and the number of tasks is only increasing as time passes. No longer is a computer simply a word processor, financial organizer, and online browser for Mom and Dad while doing double duty as a"game machine" for the kids. Home computers now act as media hubs for photos and music, digital video editing and storage, and graphical workstations for at home businesses or personal use.
Apple's iMacs started out as affordable and portable systems for entry level users and students. The handy handle built into the housing made it clear this computer was quasi-portable and designed for a mobile user. In the last two generations the iMac has slowly merged the powerful graphics cards and larger, more robust processors to close the gap between iMacs and Mac Pro tower systems. This is most noticeable in the latest generation of iMacs with the new Intel Core 2 Dual line of processors. With the most powerful models you can almost reach the same graphics crunching numbers as the larger Apple tower systems.
There's an group of computer users (and their numbers are growing) that want a clean looking computer with a large, clear, and crisp display yet also want the processor power to engage in all manner of media management. I'm one of those users and the very happy owner of the iMac Intel Core Duo 20". My system has done everything I've asked and has run very smoothly for the past 9 months, no crashes and no hardware problems. However, the onward march of computer technology never slows and the latest iMac is bigger and better than ever.
----- Setting up the Big Dog -----
The first impression I had after looking at this 24" beauty on the table was how incredibly large it is. This unit is by no means compact and is the same size as Apple's mid-size 23" HD Cinema Display, so much for the iMac's portability. My 20" model is already large on most desktops, the 24" model adds 3" in width (22.6"), 2" in height (20.6"), and almost 3 lbs in weight at a hefty 24.7 lbs. While the computer's size looks imposing it's balanced perfectly and tilts with the light press of a finger. One dimension that's stayed rather small is the depth which at 8.1" is very slim for a computer of this size.
As with the 17" and 20" models you get a very simple and no-nonsense setup with the included Apple keyboard and mouse. Plug in your USB cables, pop in the power cord (making sure to thread it through the handy hole in the stand), and push the power button... that's it! Once you startup your system you'll be able to set you user settings and any passwords you want to add. The AWESOME system transfer utility allows you to move ALL your settings, users, photos, music, programs, and anything else you had lying around from your old Apple to your new system. Once the transfer is done your destop and dock will look exactly like they did on your old system, no sweat!
----- Under the hood, look at all the chips! (It's got salsa too!) -----
The 24" iMac is available with either 2.16GHz or 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors inside, stepping up to the 2.33 will set you back an additional $250 over the base system. While the 2.16GHz is a slight numerical upgrade over the 2.0 Dual Core released earlier this year, it's actual benchmark test numbers (thanks to MacWorld) show an increase of nearly 17% across the board. When equipped with the 2.33GHz the 24" model slighly beats the more powerful dual-processor 2.0GHz Mac Pro in several tests (again thanks to MacWorld). Essentially the 2.33 is a slight improvement over the 2.16, however you can't upgrade the processor in the future so you'll have to make sure you won't regret going for the smaller chip.
For everyday use you'll notice the power increase mostly when running graphic intensive games such as Unreal Tournament or World of Warcraft or apps like iMovie and iWeb. When adding photos or music to your project in iMovie the more powerful processor speeds the process up by 25% in my estimation, leaving more time to work on your project.
As with the 20" iMac I strongly recommend going with the upgraded video card at time of purchase. Apparently in the move to the 24" Apple decided to jump ship and leave behind the ATI Radeon chipset used on my 20" model. Gamers should rejoice at the move to Nvidea equipped iMacs since many game software developers optimize their products for Nvidea. Base graphics setup is the 128 Nvidea GeForce 7300 GT, the optional upgrade card is Nvidea's GeForce 7600 GT with 256MB of RAM. For the small $175 charge to double your graphics memory it's an easy upgrade to justify. You'll thank yourself in a couple years when your iMac will still be competitive instead of slowing down with a midlife crisis.
----- Using all the other software inside -----
If you’re a previous Apple owner you’ll know the latest software included with OS-X is excellent, if you’re new to Apple be prepared for a pleasant surprise. When a relative recently purchased a Dell laptop (against my advice I might add) I was shocked to discover how much software was preloaded onto the system from the factory. Much of it was what I’d describe as “shovelware” or third party programs with either demo or basic versions to try out. You won’t find a cluttered desktop or applications folder thanks to the OSX dock where your frequently used programs are queued up but out of the way.
The usual suite of i software is present such as iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, and iWeb. New features and options present in iTunes 7 upgrade this already great program into the best multimedia archive and organizer currently available. Along with the standard music downloads you can now purchase selected TV shows and movies from the iTunes store to your system and iPod. For an in-depth look at several very useful Apple OS features such as Expose and Spotlight see my review of the iMac 20” Intel Duo.
If you’re a gamer with a love for luscious graphics you’ve come to the right place. Many game genres are moving into fully 3D worlds where before you’d find 3D units on a 3/4 view 2D landscape. Strategy games (one of my favorite genres) such as Civilization IV and Microsoft’s Age of Empires III now require a system with real graphics power to render the next-generation high-resolution graphics. When several armies of units start appearing on the screen you won’t notice any slowdown with the Nvidea 256 MB card, I can’t vouch for the 128 MB version since I have no experience with it. Hopefully action gamers will see more Apple ports soon (Counterstrike/Halflife 2 anyone?) and should they arrive this iMac will be ready to rumble.
In the audio department there are several key upgrades for the 24” model. First of all the sound emanating from your speakers will be much louder and slightly clearer than the first generation 20” iMac. This is mostly thanks to the 24-watt amplifier built into the system and giving the 24” model twice the wattage of the 17” or 20” units. The volume increase is very welcome when watching movies or TV shows as the larger screen invites you to sit further away from the computer. The other key upgrade is the inclusion of digital output capabilities from the audio out port on the back. You can hook up your system to a quality home audio system and actually hear the clearer sound produced by a digital signal.
Speaking of ports the iMac 24” is loaded with them. Aside from the previously mentioned digital audio port you’ll find a microphone plug, 3 USB 2.0 ports, 1 Firewire port, 1 ethernet port, a DVI connector for hooking up another monitor, and a first for the iMac series, a Firewire 800 port for connecting high speed storage devices.
----- It’s not all Apple Pie, there’s a core you have to eat around. -----
There aren’t many downsides to the 24” iMac, two most obvious ones are price and upgradeability. At $2,350 the system I recommend isn’t cheap even by Apple standards. You can easily get the system under $2,000 by keeping the processor at 2.16 GHz and staying with the factory spec 128 MB Nvidea card, but I don’t think that’s the best way to go. The reason why segues right into problem number two, once you buy your iMac your only upgrade course is to buy a new iMac… no opening the case and popping in a new v-card or more powerful processor.
If you really want to save the $350 you’ll still have an excellent computer that tops the iMac Intel Duo 20". Thanks to the Core 2 Duo processor there’s plenty of power to crank out whatever you need, you’ll just notice your system obsolescence sooner than you would with the better components.
Another negative from a value standpoint is the factory 1 GB of RAM that comes standard on 24” models. There’s only two RAM slots and both are used up with the two 512 MB chips which equal 1 GB. When you upgrade you’ll have to toss one 512 chip just to make room for your larger chip. My 20” iMac had an open expansion slot in which I installed a 1 GB chip for a total of 1.5 GB RAM. If you plan on using iMovie, streaming video from iTunes, gaming frequently, or multitasking with several memory intensive programs I recommend ordering your 24” iMac with either 2 GB or 3 GB of ram from Apple. You’ll spend more initially but save money in the long run.
Service and Support included with all iMacs is 90 days technical support and 1 year service and repair. For $169 you can upgrade to a full 3-year tech support and service plan which covers the computer top to bottom. I've chosen to not purchase warranties on either my Powerbook laptop or my iMacs. My experience with Apple is that they are somewhat like Honda, you don't need them serviced in the first three years so why pay extra? I did however buy the AppleCare extended service for my 40 GB iPod Photo since that would be transported everywhere and had a higher chance of damage. Whether or not you buy the extended service plan is up to you, $169 isn't much for 3 years peace of mind.
----- Shopper’s bottom line: -----
Only you can decide if you need the power of a Mac Pro tower with its dual processors and upgrade potential. If you're looking for a system that fits between the smaller iMacs and Mac Pro, the 24" iMac is the perfect solution. The entry level Mac Pro tower combined with the 23" Cinema Display will set you back $3,500 without any added hardware upgrades. For true volume video and still image editing on a professional scale you'd be better off with the full-size tower Mac in the long run.
On the other hand if you're like me you're a home user with a passion for hobby photography and digital video who also has a very large music library. For us the entire iMac line is the perfect synergy of value and the right components to fulfill our current needs while still possessing a strong future. If you haven't made the switch to an Apple I suggest you stop by your closest Apple store and test-drive one for yourself. Whether the 24" model is right for you depends on your budget and available desk real estate. The 20" model has been a dream to own and I strongly recommend it as well as the little-brother 17".
Related links:
•Apple iMac Intel Duo 20"
•Apple iBook G4 12"
•Apple Powerbook G4 17"
•Apple iPod Photo 40GB
•Apple iPod 20GB
•Nikon D70 Digital SLR
•Viosport Adventure Cam 2 Kit
Thanks for reading and feel free to comment!
© Openroad 2006
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 2350.00
Operating System: Macintosh
Processor speed: over 1000
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: SuperDisk
Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
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