Apple iMac (4th gen)
31 AUG 2007
Launch price
£800.00
Stuff says
It may not be revolutionary, but the new iMac has breathed new life into the best line of all-in-one computers on earth
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Upon meeting the new iMac, one thing is clear: Apple’s design team has triumphed once again. The fourth generation isn’t a radically different design from its predecessor – and not a huge technological leap forward – but we challenge you not to be smitten after a face-to-screen meeting.
Available with either a stunning 20in or 24in widescreen display and encased in a drop-dead lush aluminium enclosure, the iMac is an A-list celebrity through and through. It also benefits from a £200 price cut. But is this enough for iMac aficionados, and indeed PC owners, to shell out for another all-in-one desktop?
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It’s certainly not a huge leap forward technically. The entire new iMac line features the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors (up to 2.8GHz), a new ultra-thin aluminium Apple Keyboard (wireless keyboard is optional), and a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing and mucking about.
Other need-to-know specifications include up to 4GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory and a choice of ATI graphics cards (128 or 256MB dedicated memory). This means that the heart of the iMac is, in fact, largely unchanged, and there’s been no introduction of an iPhone-style touch-and-gesture interface to go with the looks. But it’s easily speedy enough for doing everything bar hardcore gaming.
Blinded by the screen
Are any major problems? Well, the new ultra-thin keyboard might look fabulous, but it’s not ideal for those who use their computer to pound out novels or prolific bloggers. And the highly reflective screen is gorgeous to look at – unless you happen to be sitting by a window.