The new iMacs

The new iMacs released as part of Apple’s desktop updates in 2009 are quite good upgrades, but it still isn’t enough.The early 2009 iMacs have been completely changed on the inside compared to previous versions. There is now one 20″ model, and three 24″ models, indicating that Apple is pushing for people to buy the 24″ and might remove the 20″ model soon. The cheapest 24″ model is also now 1499,  which shows that Apple is pushing people to buy the 24″ because of it’s new lower price.

The 20″ and 1499 24″ model come with the Nvidia Geforce 9400M, whilst the 1799 24″ model comes with the Nvidia Geforce 120GT w/ 256MB of VRAM, whilst the 2199 model comes with the Nvidia Geforce 130 GT with 512MB of vRAM. Also available as an option is the ATI Radeon HD 4870. This means that the new iMacs are now pumped with powerful graphics cards, and will play all the games or graphics work you throw at it pretty decently. And they also now come with the MiniDisplayPort, so you can connect the new 24″ LED Cinema Display.

Like the other Macs, the iMacs also use a 1066MHz FSB and DDR3 RAM. The 20″ iMac comes with 2GB of memory, whilst all the other iMacs come standard with 4GB. All the iMacs are upgradeable to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, but it’s a rather expensive upgrade even from third parties, and you most likely won’t need it.

The 20″ and 1499 24″ model come with a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, whilst the 1799 model comes with a 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 duo and then 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo. Although these are nice processor bumps, at least for the lower end models, we were really hoping for quad core processors in the iMacs. Because Snow Leopard is due for release in June, and one of it’s many features is to handle multi core functions much better, a quad core iMac would make a much bigger difference with Snow Leopard then a dual core iMac.

And of course, the 20″ still uses a terrible TN panel that has different parts of the screen brighter than the other. The new iMacs also come with the small Apple keyboard, but you can order it with the num pad if you want for no additional charge. A rare part of Apple to give an option these days, considering they have been downright ignoring everyone asking for matte or at least no glass screens on the MacBook Pro 15″.

Also, FireWire 400 has been eliminated. Apple is now promoting FireWire 800 for professionals and USB 2.0 for consumers. There’s no more middle option. Of course, you can always get a FireWire 800 to 400 adaptor, but why not just include the port so that I don’t need a million adaptors? The amount of adaptors Apple has these days is quite large. MiniDisplayport to DVI, VGA, Dual Link DVI, FW800 to 400, Mini DVI to DVI, VGA, DVI to VGA, DVI to Svideo/component, DVI to HDMI, so on and so forth. Of course some might also buy matte screen covers for their MacBook Pros, iMacs, or MacBooks, others need to buy a third party 24″ or 23″ display because the LED Cinema Display isn’t good for them and the 30″ is too big or too expensive.

And the iMacs just received a nice update, but it’s still not powerful enough. While the iMacs are still runing Intel Core 2 Duo processors, Dell’s most basic desktops have 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 duos for around 500 dollars for the computer and monitor. Of course, you can get a Core 2 Quad at around 800 bucks, and at 1000+ you can get Intel Core i7 processors. Meanwhile, the iMacs are double the price and the same or lower power. If Windows 7 comes out and is able to match Mac OS X, then Apple’s marketing plan MUST change. Because then a PC would  have an equally good operating system, and much faster hardware. If that were to happen, the iMacs must change and a desktop tower Mac must come out. If Apple continues to be stubborn and not give people different options or what they ask for, their hard won market share since the Intel transition will be lost, especially with the economy of the US as it is.

But do I recommend a new iMac? No. Wait until Mac OS X Snow Leopard comes out, and if that doesn’t give some amazing speed boosts, you should get a PC or wait until Apple finally decides to put quad core into the iMacs. Otherwise your Mac won’t last 5 years like Apple promises.