24-inch iMac: close, but still not upgradeable [update 1]
Mac gaming is still an oxymoron, and Apple is not doing much to change its image. With the exception of the recent Mac Pro, all Intel Macs are equipped with integrated (read: non-upgradeable) graphic chips, severely limiting the cutting-edge gaming experiences available to Mac gamers.
With the recent unveiling of the 24-inch iMac, people were cautiously optimistic at its inclusion of Nvidia's MXM mobile graphics chip interface -- a dedicated, and theoretically upgradeable, video card. However, CNET's Rich Brown dispels the false hope. For starters, the average consumer is not going to be able to get to the graphics slot without hacking away at the iMac's compact architecture.
Assuming you do manage to reach the MXM slot, there won't be much for you to do. Nvidia (nor anyone else, as far as we can tell) currently has no MXM graphics cards available for consumers to purchase. To be fair, dedicated graphics is a step in the right direction, but high-end Mac gaming (or high-end PC gaming on a Boot Camp-enabled Mac) is still just a pipe dream.
[Update: the previous image depicted an iMac with Half-Life 2 playing and a red "no" sign displayed. As many of you have pointed out, Half-Life 2 runs fine on most Macs. As an avid Mac user myself -- I do all my blogging / gaming on a G4 Powerbook -- I am not trying to offend anyone, Mac user or otherwise. I am aware that most Windows games work great on a Mac right now, but future titles will not work as well and the inability to upgrade will prove detrimental to the longevity of the computer.
Sorry to upset anyone with my bad Photoshop skills, I just thought it would be fun to have a custom graphic. Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to hide behind the couch and avoid the volley of flames.]
