Apple's 24-inch iMac reviewed

If you're still fence sitting on whether or not the 24-inch iMac would appropriately fill the gaping expanse on your desk, and the unboxing photos, impressive Core 2 Duo benchmarks, and promise of "upgradable graphics" haven't convinced you just yet, maybe a full-fledged review will relieve the hemming and the hawing. PCMag has given Apple's biggest all-in-one about as much praise as any glossy white device can handle, while finding little to harp negatively upon; reviewers were quick to espouse the machine's prowess in nearly every aspect imaginable, calling it "a system that photo, video, music and even graphics enthusiasts could love." More specifically, they admired the brightly lit LCD, "zippy" performance in OS X, better than expected gaming performance (in Windows XP, of course), and tight Front Row integration. The only notable digs were it's sluggish 3D results in OS X (surprise, surprise) and the disappointing lack of a built-in flash card reader or TV tuner. Regardless, PCMag handed out a 4.5 out of 5 rating (along with an Editor's Choice award), and proudly stated that returning their test unit would be tough -- so if you still aren't swayed, hit the read link for the full rundown.

[AndrewNeo @ Sep 22nd 2006 12:14AM]

Flash card reader and TV tuner are just wants. Get a USB one if you want it so bad!

[Z @ Sep 22nd 2006 12:17AM]

These look amazing. Core 2 Duo sounds nice, and I'm planning on gettng a new MB in the next week or two, I'm really banking on those upgrade rumors for monoday or tuesday to be true (I dunno if I can wait much longer, kind of needed at school).

[Brain @ Sep 22nd 2006 12:43AM]

I'm not much for Apple, but I have to say; with windows being able to run on a Mac, It's starting to seem very very very nice.
that 24" must be amazing in photoshop vs my 15".
After college perhaps, when that 70g job comes along...

[Jeff @ Sep 22nd 2006 12:45AM]

who the fuck wants a built-in flash card reader? why dont we just add a zip drive and VHS player?

there are a million consumer-line and prosumer line (even some professional line) printers that have built-in 76-in-1 card readers, adding it to the computer would most likely be redundant.
(at least until there is a single flash memory standard that requires only a single sexy little slot. maybe someday.... doubtful though. it would be nice to have a cheap floppy replacement, but with 30 different cards out there, having a 10 slot universal reader stuck on the machine, i think, is just too sloppy and PC-y for Apple.)

[Craig @ Sep 22nd 2006 12:55AM]

i'll agree that flash card readers are on too many devices, but the usb/flash card reader on the dell 2405fpw is one feature i really enjoy. you don't realize how convenient it is until you've used it for a while

[geekdreams @ Sep 22nd 2006 4:07AM]

Yeah, when every camera on the planet has a USB cable included, I don't see the point of card readers at all. They're what we used to call "margin padding" at Dell.

[Don Wilson @ Sep 22nd 2006 1:05AM]

I saw the 24" iMac at a local CompUSA and that thing is blazing fast, almost as fast as the PowerMac from a 5 minute usage viewpoint. The screen is huge also, but makes me wonder why they couldnt've gotten rid of some of the white space below the screen. Who knows.

[Terry @ Sep 22nd 2006 1:34AM]

Are we ever going to see these in BLACK or is that left to the DYIers?

[Frustrated 24" @ Sep 22nd 2006 2:12AM]

I guess PCMag didn't have any trobule with the 24" display when loading XP, unlike the owners in this thread.

http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=637465&tstart=15

[hmurchison @ Sep 22nd 2006 2:21AM]

I love the new iMacs. The 24" should be called iMac HD because it can display a full 1080 resolution screen. The addition of FW800 will make people who want to hook up faster devices happy.

I'm not really into the whole "toss a card reader into everything" thing. The better solution IMO is to have a camera that can be docked or just import your pics into iPhoto the old fashioned USB way. Once you have them there you can do so much more...hint iTV.

[Scott Wu @ Sep 22nd 2006 3:14AM]

Only reason to get a Mac is for OS X. You could make a PC with a 24" Monitor for at most 1800 with the same if not better cpu, a better video card, customizable motherboard, 2 gig of tightly timed ram, bigger hdd. Macs need to buy Windows (another expense) to play games.

If I didn't play games, OS X is much more easier and pleasing to use compared to Windows. So if you can't live without OS X go for it. But if you are a gamer why bother (You can just get a OSX theme, iEx, and widgets if you really have that OSX addiction and save yourself a premium). All that rebooting back and forth seems painful.

[Jeff @ Sep 22nd 2006 4:17AM]

Scott Wu: "(You can just get a OSX theme, iEx, and widgets if you really have that OSX addiction and save yourself a premium)."

that's one of the most ridiculous things i've heard today (and it's been a crazy day for me.) Do you really think that? that's idiotic. hopefully there's some sarcasm in there i just didn't catch, because otherwise you're a total kook.

[Lee Gibson @ Sep 22nd 2006 1:34PM]

"Only reason to get a Mac is for OS X."

Well, golly, thanks for clearing that up for me.

[Andrew de Ridder @ Sep 22nd 2006 4:00AM]

@ Frustrated 24"

Apple updated their bootcamp software more than a week ago to fix that issue

[sheik124 @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:45AM]

Geekdreams, "Yeah, when every camera on the planet has a USB cable included, I don't see the point of card readers at all. They're what we used to call "margin padding" at Dell."

Hmm, maybe its because most cameras are ass slow at transferring files over their USB connections and its infinitely faster to use a card reader?

[jollyllama @ Sep 22nd 2006 1:01PM]

I'm with you, man. Cables are the way to go. I see so many people, when they want to transfer photos, bring out this big card reader thing on the end of a usb cable, not realizing that, um, you can take the reader off the cable and just plug the camera in. A card reader is a great piece of buy-up for Best Buy to stick your grandparents with, right after the extended warrentee and the manufacturer endorsed case.

[Merchant of Seoul @ Sep 22nd 2006 4:57AM]

The iMac 24" is not good for photo or graphics enthusiasts because the screen is too bright. In fact, for any sort of professional usage, even writing/word processing, the screen is too bright. If you want bad color and optical burnout, then maybe the consumer grade 24" monitor Apple uses is a good choice. The panel used in the iMac is essentially built for watching movies. For anything else, it is not a good choice. A pro monitor will have brightness somewhere in the range of 250-300 cd/m2, not the 400-500 cd/m2 that is common in 24" "movie panels".

Of course the real issue is that Apple has a gaping hole in their product lineup. For pro users who want a nice mid-range system, there is nothing between the iMac consumer line and the Mac Pro. The former has poor quality monitors, a mobile chip, and no reasonable expansion/upgrade capabilities. And the latter is big, expensive, and overkill for many users.

Basically, "where is the non-pro 'Mac'" for the mid-range desktop user?

[Lee Gibson @ Sep 22nd 2006 1:34PM]

"Basically, "where is the non-pro 'Mac'" for the mid-range desktop user?"

I believe it's called the Mac mini.

[Alex @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:05AM]

I like to connect the digital camera directly to the computer for transferring, or to the outlet for charging. Taking the memory card and battery in and out is too much hassle. Maybe I am just too particular, but I think that wears out the camera too.

[keith waddington @ Sep 22nd 2006 5:58AM]

Mr Seoul is a very funny chap, no? It's no good because the screen is too bright! hahaha No good for professionals. hohohooo I actually laughed out loud when I read it!

1. There is a brightness and contrast control on a mac and the screen and printer can be calibrated with ease. one of the reasons graphics departments use macs.
2. And this is the best one:
24-inch iMac: 400 cd/m2
23 and 30 inch Apple PROFESSIONAL cinema displays:400 cd/m2

ha ha ha

That's what I like about this place: there's always some thing funny to read.


waddo
http://www.waddo.net/

[bob @ Sep 22nd 2006 7:01AM]

for the whole argument reviewers give about macs not having card readers, the main reason for this is that almost every usb/firewire devise you hook up will be compatible without installation, therefore no need for card readers, they all come with usb cables

[Dash @ Sep 22nd 2006 10:24AM]

I just purchased one and I love this Machine. Battlestar Galactica looks great and is easy to access with front row and the included infrared remote. Installed Windows Vista RC1 with no hitches. Funny thing is, when the Vista system rating utility ran, it gave my machine with 1GB RAM a score of 4.5 out of 5 and the hit was with the RAM. Same rating PCMag Gives. Hmm

[Tu Forincher @ Sep 22nd 2006 10:57AM]

Mac is indeed the future.

[Dave Johnson @ Sep 22nd 2006 12:33PM]

It's a sweet machine. I think the lack of a TV tuner would be a bigger deal than the card reader- given the screen size and target consumer, but it's still no deal breaker. These machines are very fast- they run very close to Mac Pro speeds (making upgradeability/expandibility the only reason to pay the pricetag of the Pro). I'm pretty sure the wide bezel at the base has something to do with the fact that this is a screen PLUS a computer ... but I could be mistaken.

All in all, this a great move, niche-wise for Apple, and continues to show saavy design and marketing.

[Alex Newman @ Sep 22nd 2006 2:06PM]

I would love to buy a 24" iMac, its just that I never believe there is really a right time to buy an Apple product, except just after launch. Did they not introduce the 20" G4 shortly before the G5, and isn's this form factor due for an update?

[O_o @ Sep 22nd 2006 2:35PM]

Geez. Mac Fanboys are always so angry. One complaint on an otherwise glowing review gets these fanboys up in arms.

[daddio @ Sep 22nd 2006 2:51PM]

No one using a DSLR is going to use it as a card reader when you can get a USB card reader cheap. If your gonna wear out something it may as well be the under $20K item.

[daddio @ Sep 22nd 2006 2:52PM]

Errr, may that the under $20 item...

[Begbie @ Sep 22nd 2006 7:54PM]

Tu Forincher "Mac is indeed the future."

If this Mac is the future then it is a bleak future.

Does anyone know if this machine is HDCP enabled?
If it isn't then it can't play BR or HD-DVDs.

[Michael @ Sep 22nd 2006 9:18PM]

It's been the other way around for me. Card readers are great. I've never used a camera as a card reader. Then again I'm a pro photographer and use a DSLR. It's just easier to pull out the CF card and stick it into the reader already attached to the computer then to have to pull out the USB cable and use up your camera battery.

Card readers built into computers are great. I loved the one that was build into my last laptop. Made things really easy. Especially when I would get an SD card or some other card type my camera didn't accept. Apple really should add support for at least the most popular types. Simply not adding them because it would mess witht the look fo the machine is a bad reason. They'd probably look great anyway knowing Apple.

[Robert Curtis @ Oct 2nd 2006 4:37PM]

Where is the contrast control on the 24" iMac? Under Apple > System Preferences > Display, there is a brightness control (which, I don't know, may also control contrast). But even at its lowest setting, the screen is too bright! Thanks in advance.

[tysoh @ Apr 23rd 2007 10:46PM]

I have recently bought my new imac 24" also. Really love it alot as it can install both Mac OSX and Windows Vista (using Bootcamp is the way to go), except for one thing - the screen is still too bright even with the lowest setting. Hope that Apple will release a new firmware to solve this problem soon... Other than that, I find iMac 24" is really worth the money.