November 1st, 2009
Holiday Gift Guide 2009: Desktop computers
Apple iMac 27-inch AIO
The competition in the all-in-one desktop space has gotten much stiffer in the past year. The Gateway One and Dell Studio One 19, as well as touch-screen models such as the HP TouchSmart 300 and TouchSmart 600 and Sony VAIO L series, are all significantly better than some of the early efforts on Windows. But the one to beat remains Apple’s iconic iMac, and a recent refresh has made it even more compelling. The iMac now comes with one of two 16:9 LED-backlit displays: 21.5 inches (1920×1080) or a whopping 27 inches (2560×1440). About the only thing that hasn’t changed about the iMac is the price, but at least you now get a lot more for the money. The 21.5-inch model starts at $1,199 with a 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB of memory, Nvidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphics and a 500GB hard drive. The 27-inch model starts at $1,699 ($200 more than the 24-inch model that used to sit atop the iMac line), but if your budget allows it, the one you really want is the $1,999 model, Apple’s first to offer Intel’s Nehalem quad-core processor. It includes the 2.66GHz Intel Core i5-750, 4GB of memory, ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics with 512MB, 1TB hard drive and a DVD burner. All of the iMacs now come with Apple’s new multi-touch Magic Mouse as well. Many reviewers have already put the 27-inch iMac through its paces–including CNET–and it has been racking up awards.
John Morris is a former executive editor at CNET Networks and senior editor at PC Magazine. See his full profile and disclosure of his industry affiliations.
Subscribe to Laptops & Desktops via Email alerts or RSS.
