I just replaced my 2006 PowerMac G5 with 12GB Ram & 30″ Cinema Display (went into the recording studio, so hoping it still has a long life ahead of it), but was stuck at OSX Leopard because it wasn’t Intel. This new iMac 27 FLIES! Running OSX Lion. It is my main graphics workstation, and is perfect! I’ve seen reviews complaining about the glossy screen. Any professional knows that computers used for pro design and color work need to be in a lighting-neutral environment – such as mine. I get no glare, nor do I get reflections from my environment polluting the colors. All-in all, remarkable! I’ve been using Macs since 1993 (and computers since the mid 1960s). This baby has it all!

First things first: the iMac offered on this page has the dual-core Intel Core i3 processor. A configuration with a quad-core i5 processor is also sold by Amazon. In addition, an even more powerful quad-core processor, the i7, is available as a build-to-order option from the online Apple Store. Be sure you’re looking at the configuration you want. Apple makes four 27″ Aluminum iMac processor setups in all: an i3, two with the i5, and an i7 (see the Comments on this review for a link to Apple’s official tech specs).

Now then, on with the show. Many reviewers of the previous release of the 27″ Aluminum iMac have already discussed the essential hardware and software features. So, rather than repeating stuff that has already been said, I am going to focus this review on my experience of upgrading from a G4 igloo iMac that was running System 10.5.8 .

Migration Assistant

*I used a Firewire 400 to Firewire 800 cable to move the contents of my old computer to the new machine with Migration Assistant.

*The process was virtually seamless, with only a few minor adjustments necessary to the transferred data. Only four applications required reinstallation: ClamXav, iTunes (due to the Soundflower plugin–in any case, no music was lost or damaged), Microsoft Expression Media 2, and a Juniper Networks remote access program (part of a corporate telecommuting package).

*Rules for Little Snitch, a third party utility, need to be reestablished.

*Customized preferences for Spotlight must be reentered.

Magic Mouse

*iMacs now come with a wireless mouse as standard equipment. The Magic Mouse is a vast improvement over the Apple Mouse (aka Mighty Mouse) because it doesn’t have a roller ball that eventually stops working. In fact, there aren’t any external moving parts on the Magic Mouse, other than the on/off switch.

*Exposé and Dashboard functions are now on the top row of the keyboard, not on mouse buttons.

*If you’re interested in the new Magic Trackpad, you’ll have to order it separately. It doesn’t come as standard equipment right now.

Keyboard

*The chiclet style keys took me a little while to get used to, but now I prefer them to traditional “long stroke” keys.

*For some reason, Apple has made a compact laptop keyboard the standard iMac keyboard (Steve Jobs must be nostalgic for the original 1984 Mac keyboard). Anybody who relies on Page keys for navigation or on a numeric keypad for data entry is out of luck.

*An extended keyboard with Home/Pg Up/Pg Dn/Delete keys and a number pad is available as a build-to-order option, along with additional memory and other treats, at the online Apple Store.

Audio System

*Optical digital audio input and output requires cables or cable adapters with 3.5mm plugs. Standard size TOSLINK connectors won’t work. Also, digital audio I/O is run through the microphone and headphone ports. It is consequently impossible to use headphones or an external mic when the computer is setup for optical digital audio use.

*The speakers are a weak point in the design. They are small, underpowered, and sound tinny. I think the igloo iMacs had much better sound. If I recall correctly, they had a specially tuned amplifier–plus the speakers were fairly large and were not built into the computer housing. Users who use their iMac as their main music source or who work with music and sound will want to buy a separate pair of speakers.

Using the computer: screen, fan noise, heat, Rosetta

*This iMac is all about the gigantic 27″ screen. It’s incredibly sharp and bright, with better-than-HD resolution. Excel users will love being able to see columns A-AE and rows 1-95 all at once at 100% zoom. No more wasting time scrolling around and splitting windows. Photos, movies, and graphics all look absolutely fabulous.

*I initially thought I would hate the glossy finish on the screen, especially after seeing how much glare demo models at the Apple Store showed. But, as it turns out, the shiny glass isn’t distracting at all in my home office. That said, anybody who hasn’t ever seen a glossy screen computer in person should go check one out before placing an order.

*Something that I miss from my igloo iMac is the ability to move the screen both from left to right (x-axis) and up and down (y-axis). Aluminum iMac screens can only be swiveled up and down, in a fairly limited range.

*Under most conditions, the computer runs very quietly. Fan noise is normally inaudible.

*The top of the computer can become noticeably hot to the touch. Not hot enough to cook the proverbial egg, but definitely warmer than most other electronic devices (except for the original PlayStation3, otherwise known as the Sony Spaceheater).

*PowerPC applications run well under Rosetta. Once it is downloaded automatically, upon demand, it runs invisibly.

Bottom line: it’s the screen, the SCREEN, THE SCREEN!! Massive amounts of screen real estate, combined with fast performance, make the 27″ Aluminum iMac a true joy to use for both work and play. One star penalty for not making an extended keyboard standard and for the terrible built-in sound system.

I have wanted an Apple computer for a very long time. I could no longer tolerate Microsoft products and the PC’s that run those products. Bought mine 2 days ago. Super easy to set up. An amazing, superior product to any PC. They are pricey computers, but are worth every single penny. Screen produces amazing images! If I was a billionaire, I would buy every American who wanted one, an Apple computer, just so I could attempt to bankrupt Microsoft and Bill Gates. However, since both of those scenarios will never happen, I’ll just have to keep on dreaming. Goodbye PC and Bill Gates. One of the happiest days of my life!!! If you are hesitant about the price or the product, get one. This is money well spent!

This was a transition from the PC for me, and I was originally going to get a Macbook, until a friend convinced me to try the all-in-one iMac. Great decision, and this has been a perfect experience. I’ve never had a machine go from in-the-box to in-use in such a short-time. My first reaction when I opened the box was “uh oh, where are all the cables and books?” It set up in no time. The display is nothing short of amazing, it’s surprisingly intuitive for someone coming from a PC, and it comes with a stunning array of features like chat, photo apps, utilities, etc. It’s nice to be able to turn it on, and use it in seconds instead of several minutes waiting for things to load. I’ve not had a single software or application conflict or install problem. The Time Machine backup runs silently and reliably in the background, so backing up is not a huge deal like it was for me before. The built-in web camera is clear and the sound is excellent. I use this with photo apps that get memory intensive, and it works remarkably well with them. I would definitely recommend this.

The only negative I can think of at all is that my financial software, Quicken, is not available in a comparable version for the Mac – there is a version of Quicken for the Mac, but it doesn’t have the features that I need that the Windows version has. The other negative is that iWork doesn’t substitute for Microsoft Office — I can’t create spreadsheets in it and have them open up in Excel, so if you really have to use Microsoft Office, you will need to buy the Mac version of it instead of trying to move between Office and iWork.

Small things though, and it is worth working around them.

The other reviews have hit it right on and I’m not sure I can add anything more, but I’ll give it a shot.

This computer is amazing. Not only is it a sleek and sexy machine, but wow is it powerful! I upgraded from an older Macbook mainly because I wanted a Mac with a powerful video card for video editing, photo editing and even some gaming. So far this computer has handled everything I’ve thrown at it. It’s fast, quiet and takes the imac to the next level. I was going back and forth between this and the cheaper versions and even the smaller screen. I’m glad I made the choice I did and got the 27″. After spending a few hours on the computer, looking at my Samsung 1080p looks the way standard definition did after you first saw HD! The clarity of the ultra high resolution monitor is by far the best looking screen on the market. I finally decided if you are going to spend the money, go for the best. Sure there is one model higher that can be purchased directly from Apple, but as usual Amazon delivered on the best price out there! For all the Mac haters out there that question the premium price Apple charges, there is a reason they can command the $$$ they do. They are powerful machines and works of art. No Windows based machine has the same lines as these beautiful machines. Apple has by far the best designers and engineers in the world.

The computer is much heavier than I expected, mainly because the aluminum case is solid. The great part is even though it is a heavy computer, it tilts with the push of a finger and stays exactly where you moved it. I’ve read complaints that this computer doesn’t come in a matte screen. Sure the glossy screen does cause reflections in bright light, but so far I think the reflections are worth the trade off for the absolute dazzle the glossy screen provides.

Immediately on its arrival I upgraded the RAM to 16 gigs. It’s as easy as removing 3 screws, popping out the old memory and filling all 4 slots with 4 gigs of DDR3 1333 mhz RAM.

The only negatives I can even list are that the computer runs hot. I did buy an app to monitor the temps and so far it’s in line with my macbook. I think it just seems hotter because the aluminum disperses the heat through the top of the computer. When you touch the top of the computer you are amazed at the heat coming out. I also wish Apple supplied this computer with a wireless keyboard with the number pad. They do sell the corded version with the number pad, but I really wanted to stay wireless. I do miss the number pad, I’m not going to lie. Entering passwords is weird using the numbers on the regular keyboard! At some point I hope they offer a wireless keyboard with the number pad. The sound is also not overly amazing but I always use external speakers anyway so it’s not a problem. It’s a step up from the sound out of a macbook for sure, but it is aimed downward and not at you. The bass is decent though for built in sound if you don’t want to add 2.1 speakers.

I can’t end my review on a negative note though. The built in isight camera in HD is an awesome touch. I can’t believe the quality of the camera to be honest. I look at myself on the screen and every imperfection of my face is captured. Do I really look that old!

I expect this computer to last me the next 5 years and I’m sure it will have no problem doing just that! I can’t wait to see what accessories the Thunderbolt ports wind up supporting. I’d love to run and additional 2 27″ screens at the same resolution using the ports eventually. Apple is usually way ahead of the curve so I have no doubt it is a technology that will catch on and will be amazing! There are many manufactures with products in the pipeline that will support Thunderbolt so I hope to see stuff hitting the market in the next few months.

You only live once, and life is short. You deserve the best, and this machine will not disappoint!!

Update: I upgraded to the same memory that JFLY referenced in his post. It was cheap, it is fast, and I have no complaints at all about it! Better than paying Apple $600 for a 16 gig memory upgrade! Also I can’t wait to see what this computer will do with the newest version of OS X being released in July! No one really has mentioned that this computer is truly a 64 bit machine. I’ve installed windows 7 64 bit and I am amazed at how it also runs on this computer. XP on my older macbook was never 100%. It was good, it just never seemed natural. Windows 7 on this machine running in bootcamp is amazing.

There are many ways to debate the Mac vs. PC debate. However, it really comes down to just a couple of things to me: 1) product quality; 2) customer support; and 3) price. The iMac comes in two sizes, the 21.5 inch and the 27 inch. Then they come with just a few different configurations that matter to most people. First, the size of the hard drive, which is either 500 GB or 1 TB (I am ignoring the 2TB and the solid state options for most people). The next thing is the chip, which is core duo, core i3, i5 or i7. They are all pretty fast, but get faster the higher the chip on the list. The video card matters next, both in speed and cache. Each time you step up with an Apple iMac you get a bigger hard drive, faster chip, and better video card. For most people, the 21.5″ base model will be an excellent machine. The 27″ screen is huge, and you will find that a lot of the screen space you don’t use day-to-day. The hard drive space at 500GB is enough, and it is easy to expand with an external hard drive. However, if you don’t want an external drive, then get the 1 TB, which should give you plenty of storage. If you are going to work with video editing and such, you may want to get the faster graphics video card and chip. I got the Core i5 and it is really, really fast. The product is of excellent quality. Well better than the plastic junk from HP and Dell. Customer support? I called and talked to someone in the US that spoke English, was helpful, and could resolve any issues. Not someone in India trying to be of help. Excellent way to go Apple. The price, well, you get what you pay for. It is more expensive to buy an Apple, but the product and support is clearly better. You will not be frustrated. Highly recommend this computer to anyone.

Finally made the switch to a Mac and I love it. It took a week to get adjusted to the Apple operating system. A few things seamed backwards at first; however I got used to it very quickly. The operating system and apps are easier to use than Windows and window based apps. I find it to be easier to switch between opened windows and more productive. I love expose and spaces and the gestures. If you are debating switching to a mac…. go for it. Macrumors is a great place to learn all about the Apple hardware and software and you can get a lot of help in the forums.

I’ve been a Mac user since the very first model, so I’ve lived through a lot of ups and downs through the Mac generations/models. This 2011 iMac is the most elegant, most powerful one I’ve owned, taking up less space (no tower, not even the small footprint of the Mac Mini) with greater expandability.

If you aren’t familiar with the concept of the iMac, you need to know this: the iMac is an “all-in-one” — that is, the CPU (the computer part) and the monitor are combined into one unit with an integrated stand. Your SuperDrive (for playing and burning CDs and DVDS) and memory-card reader are located on the right side of the screen, and all the ports in the back. It comes with a wireless mouse (called the MagicMouse) and a wireless keyboard (no numerical keypad, although one can be purchased separately. Everything you need comes in the box. If you aren’t familiar with the Mac OS, go to the Apple site for a tour or to an Apple store to see a demo. Chances are, you’ll love it, although some Windows users do experience an adjustment period.

The monitor/screen is gorgeous in keeping with other recent iMac models. For many people, the stunning display is the selling point, mostly because you cannot find anything like it on any PC monitor. You’ll likely be blown away when watching HD content. Wow. Simply wow. If you, like me, have a lot of windows open while working, the huge size of the screen allows better viewing of multiple windows, in full, without have to click back and forth. I had my Mac Mini attached to what I considered an excellent ViewSonic LCD monitor, and when I had both machines up and running during the transition period, I couldn’t stand to look at the ViewSonic anymore. Some people have complained about glare, but I haven’t experienced any problems at all — not from floor lamps or desk lamps, although, to be fair, my windows are directly behind my screen, so that sun never hits it directly.

Another reason to upgrade to this iMac is the now-standard quad-core Intel i5 (or, with the customized upper end 27″ model, i7) processor, better graphics chip, 1T internal hard drive (standard), and memory that can be expanded up to 16 GB. Since the 21.5 inch version is expandable only up to 8 GB, users who expect to tax the memory either now or in the next few years will want to get this larger screen with its four memory slots. Although I haven’t increased the memory, online instructions make it seem like a breeze. Note: installing memory yourself will not void your warranty or AppleCare, although any damage incurred as a result of self-installed memory will render that part of the warranty void.)

This iMac is nimble as it tackles tasks that used to make my Mac Mini struggle. If you want a machine that mostly does email, web surfing, and word processing, you won’t notice much of a speed difference except in start up time, but if you do video and photo editing, play games, or use any high-demand software package, you will notice the improved power at once. Note/Update: this Mac now ships with Lion, Apple’s newest operating system.

Apple has made a big to-do about the two Thunderbolt ports (one on the new 21.5 model, two on this one), but right now, that’s not going to do most of us much good since few devices that use the technology exist. If, however, Apple is correct in predicting the near-future explosion of the faster data transfer of Thunderbolt technology, it will put new Mac owners ahead of the curve. Right now, though, Apple has chosen to skip USB 3.0, and instead includes four USB 2.0 ports along with the Thunderbolt ones. I’m not happy with that decision, but if Thunderbolt becomes widespread, I’ll change my mind.

If you already own a Mac, I highly recommend getting a firewire cable to transfer all your settings and files to the new one. My Mac Mini has a six-pin firewire, and this iMac has a 9-pin, so I bought Tripp Lite F017-006 IEEE 1394b Firewire 800 Gold Hi-speed Cable, 9pin/6pin – 6ft. If you plan to do this, buy the firewire in advance of receiving the iMac so you’ll be able to use it during set up; it saves a lot of time rather than having to go back and use Migration Assistant, although it’s not difficult to do. I had 118 GB of files and applications on my Mini, and it took about 3 hours to transfer everything. But when it did, I had all my applications, settings, photos, iTunes library, videos, email (with passwords), keychain, browser bookmarks, etc. on my new iMac. I expected to spend days setting up a new computer — and it did most of the work itself. Of course, there were things I still needed to do, such as authorize my ITunes account to this computer and perform some software updates to be able to use the included iLife 11 suite. And I still need to figure out how to open Word documents without first opening Word. Small things, though, considering.

Once upon a time, I used to get just discontinued models at a cheaper price, just as the last generation of iMacs are currently available for less from third-party sellers, but the problem was always obsolescence within too narrow of a window. The way I use my computer now won’t be how I use it three years from now. For that reason, I waited for the new 27″ models, which are offered at the same price as the old (before they were discontinued) with greater power.

Besides the USB 2.0 decision, the only thing I don’t like is the small keyboard. I wish Apple made a wireless keyboard with a numerical keypad. As it is, if you want a keypad, you’ll have to purchase a wired aluminum keyboard. Using a Windows keyboard is a possibility, although not all the keys will work correctly, and you won’t have that handy SuperDrive eject key.

I’m not going to get into Mac v. Windows argument since I’ve used both, and I prefer the Mac environment. Others won’t. But I will say that if you want a powerful machine with an awesome display and compact footprint, this iMac is your baby. NOTE: If you have questions about something I didn’t cover, feel free to ask in the comment section.

– Debbie Lee Wesselmann

My husband and I have always wanted an IMac since he is a web developer.. We do not regret this purchase at all. The resolution is phenomenal and we can even use it to watch movies and such..