The Ultimate All-in-One Goes All Out.
The new iMac features next-generation Intel Core i5 quad-core processors and the fastest graphics ever in an all-in-one computer. It also brings Thunderbolt I/O technology to the desktop for lightning-fast data transfer. And a new FaceTime HD camera lets you make full-screen HD video calls. All from a beautiful, widescreen 27-inch LED-backlit display that takes up just a sliver of your desk. It’s everything you want in a desktop. Now more powerful, more advanced, and even more incredible than before.
The iMac’s display offers a 2560 x 1440-pixel resolution (for native 1080p high-definition viewing), and it uses IPS technology to deliver consistent color across an ultra wide 178 degree viewing angle. This 27-inch model (MC813LL/A) offers improved graphics with AMD Radeon HD 6770M discrete graphics featuring 512 MB of GDDR5 memory, a 1 TB hard drive, and 4 GB of installed RAM. Other features include integrated Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth connectivity, an SD card slot (compatible with SDHC and SDXC cards), one Thunderbolt port, a FireWire 800 port, and a total of four USB 2.0 ports (see full specifications below).
It also comes with the Mac OS X Lion operating system as well as the iLife software suite, which includes the latest versions of iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand.
Key Features
Next-Generation Dual-Core Intel Processor
This iMac is powered by a second-generation Intel Core i5 quad-core processor (dubbed “Sandy Bridge”), which provides breakthrough digital media management, content creation, and 3D gaming capabilities. With updated Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, the latest Core i5 increases speed automatically for whatever you’re doing, dynamically accelerating performance to match your workload.
Intel’s Hyper-Threading Technology enables each core of your processor to work on two tasks at the same time, delivering the performance you need for smart multitasking. And you’ll enjoy a rich set of new features for a stunning and seamless visual experience with no additional hardware. The “Sandy Bridge” Core i5 processor also provides faster access to the installed RAM, with an integrated memory controller to connect fast 1333 MHz memory directly to the processor.
Revolutionary Thunderbolt Technology
Developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O (input/output) technology delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second of transfer speeds in both directions. Built into the iMac, the Thunderbolt port allows you to connect to new Thunderbolt-compatible peripherals as well as existing USB and FireWire peripherals using simple adapters. You’ll be able to move data up to 20 times faster than with USB 2.0 and more than 12 times faster than with FireWire 800, and you can daisy-chain multiple high-speed devices without using a hub. Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays.
Bright, Colorful Display
This 27-inch, all-in-one Apple iMac features an edge-to-edge glass display that utilizes LED backlighting for improved brightness and energy efficiency as well as In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology, which delivers consistent color across a wide 178-degree viewing angle.
Clutter-Free Desktop
You’ll be able to cut the cord with the included Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse, both of which connect to the iMac using Bluetooth wireless technology. Additionally, the Magic Mouse features a seamless Multi-Touch surface that enables you to use the same intuitive gestures used on the MacBook trackpad to easily scroll through long documents or swipe to move forward or backward through a collection of web pages or photos. And it can be configured as either a single- or two-button mouse.
And with the FaceTime HD camera placed above the display in the iMac’s thin aluminum and glass design, you’ll be able to make video calls in HD 720p resolution to friends and family on another iMac or MacBook. Additionally, you’ll be able to connect to those using an iPad 2, iPhone 4, or iPod touch.
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Apple Magic Mouse |
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Apple Wireless Keyboard |
Limited Warranty And Service
The iMac comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a 1-year limited warranty, which can be extended to 3 years with the AppleCare Protection Plan.
Installed software
Mac OS X Lion is an even more powerful and refined version of the world’s most advanced operating system. In ways big and small, it gets faster, more reliable, and easier to use. New core technologies unleash the power of today’s advanced hardware technology and prepare Mac OS X for future innovation.
- Mac OS X v10.7 Lion (includes iTunes, Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools, and more)
iLife helps you do more with photos, movies, and music than you ever thought possible. In iPhoto, you can browse, edit, and share your photos in stunning new full-screen views. Create epic Hollywood-style movie trailers from your home video in iMovie. And GarageBand gives you everything you need to make a great-sounding song–including tools for keeping your song in perfect rhythm and guitar and piano lessons.
- iLife (includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD)
AppleCare Protection Plan
Because Apple makes the hardware, the operating system, and many applications, the Mac is a truly integrated system. And only the AppleCare Protection Plan gives you one-stop service and support from Apple experts, so most issues can be resolved in a single call. Extend the complimentary service and support on your Mac to 3 years from the original Mac purchase date with the AppleCare Protection Plan. You get direct telephone access to Apple experts for technical questions, and you get global repair coverage–including both parts and labor–for your Mac and select Apple peripherals.
Optional Accessories and Related Products
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Time Capsule |
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AirPort Extreme Base Station |
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Apple Magic Trackpad |
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Apple Battery Charger |
iMac 27 Inch Review Team
Picked up iMac from UPS because person who was supposed to be home to sign for it was out. Unboxed it, plugged it in, turned it on, Apple chime sounded, but black screen. Turn it off, unplugged it, plugged it back in, turned it on, Apple chime, still black screen. Turned it off, unplugged it, called Apple Support, followed all their instructions, reseated ram, still black screen. Apple Support said that there may be an issue getting a product exchange at the Apple Store since I bought it off Amazon. They set up an appointment for the Genius Bar at the local Apple Store. I reboxed it, put it back in the shipping box, made a handy dandy shoulder strap out of tape and taped it to the shipping box, loaded it in my car, drove to the mall, then lugged that 40+ pound box a quarter of a mile to the apple store through the mall. When I got to the Apple Store, guy in blue shirt says I don’t have an appointment. I’m like, “Yeah I do.” The dude over the phone at Apple Support set it up. But, apparently, it didn’t go through. Anyways, I waited for like 5 minutes and was able to get a genius bar appointment. Unboxed the iMac, placed it up on the counter, explained to them what’s going on, they plugged it in, turned it on, and black screen. Guy in blue shirt turns it off, grabs an Apple Display from the back, plugs it in to display port, and yes, there is a working display output on the external display. So display on iMac is dead. I tell them I want a direct product replacement and that I don’t want a fixed broken product through apple care warranty. They tell me since I bought it from Amazon, who they say is not an Authorized Apple Reseller, that I have to deal with Amazon and return it to them for a replacement. I talked to the store manager and we won’t give me a new iMac. I told them, if I return to Amazon, they’re going to send it back to Apple anyways, so why not just save me all the time and effort of the return and just give me a new iMac. They said, “Unfortunately it doesn’t work that way.” Then I ask, “With my military discount, if I buy the iMac from you guys, will you sell it to me tax free like I can get on base?” They say, “Sorry, unfortunately we have to charge you tax, but thank for your service regardless.” WTF. I said, “Whatever, but you’re going to get someone to help me lug this stupid piece of junk back through the mall for me to my car.”
Initiated return process through Amazon and find out they don’t have any in stock to give me a replacement. Ok, for all the time wasted dealing with Apple Support, Genius Bar, hauling the machine all over the place, it’s not worth the $80 saved purchasing it from Amazon. Now I have to wait at home for the UPS guy to pick it up. Amazon, why can’t you provide the UPS labels via your website for me to apply to the package so I can drop it off at the nearest UPS store at my convenience?
I still want an iMac, so I placed an order through AAFES where it’s $1689.00 tax free. If it arrives broken again, I can simply return it to the base exchange store, because there’s no way I’m going to be paying over $130 in taxes. Military Discount at Apple Store is $1599 + tax = $1730. I still save $42 buying direct from AAFES.
I love the iMac 27″. Used the demos at the Apple store and it’s awesome. I have a June 2009 Macbook Pro 13″ and love it. It’s still running strong, although the internal fan died shortly after my 1-year Apple Care ran out. Fortunately American Express extend manufacturer warranty by one year. Viewing photos in Aperture on the 27″ is amazing.
5 stars for the iMac
1 star for Apple Customer Service
3 stars for Amazon no longer having this product in stock
I have been an avid PC user over the last 12 years, but I have had several Apple products over that time including: the Original click wheel iPod, iPhones, iPads, and most recently a Nano. I have been pretty happy with all of the Apple Products I owned, but I bought into the hype that the Macs were overpriced based on their hardware compared to a PC with comparable hardware. To be fair Windows has been O.K., but I always found it a little quirky and the bloatware, spyware, and constant updates finally made me stretch my computer budget and grab the iMac. Hardware aside, the Mac OS totally justifies the extra cost to purchase a Mac over a comparable PC. I have been using Mac OS for only a couple days and already I feel as comfortable with my iMac as I have with any of the Windows computers I have owned. Everything is easily found, no digging through 3,4, or 5 menus to find anything. The included iPhoto and iMovie software are excellent and blow away the default Windows programs for managing Pictures and editing movies. Start up times from both shut down and sleep are lightning fast, even when compared to the Intel i7 Alienware I had prior to buying the Mac. There are several other things that I like software wise which have to do with the gestures on the Magic Mouse as well as some of the basic options for power management etc…
In my mind the Mac OS made the switch worth it, but when you factor in the beautiful clean design and the 27″ Super HD display this computer is a steal. The fit and finish are outstanding and the iMac looks great sitting on my desk with no other cables or clutter. While this does have a large display, the iMac itself is compact and doesn’t take up much space at all. The Magic Mouse is like no other interface device I have used before. The whole top of the mouse is a touch screen itself and the gestures are intuitive, easy to learn, and customizable. The keyboard is great, although a little small for typing. The shortcut keys for brightness, volume, and other things require no customization and work right out of the box. I have tried X-Plane 9 Flight Sim and Half Life 2, just to get a feel for the graphics and I must say that even with just the 512MB Video Card, it does a very good job of generating some really nice graphics. Granted neither of these games is cutting edge, I am sure that it could handle far more and both games look amazing on the 27″ High Res display!
Overall, I am extremely impressed and very happy with my purchase. Having said that there are a few things which I will have to get used to. They are all hardware related as I am yet to find a fault with the software. Because of its focus on the design of the iMac, Apple sacrificed a little bit of convience by not having USB ports on the front or even the side of the iMac. All the ports for USB, Firewire, and Audio are on the back bottom right corner and getting to them is a little bit of a pain. It is also somewhat surprising that there was no option for a Blu Ray Player on the iMac, ecspecially given the resolution of the monitor. Standard DVDs look as though you are watching a VHS as there is no up coversion built in to the iMac. The playback is 4:3 on a standard DVD. I won’t be using it for movies much anyway so not really a problem for me and iTunes and Amazon Instant Video are both available. The monitor itself can be a little overwhelming and does tend to strain my eyes, but enlarging the font size and zooming in using the Magic Mouse make reading on it much easier.
Overall I would certainly recommend this computer to anyone in the market for an all-in-one or standard desktop. The transition to Mac OS is easy and any problems you run into can be easily solved by a Google search. I would definetely recommend heading to a local store to look at them before deciding on the 21.5″ or the 27″. I do think the 27″ maybe a bit overwhelming and unnecessary if you aren’t going to be doing any graphics related work or gaming. The 21.5″ looks great to and even the entry level iMac at $1120 is not too far off spec wise from the entry level 27″ aside from the 1TB Hard Drive vs. 500 GB on the 21.5″. The only upgrade I plan on making is to get more RAM. I would have bought more initially, but you can save a bunch doing it yourself. 8 GB of extra RAM is only $45.99 and RAM is the only Apple Authorized Upgrade the end user can make and still keep your warranty.
Update 11/17/2011: Just a quick update to let everyone know that unfortunately Apple does not Offer HD Movies to buy or rent from iTunes on the Mac, nor does Amazon Instant Video. HD movies are offered on iPad, iPhone, and Apple T.V. and Amazon offers HD on Mobile devices and on through the App on my Sony Blu Ray Player. Not quite sure what the deal is there, but it looks like to enjoy HD Movies on the iMac, an external Blu Ray Player will be required.
I have yet to transfer all my files over from my Macbook Pro, but I already know this was a much needed upgrade. I debated between saving money and buying the older generation or shelling out an extra few hundred for the quadcore – I am certain once I get my Photoshop up and running I will be exuberant with the choice of buying the new generation.
My only issue is that I’m so used to using my trackpad for everything, that I find the mouse to be cumbersome. I wish there were an option through Amazon to get a trackpad instead of a mouse, but if I find it to be a huge issue in the future I can just cough up 69 dollars and get one online.
The screen is just gorgeous to look at, and I can’t wait to try out facetime with friends and family to see the difference with the HD camera (compared to my 5 year old Macbook Pro’s cruddy camera).
Although my bank account is hurting, I know I won’t regret this. Macs are awesome.
I’ll begin by saying that “There’s really no reason not to buy a MAC!” I’ve been completely impressed over the last month – specifically in the following areas:
- Speed (All functions are amazingly fast!!!!)
- Upgradeable Memory (Ability to upgrade memory- up to 16GB in minutes!!!)
- Multi-Tasking (Easily runs multiple applications and begs for more)
- Display!!!! – Most vibrant high resolution display available. You have to see it to really appreciate it!
- True Plug & Play – All of my devices connected upon start-up immediately (CyberPower UPS, Canon Scanner, Western Digitial Network Attached Storage, HP Wireless Printer…) I never had to load a driver, insert a cd or touch a thing. It all happened behind the scenes!!!
- Fully Integrated With My Yahoo Account!!! – Yahoo Mail and Yahoo Calendar syncs and updates instantly!
I was hesitant to make the switch from PC to MAC but I am completely happy that I did. It’s probably a matter of personal preference but the MAC OS is amazingly intuitive and provides the stability, ease of use, and power that I need to do everything from web surfing, email, media management(music/video), Word, Excel, Powerpoint to high end photo and video editing! An added bonus – it’s an absolutely beautiful computer that complements any desktop!!!
After waiting and saving for several months, I have just unboxed my brand new 27″ iMac and am absolutely blown away! Being a first time Mac user, I can attest to the ease of transition into the world of the Mac OS. The iMac could not possibly be easier to set up (there’s just the power cable to plug in). When it first boots, it visually instructs you to turn on your mouse and keyboard and literally guides you in less than 30 seconds through a total set up. This particular model comes with the latest version of the Mac OS 10.6.6 and, of course, has iTunes pre-installed along with iPhoto, iMovie, Safari web browser, FaceTime, PhotoBooth and Garage Band. If you have any familiarity with using a current iPhone or iPad, you’ll have a leg up on other newbie Mac users as there are several similarities between the full-scale Mac OS and the mobile devices.
In terms of the hardware: this is the *new* Intel i5 Quad Core Sandy Bridge processor (the latest generation of desktop processors) featuring two of the new Thunderbolt high-speed data transfer ports. While presently the Thunderbolt interface is too new for consumer devices, when it becomes standard issue this will be an amazing, cutting edge feature. However, the most impressive and notable feature of the 27″ iMac is it’s incredible high definition, ultra-high resolution display. This is NOT just any 27″ LCD display– the 2560 x 1440 resolution is an amazing selling point (compare that to the typical of 1920 x 1080 resolution on run of the mill monitors) and you will be blown away! This display is huge, gorgeous and an absolute dream to work on. When used as a television your 1080p videos couldn’t possibly look any better. It’s also worth noting that on it’s own, a monitor (from Apple or any other manufacturer) with this resolution will easily run you $1000-1300. When combined with the newest generation Sandy Bridge i5 and all the other components, the iMac itself is a tremendous value.
After having used PC’s my entire life, I am beyond pleased with my opening impressions on the new iMac. I will be using this as my sole home/office computer (my iPad goes with me on the road). Being a Chemistry PhD student, I am swamped with dozens of lengthy PDF’s to read through on a daily basis and reading on this screen has, thusfar, been a great experience. If you are considering the transition to a Mac, I couldn’t recommend the new iMac more highly. Its a phenomenal machine at a great price. It sure doesn’t hurt that it looks beautiful to boot!
Overall: A+, Highly highly recommended!
Beautiful all in one computer. Takes some getting used to for a 20+ year PC user, but great support. I think I’m going to like it as much as my iphone4 and my ipad2, especially iPhoto and ivideo.
Love it, love it, love it!!! I thoroughly researched this before I bought it, so I knew just what I was getting. I am am an Apple fanatic; have an Iphone, Ipad and Macbook Pro. This computer replaced my Imac 20″ and has performed flawlessly for the month I have had it. A few months back I canceled my satellite TV and use nothing but the web, Netflix and over the air broadcasts for my entertainment and news fix. I will save enough just by getting rid of the 140 a month satellite bill to pay for this purchase in a year.On the downside, I work so much that I haven’t had much time to really check out every aspect of the Imac. The new version of ILife has many positive improvements. I bought the Kindle book Apple Training series Ilife 11 to learn how to use the new features. If you have the money and you need a new computer, buy this. I know PC’s are cheaper but they have a lot more headaches involved. Once you get a Mac you will never go back!
I bought this iMac to replace my aging 6 year old Windows desktop. The price tag is much higher than a Windows PC with comparable spec, so I was hesitant to commit to such a big investment. After long hours of research and actually playing with it in an Apple store, I finally decided to bite the bullet. That was almost two months ago.
The 27″ display is amazingly beautiful. The resolution is higher than a 1080p HDTV. The available workspace on screen is huge. I could have multiple applications running and their windows don’t even overlap! It’s fast and reliable. OS X is so intuitive that you don’t really need any manual to use it.
The best feature? You can run Windows (and other operating systems) on it too! I have Windows 7 installed alongside the Mac OS with the help of an application called “Parallels Desktop for Mac”. Now I can run Windows applications (e.g. Office 2010), while at the same time run Safari, or any other Mac applications. This is truly “two machines in one.” I have all the benefit of the Mac for family use, plus the ability to run necessary Windows applications for my office work. All of them work together side by side in harmony. How beautiful is that? The keyboard and mouse are both wireless (Bluetooth), so my desk looks extremely clean. No cables whatsoever beside the power line in the back. Incredible.
If you still hesitate about buying this iMac, don’t. It’s the best computer I’ve ever owned. For a guy with over 20 years of experience on various UNIX, Windows and Mac computers, that’s saying a lot. My next project? Put Linux on it.
Highly recommended.
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
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.