What kind of video card those bad boys have in them? Thats my main question, will determine if I should start saving for one or just resume waiting until I can justify/afford a Pro at some point in the future.

hd 2400xt or hd 2600pro. not so good

I read on Cnet that these new iMacs have glass screen monitors. I couldn't find any info regarding that Apple's site, but I would welcome that feature. I have been treating the screens of my current LCD monitors with lint free gloves.

Damn, that isn't good, just looked at this link: http://www.hothardware.com/articles/ATI_Radeon_HD_2600_and_2400_Performance/

Sure its PC, but it seems pretty clear nVidia is eating ATI alive right now in general, why not go with some type of GeForce? Oh well, I didn't really have the money to spare on this anyway.

From the article linked above:

>These cards are obviously not geared to hardcore gamers, but at lower resolutions without high levels of AA and anisotropic filtering enabled they’ll be adequate for casual gaming. These cards are also well suited to HTPC applications where video playback performance and low-noise output are of the utmost importance.<

Sounds like the typical iMac audience to me.

1 TB! RAM - now that's an upgrade!!

I don't like the new iMacs. They come with glossy display that is great for DVD movies but is rubbish when it comes to use text based applications like IDEs, etc. Did you ever try to edit a web page, write some code or even edit a picture with ligths reflecting on a glossy screen? It's not useful, it's just a matter of trend. What about the crappy keyboard? Why do I have to use a "laptop" keyboard on a desktop?!?! The style is great but the ergonomics suck (no forward-delete either!).

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Guest wrote:
The style is great but the ergonomics suck (no forward-delete either!).

Sure there's a forward-delete button on the new standard Apple Keyboard.

http://www.apple.com/keyboard/

Maybe you've been looking at the new wireless keyboard, whis is altogether smaller than the wired version?

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Guest wrote:
I don't like the new iMacs. They come with glossy display that is great for DVD movies but is rubbish when it comes to use text based applications like IDEs, etc. Did you ever try to edit a web page, write some code or even edit a picture with ligths reflecting on a glossy screen? It's not useful, it's just a matter of trend. What about the crappy keyboard? Why do I have to use a &quot;laptop&quot; keyboard on a desktop?!?! The style is great but the ergonomics suck (no forward-delete either!).

Agreed. Glossy? I'll have to see one in person, but I dislike the glares you get from most glossy screens. Not a good move. Since an iMac might be my next Mac (to augment my PowerMac G5), this is not a good choice on Apple's part IMHO.

As for the keyboards... if I have the room for a desktop keyboard, I prefer the full keys, not a laptop keyboard. Not too interested in the USB keyboard being the 'standard keyboard' for all Macs.

That said, my living room setup has me typing in my lap from my recliner often enough that I have a small Logitec wireless keyboard I use. The new wireless apple keyboard is very tempting for me in that position, so might be in my future. At work, I'll key my current white full keyboard.

Not too different. Screen and keyboard are worse.

The only real improvements are by the numbers. Mhz/Mb, ect. I wish you could use that better-then-1080p screen to actually watch HD video. (HDMI input, and/or a tuner that works with the Apple remote.)

No one has mentioned that these iMacs are aluminum and, yes Sir Harry, glass. Two thoughts:

What is this going to do to my WiFi? AlBooks were notorious.

Aluminum enclosures means that they won't suffer the price of plastic skyrocketing along with the price of oil.

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Guest wrote:
Aluminum enclosures means that they won't suffer the price of plastic skyrocketing along with the price of oil.

Aluminium (I'm in the UK) is extracted by electrolysis which needs a lot of energy to melt the Bauxite (Aluminum ore) and to pass a current through it in its molten state. As most of the energy that the US produces come from oil then Aluminium prices will vary far more closely with energy prices than plastic, which requires far less energy to manufacture overall even if it is made from oil.

I just brought home two of the new 20" iMacs I purchased at the Apple Store in Glendale WI. The monitor quality was a let down when compared to the older 20" iMacs (side-by-side here at my house.)

When you move your head up and down the color density changes dramatically like it did on the 17" iMacs of yore (now.) I'll be interested to see if the mid-range 20" or the 24" have the better quality LCD or else the new iMacs are a real step-down for designers. The older models will command a premium while they are still available. This is NOT due to the glossy screen, be assured.

New keyboard is solid and very easy to use as far as I am concerned.

The back of the unit is black so the while cables do kind of standout in a way.

Most people are gonna love this machine!

Wow so the one person who has actually used the new keyboard actually likes it. How about you other people try it first and THEN come back and bitch. You sound like the people who complained about the iPhone keyboard before it's launch. And we know how that worked out!

Thanks to my MBP I am now in love with glossy screens. Of course if the LCD behind the gloss is no good, then I guess it doesn't matter either way. What's with Apple using lower quality displays lately? Oh well. Hopefully the LCD-backlit cinema displays will own.

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Biff wrote:
Wow so the one person who has actually used the new keyboard actually likes it. How about you other people try it first and THEN come back and bitch. You sound like the people who complained about the iPhone keyboard before it's launch. And we know how that worked out!

I am going to check out the iMacs at the nearby Apple store this evening, hopefully they have them in stock. If I like the new keyboard I may pick one up, they should work fine with my existing Macs. I may also get the new iLife.

Later

Boy! does this baby look slick! I love the keyboards. Is a silver mighty mouse on it's way?
I gave my Mom an iMac for Xmas last year and when I had it on my desk to set it up for her it was HUGE and WHITE compared to my MBP and Samsung 19" monitor. From the back it is even HUGER and WHITER.
I also felt that the keyboard had a very cramped feel to it and I was never comfortable using it.
I totally love the look and then the 250 Gb storage with a Terabyte possible-- I am now looking for a way to justfy one along with iWork and iPhoto updates.

To summarize the changes:

20-inch:

- base model is SLOWER than previous (2.0 vs 2.16 gHz)
- middle model is tiny bit faster (2.4 vs 2.33 gHz)
- base model has HD 2400 XT card vs X1600
- middle model has HD 2600 PRO card
- 1 FireWire 800, 1 400 port vs 2 400 ports
- a bit lighter (20 vs 22 lbs), tiny bit smaller
- cheaper (base model $1199 vs $1499)


24-inch:
- base model is slightly faster than the "top" model before (2.4 vs 2.33 gHz)
- better vs the previous base 24-inch (2.4 vs 2.16)
- BTO option of 2.8 gHz vs 2.33
- HD 2600 PRO card vs 7300 GT (base)
- base 256 MB graphics memory vs 128 MB (base model)
- 320 GB HD standard vs 250 GB
- NB: previous had 1 FW 800, 1 400 port
- A bit heavier (25.4 vs 24.7 lb)
- Base model $200 cheaper ($1799 vs $1999)

Both:
- Faster bus (800 vs 667 mHz)
- 4 GB max RAM
- New display
- New keyboard

From a numbers standpoint, the new iMacs are not much of an improvement over their immediate predecessors, save in price. (I don't know anything about the graphics cards.) They would be attractive upgrades from an iMac G4 or G5 and the 17-inch Core Duo iMac. It would be less attractive to upgrade from the original 20-inch Core Duo iMacs and probably not worth it from the late 2006 (white) Core 2 Duo iMacs, unless one really wanted/needed the new graphics cards.

Edit: Of course, that's probably not the point. With the price drop and the aluminum case, the iMac is probably better positioned against Windows PCs. The small improvements in the numbers help, but probably aren't critical. (Again, I don't know anything about the graphics cards, though I read above that they're not for "hard-core" gamers.)

I just returned from the UTC Apple Store where they had one of the new 20" iMacs. The place was busy and I only took a few minutes on the unit, so a couple of quick observations:

1. The keyboard is certainly "low rise", about 1/3 the height of the previous models. It is like using the keyboard on a laptop. The top surface is flat unlike the concaveness we are used to with Mac keyboards. This keyboard would be better for packing when traveling.

The key surfaces are slick and my fingers tended to slide off them, but it was like that with the old keyboards. I have a silicon covers on my keyboards and they not only protect the keyboards, but they help with the sliding. My wife also commented on the slickness of the keys, so it may be something that we are used to using

The USB ports are on the sides and I am not sure that I like that. It makes it easier to change mice, but how often do you do that. My concern is that the mouse cable would get in the way now that it is not fair lead from the back of the keyboard. Looking at the design, they probably had to put the ports there for strength.

2. The glossy screen. Very bright, very clear, and certainly easier to clean. I did notice glare, particularly when looking at it from off axis. Is it a deal breaker? Not for me and I do graphic arts, but it would depend on how your work station is arranged. I don't have any direct, back, side, or top lighting on my monitor, it is all reflected; at night I have desk lamp that is not a glare problem. I am thinking that with iMacs targeted in part to schools and in part to families with kids, a less delicate screen is a good idea.

3. The black border around the screen may be there to help mitigate the effects of glare. However, it also kind of matches the iPhone design.

All in all from what I saw with a quick look I like the new iMacs. So does my wife who is quite interested in getting one.

Anyone know the name of the artist and song from the new ad?

As a new iMac owner, I am pretty angry with this launch. I just bought an iMac three weeks ago and this comes out. Not only is it cheaper, it has a few "better" features that I wouldn't mind having. The main reason that I am upset is that I am a student and still starting out (I know we all once were) and the cost difference is the thing that hurts the most.

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Anonymous wrote:
As a new iMac owner, I am pretty angry with this launch. I just bought an iMac three weeks ago and this comes out. Not only is it cheaper, it has a few "better" features that I wouldn't mind having. The main reason that I am upset is that I am a student and still starting out (I know we all once were) and the cost difference is the thing that hurts the most.

Welcome to the real world. You're hardly the first this has happened to, not just with Apple, but every consumer electronics company. Perhaps you just bought a digital camera and the manufacturer announced a new camera for the same price, but with better features. If you waited for the "best," you'd never get anything.

You should also remember that, as a student, you get a considerable discount on Apple's hardware and software. I am a retired and disabled veteran, but I have to pay more than you do. I even have to pay more than a professor whose income is 3-5 times mine.

So, stop the childish whining and enjoy what you have: it's not worth any less to you than it was yesterday. There are people who seem to think that, when a new model or version comes out, theirs stops working and becomes worthless.

As a Mac reseller who does repairs and upgrades I haven't yet seen or heard how these new iMacs open up. The G5 iMacs were easy, but the Intel range has to this point been horrible to work on if you wanted to upgrade or replace your hard drive.

Anyone who knows or has seen one care to comment?

Regards Dave (Machelp Australia)

Did some analysis on the video spec, and they are dismal, yes the reports out there are for PCIe cards not built in like the imac probably has, but performance is not going to be that different, I found this article and from what it shows apple should have gone with at least a XT, so as before apple has done a great job at a computer that is great in one way and outdated in another.

I was not expecting to bring a 8800 video card in it, but at least a 8600 GTS would have been nice, but that is why I like building my own and leave the imac's for more basic stuff, still the ATI card really is low performer.

This link will show you where the card stands, remember that their 24 inch is not an XT which but that PRO version.

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/article/465/5

No offense dude, but if you had done a little research, you would've known that new iMacs were coming and surely you could've waited a few weeks to buy. I mean, it wasn't exactly a secret that a major overhaul to the iMac was coming this summer. I'm not trying to be rude, but it does help to look into such things before making such a major purchase. Perhaps since you haven't even had your computer for a month, Apple would offer you some kind of trade in? I've heard they have done that before but don't quote me on that.

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Guest wrote:
As a new iMac owner, I am pretty angry with this launch. I just bought an iMac three weeks ago and this comes out. Not only is it cheaper, it has a few &quot;better&quot; features that I wouldn't mind having. The main reason that I am upset is that I am a student and still starting out (I know we all once were) and the cost difference is the thing that hurts the most.

The new imac is not a huge improvement over the old one. Keep in mind that you have in many ways a good computer. I bought a 17 inch iMac a month ago knowing that it would be discontinued. Why?
- It's smaller and fits better on my desk. So, I didn't want a 20 inch screen.
- I think the white iMac looks better.
- It has a regular computer keyboard rather than a laptop style keyboard.
- The processor speed and amount of memory is the same.
- True that the new iMac has a few minor improvements (HD, bus speed, graphics card) but try to keep positive. The old imac is still close to the new one in performance and features.

imho at least, BB

Stopped by an Apple store tonight and the glare was ridiculous. I haven't used a monitor with that much glare and reflections since the early 90s. Are the current Apple engineers too young to remember the old monitors that were hard to use due to the glossy crts and why they were replaced by anti-glare screens? Hint: They are bad for your eyes.

The iMac was likely my next Mac, but not any longer unless they fix the glare. I can already see third parties making anti-glare filters (another thing that used to be used in the old days) for these iMacs.

Anyway, the screen is a deal breaker, which is a shame since the rest is nice. Nice looks, specs, and thin.

I do think they kind of designed the iMac like a 20" iPhone.

What was Apple thinking when they made the iMac's with glossy screens? I would buy an iMac but not anymore. Apple should at least give an option between glossy and anti-glare screens.