Best Reviewed
Apple Laptops and Desktops
- Best Apple laptop 15-inch 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro *Est. $2200
- Best ultraportable Apple laptop 13-inch 128 GB MacBook Air *Est. $1300
- Best-value Apple laptop 13-inch 2.4 GHz MacBook Pro *Est. $1200
- Budget Apple laptop 11-inch 64 GB MacBook Air *Est. $1000
- Best Apple desktop 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac *Est. $1200
- Best tablet computer Apple iPad *Est. $500
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Best Apple desktop
- Excellent performance
- Gorgeous display
- Improved webcam
- Thunderbolt port
- No Blu-ray or HDMI
- Hard drive can't be upgraded before purchase
- New version could be released shortly
For 2011, the 21.5-inch iMac had been updated with a second-generation Intel Core (Sandy Bridge) processor and a new graphics card, and reviewers say performance has improved greatly. The entry-level iMac is more than 50 percent faster than its predecessor, and it posts better scores in some tests than last year's top-of-the-line iMac. It comes with a 2.5 GHz Core i5 processor, 500 GB hard drive, 4 GB of RAM and AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics. A 2012 update is likely on the way, however, pending the release of Intel's third generation "Ivy Bridge" core processors.
Even so, performance of the 2011 edition is good across the board, even for demanding tasks like photo and video editing, 3D gaming and heavy multitasking. The aluminum design of the iMac remains largely unchanged, and experts continue to rave about the bright and colorful 1,920-by-1,080-pixel display. Reviewers like the FaceTime-compatible webcam, which performs better in low light than previous webcams. A high-speed Thunderbolt port is another feature, although compatible accessories are still hard to find.
Overall, experts say the 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac is the best Apple desktop for most users, although it is the only iMac that can't be upgraded with a larger hard drive before purchase (and it's not easy to upgrade later either). Reviewers would also like to see a Blu-ray drive and HDMI port. For those on a budget, reviews point to the Apple Mac mini (*Est. $600 and up), which is deemed a good choice for home entertainment. Just don't forget that you'll need to budget for a monitor, keyboard and mouse if you don't have those items around, and most experts suggest stepping up to the mid-level 2.5 GHz Mac mini (*Est. $800 and up) for the best user experience.
The best reviews of the 2011 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac come from CNET, ComputerShopper.com, PCMag.com and Macworld. These sources test and rate the desktop, and the balanced analysis is always worth a read. Macworld's review is particularly helpful because the desktop is compared to other current iMacs. Several other publications also offer their take on the computer.
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Our Sources
1. CNET
CNET gives the 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac a very good rating. Rich Brown says there are many Windows competitors that offer greater entertainment options, but the iMac impresses with its sleek design and overall speed.
Review: Apple iMac 21.5-Inch (2.5GHz, Spring 2011), Rich Brown, May 11, 2001
The entry-level iMac earns an Editors' Choice award from ComputerShopper.com. Jonathan Rougeot says the iMac "keeps an iron grip on its position as today's leading all-in-one PC." Like most reviewers, he would like to see more entertainment options, including a Blu-ray drive.
Review: Apple iMac (21.5-Inch, 2011 Version), Jonathan Rougeot, May 2011
Macworld tests all four configurations of the Apple iMac, and each desktop earns a 4-star rating (out of 5). James Galbraith says the 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac "offers the most bang for the buck," although it is the only iMac configuration that won't let you upgrade to a larger hard drive.
Review: 21.5- and 27-Inch iMacs (Mid 2011), James Galbraith, May 10, 2011
PCMag.com's Joel Santo Domingo assigns the 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac a 4.5-star rating and an Editors' Choice award, despite being put off by the lack of ports and the limited size of the 500 GB hard drive. The desktop's sheer performance won him over. "It's the fastest $1,200 all-in-one desktop PC, period," he writes.
Review: Apple iMac 21.5-Inch (Thunderbolt), Joel Santo Domingo, May 18, 2011
5. ConsumerReports.orgDetails/Subscribe
The 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac is among the laptops rated here. Critiques are testing based and rankings are provided, but discussion is pretty short in most cases.
Review: Laptops, Editors of ConsumerReports.org
"The switch to the new second-generation Sandy Bridge processors and powerful AMD graphics give the new 21.5-inch iMac a massive performance boost over the previous generation," Ian Osborne says in his review of the computer at the time of its 2011 release. He awards the desktop 4.5 out of 5 stars, but he says the 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac isn't perfect because of a number of minor flaws, such as the slow optical drive and limited configuration options.
Review: Apple iMac 21.5-Inch 2011 Review, Ian Osborne, May 20, 2011
Kat Orphanides' review of the 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac is short and light on details. She reports that the then-new Intel Core i5 processor produces excellent benchmark tests that just blow away the results from other all-in-one computers. Gaming benchmarks aren't particularly impressive, but Orphanides says it achieved a "perfectly respectable" 41 frames per second rate while playing "Call of Duty 4." Overall, she says the machine is powerful and brilliant, but it has a steep price tag.
Review: Apple 21.5-Inch iMac Review, Kat Orphanides, Aug. 25, 2011
8. T3.com
The 21.5-inch 2.5 GHz iMac earns a perfect 5-star rating from T3.com. Although Ian Osborne says he wishes the entry-level iMac had more configuration options, he praises the performance gains and updated FaceTime webcam.
Review: Apple iMac 21.5-Inch - 2011 Review, Ian Osborne, May 11, 2011
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