Macintosh Desktops

iMac: New update provides significant improvements

Apple offers two desktops that are marketed to different users: the all-in-one iMac, targeted toward families and general users, and the Mac Pro, a conventional, tower-based desktop geared to professionals. Both desktops have been updated for 2009.

Reviewers say that Apple has made some very positive changes with the latest generation of Apple iMacs. Macworld's tests indicate that the new iMacs are faster than previous versions; they like "significant speed gains in this new generation." The new iMacs come in four versions, three 24-inch desktops and one entry-level 20-inch desktop.

Although there are a variety of iMac configurations available, the 24-inch 2.66 GHz iMac (*Est. $1,500 and up) tops most reviewers' lists. They say this desktop is a great value, considering that there are few 24-inch all-in-ones available for $1,500 -- and certainly not of this quality. CNET says they would recommend the iMac to "anyone in need of fast, feature-rich all-in-one," and Gizmodo.com calls it a "great deal." The standard configuration includes a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB of memory, a 640 GB hard drive and Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics; there are also options to upgrade the memory, hard drive, mouse and keyboard for additional charges. Watch out for that memory upgrade -- it costs $1,000 to upgrade to 8GB of memory, and multiple reviewers say it's not worth it.

PCMag.com bestows its Editors' Choice award in the mid-priced, all-in-one category on the 24-inch 2.66 GHz iMac. Like other reviewers, Joel Santo Domingo at PCMag.com highlights the value. He also likes the Windows and HD-compatibility, and he praises Apple for offering more standard memory than on previous versions. Wilson Rothman at Gizmodo.com also says the 2.66 GHz iMac is best for most users, with the exception of serious gamers. On a negative note, Santo Domingo says the mouse is too slippery, and the small keyboard may annoy some users (although you can upgrade to the full-size keyboard at no charge if you order from the Apple store). There's also no SD card slot like on most of the new MacBook Pros. Gamers should look elsewhere, Santo Domingo says.

Instead, gamers or graphic artists might want to upgrade to the 24-inch 3.06 GHz iMac (*Est. $2,200 and up), which has a Nvidia GeForce GT 130 graphics card and 512 MB of video memory. In its standard configuration, the 3.06 GHz iMac has the same amount of memory (4 GB) as the 2.66 GHz iMac, but it boasts a 1 TB (terabyte) hard drive. Macworld finds that the top-of-the-line iMac is better for graphics-intensive applications. Interestingly, in Macworld's graphics tests, the 24-inch 3.06 GHz iMac bests both of the new MacBook Pros, leading the magazine's Ray Aguilera to say that the 3.06 GHz iMac is a real alternative to the Mac Pro. He adds that for most users, "the newest iMac offers all the power you'll need," and he gives it a four-star overall rating. PCMag.com also thinks the 3.06 GHz iMac is a "terrific computer," but they don't think it offers the same value as the 2.66 GHz iMac. As a result, they give it a slightly lower rating. Still, they recommend the top-of-the-line iMac for professional-level users who can't afford a Mac Pro.

Although most reviewers prefer the 24-inch model, the 20-inch iMac (*Est. $1,200 and up) is a good option for students or families who need a computer for basic, everyday tasks. The entry-level iMac has a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of memory, a 320 GB hard drive and Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics. Even the 20-inch iMac makes performance improvements over previous generations -- Macworld's tests show that the new 20-inch 2.66 GHz iMac is 11 percent faster than the 20-inch version it replaced. The 20-inch iMac also performs well in independent testing, although it scores slightly lower than the 24-inch 2.66 GHz iMac.

Reviewers say that consumers choosing between the 20- and 24-inch 2.66 GHz iMacs should keep in mind that the 24-inch model is more than just a larger screen. Even though they have the same processor speed, Roman Loyola at Macworld notes that the 24-inch iMac is faster because of its additional RAM and bigger hard drive. Overall, Loyola recommends spending the extra $300 for the 24-inch 2.66 GHz over the 20-inch iMac. Wilson Rothman at Gizmodo agrees, saying the 20-inch iMac just can't match the value of the 24-inch model.

Mac Pro: Pricey, but easy to upgrade

Apple upgraded their Mac Pro line this past March. On the outside, the desktops appear much the same, but reviewers say Apple makes some significant internal changes. The new Mac Pros come in two versions, a Quad-Core Mac Pro (*Est. $2,500 and up) with one 2.66 GHz quad-core Intel Xeon Nehalem processor and an 8-Core Mac Pro (*Est. $3,300 and up) with two 2.26 GHz Nehalem processors. The Quad-Core Mac Pro has 3 GB of memory, and the 8-Core Mac Pro has 6 GB. Both have 640 GB hard drives and updated Nvidia GeForce GT 120 graphics card with 512 MB of memory, although you can upgrade to an ATI Radeon HD 4870 graphics card for $200. The editors of Ars Technica.com recommend spending the extra money on that upgrade if you plan on any gaming or 3D work. Apple also adds four FireWire 800 ports to replace the two FireWire 400 ports on previous generations. Thanks to an internal redesign, the new Mac Pro is even easier to upgrade than previous versions; James Galbraith at Macworld calls it "Apple's most expandable Mac." In terms of performance, reviewers say the Mac Pro has definitely improved, even though both versions are running at slower processor speeds than previous generations.

A number of reviewers compare both the Quad-Core and 8-Core Mac Pros, and the Quad-Core Mac Pro comes out on top in most reviews. PCMag.com tests both versions, calling the Quad-Core Mac Pro a "better buy." They recommend upgrading the memory, hard drive and graphics card as customization options, which makes it slightly more expensive than the base model of the 8-Core Mac Pro (PCMag.com's upgraded version costs $3,700 including the monitor). In their testing, the upgraded Quad-Core Mac Pro outperforms the 8-Core model, although the 8-Core Mac Pro does have some benefits. Namely, you can order way more memory as a customized option -- up to 32 GB total, compared to only 8 GB for the Quad-Core Mac Pro. Memory upgrades aren't cheap though, and if you plan to add 32 GB of memory to your 8-Core Mac Pro, you'll pay an extra $6,100.

Between the two Mac Pros, PCMag.com finds that video editing is slightly better on the 8-Core, so even though they recommend the Quad-Core overall, they quantify their review by saying video editors should stick with the 8-Core Mac Pro. Everyone else, they say, will do fine with the Quad-Core, especially if they buy the upgrades PCMag.com recommends. In Photoshop CS4, 3-D gaming and everyday-task tests, the Quad-Core Mac Pro outperforms its 8-Core sibling.

Macworld is another reviewer that tests both versions (although they don't upgrade the Quad-Core like PCMag.com) and they also give a higher rating to the Quad-Core Mac Pro. In SpeedMark tests, the Quad-Core Mac Pro is slightly faster than the 8-Core; it also posts faster times in Photoshop, iMovie and 3-D game tests, although the 8-Core Pro excels in Cinema 4D tests. Overall, James Galbraith at Macworld recommends the Quad-Core Mac Pro over the 8-Core Mac Pro.

The 8-Core Mac Pro still earns good reviews, including a rating of "excellent" from CNET. Reviewer Rich Brown says the 8-Core Mac Pro "demonstrates marked improvements over the older model in high-intensity digital media and multitasking scenarios." Dave Girard at ArsTechnica.com calls it a "beast of a machine" for 3-D work, although he wishes Apple had added a much-requested Blu-ray burner, and he laments the removal of the workstation 3-D card option. While Girard thinks the 8-Core Mac Pro is a good option if you regularly use software that takes advantage of a multicore processor (like Nuke, After Effects, Maxwell or Cinema 4D), he thinks the price is a bit hard to swallow.

Keep in mind that (unlike the iMacs) the base price of each Mac Pro does not include the monitor. Apple offers two displays -- a 24-inch LED monitor (*Est. $900) and a 30-inch HD monitor (*Est. $1,700) -- that will significantly add to the total cost.