Apple Updates iMacs

Earlier this morning, Apple released significant updates to the iMac line. Largely performance oriented, the update introduced Intel Core i3, Core i5, and Core i7, processors across the line. Previously reserved for the highest tiered 27-in iMac as well as CTO machines, the standard inclusion of “Core i” processors will undoubtedly give all of the machines a well deserved speed boost.

The second most significant enhancement is the addition of discreet graphics to every iMac. While the base model 21.5-in machine previously relied on the integrated 9400M graphics card, all models have now been upgraded with dedicated ATI Radeon cards. At the base level, the 21.5-in machine includes the ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256MB GDDR3 SDRAM. The mid-range 21.5-in and 27-in machines feature the Radeon HD 5670 with 512MB GDDR3, and the highest end 27-in features the blazing fast HD 5750 with a whopping 1GB of GDDR5 SDRAM! These discreet cards have more than enough horsepower to drive the latest creative software and 3D games, and are optimized to deliver crisp and vivid HD video playback.

Although more minor in stature, Apple has touched on many of the other components of the iMac as well. The LED backlit displays feature IPS technology to deliver an unprecedented viewing angle, and the SD card reader now supports the SDXC format which enables compatibility with the highest-capacity SD cards. Apple has also included the option for a secondary solid state drive in the 27-in machines. Users can select a 256GB SSD as their primary drive, or they can supplement it with a high capacity SATA drive. Among the many benefits of a SSD are better reliability and faster startup/application launch times.

Though all four standard configurations of the iMac still include Apple’s revolutionary Magic Mouse and Bluetooth Keyboard, for an additional $69 users can add on the brand new Magic Trackpad. This new product brings the gesture based functionality that notebook Mac users have enjoyed since late 2008 to the desktop realm.

While the new iMac models preserve the same design introduced in October of last year, their updated components bring a welcome refresh to the line. With dual-core and quad-core configurations available, the iMac continues to blur the lines in between a consumer and professional workstation. For those on the fence deciding if an iMac would meet their professional needs, today’s update makes the ultra stylish all-in-one a more viable solution than ever.