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THE NEW iMACS

Gavin Haines

Gavin.Haines@tesco.net

This month's MacUser came through the letter box this morning. There is a review of the new flat screen iMac in it.

The article appears to have been written by an olger - it is entitled "New iMacs pre-release". The article has high quality reproductions of the flat screen iMac. Three new flat screen iMac models are going to be introduced, but none of them are available to buy right now. Ogle on comrades....

The three new models are:

1. iMac CD-RW only
2. iMac Combo drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
3. iMac Superdrive (DVD-R/CD-RW)

All three models have the same specification flat screen, the same system software and software bundle. (usual stuff: AppleWorks6, Fax Stf, Acrobat Reader, Internet Explorer...need I say more?)

Mac OS X 10.1.2, Mac OS 9.2.2 is to be supplied with all machines, with Mac OS X installed as the default operating System. This may give you a headache if you have pre-Mac OS X applications like QuarkXpress 3.32 that you cannot afford to upgrade.

All three models are exactly the same size and weight, (9.7 kg), the same maximum RAM configuration, (1Gb), and the same graphics processor and video RAM.

The Superdrive machine has an 800Mhz processor and 60 Gb drive, the other two machines both have a 700Mhz processor and 40 Gb drives.

All three machines have a G4 processor, as opposed to the G3 processor featured in the classic iMacs. However, this G4 processor is not the same as the G4 processor used in other G4 Mac models. The article says that the G4 iMac does not have a level3 backside cache. The ogler who has written the article says, "The effect this will have on performance will be seen when we test a fully shipping model".

The flat screen, which looks like a baking tray, is attached to the base with what looks like a chrome sausage. There appears to be a sort of ball and socket joint. The article says the joints have been designed so that they will never loosen, no matter how much the screen is moved.

Many of the pictures I have seen of the flat screen iMac do not show a keyboard. However, it seems you do get one included in the price, (but I would check this point). The keyboard, in clear plastic, appears to be the same as supplied with the cube.

The Combo and Super machines are supplied with 256Mb RAM and Apple Pro Speakers. Purchasers of the CD-RW machine only get 128Mb RAM and don't get speakers included in the price.

The article says 128 meg is not enough to run Mac OS X, but I think you might be able to make do using a virtual memory scheme, such as RAM doubler. (not yet invented, oglers).

You can fit a memory upgrade yourself, using the slot which is revealed when you remove the base plate. However, oglers, the article says that upgrading to the full 1 Gb can only be done by an Apple Service Centre, as it involves upgrading the integral RAM board to 512 meg. The ogler puts it this way: "This isn't a user-installable option and, while extra RAM can be included in the build-to-order option, Apple continues its practice of seriously overcharging for additional memory".

Other negative points: all the connectors are round the back; the power switch is on the left hand side. The article says that "under Mac OS X, Apple reckon you don't need a power button".

The existing iMac product line is to be dropped, but two CRT iMacs will continue to be available for a while. These are the Indigo and the Graphite/Snow.

My two cents worth:

The flat screen iMac is a sure fire winner. The adjustable screen is extremely desirable, ogle ogle, drool, drool.

If you are going to go to Mac OS X applications only then go for the flat screen iMac. If you are a pre-Mac OS X person then I would stay with the CRT iMac, or else have both machines for the time being. I would avoid trying to work with both Mac OS 9 and Mac OS X on the same computer, unless you are a hardened iMac user.

If you do decide to go for it, carefully study what's included in the price, particularly the amount of RAM you are getting in the deal. Once you have a machine with a too small amount of RAM, it may be pricey for you to upgrade. I would also advise you to get a 5 year service contract with the machine. The flat screen could have a shorter life span than the equivalent CRT, but I hope this is not the case.

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