Apple’s iMac has just got a much-needed speed boost from new Intel quad-core chips to add more brawn to the eye-pleaser. Going from S$1,648 at the Apple store here, these Core i5 and i7-equipped machines will enable users to multi-task better than its slower dual-core predecessors.
The new models also come with Thunderbolt, a new interface which offers much faster connectivity than the common USB port now. As you’d probably have known, Apple was the first to release Thunderbolt on the recently-launched Macbook Pros – now, it can claim it’s the first with a desktop computer.
Like the Macbook Pro refresh recently, the new iMac stays pretty much the same on the outside. One notable feature though is its enhanced HD camera that now lets your friends see you more clearly on video chats if they have the bandwidth to support the high-def video.
The 21.5-inch iMac is available in two configurations. One has a 2.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 500GB hard drive for a suggested retail price of S$1,648. Another features a 2.7 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, AMD Radeon HD 6770M and 1TB hard drive for a suggested retail price of S$2,048.
You can also configure a more powerful Core i7-based machine through Apple’s Mac store.
As someone who had just recommended an iMac for his wife recently, I can say this update should have come sooner. The older iMac, at least the most basic model, is fast enough for surfing and opening the odd Office document, but can struggle if you fire up several demanding programs at one go.
Thus, at S$1,648, the new entry-level quad-core iMac looks attractive to folks who want an uncluttered look. That’s assuming you are okay with using Mac OS X, of course.
