iMac Review, iMac Software Update 1.0

[mchank]

In their test the iMac was neck and neck or better than the "17 Macbook Pro, so that might calm some nerves that the iMac is a step back performance wise.

http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardw...new-imac.ars/1

[bartelby]

Those performance figures are pretty good. But of course, there's no gaming tests. Not that I play games on Macs.

[stracky]

but what games are for the macs?
oh yeah all those great games that came out 12 month ago on the other platforms....

EA and ID must be really disapointed by this..

otherwise performance looks good

[mchank]

I think Apple intentionally puts in subpar/average GPUs to discourage pc gamers. PC gamers want to tweak everything to get every last frame and squeeze performance out of their machines, and they would demand regularly updated graphics drivers which Apple has never done. Plus even if they put in a great card, in a couple years it will enviably suck for later games so people will complain about it not being upgradeable. Apple's whole philosophy is that you plug it in and everything works; no tweaking, no messing with the insides. Steve Jobs probably views PC games with all their different requirements and configurations as too much hassle.

[bartelby]

Originally Posted by stracky

EA and ID must be really disapointed by this..

Maybe Apple are waiting for EA and ID to develop the games up to a point that need a decent GPU before adding them to the line-up.

As I said, I don't play games so I'm pretty clueless when it comes to this...

[aswitcher]

Glad I got the 24" for the screen angle issues.

[Grenadier]

The problem us that most of those tess didnt really strain the GPU.
Still, its nice to see it isnt terrible overall at those tasks, anyway

[Sesshi]

Why would it be a step back in those tests? It's a Santa Rosa machine after all with a range of decent CPU's. And as for Apple putting in subpar - and it is definitely subpar - graphics to discourage gamers, that has got to be the most ridiculous thing I've heard. It's like Ferrari putting in a three-cylinder engine in their cars to discourage speeding.

The truth is more likely that their designers get more priority than their engineers, that the design direction of Apple tends towards the silent, and that the engineers don't quite have the skills of those at Sony or Dell.

[dcv]

So the wireless reception of the new Aluminium iMac is worse than on the MacBook Pro? Bad move there!

[bartelby]

Originally Posted by dcv

So the wireless reception of the new Aluminium iMac is worse than on the MacBook Pro? Bad move there!

No real loss as it's a desktop machine.

[bigandy]

Originally Posted by bartelby

No real loss as it's a desktop machine.

that's it, you tell her

i'd think it could be a small issue as if it's a distance from your AP you might be a little screwed.

but then, with the savings over the old model, buy an airport express and extend your network!

[Dont Hurt Me]

Originally Posted by bartelby

Those performance figures are pretty good. But of course, there's no gaming tests. Not that I play games on Macs.

True, you dont think consumers play games do you? It looks to me like iMac was ment to be right at MacPro Laptop level and no more.

Ars should have gaming benches and looked a little closer to its high glare TN panels. Other then those two misses a good review.

This new iMac screams......Pro's stay away, consumer gamers stay away but grandma's & grandpa's you are the target audience for this product.

[mavherzog]

Hard to take that review seriously when the author thinks the Core Duo is a single-core processor.

[MacRumors]

Arstechnica posts a review of the new iMac, and had an overall positive impression.

My biggest areas of concern with the iMac going into this review were the new keyboard and glossy display. Both take some getting used to, but the adjustment period was brief—at least for me—and after awhile the changes with the keyboard and monitor didn't really register with me.

Meanwhile, Apple has already issued a software update for the new iMacs. Apple released iMac Software Update 1.0 yesterday.

This update provides important bug fixes and is recommended for 20-inch and 24-inch iMac models with 2.0, 2.4, or 2.8GHz processors.

Article Link

[Evangelion]

Originally Posted by mavherzog

Hard to take that review seriously when the author thinks the Core Duo is a single-core processor.

It was a slight error which I believe has already been fixed. And the fact is that Ars Technica is propably the smartest website out there when it comes to tech.

[Toddgabweg]

I am feeling so much better about my choice to buy a new 24" imac now, I was getting worried about all the negative post from people that didn't even see one in person. Anyway it should arrive early next week (my "free" ipod arrived this morning

The press is giving the new imacs a lot of praise so far

[Kazr]

I think the new iMac looks.... different, and it'll take a while to get used to it. But I'm surprised that - as the review stated - Apple have shipped an aluminium and *white* keyboard whereas the machine itself is Al and Black.

This also goes double for the FrontRow remote - which just totally clashes with the rest of the package.

[Artropolis]

SO... I'm all excited and I bring my new 24" home and I unbox the wonder of aluminum and glossy glass... power it up and I get 8 (yes eight) startup chimes before it finally starts up. I make my way through the account set-up screens and as I'm beginning to play around with the machine... I notice it's REALLY SLOW - then I get the Software Update message that I need to update the software - no problem... I go through that OK... still, the machine is REALLY SLOW - so I power it down for the night. This morning - power on and I hear a short burst of fan noise...then nothing... it tries to start again... a little fan and nothing... lather, rinse, repeat....

I have an appointment at the Genius Bar tomorrow (couldn't get in today at a time that would fit my schedule).

(sigh)

[notjustjay]

Seems to me people are very divided over this one (aesthetics in general, and particularly the glossy display) though I also notice that the vast majority of the naysayer comments are from people who, as far as I can tell, have not yet actually seen the new iMac...

From those that have seen it, I have seen just as many "this is fantastic!" as "the glossy display is horrible!" so obviously it's very subjective.

I'm waiting for Leopard anyway (and finances to recharge in the meantime) so I'm withholding judgement until I get a chance to see one in person. Perhaps by then, if the screens are really that bad, Apple will relent and provide a BTO option for matte displays. Or someone will come out with a "take the glass off" hack. (Isn't that all the difference is, the glass over the LCD panel itself?)

Actually I'm torn between a 24" iMac or a 15" MacBook Pro, they're almost the same price...

[morespce54]

I wonder if this update will fix my screen wake up time... I have an (old) 2.0 which seems to take like forever to wake up from sleep. Sometimes, when I wake up my computer, my screen shows my Desktop for 2 seconds then go back to sleep... I have to move the mouse again (or press keyboard again) to re-wake it up... it's annoying!

[Thataboy]

Originally Posted by Kazr

I think the new iMac looks.... different, and it'll take a while to get used to it. But I'm surprised that - as the review stated - Apple have shipped an aluminium and *white* keyboard whereas the machine itself is Al and Black.

This also goes double for the FrontRow remote - which just totally clashes with the rest of the package.

I completely agree with this. I do like the design of the iMac, but it is completely inconsistent with the peripherals. They should have released black versions of the keyboard, Mighty Mouse, and Apple Remote to go with the iMac.

[blashphemy]

ars got it pretty right on the dot. A couple things I disagree/comment on though:

1) Should have had graphics performance benchmarks. As for the comment on PC users wanting updated drivers and such, they should just let (ATI in this case) the GPU manufacturers write them for OS X. After all, for example, ATI distributes mobile GPU drivers to all Vista users on their website regardless of who manufactured their laptop.

2) I'd rather have a eSATA port than a Firewire 800, not a USB instead of FW800. Considering the port is there for the people who need fast storage, eSATA is more prevalent, cheaper, will be well supported soon as more and more machines implement it, and it just makes more sense etc.

Oh and I almost forgot: how would they add Blu-Ray later? I don't assume Apple is intending to make an Apple-branded Blu-Ray drive, is it? And they also didn't berate Apple for at least having a Blu-Ray drive as a CTO option on the 24" model...

[freedevil]

the remote doesn't stick to the side anymore!!!

[aswitcher]

Originally Posted by freedevil

the remote doesn't stick to the side anymore!!!

Wow, really. Thats a shame. I take it theres no magnet on the keyboard for it either?

[netsql]

The glossy screen is the worst!!

Even worst dell screen is better. Clearly Steve J does not use an iMac.