The iMac is a good machine. The Ars Technica review shows that. What you're seeing here is the result of Mac fans waiting for almost a full year for a significant update and what we got was... well, not all that impressive.
First, the basic look of the machine is still pretty much the same. All this time for some minor design tweaks is really a let down and the gripes that people had with the old design weren't addressed. The primary complaint that most people had about it was the chin and that's still there. Personally, I detest the black border around the screen. That's just flat-out awful.
Secondly, the specs on the machines were bumped, but it was nothing impressive, especially after this long a wait. It was really an incremental thing. From what I've seen, it's a good machine, but not knock-your-socks-off good.
Third, it appears that Apple is still using some components intended for laptops, presumably to keep the heat of the machine low. I know it's been argued here endlessly that the difference between mobile and desktop components nowadays is almost negligible, but still. If you're buying a desktop machine, you should get a desktop machine.
Fourth, the glossy screen should be optional. I loathe glossy screens. My vision sucks as it is and any reduction in glare, no matter how minor it may seem to others, is a positive thing for me. I do not understand why Apple couldn't have made that an option.
Fifth, I'm still up in the air as to whether or not the new design is actually better than the old. The new look is a mishmash. The keyboard and mouse don't match the brushed metal look or the black back of the machine. And the sleek, minimalist look is ruined by this duct tape band of black around the display? Huh? This new look just doesn't gel for me. Did Jonathan Ive really design this mess?
Sixth, Apple touts their machines as your multimedia hub and yet, from the complaints I'm hearing, the lack of connectivity and lack of video muscle in the iMacs place them firmly behind their PC counterparts in terms of HD and video.
Seventh, what new features does this iMac offer that the previous version didn't? I'm still trying to figure that out. Every major redesign of the iMac has come with something impressive added on. This didn't.
Eighth, still not user-serviceable beyond the RAM. C'mon... Apple, you can do better.
Ninth, the loss of the low-end, sub-$1000 iMac. I don't understand what Apple is thinking. It's a consumer machine, and Apple now lacks an offering in the price range that many consumers will budget for. That makes no sense. I know someone who has changed his mind about buying a Mac specifically because of this missing iMac. He's now shopping around for a PC.
So, that's most of it. There are more specific complaints out there, but that covers about 95% of it. I was planning to buy a new machine early next year to replace my iMac G4, but now I'm stumped. I don't know what to do. I really do not want this new iMac and I'm not interested in spending as much as it takes to get a Mac Pro (and display.) From my point of view, Apple screwed this up. It seems they are spending too much time and energy on their phone and made a halfhearted effort with the iMac.
