Review: Apple iMac 27in

[Simon]

The 27in iMac was gorgeous when it first launched and it's still gorgeous now. Sure, Apple has revamped the line with new processors and the latest graphics cards, but it's hard to look past the pure aesthetics of the thing when it's sat on your desk. There just isn't another all-in-one that comes close.

Whether it's the glossy blackness of the edge-to-edge screen when it's switched off, or the unbroken finish of the precision-forged aluminium shell - barely 60mm at its thickest point with everything including the power supply inside - it's as much a work of art as it is a piece of technology. And it comes with Apple's wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse to complete the look.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/desktops/360307/apple-imac-27in

[Gary]

The 27in iMac was gorgeous when it first launched and it's still gorgeous now. Sure, Apple has revamped the line with new processors and the latest graphics cards, but it's hard to look past the pure aesthetics of the thing when it's sat on your desk. There just isn't another all-in-one that comes close.

Whether it's the glossy blackness of the edge-to-edge screen when it's switched off, or the unbroken finish of the precision-forged aluminium shell - barely 60mm at its thickest point with everything including the power supply inside - it's as much a work of art as it is a piece of technology. And it comes with Apple's wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse to complete the look.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/desktops/360307/apple-imac-27in

I have to say I have a buyer for my 21.5" and it looks like I finally will get my i7 now, saying that iLife 11 should be out soon, so it would be nice to get the new mac with it on board already, may have to drag it out a few weeks.

[Rik]

Can you hold out, Gary?

[Steve]

The Apple site has had a bit of a revamp today with a 'compare' feature added.

http://store.apple.com/uk/compare/mac?mco=MTg4Mjg5Nzk&page=imac

[Rik]

Forget the compare, I just want the biggest one.

[Simon]

 

[Gary]

Can you hold out, Gary?

Its a bit like really needing the loo Rik, but I can wait, first off to make sure the glitches are smoothed out on the new chip run, secondly for the ilife 2011 package, my friend is happy to wait a month or so, but its not easy 

[Rik]

Now there's an interesting analogy...

[Gary]

Now there's an interesting analogy...

I could be p*ssing away money, as one analogy I guess    saying that I'm only down £150 over the year on the iMac so its not that bad 

[Rik]

Good depreciation compared to a car.

[Gary]

Good depreciation compared to a car.

Macs hold their value Rik, I got the same with my iPhone 3G when I sold it, in fact I may have made a tenner on that deal 

[Rik]

 

[Simon]

I still wonder if 27" would be too big to sit in front of for long periods.  I'm not even sure it would fit on my desk!

[Rik]

You'd get used to it quite quickly.

[Glenn]

3 on my racing frame would be nice. 

[Simon]

You'd get used to it quite quickly.

Maybe, but I would have to get a bigger desk.  Wouldn't have room for the phone, router, speakers, empty coke cans and used coffee cups, otherwise.  

[Gary]

I still wonder if 27" would be too big to sit in front of for long periods.  I'm not even sure it would fit on my desk!

The foot print is quite small, its fitted on mine, when I had that bad one. Also its the only way to get a quad core i7 to future proof for a few years, although and i5 3.6Ghz dual core with HT and turbo boost is a good option in the 21.5. Also the 27 has the 1Gig graphics card, more future proofing, and you can stick up to 32Gb ram in it. When you see the 27 next to the 21.5 it does look big, but watching say a film with that definition, which is greater than HD is amazing, also everything looks so sharp.

[Glenn]

Be creative and make some holders. Here are some cable clips

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[Gary]

Maybe, but I would have to get a bigger desk.  Wouldn't have room for the phone, router, speakers, empty coke cans and used coffee cups, otherwise. 

This is the size of them Simon http://www.apple.com/imac/specs.html its not massively bigger than the 21.5 really physically

[Bill]

I'm not even sure it would fit on my desk!

http://store.apple.com/uk/product/MC434ZM/A?mco=MTY3ODQ5OTY

[Simon]

 

[Gary]

Well the 27" arrived and went back, it was TOO big, font hurt eyes, had to look physically left to right across that vast screen, it really was to big for my room and needs, so have a new 21.5 (22 really) on order with an i5 dual core with HT 3.6Ghz and 8gig ram, that will do me and I can read the font without loosing definition and my mouse cursor as well 

[Steve]

Sounds like you needed to be at the other side of the room to use it.

[Gary]

Sounds like you needed to be at the other side of the room to use it.

With factor 30 on as well Steve  a 24" widescreen would have been fine but 27" is just way to big for me anyway.

[Steve]

 

[Rik]

Oddly. I have no problems with a 24" monitor.

[Gary]

Oddly. I have no problems with a 24" monitor.

24" would be great Rik but the resolution of 2,560 by 1,440 pixels and sheer size of a 27" screen is to much for me, it was hard work on the eyes, which just went up quite a bit on my prescription, more than they expected, 4 something rather than 1 something (no idea what the measurement is) and thats in nine months. 4 in one eye 2 in the other, so waiting for Zeiss individual lens to be made at the moment, guess the old peepers don't like monitors so much now 

[Rik]

The measurement is in dioptres, Gary, and that kind of movement is not altogether unusual - at least in my experience, the eyes have 'lurches' once in a while, and your medication won't be helping. If you haven't already, consider getting glasses for monitor distance, they make a world of difference.

To me, that resolution would be great.

[Gary]

The measurement is in dioptres, Gary, and that kind of movement is not altogether unusual - at least in my experience, the eyes have 'lurches' once in a while, and your medication won't be helping. If you haven't already, consider getting glasses for monitor distance, they make a world of difference.

To me, that resolution would be great.

I have a set of glasses set for that distance Rik, I think its a personal preference, some programs fonts were so tiny its untrue some were great, and also I sit about 1ft 8" away from my machine the 27" at that distance is very big, the room also is small it looked all wrong from both viewing point and size wise, it started my ocular migraines off as well, not had them for a very long time  Meds may play a part in that also as you say. Photos looked amazing on it, browsing was hard work though. 

[Rik]

Send it round and I'll give a second opinion.

[Gary]

Send it round and I'll give a second opinion.

If you can sit 3ft away no problem  if I do that Im in the middle of my computer cubby hole 

[Rik]

I can go back up to 6' easily.

[Gary]

I can go back up to 6' easily.

my room is 8" wide and 14" long with a window and cupboard (built in cupboard) on the longitudinal parts, so its a no go for pc placement, this is another reason the 27" iMac looked out of place Rik, the 21.5 fits nicely in the space. Now if Justina let me have it in the one of the bedrooms I would have about 24ft square, but she likes me hidden out of sight in here, cant think why 

[Rik]

I took over the 2nd bedroom when we moved here, but I got away with it because we had 3 computers and five printers at the time. Noe it's 4 and 6.

[Simon]

I still wonder if 27" would be too big to sit in front of for long periods.  I'm not even sure it would fit on my desk!