iMacs Freshened with 2.0 GHz G5, Bluetooth, WiFi

amichalo writes "Apple has updated the popular consumer level Mac, the iMac G5. So better support the now standard Mac OS X Tiger, Apple has made significant improvements to all standard configurations including 512MB RAM, Radeon 9600 128MB graphics, and on 2.0 GHz models (17" and 20"), a slot-loading dual-layer 8x SuperDrive is standard. The 1.8 GHz 17" model includes a slot-loading Combo Drive. Also standard are Apple's AirPort Extreme 802.11g WiFi and Bluetooth. Pricing remains at $1300, $1500, and $1800 respectively for 1.8 GHz 17", 2.0 GHz 17", and 2.0 GHz 20", though 2.0 GHz models include additional upgraded features. These improvements are significant as this line has not seen a refresh in about a year and the upgrade to a Radeon 9600 graphics card will allow the new iMac to take better advantage of Tiger features such as Core Image, which is significant because the video card cannot be upgraded. Lastly, Apple is continuing the interactive chat and QuickTime support program for the iMac G5."

Comments

One significant thing about the iMac

[8127972]

is that it now comes with gigabit ethernet. It basically makes this machine usable in a variety of environments such as graphic arts and rich media where throwing around tons of data is a daily fact of life.

Re:One significant thing about the iMac

[Ubergrendle]

Given that a 9600 (not even a 9600 pro) is at least a generation behind in terms of graphics chipset, at the bottom of the line for that ATI generation, marketing this as a significantly upgraded video card would be a bit disingenious IMHO.

Apple may have upgraded the bundled videocard just on the basis of component availability/price point, but I doubt this is a significant selling feature.

Re:One significant thing about the iMac

[hunterx11]

Given that a 9600 (not even a 9600 pro) is at least a generation behind in terms of graphics chipset, at the bottom of the line for that ATI generation, marketing this as a significantly upgraded video card would be a bit disingenious IMHO.

You mean it's one generation behind the latest, which most people haven't adopted yet. As for bottom of the line, that's simply untrue--what's a Radeon 9200? This card isn't going to play Doom 3, but it's fine for what most computer users will be doing, and it certainly a welcome upgrade over the GeForce 5200 FX.

Re:One significant thing about the iMac

[AstroDrabb]

Apple generally designs its products to have a longer lifespan than your average PC

No, Apple designs throw away computers. Apple doesn't want you to be able to upgrade, they want you to have to throw away your investment and give them more money for a new product. I am sure that the Apple fans will come and mod me down, however it is still true. Look at Apple's computer line. ONLY the top of the line most expensive macs are upgradeable. The iMac line is not upgradeable, that is why it is a big deal what type of video card Apple puts in it. The same goes for the eMac line and the new Mac Mini.

Now, imagine that you just bought a brand new iMac a few weeks ago just before Tiger came out. You are all excited about buying and installing the latest version tiger, however the video card that came with your few weeks old iMac will not be able to take advantage of Quartz 2D extreme GUI acceleration in Tiger. Oh, well you can either throw away your iMac, sell it on eBay or live with not being able to take advantage of newer features in Tiger. (This just happened to my brother-in-law who purchased a 17" iMac in January. A little more than 3 months old and it is outdated and can't take advantage of some features of Tiger!)

There is really no reason for Apple to not allow a few basic upgrades in their computer line. Video card, hard drive and memory is all that Apple needs to make upgradeable and then a Mac would be a good purchase IMO. However, as it is with most of the Apple computer line, you will be locked into a video card that will be outdated in 1 - 2 years and you will run into a wall when you find out that your video card cannot take advantage of newer features in Mac OS X. Simply allowing the video card and hard drive to be upgradable would stop your Mac from becoming obsolete to soon, however that would mean less hardware sales for Apple. I will stick to my basic build-it-myself-PC that I can upgrade at my pace and not the pace of Apple.

Re:One significant thing about the iMac

[Have Blue]

That is a valid point, but neither you nor your brother-in-law represent the average user. "Normal" people see computers as appliances; they don't know what a video card is or what Quartz 2D Extreme is or anything like that. To them, paying for a new computer that comes in a box and is easy to set up is far preferable to buying and installing a video card. And you can upgrade the memory and hard disk in all Macs.

Also, as a large number of people have pointed out, the low-end Power Mac now costs exactly the same as a midrange iMac, so you really can make a pure tradeoff between expandability and a free monitor.

looks like the end of the PowerMac

[jest3r]

Am I missing something or is the PowerMac severely under spec'd and overpriced compared to the new iMac? I mean the iMac even comes with a display. I really wish they would take a look at improving the PowerMacs price / performance. It is sad when the iMac outpowers the PowerMac and comes in at the same price even after the recent PowerMac updates. These are the latest specs from the Apple store:

iMac $1,499.00
17-inch widescreen LCD
2GHz PowerPC G5
667MHz frontside bus
512K L2 cache
512MB DDR400 SDRAM
160GB Serial ATA hard drive
Slot-load 8x SuperDrive (double-layer)
ATI Radeon 9600
128MB DDR video memory
56K internal modem

PowerMac $1,499.00
1.8GHz PowerPC G5
600MHz frontside bus
512K L2 cache
256MB DDR400 SDRAM
Expandable to 4GB SDRAM
80GB Serial ATA
8x SuperDrive
Three PCI Slots
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 Ultra
64MB DDR video memory
56K internal modem

What about DVI

[BibelBiber]

What about DVI? Is it now part of the iMac? This is my personal long awaited feature. Without DVI it's only half the fun. A second display is always a good thing.

Low level design flaws? Hold off buying.

[am46n]

Until today, the eMac G4 could outperform the iMac G5 due to some low level issues, see http://www.macintouch.com/perfpack/comparison.html .

If it hasn't been fixed, the eMac may still give better bang for buck. If this matters to you then hold off buying until you see an accurate performance comparison.

Re:Not interested, however...

[sokoban]

I'm running WOW on a 2x1.8 G5 with 1GB RAM and a Radeon x800. I run WOW as a 1600x1200 window with mail, firefox, itunes, and eyeTV open as well. Normally, I get a good 30-40 fps with every option maxed, including the terrain distance. The only time I notice any slowdown is really when I have eyeTV open and playing a TV show. I would really recommend though to go with the x800, or an x850 as they are coming out soon for the mac. Also, a quieter card cooler might be a good idea, as the stock ATI fan kinda kills the whole "quiet mac" thing.

Re:don't forget the emac

[FidelCatsro]

Speaking as someone who got an emac last month i must say this , GAHHHH.

And does anyone have any info on if apple still runs an upgrade program(if it was bought just before a refresh , i think this one was purchased in february or so ) and how long before the refresh would count. I am going to dig around and call apple myself , but any insight would be much apreciated.

Must find a way...

[DoctorPepper]

To break existing 800 MHz iMacs! Those damn things just keep running!!! How is a self-respecting hardware junkie supposed to talk his wife into letting him purchase the latest and greatest from Apple, when they just keep working :-(

We have two matching 17" LCD, 800 MHz iMacs, purchased in November, 2002. They have run 24x7 since we purchased them, with the exception of the power outages caused by the hurricanes in September of 2004.

Re:game

[Perl-Pusher]

Funny, but I have both an iMac G5 and a PC. My two kids are always playing games on the PC. But when they do their homework it's on the Mac. One is in college and the other starts in the fall. I have asked both of them what computer do they want for school. They both wanted powerbooks, like mine. I talked to them about games, they said that their playstations are much better at gaming than either the Mac or the PC. So I guess a PC has alot of games, but to do real work it's best to have a Mac.

Re:BULLSHIT

[wheatwilliams]

Why by a "fucking dumb ass mac when you could get an AWESOME PC" for the same money?

"What can you POSSIBLY do that you CANNOT do on a regular PC?" Many things. I'll tell you.

I guess I'm using my computer for different things than you are using your computer for.

There is no way to get anything even remotely approaching the functionality, power and ease of use of GarageBand 2.0.1 on a PC, at any price. If composing and recording music is a priority for you, and it's the main reason I'm buying a new computer, an iMac is a huge value. GarageBand 2.0.1 is FREE.

Not to mention iMovie and iPhoto. How much extra money would you have to pay to add a program as good as iMovie HD to your PC? It's free on the Mac. Would your PC come stock with a FireWire port (the big-plug kind) with power-over-FireWire? That would cost you extra money. All models of Mac have them stock.

Then there's the little fact that you don't have to worry about viruses or spyware on a Mac. They don't exist. Besides, the OS is secure enough to keep such threats away. How much money and time and grief do you spend defending your Windows PC from these scourges? I don't give them a single thought.

The operating system of the Mac has much better and more readable on-screen display of fonts, and better scalability when you want to zoom in. I consider the ease on my eyes and lack of fatigue, and more precise display, as big plusses. There is no way to get these on a Windows computer regardless of the graphics hardware or monitor being used.

I could go on, but you're an inarticulate troll who can't use decent language to discuss something you obviously have no clear concept of in your clouded little mind.

Go ahead, buy a Mac for once in your computing career. You'll enjoy it. You might actually get some work done. We won't tell your friends at the bowling alley. We won't call you a sissy, or tell your mother. We promise.