The iMac is a midrange to high-end desktop computer offered by Apple Inc. The current Apple iMac features an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics or NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS (24" Model only), and a choice of a 20" LCD screen or a 24" LCD screen, both glossy.

While previous iMac models had a white polycarbonate enclosure as the iMac G5, the current-generation iMac has an enclosure shaped like Apple's Cinema Displays and styling reminiscent of the iPhone. The front is made of a single sheet of aluminum with a plate of glass covering the monitor, while the backside is made of black plastic.

History

At the Macworld Conference and Expo on January 10 2006, Steve Jobs announced that the new iMac would be the first Macintosh to use an Intel CPU, the Core Duo. The features, price, and case design remained unchanged from the iMac G5. The processor speed, according to tests run by Apple using SPEC, was declared as two to three times faster.

Alongside the MacBook Pro, the iMac Core Duo represents Apple's first computers to feature Intel processors instead of PowerPC processors, a transition that completed in November 2006. Since the introduction of the iMac Core Duo, other lines have followed, including the introduction of the Intel Core powered Mac mini on 28 February 2006, the MacBook consumer line of laptop computers on May 16 2006, the Mac Pro on August 7, 2006, and the Xserve in November 2006, completing the Macintosh family transition to Intel processors.

In early February 2006, Apple confirmed reports of video display problems on the new Intel-based iMacs. When playing video on Apple's Front Row media browser, some 20-inch iMacs (those built-to-order with upgraded video cards) showed random horizontal lines, ghosting, video tearing and other problems. The problem was fixed with a software update.

In late 2006, Apple introduced a new version of the iMac which included a Core 2 Duo chip and a lower price. Apple added a new 24" model with a resolution of 1920×1200 (WUXGA), making it the first iMac to be able to display 1080 HD content in its full resolution, and a VESA Flat Display Mounting Interface. Except for the 17–inch 1.83 GHz processor model, this version also included an 802.11n draft card.

The current iMac ships with the Mighty Mouse, Apple Keyboard, Bluetooth and AirPort cards, an internal iSight camera, the Apple Remote for use with Front Row, and a power cord. A modem and a Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse are available for additional cost.

Models

Component	Intel Core Duo	Intel Core 2 Duo
Model	iMac (Early 2006)	iMac (Late 2006)	iMac (Mid 2007)	iMac (Early 2008)
Enclosure	White polycarbonate		Aluminium and glass
Display (all widescreen)	17" matte with 1440x900 px		17" not available
	20" matte with 1680x1050 px		20" glossy with 1680x1050 px
	24" not available	24" matte with 1920x1200 px	24" glossy with 1920x1200 px
Graphics	ATI Radeon X1600 with 128 MB (optional 256 MB on 20" model)	Intel GMA 950 with 64 MB (shared with main memory, $999 17" only) ATI Radeon X1600 with 128 MB ($1199 17", 20") NVIDIA GeForce 7300GT with 128 MB (24") Optional NVIDIA GeForce 7600GT with 256 MB (24")	ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128 MB (20" only) ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256 MB	ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128 MB (20" only) ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256 MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS with 512 MB (24" only)
Hard drive1	160GB, 250 GB Serial ATA, 7200 rpm Optional 500 GB 7200 rpm		250 GB (20" only), 320GB Serial ATA, 7200 rpm Optional 500 GB 7200 rpm, 750 GB 7200 rpm, 1TB 7200 rpm
Processor	1.83 or 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo	1.83 GHz Core 2 Duo ($999 17") 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo (Optional 2.16 GHz) ($1199 17") 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo (Optional 2.33 GHz) (20", 24")	2.0 (20" only) or 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Optional 2.8 GHz Core 2 Extreme (24" only)	2.4 or 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo (20" only) 2.8 Core 2 Duo or 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo
Memory	512 MB (512 MiB) PC2-5300 (667 MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMM SDRAM (Expandable to 2 GB (2 GiB))	1 GB PC2-5300 (667 MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMM SDRAM (Expandable to 3 GB) 512 MB on $999 17"	1 GB PC2-5300 (667 MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMM SDRAM (Expandable to 4 GB)	1 or 2 GB PC2-6400 (800 MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMM SDRAM (Expandable to 4 GB)
AirPort Extreme	Integrated 802.11a/b/g	Integrated 802.11a/b/g and draft-n (n disabled by default)²	Integrated 802.11a/b/g and draft-n (n enabled)
Internal slot-loading SuperDrive³	24x/24x/8x/8x/4x/2.4x CD-RW/DVD±RW/DVD+R DL		8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)

• Notes:

¹Hard drives listed are configurations available from Apple. Since the hard drive is a user replaceable part, there are other configurations available, including the use of faster 7200 rpm drives.
²Wireless-N functionality requires the AirPort Extreme Wireless-N Router, which contains wireless-N enabler software to be installed on your iMac. Alternatively, the enabler software may be purchased from Apple separately.
³Quoted optical drive speeds are the maximum possible for each drive.''

Lawsuit

In 2008, a class action lawsuit was filed against Apple in San Jose by Kabateck Brown Kellner, LLP, claiming Apple is deceiving consumers by claiming that both the 20-inch and 24-inch iMac are capable of displaying millions of colors at all resolutions, when the 20-inch models are only capable of displaying 262,144 colors. The 20-inch screens use 6-bit twisted nematic film (TN) LCD screen, which the plaintiff claims is the "least expensive of its type," sporting a narrower viewing angle than the display of the 24-inch model, less color depth, less color accuracy and greater susceptibility to washout.

See also

• Apple Intel transition
• iMac

References