Toys, Toys, Toys
Yesterday I made the questionable choice of ordering one of the new 27-inch iMacs. There are many reasons I’d avoided an iMac in the past: it doesn’t allow end users to upgrade the hard drive, it uses mobile processors that cost more than buying an equivalent (and faster) desktop CPU, and it comes with a integrated (albeit beautiful) display – meaning that once the iMac has outlived it’s usefulness, the top-of-the-line Apple monitor goes with it.
While the hard drive on these new models remains outside the reach of all but the most dedicated hardware jockeys, they’ve fixed my other two complaints. The 27-inch iMac now has options aiming at the professional who doesn’t want a Mac Pro – including high-end quad-core desktop processors from Intel (the Mac Pro line uses server-class processors, which while having up to 20% higher performance than similar desktop processors carry a massive price premium… of sometimes over 200%). And that’s not all – check out this awesome piece of info from the official features page [apple.com]:
Mini DisplayPort.
The Mini DisplayPort lets you connect an external display, including the Apple LED Cinema Display, to your iMac. On the 27-inch iMac, the same port offers input, too. So you can connect any external source that has DisplayPort output … and use your iMac as a display.
Cheers Apple. This iMac is going to have a long life on my desk, even if only as an high-end monitor.
2009.10.21 09:07 2 Comments
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By chosha, 2009.10.21 @ 12:33
You make me wish I had one, even though I totally don’t want one. Ah toys. My next toy of choice will likely be the Wacom Bamboo Fun (the one that does pen and touch). Trying to win one, but luckily if I don’t they are not too pricey.
By JB, 2009.10.23 @ 14:52
Yeah, I recently saw an ad for that; if I wasn’t already the happy owner of an Intuos, I’d probably grab one. I figure they’ll integrate the touch tech into the Intuos and Cintiq lines a couple years down the road. Maybe by then I’ll be able to rationalize a purchase :)