APPLE 27-inch IMAC
Apple’s very proud of the LED display on its new 27in iMac, and emphasises its suitability for watching HD films and TV programmes. The screen does look gorgeous; its 2560×1440 resolution is higher than high definition, and the backlit screen with its IPS technology produces a dazzlingly detailed image.
If you’re looking for a powerful games machine then it’s perfect. However, it’s amassive case of overkill if you’re simply looking for a media center computer for playing music and video at home.
The model I tested includes a powerful Intel Core i3 processor running at 3.2GHz, 4GB of memory, a 1TB hard disk, and a Radeon HD5670 graphics card that delivers strong 3D graphics for the latest games. As per all current Macs, it ships with Apple’s iLife software suite, which includes the iMovie video editor, along with GarageBand for audio recording and iPhoto for your photo collection.
But there are still a couple of missing features that really ought to be included in any decent multimedia computer–let alone one at this price. For instance, Apple’s Front Row software provides an alternative graphical interface that is well suited to watching videos when you’re slumped on the sofa (similar to the popular Plex software), but the company doesn’t include the handheld remote control that you need to use the service properly, so you have to pay another £15 for this as an optional extra.
An even bigger omission is the lack of a Blu-ray drive. It is possible to buy an adaptor such as Belkin’s AV360 Converter, which allows you to plug an external deck or games console into the iMac, but that will set you back another £100 or so. And I can’t help wondering how many people will want to watch full-length fi lms or TV shows on a 27in screen rather than a larger flatscreen TV. When it somes to home entertainment, I reckon the recently updated Mac Mini, with its ultra compact design and HDMI interface, is a much better alternative.
Apple’s very proud of the LED display on its new 27in iMac, and emphasises its suitability for watching HD films and TV programmes. The screen does look gorgeous; its 2560×1440 resolution is higher than high definition, and the backlit screen with its IPS technology produces a dazzlingly detailed image.
If you’re looking for a powerful games machine then it’s perfect. However, it’s amassive case of overkill if you’re simply looking for a media center computer for playing music and video at home.
The model I tested includes a powerful Intel Core i3 processor running at 3.2GHz, 4GB of memory, a 1TB hard disk, and a Radeon HD5670 graphics card that delivers strong 3D graphics for the latest games. As per all current Macs, it ships with Apple’s iLife software suite, which includes the iMovie video editor, along with GarageBand for audio recording and iPhoto for your photo collection.
But there are still a couple of missing features that really ought to be included in any decent multimedia computer–let alone one at this price. For instance, Apple’s Front Row software provides an alternative graphical interface that is well suited to watching videos when you’re slumped on the sofa (similar to the popular Plex software), but the company doesn’t include the handheld remote control that you need to use the service properly, so you have to pay another £15 for this as an optional extra.
An even bigger omission is the lack of a Blu-ray drive. It is possible to buy an adaptor such as Belkin’s AV360 Converter, which allows you to plug an external deck or games console into the iMac, but that will set you back another £100 or so. And I can’t help wondering how many people will want to watch full-length fi lms or TV shows on a 27in screen rather than a larger flatscreen TV. When it somes to home entertainment, I reckon the recently updated Mac Mini, with its ultra compact design and HDMI interface, is a much better alternative.
