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iMac

Originally released in 1998. the iMac ($1,099 and up) started life as Apple’s fun all-in-one computer, evolving into a more serious “right for practically everyone” option over time. For Pro users, there is also an iMac Pro model as well.

Apple first introduced the aluminum iMac in August 2007 with 20-inch and 24-inch options. This was a major update compared to the previous plastic design of the machine, which was available in 17″, 20″, and 24″screen sizes between August of 2004 and August of 2007. The mid-2007 model, however, was only a stepping stone. Despite featuring an aluminum front-face, it still featured a back casing made of black plastic, which was a stark difference from the sleek aluminum front.

In 2009, Apple released a new lineup with aluminum unibody design in 21.5″ and 27″ screen sizes – introducing the two screen sizes that are still in use today. This design has ended up shaping the future of the iMac, with Apple focusing on revising it rather than completely redesigning.

In October 2012, Apple redesigned the iMac with an ultra-slim side profile and removed the SuperDrive. While the thinnest point measures 5mm, there’s still a bulge in the back to accommodate the iMac’s internals and cooling system. In 2015, the iMac was upgraded with a Retina display upgrade option.

In March of 2019, Apple released a minor upgrade to the 4K and 5K iMac lineup. The updates include new 6-core and 8-core Intel CPUs with Radeon Pro Vega graphics options.

The 21.5-inch iMac starts at $1299. The base model includes a 3.6GHz 8th-generation Intel i3 processor, 8 GB RAM, a 1 TB hard drive, and Radeon Pro 555X graphics.F or $1799, the base model 27-inch iMac includes a 3GHz 6-core 8th-generation Intel i5 processor, 8 GB RAM, 1 TB Fusion Drive, and a Radeon Pro 570X GPU. The Radeon Pro Vega 48 GPU upgrade costs $450 build-to-order, and is not offered on any base iMac configuration. The iMacs continue to feature spinning hard drives as the default with upgrade options for Fusion Drives and Flash storage.

Apple also sells a $1099 low end of the iMac, but it doesn’t include a 4K display and includes an older processor. For your money, it’s recommended to get at least the $1299 model. If you are considering any upgrades, the 256 GB flash storage upgrade will go a long way at improving long term durability and speed.

If you are looking to mount your iMac on a wall, Apple offers a model with a VESA compatible stand for a $40 upgrade.

If you are looking for the latest deals on Apple’s iMac, check out 9to5Toys.com

Need extra cash to upgrade? Sell your old Apple devices to 9to5Mac’s trade-in partner.

Apple patent may (slightly) hint at touchscreen iMac similar to Microsoft Surface Studio

Touchscreen iMac hint along the lines of Microsoft Surface Studio (shown)

Although Apple has long rejected the concept of a touchscreen iMac or MacBook, and for good reason, there was one product which made us wonder whether there might be a role for such a device: the Microsoft Surface Studio (above).

Take away the Microsoft logo and Windows UI, and you could easily imagine it was designed by Apple. It’s today being suggested that a new patent application might hint at the possibility of making a Mac version …

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Apple says it is not making a new 27-inch iMac

Apple really wants customers to buy the new M3 iMac, so much so they have told The Verge today that the company has no plans to make a 27-inch iMac running on Apple Silicon.

This means prospective buyers can stop holding out hope for a direct successor to the 27-inch iMac form factor that existed in the Intel era. However, Apple’s statement to press today specifically refers to the 27-inch model, which leaves the door open to a possible future iMac with an even larger display …

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A closer look at how the new M3 chip line-up compares

M3 chip line-up | Apple graphic

Apple of course used all the words and phrases you’d expect for the new M3 chip line-up: groundbreaking, dramatically increased performance, unleash new capabilities, the biggest leap forward, and so on.

The company also shared some graphs pointing to the improved performance of the 3nm based M3 chips compared to their predecessors …

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Everything Apple announced at Scary Fast – and the things it didn’t

Everything Apple announced at Scary Fast | Still from promo video showing new MacBook Pro in diner

There weren’t too many surprises in last night’s Scary Fast event. The event was entirely Mac-focused; all three M3 chips are available simultaneously; the M3-powered 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models were the stars of the show; and the 24-inch iMac got updated from the M1 chip to the M3 one.

But there were still a couple of somewhat unexpected developments – and it’s also worth noting what Apple didn’t announce …

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Bloomberg’s latest expectations of Apple’s Scary Fast event

Apple's Scary Fast event | Promo image

With just the weekend to go before Apple’s Scary Fast event, Mark Gurman has provided a final (?) roundup of everything he expects to be announced.

The headline news, of course, is expected to be new MacBook Pro models with M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, as Apple continues to push ahead of competitors still trying to catch up with the capabilities of the M2 line-up …

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Video shows an iMac G3 that was modified with a touchscreen back in 1999

Video shows an iMac G3 that was modified with a touchscreen back in 1999

The iconic iMac G3 was announced by Steve Jobs almost 26 years ago, on May 6, 1998. For its time, the iMac was considered a revolution in industrial design with its all-in-one construction in translucent plastic. It also ditched technologies like serial ports and floppy disk readers in favor of CD and USB. But did you know that there was an iMac G3 with a touchscreen? Well, sort of.

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Apple’s 32-inch iMac not expected until late 2024 at the earliest, but why?

New iMac M3 2023

Last month, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported that Apple is in the early stages of developing an Apple Silicon version of the iMac with a screen larger than 30 inches. In this week’s version of his Power On newsletter, Gurman offers a couple more tidbits on the timeline for this machine, saying that it would be released in late 2024 at the earliest.

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