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Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.66GHz) Video

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Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.66GHz)
Created: 03/16/2009
Video description: A few other all-in-ones make this 20-inch iMac look expensive on a dollars-per-screen-inch basis, but none are as attractive or as capable juggling multiple programs.

Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.66GHz) Video Transcript

[ Music ]

>> Rich Brown: Hi. I'm Rich Brown, Senior Editor for CNET.com. Today, we're going to take a look at the 20-inch Apple iMac. Now, this is Apple's newest iMac. It comes with a 2.66 gigahertz Intel Core Two Duo Processor. We found in our lab that that makes the system a very fast multi-tasker, although some of its straight-ahead performance results like in iTunes and Photoshop might not be as fast as say a standalone Windows desktop. Now, what's also unique about this new iMac is that Apple's updated its graphics chip. It now has an integrated an videonetic [phonetic] 400m graphics processor, and that makes it actually pretty decent for gaming. We wouldn't expect to play every game out there, especially if you do it with two windows and try to play like Crisis or Far Cry Two or some of the more advanced Windows games, but for the most part, the new iMac can play pretty much any Mac game as long as you keep the resolution and image quality settings reasonable. Now, this is actually the new default keyboard for this model, and there's no number pad. So it creates a very small profile. It doesn't take up a lot of desktop real estate. Fortunately, the number pad version is still available for no extra charge from Apple. Otherwise, very little has changed in the system since the last time we reviewed one. It still comes with 802.11n wireless built-in as well as Bluetooth. You have to pay extra for the little Apple remote, which is a little disappointing if you want to use this system as a media center-type thing out of the box. You can see there's a webcam up here. There's a slot-loading DVD drive along the right edge. Around back, though, you do get a few extra ports. Apple added one more USB 2.0 port as well as a mini-display port adapter that'll connect to Apple's new LED cinema display monitor, or you can buy a variety of adapters to connect standard DVI, VGA, or dualing DVI displays. Now, in looking around for this review, we found that if all you want is a 20-inch all-in-one, Windows PC's probably offer a more cost-effective option. That said, this is easily the best multi-tasking system in its price range, desktop or all-in-one, and we'd recommend it to anybody for work or at home. So I'm Rich Brown. This is Apple's new 20-inch Apple iMac. [ Music ]

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Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Winter 2009) Review

Editors' rating

The good: Best-in-class design; competitive performance in its price range, especially for multitasking; capable mainstream gaming performance.

The bad: Windows all-in-one vendors offer 20-inch or larger all-in-ones for less; not as well-suited as a dedicated digital entertainment system as some other all-in-ones.

The bottom line: A few other all-in-ones make this 20-inch iMac look expensive on a dollars-per-screen-inch basis, but none are as attractive or as capable juggling multiple programs. With a fast dual-core CPU and a strong array of features, Apple's updated all-in-one will slide seamlessly into a variety of roles at home or at work.

Read full review

Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Winter 2009) Specs

Manufacturer: Apple
Part number: MB417LL/A

Product Specifications
  • Product Specifications

  • Product Basic Spec

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Apple iMac (20-inch, 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, Winter 2009) Prices

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