Electronics, Computers & Accessories

8/31/2010

Apple iMac MB950LL/A 21.5-Inch Desktop Reviews

Featuring brilliant LED-backlit 21.5 widescreen display in a edge-to-edge glass design and seamless all aluminum enclosure. The iMac, is the fastest ever with Intel Core 2 Duo processors starting at 3.06 GHz. Storage is never an issue with the iMac, this unit features a 500GB 7200-rpm Serial ATA hard drive. The iMac ships with a wireless keyboard and the wireless Magic Mouse, the worlds first mouse with Multi-Touch technology. 21.5 iMac - 3.06GHz/500GB HD Apple Wireless Keyboard Magic Mouse Cleaning cloth Power cord Install/restore DVDs Printed and electronic documentation
Updated with a brilliant 21.5-inch LED-backlit widescreen display in a new edge-to-edge glass design and seamless all aluminum enclosure, the new Apple iMac is ideal for watching high definition movies and TV shows from iTunes, or editing and watching your own videos or photos using iLife. The iMac now also comes standard with a wireless keyboard and the new Magic Mouse, which features Apple's Multi-Touch technology. And it's faster than ever with a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor.


The 21.5-inch iMac features a brilliant LED-backlit display with widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio.


The iMac declutters your desktop with a wireless keyboard and new Magic Mouse--the world's first Multi-Touch mouse.
The iMac's display offers a 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution (for native 1080p high-definition viewing), and it uses IPS technology to deliver consistent color across an ultra wide 178 degree viewing angle. This 21.5-inch model also features improved graphics with the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor. It's powered by a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, which provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture for improved multitasking, video, and gaming performance. It comes pre-loaded with Apple's Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard operating system--an operating system custom-designed for the advanced technology inside--and it also comes with the iLife '09 suite of applications, including iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, and iTunes.

Key Features

  • 21.5-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with IPS technology, a 1920 x 1080-pixel resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, 320 cd/m2 brightness rating, and 178-degree viewing angle (horizontal and vertical)
  • 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3 MB shared L2 cache for excellent multitasking
  • 500 GB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 RPM)
  • 4 GB installed RAM (1066 MHz DDR3; supports up to 16 GB)
  • NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor (with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory) for an outstanding everyday graphics experience
  • 8x slot-loading SuperDrive with double-layer DVD support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/
  • Built-in iSight camera for video chatting
  • Wi-Fi wireless networking (based on 802.11n specification; 802.11a/b/g compatible)
  • Gigabit Ethernet wired networking (10/100/1000BASE-T)
  • Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) for connecting with peripherals such as keyboards, mice and cell phones
  • Side-loading SD card slot
  • Four USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port
  • Mini DisplayPort video output with optional adapters for DVI and VGA output
  • Built-in stereo speakers with two internal 17-watt high-efficiency amplifiers along with built-in microphone, optical digital audio output/headphone out, optical digital audio input/audio line in
  • Dimensions: 20.8 x 7.42 x 17.75 inches (WxDxH)
  • Weight: 20.5 pounds
  • Included Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse
What's in the Box
iMac, Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse, cleaning cloth, power cord, install/restore DVDs, printed and electronic documentation
Limited Warranty And Service
The iMac comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend your service and support to three years from your computer's purchase date. Only the AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with direct telephone support from Apple technical experts and the assurance that repairs will be handled by Apple-authorized technicians using genuine Apple parts.

Key Features

Big, Beautiful Display Combined with All-In-One Simplicity



The evolution of the Apple iMac.
The new iMac has come a long way from the first 15-inch iMac. The all-in-one design of the first flat-panel iMac cleaned up the desktop, and put everything you need--display, processor, graphics card, hard drive, optical drive, memory, and more--inside one simple enclosure. New technology inside and out makes the new iMac a worthy addition to the all-in-one dynasty. This 21.5-inch model features an edge-to-edge glass display that covers nearly the entire front of the enclosure. When all you see is the display, nothing gets between you and what's onscreen. Movies, TV shows, websites, photos--everything looks stunning on the new 16:9 widescreen iMac display. And the LED backlighting in the new iMac helps push more light through the pixels with remarkable brightness and efficiency. And because the LED backlight doesn't take up much space, the iMac enclosure stays thin--even with all the high-performance components inside.
The iMac display is designed to look great from almost any angle. A technology called in-plane switching (IPS) makes this possible. Whether you're sitting in front of the display or standing off to the side, you'll get a perfect picture with superb color consistency and no loss of detail.
The wider iMac display allows more room to separate the two hottest components, the CPU and the GPU. This keeps things cool inside the iMac enclosure. Apple engineers also implemented an intelligent control system that monitors temperatures and delivers just the right amount of airflow to critical components. And the three fans inside iMac have been tuned to be ultraquiet.
While you'll find a collection of ports on the back of iMac, you won't find much else. A seamless, precision-forged enclosure makes the back one continuous aluminum surface. And there's only one cord: the power cord.

Wireless Magic Mouse and Keyboard
Forget the mouse as you know it. Every iMac comes with the wireless Magic Mouse: the world's first Multi-Touch mouse. Use it once and you'll wonder how you ever used anything else. There's no scroll ball, no clunky wheel, no cord, and no visible button. Instead, the Magic Mouse uses Multi-Touch technology to let you control everything with simple gestures. Give them a try and you'll find that Magic Mouse changes the way you interact with your computer. Built-in software lets you configure Magic Mouse any way you want. Its smooth, seamless design is ambidextrous, and it supports two-button clicking--without buttons.
The iMac banishes desktop clutter completely with a wireless keyboard to go with the wireless Magic Mouse. This low-profile keyboard takes up less desk space--24 percent less--than larger keyboards. There's no numeric keypad, so you can place your mouse comfortably next to the keyboard. And built-in Bluetooth means there are no cables to connect.

Built-in Wi-Fi
High-speed 802.11n wireless technology is built into iMac. And with Time Capsule or the AirPort Express Base Station, every computer in every room can wirelessly connect to iMac, the Internet, and each other. Over this network, everyone can print, surf the web, and play music on iTunes through your home stereo--wirelessly.
iSight Webcam
Hidden behind the glass display at the top of iMac is an iSight camera. Use it with iChat, and you can be anywhere without actually being there. Video chat with up to three of your friends, share a video with a colleague, or present to a client. Use iSight with Photo Booth for fun photo effects. And there's no need to waste valuable primping time installing software or configuring the camera.

Pre-Loaded with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife '09

Every Mac comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world's most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple's innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, new core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto, to easily organize and manage photos; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use new features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand which introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar. Installed software
  • Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools)
  • iLife '09 (includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, iDVD)

Environmentally Friendly Design

Because Apple designs both hardware and software, we can reduce our environmental footprint in ways others can't. For starters, a highly efficient power supply reduces the amount of power wasted when bringing electricity from the wall to your Mac. Unlike a lot of PCs, a Mac uses energy-efficient hardware components that work hand in hand with the operating system to conserve power--even between keystrokes. A Mac also doesn't contain a lot of toxic materials. All Mac displays are mercury and arsenic free, and the internal components are free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs).
Efficient Power Supply
The iMac includes a highly efficient power supply that reduces the amount of power wasted when bringing electricity from the wall to your computer. Lower power consumption reduces energy bills and lessens the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions from power plants.

Advanced Power Management
Unlike a lot of Windows-based PC systems, iMac uses energy-efficient hardware components that work hand in hand with the operating system to conserve power. Mac OS X spins down hard drives and activates sleep mode on already energy-efficient LED-backlit displays. And it balances tasks across both central processors and graphics processors. Mac OS X never misses a power-saving opportunity, no matter how small. It even regulates the processor between keystrokes, reducing power between the letters you type. That's just one of many ways Apple manages small amounts of power that add up to big savings. ENERGY STAR Qualification
The iMac meets the stringent low power requirements set by the EPA, making it ENERGY STAR qualified. ENERGY STAR 5.0 sets significantly higher efficiency limits for power supplies and aggressive limits for the computer's typical annual power consumption.

Technical Details

- Ships in Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging
- 3.06GHz Intel Dual Core Processor
- 500GB Hard Drive, DVD SuperDrive, 4GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
- 21.5" LED-backlit display with a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, 1920x1080 HD resolution, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
- Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard, includes new wireless Magic Mouse

Customer Buzz
5.0 out of 5 stars"HAPPY WITH APPLE IMAC" 2010-08-16
By tuffcowboy
I think I made a good decision when I purchase this Apple Imac over the and the PC. It was some what different than the PC , but when I learned How to operate it, I was so satisfied and happy. It is great and it well worth the extra money to purchase this Apple than the PC. I have had it for 8-months and I haven't had a problem with viruses. I can say that I love it and would recommend it to my friends or to anyone.

Customer Buzz 
4.0 out of 5 stars"Just about perfect" 2010-08-10
By Acid (Rogers, AR USA)
I'm a graphic designer, though far from a rich one. There were many arguments for saving $400 and buying an "equivalent" PC (mostly the money), but I just love the Mac System, design, durability, and lack of virus issues too much. I've never owned a PC that lasted more than 4 years. The only Mac I've ever owned lasted 10 years, at which point I chose to replace it (could have upgraded, but that still would have only brought it up to "descent" as far as memory, disk space).
I almost went with the MacMini. A good selling point with it is that once it's outmoded, it can be plugged into your new computer and used as a backup. But with a 500Gig hard drive and awesome speed, etc., it will be quite some time before this baby is outmoded. Purchased 3 months ago and haven't had a single issue. Everyone is amazed when they see it: "Where's the computer?" is a common response. Boot Camp is an excellent addition that makes it very easy to run both Mac OS X and Windows (you'll have to purchase a copy) on the same computer, making software incompatibility a complete non-issue. The 21.5 in. monitor is a little bit smaller than I would have preferred, but makes it a much easier fit on my computer desk and makes transportation much easier too.

Customer Buzz 
5.0 out of 5 stars"Apple iMac MB950LL/A 21.5-Inch Desktop" 2010-08-10
By Gerald E. Finstein (Seal Beach, CA USA)
A GREAT COMPUTER THIS IS MY 5TH APPLE COMPUTER EVERYTHING IS AS DESCRIBED IT IS WELL WORTH THE MONEY

Customer Buzz 
5.0 out of 5 stars"it's not all hype" 2010-08-01
By B. Peet (PA, USA)
I debated getting an iMac for many years. I have been a life long PC user and was worried about switching and if I would be able to do all of the same things on a Mac. My kids had destroyed their 3rd computer and Amazon had the iMac on sale with no interest financing, so I thought now is the time. For me, there is a little bit of a learning curve coming from Windows, but all in all, I am impressed with the ease of use. I bought this for my kids, age 12 and 8. I set it up, tinkered a little, and then let my 8 yr old daughter use it while I finished some yard work. When I returned, she had setup her own email, made a few short movies, and emailed them to my mother. The kids are usually asking me how to do this or how to do that. With the Mac, they have yet to ask a question except why the internet stopped working at 10pm. Thank you, parental controls. I am very satisfied with the iMac.

Customer Buzz 
5.0 out of 5 stars"Good Buy" 2010-08-01
By Robert B. Gillies (Volcan, Chiriqui, The Republic of Panama)
At Amazon's current price this discontinued model is a better buy than the Mac mini which I have always favored. I like my Mac mini but for a little over $200 more you get a faster processor, a screen, bigger hard drive, keyboard, mouse, etc. If I needed a computer right now, I would buy one of these while they last.



Electronics, Computers & Accessories