Customer Reviews

Apple iMac MB953LL/A 27-Inch Desktop (OLD VERSION)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I became a Mac convert four years ago, when I picked up one of Apple's new Intel-based MacBook Pro laptops. I eventually picked up a 20" Apple Cinema Display to use at home when I want the desktop experience. Up to this point I've been very satisfied with Apple's products, particularly their displays. I've been considering upgrading for quite some time now, and about a month ago I decided I to pick up a new 27" iMac quad-core i5. I've always been wary of the notion of the "all-in-one" PC. A selling point on the new 27" iMac is the two-way display port, which will allow you to continue using the iMac display with a new machine when the time to upgrade comes.

First the pros:

As far as Apple products go, the quad-core iMac represents a bargain. While not as expandable as a Mac Pro, speed benchmark tests have shown a $2k iMac to be comparable to a $2.2k MacPro, with the benefit of a built in screen. I was impressed with the machine's speed and ability to multi-task; I could run both Mac OS X and XP via Parallels, run Aperture and Photoshop CS4 all simultaneously with no trouble. The desktop space afforded by the 27" was great, while having the 20" ACD as a secondary display added to the machine's usability.

Now the BIG CON...

There was only one flaw with the machine. The display was one of the primary selling points. I'm an amateur photographer, however I was immediately encountering difficulty calibrating the display's color. I quickly determined there was a noticeable shift in color temperature from the top of the screen to the bottom, with the bottom third of the screen displaying a warm and yellowish hue. I quick Google search revealed I was not alone. Disappointed, I called Apple support and arranged an appointment at the local Apple Store. I hauled the big machine back to the store and explained and displayed the issue. The employee behind the Genius Bar seemed genuinely surprised when I showed him and offered a replacement. To be sure the replacement wasn't also a dud, he fired it up on the spot. This machine was worse than the first. A third machine was pulled from the stock room... same issue. The three machines are all manufactured within eight weeks of one another (the first a week 49 machine, the second a week 51 machine and the third a week 45 machine). I was sent home with the third machine offered, but last week returned it, requesting a 100% refund, which was granted. Shooting three for three, I'm under the impression that the problem is more wide-spread than Apple is willing to admit, and represents a fundamental flaw in the hardware. While the tinge is sometimes difficult to notice out of the box, it grows worse with use.

Aside from the poor-quality display I enjoyed using the iMac, but I expect more from a product which is billed as a machine "with the ultimate display". I would assume it will take Apple a couple of months to get to the root of the problem and fix whatever flaws exist in the manufacturing process, or the design of the machine itself. Apple has dropped the ball on this one. I would advise anybody in the market for an iMac to wait until the next major upgrade to drop your hard-earned cash on the product.

For further reading check out the following website. While there are users with issues other than the yellow-tinge, this was the only problem I encountered and seems to be the primary complaint since Apple updated the iMac firm-ware to address the screen-flicker issue. Again, think twice before buying one of these things. Apple is working on the issue, and I think it would behoove most consumers to wait until a fix has been positively identified and implemented.

[...]

Length:: 4:43 Mins

It is hard to capture how beautiful this computer is in words much less video.
You have to see it in person.

I accidentally listed it on-screen as 2.26GHz, it should say 2.66GHz.

I took a stab at a video review.

I hope you enjoy.
Let me know your feedback, thanks!

First things first: the iMac offered on this page appears to have the Intel Core i5 quad-core processor, NOT a Core 2 Duo. In addition, a more capable quad-core processor, the i7, is available as a build-to-order option from the online Apple Store. Be sure you're looking at the configuration you want. Apple makes four 27" Aluminum iMac processor setups in all: two with the Core 2 Duo, an i5, and an i7.

Now then, on with the show. A quick look around here shows that many reviewers have already discussed the essential hardware and software features of the 27" iMac. So, rather than repeating stuff that has already been said, I am going to focus this review on my experience of upgrading from a G4 igloo iMac that was running System 10.5.8 .

Migration Assistant
*I used a Firewire 400 to Firewire 800 cable to move the contents of my old computer to the new machine with Migration Assistant.
*The process was virtually seamless, with only a few minor adjustments necessary to the transferred data. Only four applications required reinstallation: ClamXav, iTunes (due to the Soundflower plugin--in any case, no music was lost or damaged), Microsoft Expression Media 2, and a Juniper Networks remote access program (part of a corporate telecommuting package).
*Rules for Little Snitch, a third party utility, need to be reestablished.
*Customized preferences for Spotlight must be reentered.

Magic Mouse
*iMacs now come with a wireless mouse as standard equipment. The Magic Mouse is a vast improvement over the Apple Mouse (aka Mighty Mouse) because it doesn't have a roller ball that eventually stops working. In fact, there aren't any external moving parts on the Magic Mouse, other than the on/off switch.
*Exposé and Dashboard functions are now on the top row of the keyboard, not on mouse buttons.

Keyboard
*The chiclet style keys took me a little while to get used to, but now I prefer them to traditional "long stroke" keys.
*For some reason, Apple has made a compact laptop keyboard the standard iMac keyboard (Steve Jobs must be nostalgic for the original 1984 Mac keyboard). Anybody who relies on Page keys for navigation or on a numeric keypad for data entry is out of luck.
*An extended keyboard with Home/Pg Up/Pg Dn/Delete keys and a number pad is available as a build-to-order option, along with additional memory and other treats, at the online Apple Store.

Audio System
*Optical digital audio input and output requires cables or cable adapters with 3.5mm plugs. Standard size TOSLINK connectors won't work. Also, digital audio I/O is run through the microphone and headphone ports. It is consequently impossible to use headphones or an external mic when the computer is setup for optical digital audio use.
*The speakers are a weak point in the design. They are small, underpowered, and sound tinny. I think the igloo iMacs had much better sound. If I recall correctly, they had a specially tuned amplifier--plus the speakers were fairly large and were not built into the computer housing. Users who use their iMac as their main music source or who work with music and sound will want to buy a separate pair of speakers.

Using the computer: screen, fan noise, heat, Rosetta
*This iMac is all about the gigantic 27" screen. It's incredibly sharp and bright, with better-than-HD resolution. Excel users will love being able to see columns A-AE and rows 1-95 all at once at 100% zoom. No more wasting time scrolling around and splitting windows. Photos, movies, and graphics all look absolutely fabulous.
*I initially thought I would hate the glossy finish on the screen, especially after seeing how much glare demo models at the Apple Store showed. But, as it turns out, the shiny glass isn't distracting at all in my home office. That said, anybody who hasn't ever seen a glossy screen computer in person should go check one out before placing an order.
*Something that I miss from my igloo iMac is the ability to move the screen both from left to right (x-axis) and up and down (y-axis). Aluminum iMac screens can only be swiveled up and down, in a fairly limited range.
*Under most conditions, the computer runs very quietly. Fan noise is normally inaudible.
*The top of the computer can become noticeably hot to the touch. Not hot enough to cook the proverbial egg, but definitely warmer than most other electronic devices (except for the original PlayStation3, otherwise known as the Sony Spaceheater).
*PowerPC applications run well under Rosetta. Once it is downloaded automatically, upon demand, it runs invisibly.

Some early buyers have reported display problems
*Sporadic screen flickering (Update: Apple released downloadable fixes for this on 21 Dec. and 1 Feb.)
*Color temperature differences between the top and bottom of the screen
*See the Apple Support discussion boards for details (links in the Comments area below)

Bottom line: it's the screen, the SCREEN, THE SCREEN!! Massive amounts of screen real estate, combined with fast performance, make the 27" Aluminum iMac a true joy to use for both work and play. One star penalty for not making an extended keyboard standard and for the terrible built-in sound system.

------
May 2010 Addendum
Q: With hindsight, would I still buy this machine?
A: Yes!

I have the 27" iMac with the 2.8 Ghz Intel i7 processor, and so far, I'm completely happy with it.

The "out of the box experience" was just about perfect. Minimal packaging, and after lifting the system, keyboard and mouse out of the box, it was up and running in under five minutes. Very impressive...batteries already installed in the keyboard/mouse (I have the wireless ones) and everything "just worked".

I was a little nervous about the small wireless keyboard, but now that I've been using it a while, it's actually very good. The keys have a good feel, and although it looks somewhat flimsy, it's not. The wireless connection (Bluetooth) works great, and I like that I can move it around on my desk any time I want. Same for the mouse...the new mouse design is cool, and being able to just run my fingers over it rather than having a scroll wheel is very handy. It works smoothly and I like it better than the Microsoft wireless mouse I had been using up to now.

The system comes with built-in wireless networking, which seemed to work great with my 802.11N Cisco/Linksys router. I've since switched to the wired connection as I have Gigabit Ethernet in my home...it also works flawlessly. On the network, it's connected to my Windows systems, my networked printers - even my DVR - without incident. From an application perspective, it's worked 100% perfectly with everything I've tried, including VMware, Microsoft Office for Mac, Photoshop, etc. It comes with Snow Leopard pre-installed.

The display is simply stunning, whether running traditional applications, looking at movies, editing photographs, etc. It's bright and crisp corner to corner, and big enough to comfortably run about any two apps side by side. Indeed, it's almost too big (never thought I'd say that!)...I find I need a little more distance between my eyes and the monitor to take it all in. Next to my (admittedly 3 year old) Dell LCD monitor...well, it's no contest. I'm hoping to figure out how to connect another PC and a few HDMI devices to the monitor, using the Mini Display Port input (which is more difficult than it sounds, since you need VGA/DVI/HDMI to Mini Display Port conversion, and few of these devices seem to be available).

As for performance, my i7 2.8Ghz is scoring about 8500 points on the "Geekbench" benchmark - the fastest iMac ever, and within striking range of a quad-core Mac Pro. It's fast - blindingly fast - in day to day use, and at least so far, I haven't found anything that really taxes its limits.

Great machine and it comes with my highest recommendation!

First of all, Amazon did a great job shipping this computer to me, being a prime member I was able to get it shipped the next day for $3.99. I also saved a lot of money since I don't have to pay CA sales tax which is almost 10%.

Computer is awesome. The screen is the best thing about it, I can fit about three windows (firefox, word, excel etc) at one time at the highest resolution. It's also nice that that the iMac is finally in 16:9 ratio which is the HD video standard. Wider is better for multitasking as well. Fortunately, I didn't have any of the screen issues some early buyers had, at least not yet. Mine was purchased early March and so far no screen problems.

Now for the obvious flaws. This computer will not wake up from sleep mode by moving the mouse or typing on the keyboard! The only way it will wake up from sleep mode is if you turn the computer on and off using the power button on the back. I checked forums to find a solution and it seems like this is a very prevalent problem. The only solution offered by apple care is a replacement or to reinstall the Mac OS. Both solutions seem like a huge hassle so I will just wait until they release a firmware update to fix this but until they do I have my sleep setting at 3 hours.

The slot loading superdrive is also a problem since taking a CD out without scratching it is like playing operation. The slot drive is very narrow and it's easy to scratch a CD against the metal edges of the opening.

USB input placement is also inconvenient since they are on the lower back of the iMac, which is exactly the most difficult place to reach. Would have been a lot more convenient if they placed at least one USB input on the side of the computer. Again, I don't see why this was so obvious to Apple.

Also with such a beautiful screen, I find it disappointing that Apple made it so difficult and expensive to plug in an HDMI device such as a PS3 into it. There are no solutions offered by Apple but there are some third party devices and converters that will allow you to do this but they are quite pricey and iMac won't be able to get sound from the HDMI source.

Overall this computer is a great value, even when compared to PCs. No other manufacturer has a computer with a screen this large, a quad core processor, 512mb video card, 4gb ram (easily upgradeable), for under $2000. Especially since a 30" cinema display goes for $1700, I don't see how they managed to trim three inches and put a computer into it for $300 more.

I bought my i5 quad core iMac a couple of weeks ago and I love everything about it...except for the noisy fan. The power, speed, screen size and beautiful display resolution are all top notch. So is the massive storage provided by the 2 TB hard drive. But I was surprised by the noise of the fan and the fact that it runs constantly at that noise level. That no doubt is because of the heat of the quad core processor and perhaps because I loaded it up with 8GB of RAM, but it is very unusual for a Mac product. When you see it at the Apple Store you don't notice the noise. But in the quiet of a home setting it is very noticable. Again, that is the only downside I have with this otherwise great new Apple iMac.

UPDATE: The nearly constant fan running on high speed is not normal. Apple service told me a faulty sensor is to blame and it will be replaced no charge. It's a bummer to have an annoying problem right out of the box, but Apple service picked up my phone call is less than 2 minutes, diagnosed the issue in short order and scheduled a time for me to bring it in to an Apple Store for service the next day. That is great responsiveness. A++ and 5-stars for that.

This review is in agreement with *most* of the reviews for the iMAC. But the question I often get from friends and family is "Why buy a MAC? Isn't PC so much better?"

I currently own a 27" iIMAC, a Gateway Laptop, and a Dell Inspiron. No, no power using here... my higher end AlienWare was sold to pay for my iMAC after it became unplayable due to some problem I can not figure out, my Gateway is good, but no main house computer, and my Inspiron is so old it should go to the museum.

Soooooo at the risk of creating a MAC vs PC forum, here is my answer to that question in review form...

First the CONS:

1. Lurning Curve: There is a learning curve with the MAC X OS for long time PC users. I have used PC's since 1989 when my parents bought their first PC upgrading from the Tandy 2000. The learning curve was the equivalent (at first) of trying to communicate with an Englishman's slang terms vs American English. The curve was not insurmountable, and after a month I felt as though I had been using MAC's all my life. I don't see this being a problem for younger users, they always seem to grasp new tech faster.

2. Gaming: The classic CON I heard for years before I finally bought my iMac was the games. This is not a huge con for me, as I am not an avid gamer by todays terms (i spend a "mere" 6-8 hours a week gaming). The amount of titles are lacking vs PC games, and MAC game 'ports' are not as content filled (unreliable updates) as their PC counterparts. This will appear in the PRO's for reasons listed later.

3. No Blu-Ray: I am not as passionate about Blu-Ray as others. I use it for movies on my big screen and nothing else. Pure and simple, external hard drives are more economical than Blu-Ray disks for both price and space available. I am a bit miffed that during my deployment had I decided I wanted to bring Blu-Rays (rather than use digital media, which is still, in my opinion a better option for those away from home and their big screen), I wouldn't be able to watch them on my iMAC. It might even be nice to pop a Blu-Ray in the iMAC to watch one while my kids have reign over the TV, but it's certainly not even close to a deal breaker.

4. Compatability: The software compatability issues with MAC OS X are not insurmountable. There are various programs out there that allow you to use Windows software on your MAC. Office is now available for native run on MAC OS X, and that was a big deal for me because my school uses Word for everything, and my job basically requires Power Point in order to brief or conduct training. Using Parallels I have not had any issues running Windows software. In the end, the compatability issue grinds down to the money spent on Parallels (45$ when i got it) and the time spent to install the software. Not a big deal for me, since most MAC OS X software that came with the machine replaced almost all of the crap I had on my PC.

5. Power Using: You can mod an iMAC just as much as you can mod a PC. But if you are one of the power user types that can't possibly be satisfied with buying somthing and having it run as intended, you should probably get a PC, because you are the guy that has to have a 6 core computer (even though NOTHING requires one) and 3 graphics cards (again, NOTHING). If you bought that racecar that goes 240mph, even though you will never go that fast in it, then you should go ahead and keep buying a PC, and don't buy a mac to go alongside it (you need that money for the electric bill). For those that have to upgrade their PC constantly, stay with your PC: PC's are far easier to upgrade when you need a new motherboard, CPU, power etc etc. I never did those upgrades with my PC, however. If I couldn't solve antiquity issues with a graphics card and RAM (which are easy to change in a MAC) then I just bought a new comp.

6. One optical drive: 1 drive?! What? My PC always had at least 2! I thought this was a pain at first... until I realized that I havn't used both drives on my PC since 1998. Thats a win for the external HDD.

Now, the PRO's

1. Gaming: Yes, a pro and a con. I play WoW with settings maxed on my iMAC and have not once had issues in 14 days of playtime (not calender days, 14 days actually spent logged into the game). My add-ons work seamlessly and without issue (at least, not without the same issues I had on my PC, such as poorly built add-ons). Steam is a big issue with gamers (people hate the DRM issue) but they are doing all their new releases for MAC OS X to run natively (not ported, for those who know the difference). This is big for me, cause I am a big TotalWar fan, and will soon be playing them on my MAC minus Parallels.

2. Price: You simply can't build a computer with these specs for the price. For those of you that are looking to challenge this, take into consideration the monitor/screen quality. If you build a computer of these specs for less, you are buying a lower quality cooling system and monitor, thats the only way to do it. Too often, MAC's are labeled as pricey, but the 27" iMAC is excellent.

3. Customer Service: I can't review it to true faith (because I havn't needed them) but they are top rated for customer service, and have their reps based in the United States who apparently have English as a first language (I'm looking at you Microsoft).

4. Mod-ability: I am not a modder, I am not one of those guys that buys a new product and then spends weeks and months trying to tweak it for more power like Tim Allen. A good friend of mine IS a modder, and has modded his iMAC right alongside his PC. He uses his iMAC more than his PC because it looks nice, is ergonomic and doesn't "...give him crap." This is the guy that installed a liquid cooling system on his XBOX, put Windows on his PS3, and runs Windows, Linux and MAC OS X on his laptop, PC, and iMAC, and has several terabyte HDD's filled with media, software and games. Also, adding a new graphics card and ram is simpler on the PC, not to mention doing a full upgrade. PC's are just superior in this department (CON?).

5. Community: PRO and CON, I guess. Apple buyers, in my opinion, are not the same as PC (powerusers) buyers. Apple guys expect simplicity and don't expect you to know what DIMMM is. To quote Denzel Washington (albeit probly innacuratly) "I don't need to know HOW it works, I just need to know how to USE it." This sums up the majority of the Apple computing community. On the other hand, if you care what people think, non-Apple buyers tend to see Apple users as snobby and 'uppity,' and worst of all - trendy. The MAC is also a great conversation peice, because when your family and friends come over and see it, you get to engage in heated MAC vs PC debates that boil down to two separate products basically being equal, and differing only in user preference.

6. Security/Reliability: No Apple computers are not secure out of the box. They are vulnerable to attack (or so it has been said by so many people). But in my 2 years of MAC I have gotten ZERO issues with viruses. I have had 1 issue with freezing (my computer freezes when I run TotalWar: ROME on Parralels - so I bought the MAC version). I don't care if I live on the moon, which is incredibly vulnerable to attack, I'm pretty sure I would feel safe there because nobody has attacked it. My Windows PC was rife with viruses and somtime froze for the pettiest of reasons. I know that viruses (supposedly) exist for the MAC (google: Mac Virus - turned up a lot of forums asking if people even needed anti virus software, but I don't see a specific reference to an actual virus written for MAC). I use MAC anti virus just in case, though.

7. The Software: iLife is the *&#@. Many MAC users say they immediatly get rid of Safari when they buy their MAC, Safari has never given me issues. All my software has worked well. Running Windows programs with Parallels can give you a headache, but thats about it. On the other hand, I must state a disclaimer. One of the biggest lies about MAC is that the software is 100% superior and graphics editors should always buy a MAC. Not true. If you are one of these guys, the high end software for graphics editing is available on PC just the same as your MAC. When it comes to high end, PC has all the same stuff, and then some competitors, so you will actually have more options on your PC. I am not a hi-end user, and neither is the average consumer. The out-of-the-box, comes-with-my-mac software is awesome and useful, and I did not get a single "bloatware" program with my MAC.

8. Looks: This thing just looks sexy, and a SINGLE wire for one computer is pretty amazing (and practical).

Conclusion: 20 years of PC computing with DOS and then Windows were nothing compared to 2 years of computing with my MAC, I love it. Lovers of simplicity and out-of-the-box quality, this is for you. Lovers of power using and modding, stay with your PC.

I bought this iMac to upgrade from my old G5 iMac with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Overall, I am pretty happy with it. The screen is beautiful; it is almost too big. Everything- even simple web or iTunes browsing looks superb on this screen. It looks like it will be great for photo and video editing- it is so big, bright, and sharp. The new "Magic Mouse" and Apple keyboard are cool, although their novel design does take some getting used to.

I do have a few concerns, however. The back of the computer is extremely hot, even when I just have Firefox and iTunes open. I am worried that this will decrease the longevity of the computer, but I have read online that this is normal and that the aluminum body actually helps to cool the inside of the computer. The outer casing seems to be somewhat fragile- today when setting up the iMac, I dented the aluminum around the Firewire port a little while trying to insert a Firewire cable. My old plastic iMac had no issues with anything becoming damaged, therefore I am worried that I need to be extra careful with this iMac (in regards to scratching and denting), which makes handling it a little nerve-racking!

This iMac includes only one Firewire port, whereas on my old iMac there were two. Because the computer is so massive, it is harder to move the screen up and down, and it does not seem to tilt down as much as my previous iMac. The computer comes with a cleaning cloth, which is an absolute necessity. This computer is a magnet for fingerprints and dust, which it seems to attract with ease.

The RAM potential of this machine is fantastic. Unlike the previous iMacs, which only had two RAM slots, these have four slots. While you can theoretically upgrade to 16GB of RAM, the prices are so high right now that it is only practical to upgrade to 8GB (by filling the extra two slots with two 2GB memory modules). While it may not be upgradable today to 16GB, the RAM expandability will help to increase the life of this rather non-upgradable machine.

This model comes with more than enough processing power, hard drive space, and RAM for powering everyday applications (such as iPhoto, iMovie, etc.) with breeze. I really pointed out the flaws of this machine in my review, however I feel that it is still the best computer on the market at this time (as imperfect as it may be). I hope this purchase pays off, and I get years of enjoyment from my pricey computing investment.

I've used my quad core 27" for the last 2 weeks without any issue. After much research I decided to go with the quad core instead of the core duo. My friend has the duo and the time it takes me to open large files or render graphics is almost twice as fast.

This display is so incredible I could go on and on about the crisp sharpness, contrast and color but I will just say its worth every dime I paid.

Primary use: Final Cut pro / After effects / Lightroom / Photoshop + web browsing and typical office functions

Pros:
Huge vibrant display (seriously walk into an apple store or best buy and see how massive this thing is)
upgradeable to 16GB memory
elegant body / hardware quality
Quad core processor out-performed the mac pro in initial bench testing!
1 TB hard drive
fastest video processor ever used in an imac
second monitor supported
it's the envy of all other computers (not to mention your friends)

Cons:
it's expensive
No Blu-ray drive (yet)
Firewire 800 plug change (apple adapter needed)
Keyboard has no 10ket and feels constricted
high quality glass display causes glare issues for some people

I've you're a video editor / photographer / designer or any type of media professional you already know this is a powerhouse for visual productivity.

I have this review on the other 27 inch model as well. Thought it best to post it both places.

OK, firstly I want to say that the 5 star review is only there because you have to give the rating.
I am not rating this device per say, I am giving information that helps people understand a functionality of the device.

I was going to purchase this computer with the understanding that I can connect my PS3 and or Xbox 360 to the machine via adapters. Specifically a Mini Displayport to DVI adapater connected to a DVI to HDMI adapater which would then connect to the HDMI from my PS3 or Xbox 360. It was also my understanding that this functionality is available on the 27 inch models only and not the 21.5 inch models.

After a few phone calls to Apple themselves I got all this info put together.

Yes, the 27 inch model does accept input through the Mini Displayport and the 21.5 inch models do not.
However, after talking with a sales rep, who brought one of Apple's engineers into the call, I have learned that this functionality will not exactly work as I was previously told it would. He said for one, that the adapters would not bring the signal into the monitor from PS3's or Xbox 360's and two, that I would need another device, the name of which escapes me at this time, in order to hook it up to the monitor. This other device however would not do 1080p; it would only do 640x480 or something like that.

He basically said that the input into the 27 inch monitors is so you can hook up your laptops and such for the benefit of having the nice 27 inch screen.

He recommended that I purchase a Mac mini and hook it up to a 1080p HD TV through a DVI to HDMI adapter and then hook my PS3 and Xbox 360 to that TV.

So all in all, if your looking to hook up your consoles to an iMac you still do not have that option. Well you do, but at such a resolution that it wouldn't be worth it anyways.

Apple, if your reading this, PUT AN HDMI input on the iMac's. Your customers will thank you.

Its a shame to have an awesome display and not have the ability to hook up things to it that matter. And since the iMac also doesn't have a Blue Ray player this would allow for it to have one through the HDMI port via a Blue Ray player or a PS3. I mean, could you imagine watching a blue ray movie on an iMac? Stunning to say the least.