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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.

Three versions of A14 chip, says Chinese report: two for Apple Silicon Macs

A14 chip versions

A Chinese-language newspaper has posted what it claims is the chip roadmap for the first Apple Silicon Macs, citing supply-chain sources to suggest three versions of the A14 chip.

The report says that there will be three variants of the A14 processor so far seen in the iPad Air and iPhone 12, two of which will power Apple Silicon Macs …

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2020 iMac review ($1,799 base version) — a great value, with a catch [Video]

Earlier this week I got my hands on what is will possibly be the last noteworthy iMac refresh before Apple transitions from Intel to its own silicon. If that ends up being the case, we can say that Apple’s all-in-one, with its Intel CPU and current design, went out with a bang. Watch my 2020 iMac review, and I cover my hands-on experience with the $1,799 base model.

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How to upgrade iMac (2020) RAM and save up to $2000 in the process

This past week Apple released what could be the swan song for the current design of the 27-inch iMac. With Apple Silicon-based Macs on the horizon, it’s possible that we’ve seen the last of the current iMac’s design, and with it the end of user-accessible memory that makes it easy to upgrade iMac (2020) RAM.

The current 5K iMac design is unique, because it’s the only Mac machine that Apple sells outside of the $6000 Mac Pro that features user-upgradable memory. Thanks to a special door just above the power socket on the rear of the 27-inch iMac, users can quickly gain access to the machine’s four SO-DIMM slots to upgrade the RAM.

Not even the iMac Pro provides users with such a cost-saving luxury, which makes the 5K iMac a value-packed machine. And with the 2020 iMac now officially supporting 128GB of RAM in build-to-order configurations, users can purchase third-party RAM and save lots of money, up to $2000. Watch our hands-on step-by-step tutorial for the details, and be sure to subscribe to 9to5Mac on YouTube for more iMac content.

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Should you buy the new iMac? Here’s how it compares to its predecessor

2020 iMac compare should you buy?

Apple has launched refreshed iMacs with the biggest changes coming to the 27-inch models. While there are compelling updates like 10th generation Intel CPUs, new AMD GPUs, and a 1080p FaceTime camera, the switch to Apple Silicon could bring a truly all-new iMac design (which we didn’t get today). Follow along for a 2020 iMac comparison versus the previous generation along with some help deciding if you should buy the new iMac.

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Back to the Mac 018: New iMac design preview [Video]

2020 imac

In every iMac review that I’ve produced in the last few years, there has been one common complaint among them all: after maintaining the same general look for the past decade, the iMac looks old and outdated.

Yes, it’s high time for the iMac to receive a substantial makeover, and it looks like we’re finally on the precipice of such a change actually happening. In this episode of Back to the Mac, I discuss this exciting development. 
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Eurasian regulatory filings list upcoming iPhone 12 models and likely redesigned iMac

iPhone sales grow

Apple’s latest updates to the Eurasian Economic Commission database have hit today, with a handful of new model identifiers to theorize about. After a leaker indicated that a new iMac model was coming at WWDC, the EEC database now lists a new desktop Mac with model identifier ‘A2330’, running macOS 10.15. This is adding more fuel on the fire that a new generation iMac is just around the corner, expected to end a decade-long run of the current iMac’s industrial design.

There are also EEC listings for the expected iPhone 12 lineup, nine new model identifiers in total …


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Would you buy a 23-inch iMac? Is Intel vs ARM important to you? [Poll]

will you buy 23-inch iMac?

iMac concept by Viktor Kádár

A new report today claimed that Apple is working on the long-awaited iMac update and that we could see a 23-inch model start production in Q3 this year with a launch happening in Q4. There will no doubt be lots of pent up demand for a truly refreshed iMac in any case, but will Apple’s decision to use an Intel or ARM processor be a deciding factor for you?


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Comment: It’s time for a larger iMac; 27 inches is too small for 2020

Time for a larger iMac

It’s time for Apple to give us a larger iMac.

The company first launched a 27-inch iMac in 2009. Following on from earlier 17-, 20-, 21.5- and 24-inch models, it seemed huge at the time!

But it’s not 2009 anymore. We now live in a world where 34-inch monitors are commonplace, 40-inch ones are not unusual – and there are even 49-inch models around, from Dell, LG , and Samsung. Alongside these, the iMac display, impressive as it is in terms of resolution, looks cramped …


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After the iPhone, Apple patent imagines the iMac as a single slab of glass

iMac as a single slab of glass

Apple is growing ever closer to its reported ambition to design the iPhone as a single slab of glass, but a new patent application suggests as least some designers in the company share the same ambition for the iMac.

One funky variant even shows how it could allow the MacBook Pro to dock with the iMac, a design that could potentially work for a future Apple display too…


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Back to the Mac 013: 2019 iMac – Five takeaways from an iMac Pro user [Video]

Recently Apple provided long-awaited updates to its iMac lineup, and although there are no cosmetic changes to be found in the 2019 iMac, these machines feature noteworthy CPU and GPU improvements under the hood. In fact, CPU options now start at 6-core processors for the base 27-inch model, a notable boost over the strict 4-core configurations from the previous refresh. If you desire more processing power, then the new iMacs, with their updated Intel CPUs and AMD GPUs provide a substantial performance upgrade.

Given the new upgraded processor options, it’s no wonder why people are quick to compare the 8-core model to the entry-level iMac Pro. But as you’ll see in this video, there’s more than just processor performance that makes the iMac Pro the beast that it is. On this latest episode of the Back to the Mac, we discuss five takeaways from Apple’s 2019 iMac refresh.
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