Apple’s iMac has been refreshed, bumping up the processor to Sandy Bridge while the unibody design remains the same. The last refresh happened in October 2010 where it got bumped to Core i3, i5 or i7 CPUs.

Here is what’s new in a nutshell:

• Sandy Bridge Quad-core Intel Core i5 and i7 processors across the line.
• Thunderbolt technology for high-performance peripherals with data transfer rates up to 20x faster than USB 2.0 and up to 12x faster than FireWire 800.
• FaceTime HD camera, previously known as iSight
• New AMD Radeon HD graphics processor with performance up to 3x faster than before

21.5-inch: 2.5GHz – SGD$1,648

• Intel Core i5 2.5GHz Quad-Core
• 4GB (two 2GB) memory
• 500GB hard drive
• AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 512MB
• 1920 x 1080 resolution

21.5-inch: 2.7GHz – SGD$2,048

• Intel Core i5 2.7GHz Quad-Core
• 4GB (two 2GB) memory
• 1TB hard drive
• AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 512MB
• 1920 x 1080 resolution

27-inch: 2.7GHz – SGD$2,348

• Intel Core i5 2.7GHz Quad-Core
• 4GB (two 2GB) memory
• 1TB hard drive
• AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 512MB
• 2560 x 1440 resolution

27-inch: 3.1GHz – SGD$2,748

• Intel Core i5 3.1GHz Quad-Core
• 4GB (two 2GB) memory
• 1TB hard drive
• AMD Radeon HD 6970M with 1GB
• 2560 x 1440 resolution

I thought this would be the iMac I will be getting, but wasn’t impressed with the change and pricing. So I guess I will wait for the “proper” refresh as in change of design and USB3.0! Anyway just for fun, here is my ideal iMac specifications based on the current generation:

27-inch – SGD$3,702.60

• Intel Core i7 3.4GHz Quad-Core
• 8GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM – 2x4GB
• 1TB Serial ATA Drive
• AMD Radeon HD 6970M 2GB GDDR5
• Magic Trackpad
• Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (Int’l English) & User’s Guide (English)
• AppleCare Protection Plan for iMac- Auto-enroll

I wanted the “1TB Serial ATA Drive + 256GB Solid State Drive” but it is way too expensive (SGD$813.20 more). Not a fan of Magic Mouse, I will probably end up using a Razer Mouse instead and hence I opted for the Magic Trackpad. I am also not a fan of Wireless keyboard so I opted for the wired keyboard. AppleCare is a must for all Apple computers because the parts and labor are way too expensive.

Apple iMac: Technical Specifications
Apple Store (Singapore): iMac

Ordered a 21.5″ iMac (3.06GHz) for my dad to replace his old computer (which is also my previous desktop computer). Actually suppose to order 2 sets. One for my Dad to put it at home and the other for my mom to replace her old Fujitsu laptop in the office. However, my mom got some doubts about the Mac OS X and software compatibility issues and hence ended up getting 1 set for my dad first. In the mean time she can play around with it at home before making a final decision.

Since I am still technically a student, I made use of the Education Store and hence it is cheaper by SGD$100. The iMac cost SGD$1,688. I also topped up another SGD$218 for Apple Care so that the warranty will get extended by another 2 years.

My mom preferred the idea of non-wireless keyboard and mouse so that there is no need to change batteries every now and then. I opted for the Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad. As for the Magic Mouse, I wanted it so I bought another Apple Mouse. The difference between each wireless and non-wireless mouse/keyboard is SGD$20, and unfortunately Apple do not refund you the difference if you opt for the non-wireless mouse/keyboard.

The Apple Mouse and the iMac was delivered on two separate dates maybe because I “customized” my iMac by changing the bundled keyboard.

Specifications

• 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 1920 x 1080 resolution
• 4GB memory
• 500GB hard drive
• 8x double-layer SuperDrive
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics

Damage

• iMac: 21.5″ (3.06GHz): SGD$1,688
• Apple Care: SGD$218
• Apple Mouse: SGD$78
• Total: SGD$1,984

Dates

• Ordered Date: 17th January 2010
• Apple Mouse Delivered Date: 19th January 2010
• iMac Delivered Date: 20th January 2010

iMac Box

iMac Contents

iMac Accessories

Apple Mouse Box

Apple Mouse Box Open

Magic Mouse Front

Magic Mouse Back

Magic Mouse Side

iMac On The Table

iMac

• Bright 21.5″ display or 27″ LED-backlit display
• Wireless Keyboard & Magic Mouse
• Intel Core i5 or Core i7 “Nehalem” (for 27″ iMac)
• 160GB, 320GB, or optional 500GB harddrive
• Price (21.5″): SGD$1,788 (3.06GHz Core 2 Duo/500GB) or SGD$2,288 (3.06GHz Core 2 Duo/1TB)
• Price (27″): SGD$2,588 (3.06GHz Core 2 Duo/1TB) or SGD$2,988 (2.66GHz Core i5/1TB)

Official Website: iMac
Apple Singapore Store: iMac

Mac Mini

• 2.26GHz or a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 2GB or 4GB RAM
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor
• 802.11n wireless technology
• 160GB, 320GB, or optional 500GB harddrive
• Price: SGD$948 (2.26GHz/160GB) or SGD$1,249 (2.53GHz/320GB)

Official Website: Mac Mini
Apple Singapore Store: Mac Mini

MacBook

• Durable unibody enclosure
• Built-in 7 hours battery
• Brilliant LED-backlit display
• Spacious glass Multi-Touch trackpad
• Price: SGD$1,588

Official Website: MacBook
Apple Singapore Store: MacBook

Magic Mouse

• Seamless Multi-Touch Surface
• Laser-Tracking Engine
• Wireless
• Price: SGD$98

Official Website: Magic Mouse
Apple Singapore Store: Magic Mouse

Apple Remote

• Control your Mac, iPod, or iPhone from afar with the sleek aluminum Apple Remote. Play, pause, adjust volume, move forward and back, and access menus while playing music and video.
• Price: SGD$28

Apple Singapore Store: Apple Remote

Mac Mini
Mac Mini now comes with Intel Core 2 processor and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics card.

• 2.0GHz : 120GB
  • 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
  • 1GB memory
  • 120GB hard drive
  • 8x double-layer SuperDrive
  • NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
  • SGD$988.00
• 2.0GHz : 320GB
  • 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
  • 2GB memory
  • 320GB hard drive
  • 8x double-layer SuperDrive
  • NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
  • SGD$1,349.00

iMac
iMac now comes in 4 flavors, one 20 incher and three 24 incher powered by Intel Core 2 processor and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M or NVIDIA GeForce GT 120/130 graphics.

• 20-inch: 2.66GHz
  • 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
  • 2GB memory
  • 320GB hard drive
  • 8x double-layer SuperDrive
  • NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
  • SGD$1,948.00
• 24-inch: 2.66GHz
  • 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
  • 4GB memory
  • 640GB hard drive
  • 8x double-layer SuperDrive
  • NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
  • SGD$2,448.00
• 24-inch: 2.93GHz
  • 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
  • 4GB memory
  • 640GB hard drive
  • 8x double-layer SuperDrive
  • NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 256MB memory
  • SGD$2,888.00
• 24-inch: 3.06GHz
  • 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
  • 4GB memory
  • 1TB hard drive
  • 8x double-layer SuperDrive
  • NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 with 512MB memory
  • SGD$3,488.00

Mac Pro
Mac Pro now comes powered by Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Nehalem” processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512MB graphics and equipped with a Mini DisplayPort and dual-link DVI port on the graphics card for flexible display options.

• Quad-Core
  • One 2.66GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Nehalem” processor
  • 3GB (three 1GB) memory
  • 640GB hard drive
  • 18x double-layer SuperDrive
  • NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512MB
  • SGD$3,988.00
• 8-Core
  • Two 2.26GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Nehalem” processorso
  • 6GB (six 1GB) memory
  • 640GB hard drive
  • 18x double-layer SuperDrive
  • NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512MB
  • SGD$5,288.00

MacBook Pro
Apple also quietly bumped the speed of the upper end 15 incher MacBook Pro from Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 2.53GHz to Intel Core 2 Duo T9550 2.66GHz while maintaining the same price of SGD$3,988.00.

AirPort Extreme Base Station / Time Capsule
The new AirPort Extreme Base Station retailing at SGD$268.00 and Time Capsule retailing at SGD$448.00 (500GB) / SGD$748 (1TB) allows simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi and guest networking.

Simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi
For maximum range and compatibility, AirPort Extreme works simultaneously on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, allowing all the devices on the network to use the most efficient band automatically. And AirPort Extreme uses the latest 802.11n wireless technology so you can enjoy up to five times the performance and up to twice the range of 802.11g wireless networks.

Guest networking
Now you can set up a separate Wi-Fi network with a separate password for your visitors. Simply enable the new guest networking feature, and your guests can use the Internet but can’t access other parts of your private network, such as your computers, printers, and attached hard drives.

Links (Apple Singapore)

• Official Site: Mac mini
• Official Site: iMac
• Official Site: Mac Pro
• Official Site: MacBook Pro
• Official Site: AirPort Extreme
• Official Site: Time Capsule
• Shop: Mac mini
• Shop: iMac
• Shop: Mac Pro
• Shop: MacBook Pro
• Shop: AirPort Extreme
• Shop: Time Capsule