Almost stealthily, last week Apple updated listings for their online store to offer consumers new products in almost every product lines. The biggest surprise of all was the unveiling of the new  iMac. The old versions that Apple marketed in sizes 20 and 24 inches disappear to make way for a new display of 21.5 “in the basic model, and the huge 27-inch iMac, with a resolution of 2560 x 1440 pixels. With these resolutions, Apple reaches the 16:9 high definition tv ratio and emphasizes the idea that their computers are home entertainment centers.

New Imac Computer image

Although the new iMac has been improved in many respects, Apple – as usual – keeps the price of the basic machine in £949; the same cost of the basic model for the previous generation.

In the top models of the iMac line, it will be possible to incorporate QuadCore processors, 16GB of RAM and hard drives up to 2TB (approximately 2.000 “gigs”). Significant cosmetic changes are incorporated into the new iMac, with the back and the base of the computer, formerly of black plastic, in aluminium finish, slightly thinner.

In the initial setup – 2.66 GHz Intel Core i5, 4GB RAM, graphics card ATI Radeon HD 4850 512 MB and 1 TB of storage – the new iMac 27 “is priced around £1,599.

These all-in-one will come from factory with embedded wireless accessories, and those wishing to use the bigger keyboard (with numeric keys) will have to order directly from the Internet store, a move not liked for those who prefer Wired keyboard with its convenient USB port and complete set of numeric and shift keys.

The most popular computers from Steve Jobs, the “Macbook White” – so successful that the market took its big brother, the version made of aluminum – also went through a microscope for a “total re-engineering.

In appearance, Apple’s engineers devised a carcass “unibody”- in one piece – slightly more rounded, and incorporated the glass trackpad, significantly larger than the equivalent of a conventional notebook and enables the “multitouch” that hitherto exclusive to the very expensive model MacBook Pro and Air.

New Apple MacBook image

For around £799, that until recently bought a Macbook with 1GB RAM, 160GB hard drive and 2.13 GHz processor, you will be able to purchase a laptop with 2 GB of RAM (two modules of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM), a slightly higher processor and 50% more storage.

We’re looking forward to getting hold of one of these new iMacs, have you already got one?

Michael Gomez

‘The Techy Guy’ at Marketing for Small Businesses Ltd