IMac (Intel-based)

The iMac is a series of Macintosh desktop computers offered by Apple Inc. The current Apple iMac features an Intel Core i series processor, ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics or NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS (24" Model only), and a choice of a 20" LCD screen or a 24" LCD screen, both glossy.
While previous iMac models had a white polycarbonate enclosure as the iMac G5, the current-generation iMac has an enclosure shaped like Apple's Cinema Displays and styling reminiscent of the iPhone. The front is made of a single sheet of aluminum with a plate of glass covering the monitor, while the backside is made of black plastic.
==History==
At the Macworld Conference & Expo on January 10, 2006, Steve Jobs announced that the new iMac would be the first Macintosh to use an Intel CPU, the Core Duo. The features, price, and case design remained unchanged from the iMac G5. The processor speed, according to tests run by Apple using SPEC, was declared as two to three times faster.
Alongside the MacBook Pro, the iMac Core Duo represents Apple's first computers to feature Intel processors instead of PowerPC processors, a transition that completed in November 2006. Since the introduction of the iMac Core Duo, other lines have followed, including the introduction of the Intel Core powered Mac mini on February 28, 2006, the MacBook consumer line of laptop computers on May 16, 2006, the Mac Pro on August 7, 2006, and the Xserve in November 2006, completing the Macintosh family transition to Intel processors.
In early February 2006, Apple confirmed reports of video display problems on the new Intel-based iMacs. When playing video on Apple's Front Row media browser, some 20-inch iMacs (those built-to-order with upgraded video cards) showed random horizontal lines, ghosting, video tearing and other problems. The problem was fixed with a software update.
In late 2006, Apple introduced a new version of the iMac which included a Core 2 Duo chip and a lower price. Apple added a new 24" model with a resolution of 1920×1200 (WUXGA), making it the first iMac to be able to display 1080p HD content in its full resolution, and a VESA Flat Display Mounting Interface. Except for the 17–inch 1.83 GHz processor model, this version also included an 802.11n draft card.AirPort Extreme performance page see footnote 2
The current iMac ships with the Mighty Mouse, Apple Keyboard, Bluetooth and AirPort cards, an internal iSight camera, the Apple Remote for use with Front Row, and a power cord. A modem and a Bluetooth wireless keyboard and mouse are available for additional cost.
== Models ==
Component 	Intel Core Duo 	Intel Core 2 Duo 	Intel Core 2 Duo 	Intel Core 2 Duo
Model 	iMac (Early 2006) 	iMac (Late 2006) 	iMac (Mid 2007) 	iMac (Early 2008)
Enclosure 	White polycarbonate 	White polycarbonate 	Aluminium and glass 	Aluminium and glass
Display(all widescreen) 	17" matte, 1440 x 900 	17" matte, 1440 x 900 	17" not available 	17" not available
Display(all widescreen) 	20" matte with 1680 x 1050 	20" matte with 1680 x 1050 	20" glossy with 1680 x 1050 	20" glossy with 1680 x 1050
Display(all widescreen) 	24" not available 	24" matte with 1920 x 1200 	24" glossy with 1920 x 1200 	24" glossy with 1920 x 1200
Graphics 	ATI Radeon X1600 with 128MBOptional 256MB on 20" model 	Intel GMA 950 with 64MB shared with main memory($999 17" only)ATI Radeon X1600 with 128MB ($1199 17", 20")NVIDIA GeForce 7300GT with 128MB (24")Optional NVIDIA GeForce 7600GT with 256MB (24")	ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB (20" only)ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256 MB 	ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB (20" only)ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256 MBNVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS with 512MB (24" only)
Hard drive1 	160GB, 250GB Serial ATA, 7200-rpmOptional 500GB 7200-rpm 	160GB, 250GB Serial ATA, 7200-rpmOptional 500GB 7200-rpm 	250GB (20" only), 320GB Serial ATA, 7200-rpmOptional 500GB 7200-rpm, 750GB 7200-rpm, 1TB 7200-rpm	250GB (20" only), 320GB Serial ATA, 7200-rpmOptional 500GB 7200-rpm, 750GB 7200-rpm, 1TB 7200-rpm
Processor 	1.83GHz or 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo 	1.83GHz Core 2 Duo ($999 17")2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo (Optional 2.16 GHz) ($1199 17")2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo (Optional 2.33 GHz) (20", 24") 	2.0GHz (20" only) or 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 DuoOptional 2.8 GHz Core 2 Extreme (24" only) 	2.4GHz or 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo (20" only)2.8GHz or 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo
Memory 	512MB PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMM SDRAM Expandable to 2GB	512MB or 1GB PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMM SDRAM Expandable to 2 GB 	1GB PC2-5300 (667MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMM SDRAM Expandable to 4 GB 	1GB or 2GB PC2-6400 (800MHz) DDR2 SO-DIMM SDRAM Expandable to 4 GB
AirPort Extreme 	Integrated 802.11a/b/g 	Integrated 802.11a/b/g and draft-n (n disabled by default)² 	Integrated 802.11a/b/g and draft-n (n enabled) 	Integrated 802.11a/b/g and draft-n (n enabled)
Internal slot-loading SuperDrive³	24x/24x/8x/8x/4x/2.4x CD-RW/DVD±RW/DVD+R DL 	24x/24x/8x/8x/4x/2.4x CD-RW/DVD±RW/DVD+R DL 	8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) 	8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
*Notes:
1Hard drives listed are configurations available from Apple. Since the hard drive is a user replaceable part, there are other configurations available, including the use of faster 7200 rpm drives.
²Wireless-N functionality requires the AirPort Extreme Wireless-N Router, which contains wireless-N enabler software to be installed on your iMac. Alternatively, the enabler software may be purchased from Apple separately.
³Quoted optical drive speeds are the maximum possible for each drive.''
==Lawsuit==
In 2008, a class action lawsuit was filed against Apple in San Jose by Kabateck Brown Kellner, LLP, claiming Apple is deceiving consumers by claiming that both the 20-inch and 24-inch iMac are capable of displaying millions of colors at all resolutions, when the 20-inch models are only capable of displaying 262,144 colors. The 20-inch screens use 6-bit twisted nematic film (TN) LCD screen, which the plaintiff claims is the "least expensive of its type," sporting a narrower viewing angle than the display of the 24-inch model, less color depth, less color accuracy and greater susceptibility to washout.
==See also==
* Apple Intel transition
* iMac
==References==
==External links==
* at Wikipedia
fr:IMac (Core Duo)
Category:x86 Macintosh computers
Category:iMac series
Category:2006 introductions