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Apple has finally updated its line of iMac computers. The updates include the addition of Intel’s latest Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors. The new iMacs also boast ATI’s Radeon HD 5750 GPU to improve the graphical prowess of the all-in-one computers.
Even better, the iMac starts at the relatively affordable price of $1,199, and goes up to $1,999 for the quad-core model. The computers come with Apple’s Magic Mouse, which allows gesture control when scrolling around a page.
Apple’s update to the iMac line is impressive. And it underscores just how important the iMac is to Apple’s financial performance. The iPhone and the iPad might get all the attention, but computers still stand at the heart of Apple’s business. They are central to its success as a hardware provider of premium products that attempt to be better than the competition.
Perhaps that’s why the iMac is so important, and why Apple ensures that the device is the best and most appealing computer it sells. Here are 10 reasons why the iMac is so special:
1. It’s space-saving
Although the screen is big-21 inches or 27 inches, depending on the model-that’s all there is to an iMac. There isn’t a tower that owners will need to stick under a desk, and even the keyboard and mouse that come with the device are designed to save space. In the increasingly crowded tech environment, saving space and maximizing productivity are extremely important. And, thanks to its design, the iMac provides that. It’s the ultimate space-saver.
2. The quality is there
The iMac is a high-quality computer that isn’t easily bested by competing products or by other Macs. The iMac is self-contained, high-powered and can achieve the kind of market appeal that much of the competition can’t match. Plus, it runs Mac OS X, which for most home users is an ideal operating system. The Mac Pro is nice, but it’s too expensive for the average consumer. And although the MacBook Pro is widely regarded as a great computer, it appeals to a different customer. The iMac is simply the best all-around computer Apple sells.
3. Who needs a tablet?
Some might say the iPad, Apple’s wildly popular tablet, is the device that could eventually kill the iMac. After all, the tablet provides similar functionality, but does so with the option to be mobile. It’s a fine argument, but it doesn’t hold up. The iPad is designed for a different customer base. Plus, it lacks the kind of functionality that the iMac can provide. Yes, it’s a nice product that any consumer would be happy with, but until it can allow users to edit video and have a full-fledged Office experience, it won’t match the iMac.
4. The screen is beautiful
The iMac’s big, beautiful display is one of the reasons why it’s the best computer Apple offers. Unlike Apple notebooks, which have relatively small screens, the iMac comes with either a 21.5-inch display or a 27-inch display. In either case, the iMac delivers outstanding views that captivate customers as soon as they set their eyes on it. And that is perhaps the beauty of the iMac. Rather than focus on the specs, Apple makes users focus on the big screen that dominates its face. It’s a smart move, and it makes the company’s all-in-one the most coveted offering it has.
The iMac Creates Desire, Meets a Need
5. Design matters
The iMac is one of the best examples of Apple’s special ability to design products. As mentioned, the computer is dominated by its large display, which is flanked by a beautiful black bezel. The rest of the computer bears the familiar aluminum finish that has become Apple’s signature in the computing market. The iMac is simply the best designed Mac on the market, and potentially the best design in the personal computing space. It might not be the most forward-thinking product Apple offers, but it’s certainly nice-looking.
6. It’s truly a mainstream device
The iMac was designed to deliver a viable computing experience to mainstream users. Although Apple might not like to hear it, the company’s computing division is not in the mainstream personal computer market. In fact, it provides products to a niche audience. But the iMac is one of the few products that has broken out of that niche and delivered an experience that appeals more to mainstream customers than any other computer the company offers. And, in doing so, it has brought Apple’s slate of machines to more people. The impact of the iMac cannot be overlooked.
7. The Magic Trackpad has value
With the announcement of new iMac models, Apple also revealed the Magic Trackpad, a $69 accessory that users can buy to let them control on-screen actions without the need for a mouse. It works similarly to the trackpad Apple offers on the MacBook Pro, complete with gesture commands and the ability to move around the screen. The peripheral is meant to be a stand-alone product, but it’s an ideal fit for the iMac. Not only does it fall in line with the company’s desire to be more innovative, but it fits nicely next to the iMac’s keyboard. If nothing else, it adds value to an already valuable device.
8. It’s the perfect entry-level Mac
The iMac isn’t designed to be a device for advanced computer users that want the best functionality of any product on the market. Instead, it’s designed to bring those folks who might have never used Mac OS X over to Apple’s side. And in that respect, it’s doing a far better job than even Apple had hoped for, thanks to its ability to attract consumers who want a well-designed, easy-to-use computer at an affordable price. The MacBook and MacBook Pro can’t attract novice computer users the way the iMac can. And chances are that they will never be able to match the iMac in that way.
9. The price is where it should be
Apple is well known for offering products that are substantially more expensive than the competition’s. A quick comparison between a MacBook Pro and any high-end laptop from HP or Dell quickly proves that. But the iMac is different. Because it’s designed with entry-level users in mind, the starting price of $1,199 puts it where it needs to be in order to appeal to customers. And although most folks might balk at a $2,000 desktop computer these days, the top-of-the-line iMac’s $1,999 price is a fair one for what customers are getting.
10. Not everyone wants a notebook
As notebooks become more popular to the detriment of desktops, everyone seems to think that products like the iMac will eventually give way to notebooks that appeal to the consumer’s desire to be mobile. It’s a valid argument that could drastically change the dynamics of the computing space. But for now, it’s important to remember that desktops are still wildly popular. And for many consumers, having a notebook doesn’t make as much sense as having a desktop sitting in the family room. A notebook might provide more mobile options, but from a family’s perspective, an iMac delivers better functionality right now. And that probably won’t change any time soon.