Most people believe Apple only operates with great fanfare. After all, that is what happened earlier this month when the new iPhones were revealed and launched a week later. However, the company is also known for its silent refreshes—when an entire product line gets an upgrade without a stage presentation.
This happened earlier this week, as Apple quietly rolled out a refreshed iMac line and announced the new specs in a press release. The new all-in-one desktops now have fourth generation Intel quad-core processors, new graphics, next generation Wi-Fi and faster PCIe flash storage options. This is all added to the thin design—unveiled last year—and a gorgeous display.
"iMac continues to be the example that proves how beautiful, fast and fun a desktop computer can be," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "Inside its ultra-thin aluminum enclosure, the new iMac has the latest Intel processors, faster graphics, next generation 802.11ac Wi-Fi and faster PCIe flash storage."
Diving deeper into the specs
The entry level 21.5-inch iMac features a 2.7 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and the new Iris Pro graphics, which improves integrated graphics performance. The high-end 21-inch system and both the 27-inch models feature quad-core Intel Core i5 processors up to 3.4 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce 700 series graphics with twice the video memory and up to 40 percent faster performance when compared to the previous generation.
There is upgrade potential here, where users can add a quad-core i7 processor, 3.5 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M series graphics with up to 4GB of video memory.
As far as storage goes, the standard iMac comes with 8GB of memory and a 1TB hard drive. That can be upgraded to 32GB of memory and a 3TB hard drive. PCIe-based flash storage makes Fusion Drive and all-flash storage options up to 50 percent faster.
Other features include:
- Two Thunderbolt ports
- Four USB 3.0 ports
- LED-backlit displays
- Ships with OS X Mountain Lion
- Energy Star 5.2 requirements and EPEAT Gold rating
- Pricing starts at $1,299 (21.5-inch) and $1,799 (27-inch)
These are powerful new machines that can become central tools for any business. With the help of an IT consulting firm that specializes in Mac integration, any company can deploy these desktops and improve how their business runs.
