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Issue link: https://digital.macdirectory.com/i/7575
60 MacDirectory
FEATURE
IWARDS 2009 > UPDATE -- WINTER 2010
Just as the last issue (Fall/Winter 2009)
went to press, Apple announced some
phenomenal new computers which we
weren't able to consider for awards. The
year 2009 had been a disappointing year
for Apple products (though it was great
financially for the company), and we had
thought it would take at least a year for a
new wave of great technology to shake
through. Our prediction was completely
wrong. Apple's late-October hardware can
hardly be praised too highly.
It's almost as if Apple had said to the
monitor makers "Hey, we can produce an
LCD that's better and cheaper than yours."
And then added, "Oh, and one more thing
— we can build a Mac into it for free."
This is about what happened in late
October. The standout product is the 27-
inch iMac. Its LED-backlit screen has
2560x1440 resolution — almost identical
to Apple's once-pathbreaking 30-inch
Cinema display (2560x1600) — by far the
highest in any all-in-one. But the 30-inch
Cinema Display is $1799. Here, for $100
less, you get a very powerful computer
thrown in as well.
This is the best value Apple has ever
offered. It's powerful enough and has
enough screen resolution that most power
users, including graphic artists, won't need
anything else for a few years. At the same
time, it's an ideal home entertainment
center. This truly is a no-compromise
dream machine, the first iMac that no user
need ever apologize for. Because of its
irresistible combination of great features
and low price, I have no hesitation in
calling this the best computer Apple has
ever built. By far.
And yes, the iMac's video card supports
full resolution for two screens. And yes,
there's no skimping on memory: You can
add up to 16GB of DDR3 RAM. Apple truly
did everything right with this machine.
Except one: There's not yet an anti-glare
matte screen option (see below).
That brings us to:
Apple has too many monitor connectors!
In the past dozen years you could easily
be using VGA, mini-VGA, ADC; DVI; Dual-
Link DVI; MiniDVI; MicroDVI; DisplayPort;
Mini DisplayPort and the baffling old DA-
15. But wait: there are the adapters
for
the adapters as well! Here's a selection
from the Apple Store today:
Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter
Apple Mini DVI to VGA Adapter
Apple Mini-DVI to DVI Adapter
Apple Micro DVI TO VGA Adapter
Apple DVI to VGA Adapter
Mini DisplayPort to Dual Link DVI Adapter
and the list goes on and on. And on.
Stop the madness!
Approach Snow Leopards with caution
We remain concerned by the thousands of
pages of user complaints we've seen
about Snow Leopard. Two dot releases
have by no means stemmed the flood.
Our advice is to wait another six months,
if you can, for all the bugs to shake out.
BTO Options galore
Apple really has been listening to user
concerns. A decent range of build-to-
order options is the result. If you've ever
shopped at the online Dell store, you'll
see where they got the idea.
Save your eyes with matte screens
Forty percent of Mac users are estimated
not to like high gloss glass LCDs.
Fortunately, the 15 and 17-inch Macbook
Pros offer anti-glare matte screens as a
$50 option. We won't cavil about the
cost. However, we're concerned that
matte isn't offered as an option on the
iMacs. See