Apple iMac 21.5-inch (Core i3)

Specifications Type General Purpose, Multimedia Processor Family Intel Core i3 RAM 4 GB Storage Capacity 500 GB RAID No Graphics Card ATI Radeon HD 4670 Primary Optical Drive Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW Operating System Mac OS X 10.6 More

Features
The new entry-level iMac 21.5-inch (Core i3) comes with a dual-core Intel Core i3-540 processor. Thanks to Hyper Threading, the Core i3 is a dual-core processor that acts like a quad-core, since it can process four streams of data at once. The system also has 4GB of 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM, a 500GB, 7,200rpm hard drive, 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi (both 2.4GHz and 5GHz), and a DVD-burning SuperDrive. Support for 5GHz Wi-Fi is necessary in crowded apartments and dorms, where the cacophony of routers may interfere with your WiFi signal.

Users can order more memory pre-purchase (up to 8GB), but that's the only internal option on the $1,199, entry-level model. You'll need to trade up to a more expensive $1,499 model to order a faster processor, better graphics, larger hard drive, etc. You can add other external options during the ordering process, including a wired mouse and keyboard to replace the wireless ones, the Apple IR Remote, Apple Software (iWork, Final Cut Express, etc.) and the new Apple Magic Trackpad ($69) (stay tuned for our review). Apple is also the Apple Magic TrackPad as an $69 option (stay tuned for our review), as well as a $29 battery charger with six extra rechargeable batteries to power all your wireless peripherals (mouse, keyboard, trackpad).

The iMac 21.5-inch (Core i3), like the new Apple Mac mini (HDMI) ($699 list) supports new SDXC cards in its SD-card reader. This means it could theoretically read a 2TB SDXC card sometime in the future, though those cards currently tap out at a still impressive 64GB.

The iMac's 1080p HD screen makes it a great PC for watching HD videos online and from the iTunes store. The iMac 21.5-inch (Core i3) still lacks a Blu-ray option, but you can buy a third-party USB HDTV tuner that works under Mac OS X. You could perceive the lack of TV tuner or Blu-ray as a drawback, but there's also the argument that the iTunes Store is one of the better, extensive sources of HD videos and TV shows on the planet. In any case, the iMac is a great base station for your iPod/iPhone/iPad and all your iTunes-organized entertainment (music, videos, and apps). It doesn't have to be said that the Mac is free from bloatware, as usual, there's none on the system.