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Big, bright, pretty pricey: New iMac steps up to &lsquoglorious&rsquo level
By Jesse Noyes / Inspecting Gadgets
Boston Herald Business Reporter
Monday, September 25, 2006 - Updated: 08:53 PM EST

Rating:
&ldquoBig.&rdquo
ÊThe new iPods:
ÊÊÊÊThat&rsquos the first word that pops into mind when you sit yourself down in front of the new iMac&rsquos 24-inch display.
ÊÊÊÊBut it&rsquos certainly not the only appropriate adjective.
ÊÊÊÊApple Computers recently unveiled the latest round of iMacs, all stocked with turbo-charged Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Along with the faster chips, Apple unleashed its first 24-inch high definition display, beating out the previous largest model by 4 inches.
ÊÊÊÊThe new display, Apple boasts, is about 40 percent brighter.
ÊÊÊÊBrighter, bigger - and you can add glorious to the list.
ÊÊÊÊThe 24-inch model delivers a crisp picture. And though the new iMacs are loaded with all the features Mac-heads have come to love, the 24-inch model belongs front-and-center in the living room.
ÊÊÊÊThe most enjoyable aspect of the 24-inch model is using Apple&rsquos front-row software. Using a tiny remote, about the weight and size of an iPod shuffle, you can jump to the DVD player, listen to iTunes, look at photos or watch videos.
ÊÊÊÊBy pushing on the remote&rsquos menu button you bounce from the desktop to the front-row software. Navigating between, say, a podcast and the DVD player, is about as easy as switching songs on an iPod.
ÊÊÊÊIt hardly seems coincidental that Apple just recently said it would start selling movies. While a 24-inch screen isn&rsquot that large compared to many TV sets, the iMac&rsquos top-notch resolution was great for watching flicks.
ÊÊÊÊAnd even without external speakers the sound was clear and strong.
ÊÊÊÊThe faster speed, due to the Intel processors, is noticeable. According to Apple the new models of iMacs are about 50 percent faster than the prior line. It was much faster than my current 14-inch iBook.
ÊÊÊÊMy only bone of contention was the mouse that came with the iMac. It works like any other Apple-style mouse, but has a tiny ball near the top for quick scrolling. I found this little feature irksome since it was easy to accidentally hit it, and it didn&rsquot scroll up and down the page very quickly.
ÊÊÊÊStill, playing around with the computer made me sorry to have to give it back.
ÊÊÊÊMy consolation: the price. The 24-inch model of iMac is selling for $1,999, which given its size, speed and overall sexiness is not a bad deal. Smaller models come with a smaller price tag, including the 17-inch display selling for $999.

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Jesse Noyes
Boston Herald Business Reporter
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