Apple iMac MC511LL/A 27-Inch Desktop | 
| Brand: Apple
Category: Personal Computer
List Price: $1,999.00
Buy New: $1,875.00
as of 9/9/2010 10:57 EDT details
You Save: $124.00 (6%)
New (8)
Seller: macreviewzone__dot_c0m
Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 155
Media: Personal Computers
Number Of Items: 1
Operating System: Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard
CPU Manufacturer: Intel
CPU Speed: 2.8
Processors: 1
System Memory: 4000
Memory Type: DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Drive Size: 1
Graphics RAM: 1
Native Resolution: 2560 x 1440
Free Memory Slots: 4
Firewire Ports: 1
USB Ports: 4
Display Size: 27
Shipping Weight (lbs): 42.5
Dimensions (in): 24.9 x 10 x 30.4
MPN: MC511LL/A
Model: MC511LL/A
UPC: 885909390038
EAN: 0885909390038
ASIN: B00361EZXS
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | 2.8GHz Intel Core i5 - Quad-Core | | • | 1TB Hard Drive, , 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM, DVD SuperDrive | | • | 27" LED-backlit display with a widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio, 2560x1440 HD resolution | | • | ATI Radeon HD 5750 with 1GB | | • | Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard, Magic Mouse |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
Offering a brilliant 27-inch LED-backlit widescreen display in an edge-to-edge glass design and seamless all aluminum enclosure, the Apple iMac is ideal for watching high definition movies and TV shows from iTunes, or editing and watching your own videos or photos using iLife. The iMac now also comes standard with a wireless keyboard and the Magic Mouse, which features Apple's Multi-Touch technology. And it's been updated with a faster, more powerful quad-core 2.8 GHz Intel Core i5 processor--with four cores of intelligent processing power that set new benchmarks for iMac performance. The iMac's display offers a 2560 x 1440-pixel resolution (for native 1080p high-definition viewing), and it uses IPS technology to deliver consistent color across an ultra wide 178 degree viewing angle. This 27-inch model (MC509LL/A) also features improved graphics with ATI Radeon HD 5750 discrete graphics featuring 1 GB of GDDR3 memory and a 1 TB hard drive. It comes pre-loaded with Apple's Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard operating system--an operating system custom-designed for the advanced technology inside--and it also comes with the iLife suite of applications, including iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, and iTunes. 
The 27-inch iMac features a brilliant LED-backlit display with widescreen 16:9 aspect ratio. | Key Specifications 
The iMac declutters your desktop with a wireless keyboard and new Magic Mouse--the world's first Multi-Touch mouse.. | - 27-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with IPS technology, a 2560 x 1440-pixel resolution, 16:9 aspect ratio, 375 cd/m2 brightness rating, and 178-degree viewing angle (horizontal and vertical). Supports input from external DisplayPort sources (adapters sold separately) and is wall-mountable with optional VESA Mount Adapter Kit.
- 2.8 GHz Intel Core i5 quad-core processor for a fast, responsive PC experience (8 MB shared L3 cache). Intel's Turbo Boost technology maximizes speed for demanding applications, dynamically accelerating performance to match your workload--providing more performance when you need it the most. If you’re using a processor-intensive application such as Aperture 3 or Final Cut Pro that benefits from extra performance, Turbo Boost dynamically increases the speed of available cores.
- 1 TB Serial ATA hard drive (7200 RPM)
- 4 GB installed RAM (1333 MHz DDR3; supports up to 16 GB)
- ATI Radeon HD 5750 graphics processor (with 1 GB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory) with enhanced performance for graphics-intensive applications such as games and video editors.
- 8x slot-loading SuperDrive with double-layer DVD support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/
- Built-in iSight camera for video chatting
- Wi-Fi wireless networking (based on 802.11n specification; 802.11a/b/g compatible)
- Gigabit Ethernet wired networking (10/100/1000BASE-T)
- Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) for connecting with peripherals such as keyboards, mice and cell phones
- Side-loading SDXC card slot
- Four USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port
- Mini DisplayPort video output with optional adapters for DVI and VGA output
- Built-in stereo speakers with two internal 17-watt high-efficiency amplifiers along with built-in microphone, optical digital audio output/headphone out, optical digital audio input/audio line in
- Dimensions: 25.6 x 8.15 x 20.4 inches (WxDxH)
- Weight: 30.5 pounds
- Included Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse
 | What's in the Box iMac, Apple Wireless Keyboard, Magic Mouse, cleaning cloth, power cord, install/restore DVDs, printed and electronic documentation Limited Warranty And Service The iMac comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a one-year limited warranty. Purchase the AppleCare Protection Plan to extend your service and support to three years from your computer's purchase date. Only the AppleCare Protection Plan provides you with direct telephone support from Apple technical experts and the assurance that repairs will be handled by Apple-authorized technicians using genuine Apple parts. Key Features 
The slot-loading 8x SuperDrive and SDXC card slot. | Big, Beautiful Display Combined with All-In-One Simplicity The iMac has come a long way from the first 15-inch iMac. The all-in-one design of the first flat-panel iMac cleaned up the desktop, and put everything you need--display, processor, graphics card, hard drive, optical drive, memory, and more--inside one simple enclosure. New technology inside and out makes the new iMac a worthy addition to the all-in-one dynasty. This 27-inch model features an edge-to-edge glass display that covers nearly the entire front of the enclosure. When all you see is the display, nothing gets between you and what's onscreen. Movies, TV shows, websites, photos--everything looks stunning on the new 16:9 widescreen iMac display. And the LED backlighting in the new iMac helps push more light through the pixels with remarkable brightness and efficiency. And because the LED backlight doesn't take up much space, the iMac enclosure stays thin--even with all the high-performance components inside. The iMac display is designed to look great from almost any angle. A technology called in-plane switching (IPS) makes this possible. Whether you're sitting in front of the display or standing off to the side, you'll get a perfect picture with superb color consistency and no loss of detail. The wider iMac display allows more room to separate the two hottest components, the CPU and the GPU. This keeps things cool inside the iMac enclosure. Apple engineers also implemented an intelligent control system that monitors temperatures and delivers just the right amount of airflow to critical components. And the three fans inside iMac have been tuned to be ultraquiet. While you'll find a collection of ports on the back of iMac, you won't find much else. A seamless, precision-forged enclosure makes the back one continuous aluminum surface. And there's only one cord: the power cord. Wireless Magic Mouse and Keyboard Forget the mouse as you know it. Every iMac comes with the wireless Magic Mouse: the world's first Multi-Touch mouse. Use it once and you'll wonder how you ever used anything else. There's no scroll ball, no clunky wheel, no cord, and no visible button. Instead, the Magic Mouse uses Multi-Touch technology to let you control everything with simple gestures. Give them a try and you'll find that Magic Mouse changes the way you interact with your computer. Built-in software lets you configure Magic Mouse any way you want. Its smooth, seamless design is ambidextrous, and it supports two-button clicking--without buttons. The iMac banishes desktop clutter completely with a wireless keyboard to go with the wireless Magic Mouse. This low-profile keyboard takes up less desk space--24 percent less--than larger keyboards. There's no numeric keypad, so you can place your mouse comfortably next to the keyboard. And built-in Bluetooth means there are no cables to connect. Built-in Wi-Fi High-speed 802.11n wireless technology is built into iMac. And with Time Capsule or the AirPort Express Base Station, every computer in every room can wirelessly connect to iMac, the Internet, and each other. Over this network, everyone can print, surf the web, and play music on iTunes through your home stereo--wirelessly. iSight Webcam Hidden behind the glass display at the top of iMac is an iSight camera. Use it with iChat, and you can be anywhere without actually being there. Video chat with up to three of your friends, share a video with a colleague, or present to a client. Use iSight with Photo Booth for fun photo effects. And there's no need to waste valuable primping time installing software or configuring the camera. Pre-Loaded with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife Every Mac comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world's most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple's innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Snow Leopard builds on a decade of OS X innovation and success with hundreds of refinements, new core technologies and out of the box support for Microsoft Exchange. iLife features iPhoto, to easily organize and manage photos; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use new features such as Precision Editor, video stabilization and advanced drag and drop; and GarageBand which introduces a whole new way to help you learn to play piano and guitar. Installed software - Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools)
- iLife (includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, iDVD)
Environmentally Friendly Design Because Apple designs both hardware and software, we can reduce our environmental footprint in ways others can't. For starters, a highly efficient power supply reduces the amount of power wasted when bringing electricity from the wall to your Mac. Unlike a lot of PCs, a Mac uses energy-efficient hardware components that work hand in hand with the operating system to conserve power--even between keystrokes. A Mac also doesn't contain a lot of toxic materials. All Mac displays are mercury and arsenic free, and the internal components are free of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Efficient Power Supply The iMac includes a highly efficient power supply that reduces the amount of power wasted when bringing electricity from the wall to your computer. Lower power consumption reduces energy bills and lessens the environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Advanced Power Management Unlike a lot of Windows-based PC systems, iMac uses energy-efficient hardware components that work hand in hand with the operating system to conserve power. Mac OS X spins down hard drives and activates sleep mode on already energy-efficient LED-backlit displays. And it balances tasks across both central processors and graphics processors. Mac OS X never misses a power-saving opportunity, no matter how small. It even regulates the processor between keystrokes, reducing power between the letters you type. That's just one of many ways Apple manages small amounts of power that add up to big savings. ENERGY STAR Qualification The iMac meets the stringent low power requirements set by the EPA, making it ENERGY STAR qualified. ENERGY STAR 5.0 sets significantly higher efficiency limits for power supplies and aggressive limits for the computer's typical annual power consumption.
Product Description
Intel Core i5 2.8GHz, 4GB (2x2GB) DD3 SDRAM, 1TB SATA HDD, 27" LED-backlit widescreen display, ATI Radeon HD 5750 with 1GB GDDR5, 8X SuperDrive, Gigabit Ethernet, Airport Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi, SDXC card slot, Apple Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 6
 Better than ever August 12, 2010
R. Startzman (Texas)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I got this to replace my three year old iMac. Transfer of files,settings and apps was easy. It took me less than ten minutes to pull the new iMac out of the box and set it up for transfer. The transfer took about 2.5 hours and occurred perfectly while I was away.
The 27 inch display allows me to have as many as three large pages open in the same view. The resolution is incredibly high.
Photos appear like I'm looking through a window.
I use a lot of video and photo software. The processor speed is high. I can render videos about three times faster than I could with my older iMac that I thought was pretty fast.
A bonus for buyers of Macs is the high quality service you get from Apple Care. Wait time is reasonably short and the competence of the tech service staff is higher than any computing organization I've had experience with in the past 45 years. Apple Care covers you for three years and costs about 170 bucks from Amazon. Most of my questions were answered on Apple's website, but Apple Care bailed me out a number of times.
Hardware reliability is unknown because the machine is so new. My past experience tells me that, if something doesn't work, then Apple Care will either figure it out or help me get service without the hassle I used to get from HP and,especially, Dell.
Very fast, very quiet, plays burned DVDs just fine (will update review frequently) August 16, 2010
B. T. Denyer (Midwest, United States)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
BURNED DVDS:
My big concern is that the DVD drive would not play burned DVDs. Out of the box, my MBP did NOT play burned DVDs very well, if at all. After a couple OS updates, that seems to be a thing of the past, but a new concern for this drive. DVDs tested that worked are: Imation DVD-R 8x; Taiyo Yuden white; Verbatim DVD+R DL; Verbatim DVD-R; Memorex DVD-R 4x; Princo DVD-R 'white star'.
MEMORY SLOTS and UPGRADING MEMORY:
Upgrading memory on the iMac is easy. There are 4 slots for memory: 2 'upper' and 2 'lower', as Apple calls them, but they are really 4 side by side slots on the bottom (behind the Apple logo.) The 2 upper slots are populated by Apple's memory, but the 2 lower slots are open (unless you upgraded already.) The 4 memory slots are accessed by unscrewing 3 screws with a Philips screwdriver (a normal size will do.) Apple recommends "For the iMac (Mid 2010) models, use 2 GB or 4 GB RAM SO-DIMMs of 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM in each slot." Removing the aluminum screen is a one-screw deal, then push in the memory, and power the iMac back on. That's it. If you are planning on running VMWare, or playing games, or doing video, you will likely need to upgrade to another 2 or 4GB. I recommend 2 cards of 2GB each. VMWare running Win7, while OSX is running PS and a browser takes up about 60-75% of the 4GB installed memory. And remember: saving a little and buying janky memory is like putting used, dirty oil in your car - what are you really saving by doing that?
REMOTE CONTROL:
The older remote control for my MBP worked just fine. That is until we started watching some streaming video through Safari. For some reason that video knocked out the ability to use the remote, and I had to restart the iMac to get it to see the remote again. Don't know why, and it was only for video being played through todocast.tv website. May be a rare issue.
LOADING HARD DRIVE:
It only took 63 mins for me to move 93GB of data from an external drive using USB 2.0 cable. Loading Mac Office took less than 10 minutes to load from DVD (default config) - fastest I have ever seen, yet. One thing I noticed is that I can hear this hard drive writing to the disc, whereas I cannot here my older iMac's drive at all. I have to put my head up near the screen, but I can hear the thumping more prominently than I can on the 2-year old iMac. This might be due to the way the housing/area around the drive is designed: might be creating an echo chamber? Don't know why, just do.
WIRELESS KEYBOARD and MOUSE:
Whoa! The wireless keyboard worked from over 50-feet away! I walked through a thick wood door, down the hall (cinderblock walls) and around the corner and it still worked! I have no idea how far away I can go, but across the room is no problem. Same goes for the wireless mouse. The mouse does not have the right-click set up as a default. I also found that the left-right swipe action was dangerous while browsing websites, for a left-swipe is the same as the 'back' button - and when filling out an online form hitting the back button (or accidentally swiping left on the mouse) can erase your inout data.) The vertical swiping action of the mouse is just like the iPhone, smooth and screen slides to a stop. Best mouse ever made.
WIRELESS CARD:
This card is definitely showing a stronger signal than my MBP sitting the same distance from the router (which is a G-band). It also shows a lot more networks to choose from than the MBP.
UDATES:
Out if the box, the iMac needed to be updated. Nothing ridiculous, just about 7 updates (Safari, Java, AirPort, iTunes, OSX security...) with a half hour of download and updating.
RETAIL BOX CONTENTS:
People new to Mac, and those that haven't bought one in years, will find the contents of your retail box sparse: keyboard, iMac, mouse, 2 DVDs, small booklet, power cord and batteries for the keyboard and mouse (installed.) That's it. PC users/converters will be shocked at how little documentation there is in your box: no yellow pieces of paper screaming out warnings and 'do this first!' type messages. This is true plug and play.
SPEAKERS:
These speakers sound just the same as the 2-your old iMac I am comparing all of this to. Maybe a little less tin/bright... Still not the best, most amazing speakers out there, but are far better than the majority of embedded computer speakers. I still recommend you buy a set of desktop speakers if plan on watching movies, playing music loud, or want a rich deep sound.
SCREEN:
Still not super-stoked about the glossy screen, but I think I am starting to get used to it. Bright rooms (especially where the light behind you is brighter than the light behind the iMac) just suck to work in. That's when I break out the MBP and it's matte screen. The 178-degree viewing angle statistic is ONLY for the most optimum viewing conditions! Again, a bright room where there are reflections on the screen will just turn it all to a kaleidoscope: colors are seen but good luck figuring out what you are seeing! In a pitch black room, yes, you can benefit from the 178-degree viewing angle and all is good.
QUAD CORE, THE BASICS:
While having the quad core CPU makes for a very snappy and almost lag-free iMac, it does NOT speed up your old programs. It's NOT like Office programs are suddenly using all four cores to compute your Chemistry spreadsheet or create that graph. It just means that there are more pipelines for your programs to run on. In short, the program has to be written to utilize the multiple cores at the same time. Not even my Adobe CS4 is using all four cores.
THINNER PEDESTAL:
The new thinner pedestal ("foot") is great for pushing back the keyboard/work. The old iMac had a 1/4 inch tall foot, almost brick-like, whereas this one about an 1/8 of an inch or less. Works like a ramp.
All said, I have to say that this is the best iMac so far. I know that should go without saying, but you can't always take this for granted. If you have a 1-year old iMac, I can't see upgrading unless you are having problems with it. If you have a 2+ year old iMac, or even a G5 rig, I can easily say that you should/could upgrade to this one. You will not be disappointed.
Will update this review as I come across more revelations.
Very impressed August 28, 2010
Captain (Florida)
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I must say that Apple has turned me into a fan since they moved to Intel processors a few years ago -- they run Windows great for the part.
For this purchase I was replacing an older 30" Dell monitor and didn't want to lose my screen resolution -- but also didn't want to pay another 2k for a new 30" monitor. This iMac was a great choice, I'm basically using it for it's screen and for when I need to test things on OSX. Purely as screen alone this thing is great, the IPS technology is very impressive and the response time seems to be very good even though it's going through a DVI-to-Mini Display Port adapter at full 2560x1440 resolution. HINT -- You change the input source only if the Mac is on and then you hit Command and F2. More on leaving the Mac running in a moment.
For the PC side of this Mac (and stop kidding yourself, it's a PC just running OSX) you get pretty good performance. I'm using a Core i7 based system with 12GB of Ram and SSD's in a raid so I'm very spoiled as far as performance goes, but still this iMac holds it's own fairly well. What I'm extremely impressed with is how quiet and cool this thing runs. I can not tell when it's own -- while my full on PC is fantastically fast it sounds like a fan is running all the time trying to keep it cool, this iMac is amazingly quiet and cool. So while I mainly use this as just a monitor it actually runs cooler and uses less energy than my old 30" monitor even though it's a full PC that is running.
Finally the mouse and keyboard for this are excellent -- as long as you don't plan on using them for very long. I'm not sure why Apple gives you just a keyboard with no keypad on it for what is supposed to be a daily use computer. While it looks nice and makes the monitor look really big it also makes it difficult to use at times. However if you can get past that the keyboard is excellent. The mouse is fairly good as well, I got used to using the top gestures fairly quickly and its a neat treat. However it's much to flat to be comfortable to use for extended periods. Since the mouse doesn't support your hand like a normal mouse you end up holding your hand out when using it -- while this doesn't sound like a big deal it can become a pain to do after 30-40 mins of solid usage.
Finally Pt2 -- This really is an excellent PC, Windows 7 runs great on it. Another hint, when you go to upgrade the video drivers get the mobility drivers, not the standard ones -- it took me 2 tries to figure out why they were not loading. The PC performance is great and it runs games at full resolution surprising well.
That's it -- overall I have to say I'm very happy with this purchase.
Upgrading from an older iMac August 5, 2010
korova (Varosha)
15 out of 17 found this review helpful
First things first: the iMac offered on this page has the quad-core Intel Core i5 processor. A configuration with a dual-core i3 processor is also sold by Amazon. A more powerful quad-core processor, the i7, is available as a build-to-order option from the online Apple Store. Be sure you're looking at the configuration you want. Apple makes four 27" Aluminum iMac processor setups in all: an i3, two with the i5, and an i7 (see the Comments on this review for a link to Apple's official tech specs).
Now then, on with the show. Many reviewers of the previous release of the 27" Aluminum iMac have already discussed the essential hardware and software features. So, rather than repeating stuff that has already been said, I am going to focus this review on my experience of upgrading from a G4 igloo iMac that was running System 10.5.8 .
Migration Assistant
*I used a Firewire 400 to Firewire 800 cable to move the contents of my old computer to the new machine with Migration Assistant.
*The process was virtually seamless, with only a few minor adjustments necessary to the transferred data. Only four applications required reinstallation: ClamXav, iTunes (due to the Soundflower plugin--in any case, no music was lost or damaged), Microsoft Expression Media 2, and a Juniper Networks remote access program (part of a corporate telecommuting package).
*Rules for Little Snitch, a third party utility, need to be reestablished.
*Customized preferences for Spotlight must be reentered.
Magic Mouse
*iMacs now come with a wireless mouse as standard equipment. The Magic Mouse is a vast improvement over the Apple Mouse (aka Mighty Mouse) because it doesn't have a roller ball that eventually stops working. In fact, there aren't any external moving parts on the Magic Mouse, other than the on/off switch.
*Exposé and Dashboard functions are now on the top row of the keyboard, not on mouse buttons.
*If you're interested in the new Magic Trackpad, you'll have to order it separately. It doesn't come as standard equipment right now.
Keyboard
*The chiclet style keys took me a little while to get used to, but now I prefer them to traditional "long stroke" keys.
*For some reason, Apple has made a compact laptop keyboard the standard iMac keyboard (Steve Jobs must be nostalgic for the original 1984 Mac keyboard). Anybody who relies on Page keys for navigation or on a numeric keypad for data entry is out of luck.
*An extended keyboard with Home/Pg Up/Pg Dn/Delete keys and a number pad is available as a build-to-order option, along with additional memory and other treats, at the online Apple Store.
Audio System
*Optical digital audio input and output requires cables or cable adapters with 3.5mm plugs. Standard size TOSLINK connectors won't work. Also, digital audio I/O is run through the microphone and headphone ports. It is consequently impossible to use headphones or an external mic when the computer is setup for optical digital audio use.
*The speakers are a weak point in the design. They are small, underpowered, and sound tinny. I think the igloo iMacs had much better sound. If I recall correctly, they had a specially tuned amplifier--plus the speakers were fairly large and were not built into the computer housing. Users who use their iMac as their main music source or who work with music and sound will want to buy a separate pair of speakers.
Using the computer: screen, fan noise, heat, Rosetta
*This iMac is all about the gigantic 27" screen. It's incredibly sharp and bright, with better-than-HD resolution. Excel users will love being able to see columns A-AE and rows 1-95 all at once at 100% zoom. No more wasting time scrolling around and splitting windows. Photos, movies, and graphics all look absolutely fabulous.
*I initially thought I would hate the glossy finish on the screen, especially after seeing how much glare demo models at the Apple Store showed. But, as it turns out, the shiny glass isn't distracting at all in my home office. That said, anybody who hasn't ever seen a glossy screen computer in person should go check one out before placing an order.
*Something that I miss from my igloo iMac is the ability to move the screen both from left to right (x-axis) and up and down (y-axis). Aluminum iMac screens can only be swiveled up and down, in a fairly limited range.
*Under most conditions, the computer runs very quietly. Fan noise is normally inaudible.
*The top of the computer can become noticeably hot to the touch. Not hot enough to cook the proverbial egg, but definitely warmer than most other electronic devices (except for the original PlayStation3, otherwise known as the Sony Spaceheater).
*PowerPC applications run well under Rosetta. Once it is downloaded automatically, upon demand, it runs invisibly.
Bottom line: it's the screen, the SCREEN, THE SCREEN!! Massive amounts of screen real estate, combined with fast performance, make the 27" Aluminum iMac a true joy to use for both work and play. One star penalty for not making an extended keyboard standard and for the terrible built-in sound system.
 Great Screen/Horrible Screen September 6, 2010
B. Mullins (Venice, CA USA)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
As a photographer, I was really looking forward to the great 27" screen to edit on while also websurfing, chat, email etc.
Unfortunately I got intense headaches using it, due to the brightness & glossy surface, even in a rather dark room. The screen may look great under the bright lights in the AppleStore - where the high contrast and color saturation still makes things "pop" - the reality of extended use I found to be something entirely different. If you dial the brightness down to a more reasonable level [for me less than half] it takes away the color saturation, and you still have all the reflections to deal with.
At the suggestion of a couple of AppleStore employees with photography/video editing experience, I bought a connector to add my old 20" matte cinema display. While not having the resolution or newer technology of the iMac screen, the color differences [even after both were calibrated] are quite clear. But more importantly, the comfort factor difference is astonishing. Apple Help has no idea what the native brightness standard should be prior to color calibration, and am awaiting a response from engineering to find out as at max brightness, it's enough to burn holes in your eyes :) If calibrated to that standard, then dialed back for eye comfort any photo adjustments will then be off for printing or web use.
If you're primarily using the machine to read/write text, play games, and watch DVD's in very controlled lighting - then I can imagine this screen would be something you'd be interested in [however "overpowered" it would be to get the i5/7 version for that]. But if you are using it for media production, I have to reluctantly tell you to stay away unless you already have worked with this screen before.
The experienced AppleStore employees told me that I would never be happy with the glossy/bright screen [where were they when I was shopping - and was told it would be "incredible...perfect...fantastic" by others?] and should consider going with a matte screen [build-to-order option] with the MacBook Pro 15" or 17" and combine it with a matte monitor [I'm looking at Dell's 30" for $900 as Apple's old 30" is far more even on clearance]. Not exactly what I had in mind, and a lot more $$ - but at this point I know I can't comfortably work with this screen.
Yes - the machine appears to be very fast [i7] even without the additional 8GB of RAM I bought but haven't installed yet. And yes - eyesights are different - but now that I have the Issue, and have been doing a lot more reading about it, it appears I'm with the majority of users who do media work.
While wanting to avoid too much detail - transfer from my G5 Tower using Tiger was very seemless, with one glaring exception: there were 3 .dfonts that came up that the i7 said I should trash [lucinda, geneva, helvetica] in order for the new OS to work properly - which I did - resulting in most displays on the computer, from the browser to the screenbar being unreadable with capital "A's" instead of the text...until I dumped them back into a font folder. AppleHelp still believes this will cause other issues down the road - but at least I can read the text on my screen now.
A keen disappointment, with many wasted hours and many yet to go before resolution, but I wanted to alert others who may be considering a purchase now.
[cross-posted under previous version as 27" screen is identical]
Showing reviews 1-5 of 6
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