First imac. Apple iMac: review, specifications, best programs and applications

When buying a flash drive, many people ask themselves the question: "how to choose the right flash drive." Of course, choosing a flash drive is not so difficult if you know exactly for what purposes it is purchased. In this article I will try to give a complete answer to the question posed. I decided to write only about what to look for when buying.

A flash drive (USB drive) is a drive designed to store and transfer information. The flash drive works very simply without batteries. You just need to connect it to USB port your PC.

1. Flash drive interface

3. Body material

4. Transfer rate

6. Password protection

Conclusion

Good afternoon my dear friends. In today's article, I want to talk about how to choose the right mouse pad. When buying a rug, many do not attach any importance to this. But as it turned out, this moment needs to be given special attention, because. mat determine one of the indicators of comfort while working at a PC. For an avid gamer, choosing a rug is a completely different story. Consider what options for mouse pads have been invented today.

Mat options

And now I would like to talk about each species in more detail.

1. First, I want to consider three options at once: plastic, aluminum and glass. These mats are very popular with gamers. For example, plastic mats are easier to find commercially. On such mats, the mouse glides quickly and accurately. And most importantly, these mats are suitable for both laser and optical mice. Aluminum and glass mats will be a little more difficult to find. And yes, they will cost a lot. The truth is for what - they will serve for a very long time. Rugs of these types have small flaws. Many people say that they rustle and feel a little cool when used, which may cause discomfort for some users.

2. Rubberized (rag) mats have a soft glide, but the accuracy of their movements is worse. For ordinary users, such a rug will be just right. Yes, and they are much cheaper than the previous ones.

3. Double-sided mousepads are, in my opinion, a very interesting kind of mousepads. As the name implies, these rugs have two sides. As a rule, one side is high-speed, and the other is high-precision. It happens that each side is designed for a certain game.

4. Helium pads have a silicone cushion. She allegedly supports her hand and relieves tension from it. For me personally, they were the most uncomfortable. By appointment, they are designed for office workers, since they sit at the computer all day. For ordinary users and gamers, these mats are not suitable. The mouse slides very poorly on the surface of such rugs, and their accuracy is not the best.

Mat sizes

Rugs design

On this I want to end the article. From myself I wish to make you right choice and be happy with it.
Who does not have a mouse or wants to replace it with another, I advise you to look at the article:.

Monoblocks from Microsoft have replenished with a new monoblock model called Surface Studio. Microsoft presented its new product recently at an exhibition in New York.

On a note! I wrote an article a couple of weeks ago where I reviewed the Surface monoblock. This monoblock was presented earlier. Click on to view the article.

Design

On a note! The display resolution of 4500x3000 pixels corresponds to 13.5 million pixels. This is 63% more than 4K resolution.

On a note! For people creative professions I advise you to look at the article where I considered monoblocks of similar functionality. Click on the selected one: .

On a note! By the way, Microsoft has another amazing candy bar. To find out about it, go to.

Specifications

From the periphery, I note the following: 4 USB ports, a Mini-Display Port connector, an Ethernet network port, a card-reader, a 3.5 mm audio jack, a 1080p webcam, 2 microphones, a 2.1 Dolby Audio Premium audio system, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. It also supports Xbox wireless controllers.

Price

OCZ has demonstrated new VX 500 SSDs. These drives will be equipped with Serial ATA 3.0 interface and are made in 2.5-inch form factor.

On a note! For those who are interested in how SSD drives work and how long they live, you can read in an article I wrote earlier:.

The number of input / output operations per second (IOPS) with data blocks of 4 KB in size can reach 92,000 when reading, and 65,000 when writing (this is all arbitrary).
The thickness of OCZ VX 500 drives will be 7 mm. This will allow them to be used in ultrabooks.

Prices of new products will be as follows: 128 GB - $ 64, 256 GB - $ 93, 512 GB - $ 153, 1 TB - $ 337. I think in Russia they will cost more.

Lenovo has unveiled its new IdeaCentre Y910 gaming all-in-one at Gamescom 2016.

On a note! Earlier I wrote an article where I already considered gaming monoblocks different manufacturers. This article can be viewed by clicking on this.

The monoblock will have several configurations. The maximum configuration includes a 6th generation processor Intel Core i7, hard disk capacity up to 2 TB or 256 GB. The amount of RAM is 32 GB DDR4. NVIDIA graphics card will be responsible for the graphics GeForce GTX 1070 or GeForce GTX 1080 with Pascal architecture. Thanks to such a video card, it will be possible to connect a virtual reality helmet to the monoblock.
From the periphery of the monoblock, I would single out the Harmon Kardon audio system with 5-watt speakers, the Killer DoubleShot Pro Wi-Fi module, a webcam, USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports, and HDMI connectors.

In the basic version, the IdeaCentre Y910 monoblock will be available in September 2016 at a price of 1800 euros. But the monoblock with the version of "VR-ready" will appear in October at a price of 2200 euros. It is known that this version will have a GeForce GTX 1070 graphics card.

MediaTek has decided to upgrade its Helio X30 mobile processor. So now the developers from MediaTek are designing a new mobile processor called Helio X35.

I would like to briefly talk about Helio X30. This processor has 10 cores, which are combined into 3 clusters. Helio X30 has 3 variations. The first - the most powerful - consists of Cortex-A73 cores with a frequency of up to 2.8 GHz. There are also blocks with Cortex-A53 cores with a frequency of up to 2.2 GHz and Cortex-A35 with a frequency of 2.0 GHz.

The new Helio X35 processor also has 10 cores and is being created using 10nm technology. The clock frequency in this processor will be much higher than that of its predecessor and ranges from 3.0 Hz. The novelty will allow you to use up to 8 GB LPDDR4 RAM. The Power VR 7XT controller will most likely be responsible for the graphics in the processor.
The station itself can be seen in the photographs in the article. In them we can observe the drive bays. One bay with a 3.5" jack and the other with a 2.5" jack. Thus, it will be possible to connect to the new station as solid state drive(SSD) and HDD(HDD).

The dimensions of the Drive Dock station are 160x150x85mm, and the weight is no less than 970 grams.
Many people probably have a question about how the Drive Dock connects to a computer. The answer is: this happens through a USB 3.1 Gen 1 port. According to the manufacturer, the sequential read speed will be 434 Mb / s, and in write mode (serial) 406 Mb / s. The novelty will be compatible with Windows and Mac OS.

This device will be very useful for people who work with photo and video materials at a professional level. The Drive Dock can also be used to backups files.
The price for a new device will be acceptable - it is $ 90.

On a note! Previously, Renduchinthala worked at Qualcomm. And since November 2015, he moved to a competing company Intel.

Today we dedicate our issue to one of the most important computer models in the line. It is customary to say about this car that it was she who saved Apple, which was rapidly sliding into the abyss. After his return to the company he founded, Steve Jobs radically changed the entire the lineup, abandoning the implementation of some old projects and starting to create new ones. The first successful fruit of his hard work after returning to Apple was a computer that breathed new life into the company and made another revolution. Today we will talk about iMac.

This was perhaps the biggest bet that Steve Jobs made in his career. Eighteen months after his return to Apple as interim CEO, on May 6, 1998, the Flynt Auditorium gathered a large number of press to see the next evolution of the Mac line. They became the most daring, stylish and non-standard looking computer, made on the principle of "all in one". Wrapped in a transparent blue plastic case and armed with all the modern Internet features, iMac was the first computer that truly felt like a personal computer. After some time, it will become obvious that he forever changed Apple, the computer industry and everyone who has ever had the opportunity to use it.

iMac G3

According to rumors, Jobs categorically did not like the name iMac, and he decided to accept it only after computers had already begun to roll off the assembly line. However, it is difficult to imagine that it could be called something else. The letter "i", as it was said at the presentation, denoted five components: internet (Internet), individual (individuality), instruct (training), inform (information) and inspire (inspiration). The original model, called the Bondi Blue iMac, was the epitome of Apple's Think Different advertising campaign and was designed to give the user "the thrill of browsing the web with the simplicity of a Macintosh."

While the original iMac didn't have any groundbreaking features, its list of specs was quite impressive. The $1,299 model featured a 233MHz G3 processor, 512MB RAM with L2 cache, 32MB RAM, ATI Rage IIc graphics, 4GB hard drive, CD-ROM drive with tray, two USB ports, stereo speakers, stylish mouse, nice keyboard and 15" CRT display. And all this was enclosed in a translucent blue plastic case. As soon as colored iMacs began to conquer the market, consumers began to abandon boring beige machines and opt for variegated colors.

However, not everyone liked the Bondi Blue color, and in 1999 (after a slight update to the graphics card to support OS 8.5), Steve took the iMac "to a whole different level." From now on, the computer gave users the opportunity to "express themselves in a new way" and became available in five colors named after fruits: Strawberry (strawberry), Blueberry (blueberry), Lime (lime), Grape (grape) and Tangerine (tangerine). To make the machines even more attractive, their processors received an additional 33 megahertz, and the price was reduced by $100.

However, the matter was not limited to one expansion of the palette and a slight increase in productivity. In October, Jobs introduced the iMac DV, the first machines to feature FireWire ports, wireless connectivity, and a DVD-ROM drive. In addition, the new Aimaks received a 400 MHz processor, as well as a special, more powerful version, which was painted in the same Graphite color as its older brother Power Mac. In July 2000, at the Macworld New York conference, four new models were presented, offered in new colors, running on processors up to 500 MHz and priced from $799 to $1,499: iMac (Indigo), iMac DV (Indigo, Ruby) , iMac DV+ (Indigo, Ruby, Sage) and iMac DV SE (Graphite and Snow).

In February 2001, everyone, including Jobs himself, already understood that the iMac in the form in which it appeared three years ago had already become obsolete, and changes were required. However, this time he again managed to convince the public of the logic of the "Rip, Mix, Burn" campaign that accompanied the release of the new generation of iMac. However, when new models in Blue Dalmatian and Flower Power colorways hit the market, it was clear that a major update to the line-up was in store for the future. Incidentally, the 700MHz iMacs that were unveiled at Macworld New York 2001 can now be bought on eBay for $75 and you'll be surprised that they can still run many versions of OS X, up to and including Tiger. So if you're feeling nostalgic or just looking for an elegant and high-tech fish tank, you might want to consider this option. $799 iMac with 600MHz processor and color scheme The Snow remained on sale until March 2003, when it was replaced by the white and chrome eMac G4.

iMac G4

In 2002, Time magazine was able to lighten the veil of secrecy that usually surrounds the process of developing new Apple products. But even if he managed to send his messenger to the Cupertino laboratory and spread the leak flavored with large quantity spy photos, it is unlikely that even in this case the public would have been prepared for what Steve Jobs demonstrated to her at Macworld San Francisco. With a flat screen hinged to a chrome stand and white base, the iMac G4 was no less original. In fact, his presence in your room made it look more like some kind of contemporary art museum. Here is what was written about it in the mentioned magazine:

When Steve Jobs and walked through the huge vegetable garden and apricot grove, grown by his wife Lauryn, Steve described his ideal of a new car. “Each element must remain itself,” he said. - Why do we need a flat screen if we are going to attach all this goodness to the back of it? Why put a computer next to a monitor when it really wants to be horizontal or on the floor? Let each element be itself and be honest with itself.” According to Jobs, the new computer should not look like the first iMac, but rather like flowers in the garden: "Make it look like a sunflower."

Following his boss's vision of excellence, Ive designed the iMac G4, which not only received a unique design, but was equipped with the most powerful 800 MHz G4 processor at that time. With an optional SuperDrive, plenty of professional ports, and a great widescreen display that "heralded in the era of flat-panel monitors," the iMac G4 could no longer be garishly garish: it was already eye-catching and looked more like a work of art than a computer. Offered in three identical models ranging from $1,299 (CD-RW, 700MHz G4, 128MB RAM, 40GB hard drive) to $1,799 (SuperDrive, 800MHz G4, 256MB RAM, 60GB hard drive), The iMac G4 began to blur the line between consumer and professional and marked one of the greatest advances in Apple history.

You didn't have to be clairvoyant to guess: this computer became a real sensation: 150,000 models were ordered in the first three weeks. Even with a $100 price increase due to unforeseen increases in memory and flat-panel LCDs, this sunflower computer continued its triumphant march.

The most striking element of Tuesday was certainly . A new page begins in the history of this computer, which has been going on for almost 15 years. And we are starting a series of articles in which this story will be told. Unfortunately, the format of the site does not allow to paint all the details (this would require a whole book), but we will try to mention all the most interesting points.

The birth of the iMac

iMac is more than just a computer. It would be more correct to call it a symbol of a new era in the history of Apple. It was from him that the revival of the company began. Introduced in May 1998, the very first iMac was the first triumph of the returning Jobs, who simply needed a real masterpiece that could delight the public and again draw attention to Apple. It appeared on sale in August 1998 at a price of $1,299 for the minimum package (before that, Apple had never sold computers cheaper than $2,000). Nearly 280,000 iMacs were sold in the first six weeks of sales alone.

By the end of the year, about 800,000 pieces were sold. At the time, it was the best-selling computer in the company's history. Interestingly, for 32% of people who bought an iMac, it was their very first computer. And another 12% of consumers have previously used a PC, but they liked the iMac's exceptionally attractive appearance so much that they decided to change the platform. It was an absolute success, after which it became clear even to the most staunch skeptics that the “imminent death of Apple”, predicted back in 1997, is clearly being postponed.

The new computer was based on the PowerPC 750 (G3) processor with a frequency of 233 MHz. The 15-inch CRT screen supported a resolution of 1024x768 pixels at a refresh rate of 75Hz. The graphics card was ATI Rage IIc (a little later - Rage Pro) with video memory from 2 to 6 MB. The maximum amount of RAM could reach 384 MB. All this was more than enough for comfortable work with Mac OS 8.1 Classic. Moreover, the computer was quite able to pull even Mac OS X 10.3.9. Subsequently, the characteristics were slightly improved, the processor reached a frequency of 700 MHz, an ATI Rage 128 Ultra video card was installed with 16 MB of video memory, and the maximum amount of RAM was increased to 1 GB.

An unusual innovation was also the use of USB ports, which had only just appeared in those years and did not gain sufficient popularity (moreover, their introduction was too slow). At first, this move was sharply criticized by old Apple fans, who lost the opportunity to use old accessories. But Jobs was little interested in the past, he was all focused on the future, he did not just renew the company, but made a real revolution, he wanted to abandon everything old, turn the page and start from scratch. And time has proven him right. There is even a theory that USB ports would never have become popular so quickly if they were not installed in the iMac.

But striving for the future, Jobs still managed not to completely break with the past. iMac is an example of a successful rejuvenation of an old brand. By the end of the 90s, the Macintosh brand no longer aroused enthusiasm for anyone, as it was in the mid-80s. The new computer was a reincarnation of the old, very first Mac, released in 1984. What the inscription made clear hello (again)(during the presentation of the very first Mac, the inscription glowed on the computer screen hello, which has become one of the symbols of this computer).

History has preserved the fact that Jobs originally wanted to name the computer MacMan, from which he was dissuaded, and specialists from TBWA\CHIAT\DAY subsequently proposed the name "iMac". The main argument against "MacMan" was that the title was too similar to "Pac-Man" and "Walkman". Later, they recalled that it was not at all easy to dissuade the stubborn Steve.

Since 1998, there have been six editions of the iMac with a CRT screen, each of which has brought something new, although the appearance of the computer has not changed much, except for the color of the case. The very first model had a blue color of a cloudy-transparent body. As well as optical drive with a sliding tray, which wildly angered Jobs, who wanted to install a "swallow" drive (this episode is colorfully painted in the official biography from Isaacson). Later, brighter colors appeared, as well as democratic dark graphite and completely white variations. Somewhat less well-known are models with a spotted body and a body painted with bright flowers. In total, during the release of the first iMac variations (that is, models with a CRT screen), 13 different color options were used.

All existing iMac body color options (clickable)

Incidentally, each iMac case cost Apple $60. This is three times the price paid for similar products by other companies. But it was worth it! After all, the future of the company was at stake.

The first and most noticeable change is the new screen. Apple has increased its diagonal by 1.5 inches for the younger model and 3 inches for the older one. Along with the change in aspect ratio from 16:10 to 16:9, the resolution has also changed: 1920x1080 for the 21.5-inch iMac and 2560x1440 for the 27-inch. This gives you more space on your desktop.

Another change is the use of LED backlighting on the screen. Apple has been installing this in its Cinema Display for a long time, now it's the turn of the iMac. It allows you to improve color reproduction and brightness, and at the same time make the screen thinner and more economical in terms of power consumption. In addition, now both computers are equipped with an IPS-matrix, while in the previous generation the 20-inch model was limited to TN + Film, albeit of high quality. But IPS in any case will be better in terms of color reproduction and viewing angles.

We upgraded the processor as well. For the 21.5-inch iMac, little change - in fact, only a slight increase clock frequency. But iMac 27" can ship with Core i5 or Core i7, not just Core 2 Duo. What does it mean in practice? Of course, performance. Apple was clearly waiting for the official announcement of the Core i5 and cheaper i7 before updating the iMac. These the chips are quad-core, while the Core 2 Duo used in the iMac are dual-core, and the Core i7 also supports HyperThreading, bringing the number of simultaneously executing threads to 8. So if you need something faster, then it is better to opt for the 27-inch version with Core i5/i7.

There were some rearrangements with video cards. The most basic model still comes with NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics. However, the 21.5-inch iMac now has an ATI Radeon HD 4670 instead of the faster NVIDIA GeForce GT 120. But the fastest option for the "big" iMac has remained the same - ATI Radeon HD 4850. Moreover, those modifications that are based on the Core i5 / i7 come only with the HD 4850.

Previously, cheaper variants of iMacs could have 2 GB of RAM, but now it has a minimum of 4 GB. For Mac OS X 10.6, this is a perfectly acceptable option, since it is 64-bit and copes well with such a volume. In addition, the maximum allowable RAM size has also increased from 8 to 16 GB.

Plan changes capacity hard discs are also available, although not very significant. In the previous line, the minimum volume was 320 GB, but now it is 500 GB, but the maximum is 2 TB. This is for the 21.5-inch model. In the older iMac, a minimum of 1 TB hard drive is installed (instead of 640 GB), and a maximum of 2 TB is also a more capacious option hard drives not yet released.

Basically, that's all. Well, except that the latest generation iMac showed up with an SD card reader, like the latest Apple laptops in a unibody case. Of course, the dimensions and weight have changed, in a big way. But this is absolutely not important for a monoblock computer.

In the box

No matter how much Apple fans admire the products of this company, the package of its computers is always minimal, containing only the most necessary. Our iMac came with a power cord (built-in power supply), user manual, operating system CD, keyboard and mouse. However, it is very pleasing that the last two components from the newest range of Apple: the keyboard is wireless, and the mouse is the sensational Magic Mouse, which we will consider in a separate material.

iMac- it is monoblock Personal Computer, which has been manufactured by Apple since 1998. The design of the iMac is very original, in its small body the monitor, processor, video card, RAM, hard drive and SuperDrive for CD and DVD discs.

What is an iMac?

Monoblock from Apple is the best solution for web designers or photographers, it fits perfectly into any interior. This monoblock has always played a special role in the entire world of computers. It was chosen and chosen by the developers software and people who spend a lot of time behind a monitor screen, to look at Apple iMac 21.5 or its older brother Apple iMac 27 - very nice, the colors are bright, the picture is located as close to the eyes as possible.

In addition to a stunning and perfect display, the computer offers a lot of ideas. For example, Fusion Drive is a storage technology that helps combine HDD and SSD drives into a single logical volume. This is especially convenient if you like to store a large number of movies, clips, music and photos, and at the same time like fast loading and computer performance. Fusion Drive will help you combine these two points and forget about the constant question: "Where can I get free space?" This technology works in this way: the files (videos, music and photos) that you use are rarely stored on your hard drive. HDD, and applications and any other information that you use most often is processed and stored on a high-speed SSD drive.

Also, Apple iMac computers have a good filling. Of course, they are not famous for their technical characteristics, which will be discussed a little later, which cannot be said about computers, since the thickness of the last monoblock is only 5 mm and it is simply unrealistic to place powerful components in a computer.

Story

1998 was a significant year for Apple, as the first computer model from the monoblock series appeared. She received a Power PC G3 processor, a 15 ″ (inch) monitor (if possible, a 13.8 ″ model could be ordered) and a 60 GB hard drive. After the release of the second Apple iMac, exactly one year later, production of the G3 model ceased. The second monoblock received 17 and 20 inch LCD displays and new processor PowerPC G4.

The third model was released at the end of August 2004 and received a Power PC G5 processor. The Intel Plastic model released on January 10, 2005 received new design, 24″ LCD display, 750 GB of physical memory and, most importantly, an Intel Core Duo processor. The next monoblock received a dual-core processor and a whole 1 TB of hard drive memory.

The following models, namely iMac 21.5 and iMac 27, received new second and third generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, fast SSD drives up to 768 GB in size and operating system support. From now until the end of the article, we will talk about latest model iMac 2012 is the thinnest and fastest all-in-one in history.

Above in the photo, you can see the history of monoblock generations (from 1998 to 2012).

Equipment

Apple likes to approach its products in a special way and with special love. The same words can be said about the complete set of the computer.

Opening the beautiful-looking box, you can see small foam molds that protect the display from damage, network cable, the Wireless Keyboard, and mouse Magic Mouse, a quick start guide, and the computer itself.

Design

Apple iMac computers are not famous for being very popular among devices in which each new model gets a new one. appearance. But 2012 was a creative year for the company and it updated its monoblock not only from the inside, as it always was, but also from the outside.

The new, thin and absolutely light case has become the main feature of the computer. The thickness is only 5mm, isn't that cool? You can look at it for hours and wonder: "How could such a filling be placed in such a thin case."

However, to make the iMac so thin, the CD and DVD drive had to be ditched. It is said that the company will soon abandon the drive to Mac Pro, since everyone now uses flash or hard drives, which have become for us indispensable assistant in study and work.

As you can see in the picture, the iMac has 2 Thunderbolt and four USB 3.0 ports, a headphone jack, an Internet jack, and a memory card slot. In 2012, the company dropped the FireWire port and microphone input.

Summing up the design, one word can be said - "Great!" Most importantly, everything is done with a twist and the most creative approach.

Specifications

If you want to buy a good monoblock and at the same time upgrade in a few years, then you need to choose a model iMac 27, as the smaller model does not provide this capability. The 27-inch model offers a lot more and comes with room for additional RAM. There's a lot to talk about, but let's get to the point.

The iMac 21.5 has an IPS LED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which is not the case with the 27″ model, which has a resolution of as much as 2560 x 1440 pixels. As for processors, both models have quad-core Intel Core i5, the smaller model has a frequency of 2.7 GHz and 2.9 GHz, and the older one has 2.9 GHz and 3.2 GHz. This processor is included as standard, if you want a Core i7, then you will have to order and choose the configuration yourself.

The junior model has only two 4GB RAM slots, while the Apple iMac 27 has four, two of which are occupied, and the other two are free for a future upgrade.

The hard drive for models is 1 TB as standard, only 21.5 ″ has a speed of 5400 rpm, and 27 ″ has 7200 rpm. You can also purchase a Fusion Drive, which combines both HDD and SSD drives.

Discrete video card: Nvidia GeForce GT 640M and 650M for 512 MB for the smaller model and Nvidia GeForce GTX 660M for 512 MB, GTX 675MX for 1 GB for the older model, respectively. Also in Apple iMac monoblocks there is a built-in FaceTime camera that shoots video in HD format, stereo speakers, a microphone and a large number of ports, which were discussed in the Design paragraph. Connection to WiFi networks 802.11n and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology make working with your computer much more enjoyable.

Price

Apple products are famous for their high prices and buying some kind of product is not easy and simple for everyone, since each person has his own pocket. For the money that iMac computers cost, you can buy more powerful computers from other manufacturers, but with Windows installed.

You can buy it in the iCom.ua store. The price of a monoblock iMac starts from 33 thousand and ends with 59 thousand hryvnias. The 27″ model costs an order of magnitude more expensive, from 59 to 90 thousand hryvnias. On average, for 40 thousand you can buy an iMac that will serve and delight you for years, or even more, but if you need a computer to work in or other resource-intensive programs, then I recommend buying a model for 100 thousand rubles with Core processor i7, Nvidia GTX 680MX graphics card and 16 GB of RAM or better, it depends on you and your goals.

conclusions

Summing up, I would like to say that Apple iMac is a great all-in-one computer with stunning graphics and a fast processor, suitable for office and home use, and thanks to the new operating system OS X " mountain lion”, those moments that you will spend sitting at your Macintosh will remain unforgettable.