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Product name

Apple iMac (21.5-inch, 2.7GHz, fall 2012)
Apple iMac (21.5-inch, 2.7GHz, fall 2012)
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Dell XPS One 27 (Windows 8)
Dell XPS One 27 (Windows 8)
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Apple Mac Mini with Fusion Drive (fall 2012)
Apple Mac Mini with Fusion Drive (fall 2012)
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Apple iMac (21.5-inch, 2.9GHz, fall 2012)
Apple iMac (21.5-inch, 2.9GHz, fall 2012)
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Price $1,149 to $1,299 at 7 stores $1,149 at 1 store $1,349 to $1,722 at 7 stores
CNET editors' rating
3.5 stars Very good
    Overall score: 7.1 (3.5 stars)
Editors' choice 4.0 stars Excellent
    Overall score: 8.3 (4.0 stars)
4.0 stars Excellent
    Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)
3.5 stars Very good
    Overall score: 7.1 (3.5 stars)
Average user rating 3.0 stars out of 6 reviews 2.5 stars out of 6 reviews 3.5 stars out of 2 reviews 1.0 stars out of 1 review
Release date November 29, 2012 October 12, 2012 November 08, 2012 November 29, 2012
The Bottom Line The 21.5-inch iMac will be a compelling lower-cost all-in-one for Mac loyalists, but you can get more capabilities from similarly priced Windows all-in-ones. Updated with a touch screen, a new stand, and up-to-date components, the Dell XPS One 27 leads the inaugural class of Windows 8 PCs. With or without its new Fusion hybrid drive, Apple finally has a Mac Mini that competes well against mainstream Windows PCs in the same price range. The 21.5-inch iMac will be a compelling lower-cost all-in-one for Mac loyalists, but you can get more capabilities from similarly priced Windows all-in-ones.

Basic specs
Features See What's the Same or What's different
Audio Output Integrated - Stereo
 Info unavailable Info unavailable Integrated - Stereo
Type Personal computer
 Info unavailable Info unavailable Personal computer
Video Memory 512 MB GDDR5 SDRAM
 Info unavailable Info unavailable 512 MB GDDR5 SDRAM
Product Description Apple iMac iMac (fall 2012) - 3rd Gen Core i5
2.7 GHz - Monitor : LED 21.5 in
 - 3rd Gen Core i5 3450s 3.5 GHz 27 in
 Mac Mini (Fall 2012) - 3rd Gen Core i7 2.6 GHz
 Apple iMac - Core i5 2.9 GHz - Monitor : LED 21.5 in
Storage Controller Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 )
 Info unavailable Info unavailable Serial ATA ( Serial ATA-300 )
Optical Storage None
 8X Slot Load CD/DVD burner (DVD+/-R Drive)
 Info unavailable None
Processor Intel 3rd Gen Core i5
1 3 2.7 GHz ( 3.2 GHz ) ( Quad-Core )
 Intel 3rd Gen Core i5 3450s / 3.5 GHz
 Intel 3rd Gen Core i7 2.6 GHz ( Quad-Core )
 1 x Intel Core i5 3 2.9 GHz ( 3.6 GHz ) ( Quad-Core )
RAM 8 GB (installed) / 16 GB (max) - DDR3 SDRAM - 1600 MHz
 6 GB DDR3 SDRAM
 4 GB
 8 GB (installed) / 16 GB (max) - DDR3 SDRAM - 1600 MHz
Cache Memory 6 MB L3 cache
 Info unavailable Info unavailable 6 MB L3 cache
Dimensions (WxDxH) 20.8 in x 6.9 in x 17.7 in
 Info unavailable Info unavailable 20.8 in x 6.9 in x 17.7 in
Hard Drive (3rd) None
 Info unavailable Info unavailable None
Weight 12.5 lbs
 Info unavailable Info unavailable 12.5 lbs
Monitor 21.5 in - LED - 1920 x 1080 ( Full HD )
 27 in
 Info unavailable 21.5 in - LED - 1920 x 1080 ( Full HD )
Hard Drive 1 x HDD 1 TB - Serial ATA-300 - Serial ATA
 1 TB
 1 TB
 1 x HDD 1 TB - Serial ATA-300 - Serial ATA
Packaged Quantity 1
 Info unavailable Info unavailable 1
Graphics Controller NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M
 nVidia GeForce GT 640M 2GB GDDR5
 Info unavailable NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M
Storage Removable None
 Info unavailable Info unavailable None
Networking Bluetooth 4.0
IEEE 802.11a
Fast Ethernet
Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet
IEEE 802.11b
IEEE 802.11n
IEEE 802.11g
 Info unavailable Info unavailable Bluetooth 4.0
IEEE 802.11a
Fast Ethernet
Ethernet
Gigabit Ethernet
IEEE 802.11b
IEEE 802.11n
IEEE 802.11g
Product Form Factor All-in-one
 Info unavailable Info unavailable All-in-one
Operating System Apple OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
 Microsoft Windows 8
 Apple Mac OS X Mountain Lion
 Apple OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications Full specifications
Buying choices

B&H Photo-Video
$1,224.95
In stock: Yes

Buy direct from Apple Inc.
$1,299.00
In stock: Yes

Abt Electronics
$1,259.00
In stock: Yes

Prices from 6 CNET Certified stores

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B&H Photo-Video
$1,149.00
In stock: Yes

Price from 1 CNET Certified store

B&H Photo-Video
$1,399.99
In stock: Yes

Buy direct from Apple Inc.
$1,499.00
In stock: Yes

Abt Electronics
$1,429.00
In stock: Yes

Prices from 5 CNET Certified stores
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