Manage updates with the Download AppApple iMac 21.5-inch (2.5GHz, spring 2011)
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MC309LL/A
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Apple's $1,199 iMac doesn't offer the same home entertainment features as Windows-based all-in-ones, but its speed, looks, and the future utility of its Thunderbolt port make it a strong choice for performance-sensitive professionals.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Apple iMac 21.5-inch (2.5GHz, spring 2011) price range: $2,370.21
- Reviewed by: Rich Brown
- Reviewed on: 05/12/2011
The good: As the most-affordable iMac, the Apple iMac 21.5-inch offers competitive speed, the unique potential of its Thunderbolt port, and Apple's trademark design leadership.
The bad: The 21.5-inch iMac isn't the best all-in-one for home entertainment, and its performance competitiveness suffers without an option for more video memory.
The bottom line: Apple's $1,199 iMac doesn't offer the same home entertainment features as Windows-based all-in-ones, but its speed, looks, and the future utility of its Thunderbolt port make it a strong choice for performance-sensitive professionals.
User reviews
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Outstanding all-in-one, quad-core power.
by GuyWithGuitars on May 19, 2011
Pros: Setup is a breeze. Elegant all in one design makes this desktop easily transportable. Superb display.
Cons: No Thunderbolt support or peripherals. At this time, Thunderbolt is about as useful as mammary glands on nun.
Summary: I have to 100% disagree with the main reviewers assessment of this machine. The gorgeous 21.5 glass-paneled backlit LCD display and OS/X's Front Row makes this an ...
Summary: I have to 100% disagree with the main reviewers assessment of this machine. The gorgeous 21.5 glass-paneled backlit LCD display and OS/X's Front Row makes this an excellent media center computer. Not to mention AirPlay (wireless streaming of media content to your AppleTV or iOS device). The 512mb video adapter is plenty of juice to run DVD's and most gaming. I'm playing Bioshock on this bad boy and it's as smooth as glass. Far superior to any Windows based all in one for most applications - media center included as the Mac will play DVD's and media without the typical frame freeze and hiccups inherent to Windows. Get an Apple Bluetooth remote and enjoy a trouble free media center computer. Biggest complaint? Absolutely NO support for the new Thunderbolt port. You would think that there would be at least 2 or 3 available accessories before they release a machine that supports Thunderbolt. I have a suspicion that when say an external HDD DOES become available, it will be cost prohibitive. That can only change if the industry adapts Thunderbolt over say USB 3.0. Otherwise, this is another Firewire type of interface. Superior but mostly proprietary and expensive to utilize. Overall vastly superior machine to any Windows all-in-one due to some great hardware and Mac OS/X. Those looking for a new machine should definitely take a long, hard look at the new iMacs. Spend maybe the additional $150-$200 for a Mac over a Windows PC and enjoy a long-lived, very trouble free machine.
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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My Editors Choice
by jrasero23 on May 25, 2011
Pros: Best value out of the iMac Family
Speedy performance
Thunderbolt port
Best all in one design
Wireless keyboard and mouse are awesome
Good speakers
Clear displayCons: Graphics should be better for the money
Only 500GB HD
4 gigs of Ram seems a bit small now a daysSummary: So if you can look past the okay but not stellar graphics card and the small hard drive you have one of the best Apple values and defiantly one of ...
Summary: So if you can look past the okay but not stellar graphics card and the small hard drive you have one of the best Apple values and defiantly one of the best all in ones in the industry. I can see how CNET gave the 27" a Editors Choice since it has an option for an amazing i7 and good graphics, but consumers should remind themselves, dollar for dollar the i5 2.5 21.5" is the best value. Macworld has stated, "The $1199 entry-level 21.5-inch 2.5GHz Core i5 iMac offers the most bang for the buck, keeping up with its more expensive siblings in most tasks." Just Because the entry level iMac doesn't have an i7 don't think it's not fast. Macworld found it was nearly 24 percent faster
overall than last year's entry-level 21.5-inch iMac, which had a 3.06GHz Core i3 dual core processor. Furthermore, this years entry level beat out t last year's high end configuration, a 27-inch 2.8GHz Core i5 quad core iMac by nearly 10 percent. In this case. Additionally Macworld noted that performance wise the entry level performs fairly well compared to the higher end iMacs by stating: "Surprisingly, when compared to each other, the new iMacs logged similar performance numbers. In fact, only 12 Speedmark points separate the entry-level $1199 21.5-inch 2.5GHz Core i5 iMac and the top-of-the-line $1999 27-inch 3.1GHz Core i5 iMac."
Macworld shouldn't be the end all way to judge if a computer is good but as you can see from their findings the entry iMac holds it own. The only discouraging parts of the system I can't get past is the small hard drive. 500 GB is small for any desktop especially for a desktop that goes for $1200, yet their are ways around this. You could buy a external hard drive, live in the cloud, or third party hard drive it.
The case the same modern aluminum frame, which has a great screen and good speakers. The back has added a thunderbolt port which promises to be a great leap forward. But why didn't they put two of these like the 27" I could see using one as a dual display port and the other as transfer port. The lack of item supporting thunderbolt doesn't surprise me as much as the choice to put it in the iMac since Apple rarely puts in consumer tested features.
When buying a computer and especially a Mac a consumer really needs to evaluate what they will use their computer for, how log they want to own it, and the cost. Life and buying if about compromises. unless your willing to spend $2K the iMac 27" is not in everyones round house. I buy a new computer every year give or take, so buying a top of the line anything is out of the question. Overall the new processors are that much better compared to previous models that the new quadcore processor iMacs are a must have.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great all in one computer!
by osvipag on May 14, 2011
Pros: Beautiful screen, silent and fast computer. Did I mention fast?
Cons: None so far. By the way you can order the keyboard with the numeric key pad if you want to.
Summary: I replaced my old 2008 iMac and difference in speed and response is outstanding. The machine is more silent and heat less than the old one. I see the writer ...
Summary: I replaced my old 2008 iMac and difference in speed and response is outstanding. The machine is more silent and heat less than the old one. I see the writer of the article complaining about the lack of Blu-ray, and other specifications that makes it less of a media center pc. I don't think Apple designed this iMac to be a media center to begin with. Also who wants to watch a movie in a 22 inch screen? I have a 47 inch LED TV with a 1500 w surround sound system and a Blu-ray DVD for that task. I use the iMac for what computers are best: email, surfing the web, writing documents and playing games (Steam client works wonderfully fast and games like Half-Life2 look gorgeous in this computer). I think the writer of this article has some bias against the iMac or he is missing the point of target user this computer is designed for.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A great intro level desktop for people new to Apple
by drahcir1302 on May 12, 2011
Pros: New Thunderbolt Port allows for great, future peripherals. Display is top-quality. New processor is in line with new MacBook Pros
Cons: Can not upgrade the 512 MB graphics card. Thunderbolt peripherals are not easily available (yet!)
Summary: Simply put, if people are looking for a desktop that will introduce the family to Apple computer, or replace the old iMac around the house, this is the right choice. ...
Summary: Simply put, if people are looking for a desktop that will introduce the family to Apple computer, or replace the old iMac around the house, this is the right choice. While the hard drive is not as large, and the RAM is not as fast as it's price-equivalent Windows competitors, it is still worth the switch due to the ease of use and stability/security of Mac OS X. Besides, they can easily be upgrade, either through Apple or a third party, or by yourself, as Apple has instructional guides on their websites that make the process very easy.
If you're looking for a professional-grade machine, you may want to look for the $1,999 iMac, which has far more options when it comes to upgrading, most notably, the graphics card. While the 512 MB card that comes installed on this unit is fine for general use, it may not be enough for any hardcore gamer or video/graphical professional.
Apple has also begun shipping the new iMacs with the option of getting their Magic Mouse (a wireless mouse that has a smooth top that the user can swipe their fingers across to create gestures for shortcuts,) or swapping the mouse out for their Magic Trackpad at no extra cost, which functions a lot like a laptops trackpad, but also allows for the gestures that you would use with the Mac OS X operating system.
With Apple's plans of releasing their new operating system update, Mac OS X Lion (10.7), expect this iMac to be the perfect solution for any family's computing needs. Just don't expect to upgrade many of the internal options without stepping up to the 27" iMac.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Flat out best all in one you can buy!
by fleurya on May 12, 2011
Pros: Amazing LED IPS display, powerful and fast desktop in a really small footprint. Choice of magic mouse or trackpad, wireless keyboard and mouse are standard with this product, no an add-on.
Cons: No numberpad on the wireless keyboard
Summary: If you're looking for an inexpensive all-in-one with super fast sandybridge processor speed, a top-of-the-line display, and next gen connectivity, this is the only product out there!
Summary: If you're looking for an inexpensive all-in-one with super fast sandybridge processor speed, a top-of-the-line display, and next gen connectivity, this is the only product out there!
4 out of 7 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Much better job than previous versions
by Jameskyle on May 12, 2011
Pros: Beautiful screen for graphic designers, I love the addition of thunderbolt and can't wait to use it for my work once we see some thunderbolt-enabled devices.. you can be sure to buy this computer and be ahead of the curve technology-wise which the fastest
Cons: This is gonna sound like a broken record but.. HDMI, Bluray, etc.
Summary: Finaaaly apple fixes the overheating issue with these new imacs (its about gd time), I think apple is definitely stepping up their game.
ps dont buy this unless its for ...Summary: Finaaaly apple fixes the overheating issue with these new imacs (its about gd time), I think apple is definitely stepping up their game.
ps dont buy this unless its for professional use, your better off with another device if its just for getting online and play music2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Top of the heap
by LMCWraith on May 12, 2011
Pros: Display quality, very powerful, no bloatware, trialware, state of the art IO.
Cons: No ten key on keyboard. Never have liked ANY Apple mouse! Just replace with a Logitech.
Summary: This is the desktop computer most people need. It's fast, secure, and the included software suite is very powerful and will do the things most people want to do ...
Summary: This is the desktop computer most people need. It's fast, secure, and the included software suite is very powerful and will do the things most people want to do right out of the box and SO much better than any PC counterpart. There's also TimeMachine that solves backups for most everyone. The list goes on. Most of all, it's not about the hardware so much anymore. This machine is state of the art and comes with a fantastic display but it's best selling point is MacOS X and the included software. Sure, you can find a cheaper Wintel machine with comparable hardware but there are so many hidden costs with a PC. Worst of all, those other choices run Windows, which is a deal killer for me.
4 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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So Sexy!!!
by washingtonwalker on May 23, 2012
Pros: Fast
Sexy
Good Value
amazing construction qualityCons: None that I can think of
Summary: My office recently got a bunch of these iMacs, and I have to say, I absolutely love them. They're fast, beautiful and so much fun to work with.
I ...Summary: My office recently got a bunch of these iMacs, and I have to say, I absolutely love them. They're fast, beautiful and so much fun to work with.
I highly recommend them!1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great Computer, Great Operating system
by jackschwarz58 on September 24, 2011
Pros: Great Operating System, Amazing Design, Very Fast, NIce Keyboard/Mouse, All Around Great!
Cons: No Blu-ray
Summary: A Great Amazing computer for anyone who would like a mac,Better value than a 13" Macbook.
Summary: A Great Amazing computer for anyone who would like a mac,Better value than a 13" Macbook.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesome amazing machine
by sam-sanders on July 28, 2011
Pros: Design, Speed, 1080 display, Mac OS X never crashes :)
Cons: No bluray and Hard drive upgrade
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: MC309LL/A
- Description: Today's iMac has come a long way from the first 15-inch iMac. Take one look and you'll see just how far. A display with edge-to-edge glass 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, FaceTime HD video calls, websites, photos - everything looks stunning on the widescreen 16:9 iMac display. The more pixels a display has, the more light those pixels need to achieve the best picture possible. And that's exactly what the LED backlighting in iMac does: it pushes light through each pixel with remarkable brightness and efficiency. Because the LED backlight doesn't take up much space, the iMac enclosure stays thin - even with all the high-performance components inside. The widescreen 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 ultra quiet, so you hardly know it's on. Watching a movie, updating your blog, editing photos. Tasks like these require data to travel from place to place. The Intel Core architecture puts the processor, cache, memory controller, and graphics engine on a single chip. Since data doesn't have as far to travel, you get faster performance and greater efficiency. Thunderbolt technology has arrived - and Apple computers are the first to have it. With one tiny port, you get lightning-fast transfer speeds and huge expansion capabilities. Two 10-Gbps data channels per port mean you can transfer data up to 12 times faster than with FireWire 800. And don't worry about a single drive or peripheral tying up the Thunderbolt port: you can daisy-chain as many as six devices plus a display.
General
- Desktop type Monitor included,
All-in-one desktop system - Packaged Quantity 1
- Type Personal computer
- Product Form Factor All-in-one
- Built-in Devices Antenna,
Stereo speakers,
Infrared receiver - Localization English
Processor / Chipset
- Type Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz
- Number of Cores Quad-Core
- 64-bit Computing Yes
- CPU Qty 1
- Max CPU Qty 1
- Processor Main Features Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2
Cache Memory
- Installed Size L3 cache - 6 MB
- Cache Per Processor 6 MB
RAM
- Installed Size 4 GB / 8 GB (max)
- Technology DDR3 SDRAM
- Memory Speed 1333 MHz
- Memory Specification Compliance PC3-10600
- Form Factor SO DIMM 204-pin
- Configuration Features 2 x 2 GB
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 50 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 95 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 5 - 95% (non-condensing)
- Sound Emission 18 dBA
Hard Drive
- Type HDD
- Capacity 1 x 500 GB
- Interface Type Serial ATA-300 Serial ATA
- Spindle Speed 7200 rpm
Storage Controller
- Type 1 x Serial ATA - Integrated
- Controller Interface Type Serial ATA-300
Hard Drive (3rd)
- Type None
Optical Storage
- Type DVD±RW (±R DL)
- Read Speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
- Write Speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD±R DL)
- Rewrite Speed 16x (CD) / 6x (DVD-RW) / 8x (DVD+RW)
Floppy Drive
- Type None
Optical Storage (2nd)
- Type None
Card Reader
- Type Card reader
- Supported Flash Memory Cards SD Memory Card,
SDXC Memory Card,
SDHC Memory Card Storage Removable
- Type None
Monitor
- Monitor Type LED
- Diagonal Size 21.5 in
- Max Resolution 1920 x 1080 ( Full HD )
- Widescreen Display Yes
Graphics Controller
- Graphics Processor / Vendor AMD Radeon HD 6750M
- Video Memory 512 MB GDDR5 SDRAM
Camera
- Form Factor Integrated
Input Device
- Type Mouse,
Keyboard Audio Output
- Type Integrated
- Sound Output Mode Stereo
- Speaker(s) 2 x Right / left channel
Keyboard
- Keyboard Name Apple Wireless Keyboard
- Connectivity Wireless
- Interface Bluetooth
- Localization & Layout English - North America
Audio Input
- Type Microphone
Telecom
- Modem None
Mouse
- Connectivity Wireless
- Technology Laser
- Interface Bluetooth
- Features Multi-Touch
Networking
- Type Integrated
- Wireless LAN Supported Yes
- Data Link Protocol Bluetooth 2.1 EDR,
IEEE 802.11a,
Fast Ethernet,
Ethernet,
Gigabit Ethernet,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11n,
IEEE 802.11g - Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11g,
Bluetooth 2.1,
IEEE 802.11n,
IEEE 802.11a,
IEEE 802.11b Printer
- Type None
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included Power cable ( 1 pcs.)
- Features 802.11n Wireless LAN,
Bluetooth 2.1,
Camera Expansion / Connectivity
- Slots Memory,
4 (total) / 2 (free) x SDXC memory card SO DIMM 204-pin - Interfaces 1 x Thunderbolt,
1 x FireWire 800,
4 x USB 2.0,
1 x Audio - SPDIF output/headphones,
1 x Audio - SPDIF input/line-in,
1 x LAN (Gigabit Ethernet),
1 x IrDA Power
- Device Type Power supply
- Power AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Apple OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion
- Software Apple iCal,
Apple QuickTime,
Apple iTunes,
Apple Dashboard,
Apple Spotlight,
Apple XCode Developer Tools,
Apple Address Book,
Apple Safari,
Apple DVD Player,
Apple iLife,
Apple Time Machine,
Apple Quick Look,
Apple Spaces,
Photo Booth,
Front Row,
Apple Mac OS X Mail,
Apple iChat Dimensions & Weight
- Width 20.8 in
- Depth 7.4 in
- Height 17.8 in
- Weight 20.5 lbs
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year,
Technical support - Phone consulting - 90 days Sustainability
- ENERGY STAR Qualified Yes
- EPEAT Compliant EPEAT Gold
- Greenpeace policy rating (Nov 2011) 4.6
- Greenpeace policy rating (Nov 2012) 4.5
Product series
-
Apple iMac 27-inch (3.1GHz, spring 2011)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel Core i5 3.1 GHz,
4 GB / 16 GB (max),
Apple OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion,
DVD±RW (±R DL),
AMD Radeon HD 6970M,
TFT active matrix,
LCD display,
L3 cache,
6 MB -
Apple iMac 27-inch (2.7GHz, spring 2011)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel Core i5 2.7 GHz,
4 GB / 16 GB (max),
Apple OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion,
DVD±RW (±R DL),
AMD Radeon HD 6770M,
TFT active matrix,
LCD display,
L3 cache,
6 MB -
Apple iMac 21.5-inch (2.7GHz, spring 2011)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel Core i5 2.7 GHz,
4 GB / 16 GB (max),
Apple OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion,
DVD±RW (±R DL),
AMD Radeon HD 6770M,
TFT active matrix,
LCD display,
L3 cache,
6 MB -
Apple iMac 21.5-inch (2.5GHz, spring 2011)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel Core i5 2.5 GHz,
4 GB / 8 GB (max),
Apple OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion,
DVD±RW (±R DL),
AMD Radeon HD 6750M,
TFT active matrix,
LCD display,
L3 cache,
6 MB
Accessories
- Klear Screen iKlear Apple Polish Kit - cleaning kit (34705268)17.29 - 20.85
- Corsair Mac Memory memory - 4 GB - SO DIMM 204-pin - DDR3 (34740973)24.99 - 37.99
- Kingston memory - 2 GB - SO DIMM 204-pin - DDR3 (34741119)15.63 - 18.99
- Corsair Mac Memory memory - 8 GB : 2 x 4 GB - SO DIMM 204-pin - DDR3 (34741108)44.99 - 62.37
- Kanex iAdapt V2 - video / audio adapter - DisplayPort / HDMI (34941909)19.99
- Logitech diNovo Mini Keyboard (32784878)115.68 - 168.67
- Intermec keyboard (35058896)478.19 - 517.50
- Kensington Notebook Keypad/Calculator with USB Hub - keypad (34991754)24.00
- Manhattan Numeric - keypad (34564735)10.32
- Unotron SpillSeal Meditech Magic Washable Antimicrobial Keyboard S6000KMT - keyboard (34666150)45.99
- Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 (31485240)33.99 - 63.32
- Logitech Illuminated Keyboard (33264750)60.89 - 117.89
- Razer Lycosa (32640959)69.99 - 94.66
- Logitech Cordless Desktop MX 5500 Revolution - keyboard and mouse set (32822577)124.99 - 224.79
- Logitech Cordless Desktop Wave Pro (33300017)229.99
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Apple
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
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