Apple iMac MB324LL/A 20-inch Desktop PC (2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2 GB RAM, 320 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive)

I've been using PC's since apps were run from 5-1/4" floppy disks, & have, like most people, gone the MS-DOS 2 Windows route. I had never used an Apple computer until I unpacked & set up this one. Although the switch from PC 2 Mac is hardly painless, in my estimation it was worthwhile.

The iMac is beautifully designed, & the all-in-one construction is quite convenient. I had read some reviews that called the "shiny" display into question, but I love it & have no problems with reflections or screen quality. I am still learning about the Mac OS, so much of my fumbling is probably due 2 lack of familiarity with features & functionality.

This would be a five-star machine, in my opinion, with some minor additions. First, it's odd 2 include fax functionality without a modem. I believe the modem should be self-contained, or at least included. The Apple modem costs about fifty dollars. Additionally, the fax software itself is very basic, & as far as I can tell does not provide the ability 2 view an actual fax that you've already sent (you know you sent something, but you can't review the fax itself). I have also found the documentation & "help" 2 be a bit lacking in depth & detail; a separate manual like the one by David Pogue is highly recommended, especially 4 Mac newbies.

For those switching from Windows, an application called VMware Fusion can be purchased separately which actually allows you 2 run a Windows instance on the Mac. I had very low expectations 4 this interface, but it actually works flawlessly & allows me 2 continue using some Windows apps that I'm not ready 2 give up (e.g. Quicken, & Outlook 4 it's task functionality).

After about 25 years of PC's, I'm a happy Mac user now!

I purchased the Imac 24" 2.8GHZ computer from Amazon around 4 weeks ago. I was somewhat leery ordering a item of this size & price from Amazon, however the overall experience has been nothing short of perfect!! The computer came super fast, the item was brand new, & the computer has worked flawlessly (knock on wood). I have always been a PC user but now I am on the Mac train & ain't getting off!!!

I was a Mac owner a long time ago. About 7 years ago I switched 2 a PC. I thought I'd move on with everyone else. What a mistake.
The best way 2 describe a current Mac is 2 say that it's a little better at everything.
I'll never go back 2 a PC again.
Just love it.

On 11/20/08 I was looking at buying this product Direct from Amazon 4 $1687.97 & a rebate of $100 bringing it 2 $1587.97. After reading the reviews I had a question in regards 2 Amazon being unauthorized store & units being repackaged. It took them till the next day 11/21/08 2 get back 2 me. When I checked the price it was up 2 $1794. When I questioned them in regards 2 this, They really didn't answer my question or offer it at the day earlier price. I am now questioning if it was a repackaged unit like the complain was in the reviews.

I have had nothing but problems with this computer ever since I got it. I am a photographer, & had assumed that with Apple's "reputation" & the ridiculous price of their products, they would produce a quality computer. WRONG. Since the beginning, it has shut down on my randomly, & it doesn't matter how long I have used it, had it on, which applications are being utilized, how many, etc. There is absolutely no method 2 the madness. Instead of taking it right back 2 the store like I should have done, I tried 2 call Apple Support since I had popped the $250 4 it & figured I should use it. Every time I called them (after multiple shut downs), they would give me a different "fix," as if there wasn't a single standard procedure, & every operator had 2 wing it on their own experience. After multiple calls, they sent me over 2 an Apple store, where I spent 4 hours while the tech studied my computer inside & out. After testing the hardware, he said there was nothing wrong with it, & the best he could do was send me home with some mickey-moused homemade script that would auto-save my work in Numbers & Pages every 1 minute so that I wouldn't at least lose my entire document & have 2 start over again like I had been. Wow. What $250 buys me. They also said that if it keeps acting up, 2 reinstall the OS, which I did when I got home, & not 24 hours later, it shut down again. I'm about 2 throw it out the window & try not 2 think about the $1800+ I spent on the computer, support & extra software. What an absolute waste.

The all-in-one iMac packs a complete, high-performance computer?including the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors?into a beautifully thin, anodized aluminum & glass design. The latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor runs at 2.6GHz with advanced 45-nm process technology & 6MB of shared L2 cache, allowing you 2 run your applications faster & more efficiently than ever before. iMac features a glossy 20-inch widescreen display & ATI Radeon HD graphics that gives a blow-you-away level of detail & realism in games, three-dimensional graphics, high-resolution photos, & high-definition video that comes alive with rich, vivid color. Built into the top of iMac is an iSight camera. You'll hardly notice it's there until you want 2 launch iChat, Photo Booth, or iMovie. iSight is easy 2 use & highly advanced. The remarkable picture quality & color accuracy make this tiny feature huge. With iLife '08, Mac OS X Leopard, built-in wireless, speakers, & ultrathin anodized aluminum Apple Keyboard, you'll be creating, sharing, surfing, & playing within minutes of opening the box. 20 Glossy Widescreen TFT Active-Matrix (1680 x 1050, 290 cd/m2, 800 - 1 contrast ratio, 160°H/V viewing angle) Liquid Crystal Display Built-in iSight Camera with Microphone ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB GDDR3 Dedicated Video Memory Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive with 4x Double-Layer burning (DVD+-RW/CD-RW) Stereo speakers with 24-watt Digital Amplifier AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n) Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit) 3 x USB 2.0 (2 x USB ports on keyboard), FireWire 800, FireWire 400, Optical Digital Audio Output/Headphone out, Optical Digital Audio input/audio line in, mini-DVI with support 4 DVI, VGA, S-Video, & Composite Video connections via Optional Adapter, RJ-45 (LAN) Approximate Unit Dimensions - 18.5? (H) x 19.1? (W) x 7.4? (D) Approximate Unit Weight - 20 Pounds

Speedier than ever with the latest Intel dual-core processor, the Apple iMac all-in-one desktop PC sports a sleek, professional aluminum enclosure that's joined precisely 2 a 20-inch glass cover 2 create a virtually seamless front surface. It's powered by a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, which includess an amazingly fast 1066 MHz front-side bus speed & super-sized 6 MB L2 cache. Part of Intel's 45-nanometer (nm) Penryn series, this processor boosts both speed & efficiency while helping 2 reduce power consumption. This dual-core processor also provides an optimized, multithreaded architecture 4 improved multitasking, video, & gaming performance.

The iMac also features an ultra-thin aluminum Apple Keyboard--with an extended layout & dedicated keys 4 Mac features such as brightness, volume, eject, play/pause, & Exposé--as well as the wired Mighty Mouse. It's pre-loaded with Apple's Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system, which enables easy backup of your most important data via Time Machine, a redesigned desktop that helps eliminate clutter. It also comes with the iLife '08 suite of applications--including iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, & iTunes--and the newest version of the fast-loading Safari web browser.

Hardware features include a 320 GB hard drive, 2 GB of RAM (with a 4 GB maximum capacity), 8x SuperDrive 4 burning movies 2 DVD & music mixes 2 CD, integrated 802.11n wireless LAN, Gigabit Ethernet wired networking, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR connectivity, & ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO video card with 256 MB dedicated memory.

Power on a Pedestal

Designed with a recyclable anodized aluminum frame & glass cover, the iMac is friendlier 2 the environment..

The new keyboard's ultrathin anodized aluminum enclosure features low-profile keys that provide a crisp, responsive feel.

With its anodized aluminum frame set upon a sleek pedestal, the new iMac instantly transforms your workspace from cluttered desktop 2 brilliant display podium. Because the iMac's housing is made from a single sheet of aluminum, you won't see any seams or screws except 4 a single compartment on the bottom that provides easy access 2 the memory slots. The glossy widescreen 20-inch glass display makes photos & movies come alive with rich color. And the built-in iSight camera & microphone are integrated so neatly you barely notice they're there. Aside from the design details, the iMac is also friendlier 2 the environment with highly recyclable & durable materials including scratch-resistant glass & professional grade aluminum. The power-efficient iMac also meets the stringent new Energy Star 4.0 requirements.

With its elegant anodized aluminum enclosure, the new Apple Keyboard looks equally at home in your living room or on your desk. Just connect it 2 the USB port on your iMac & start enjoying the crisp, responsive feel of its low-profile keys. The extended layout has a full complement of keys, including document navigation controls, a numeric keypad, & special function keys 4 Mac features such as brightness, volume, eject, play/pause, Exposé, & more. Two USB 2.0 ports provide high-speed connectivity 4 your iPod, Mighty Mouse, digital camera, & other USB-based electronic devices.

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Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
Experience faster, more nimble application performance & improved energy efficiency with this 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo processor from Intel's 45nm Penryn lineup. The new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--helps 2 reduce power consumption while delivering. powerful processing speeds. This 2.66 GHz Core 2 Duo processor is aided by a 1066 front-side bus speed & a super-sized 6 MB L2 cache--both top-of-the-line 4 Intel's Penryn processors. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; & a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU & RAM, & a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

The Intel Core 2 Duo's 128-bit SSE3 vector engine handles 128-bit computations in a single clock cycle, accelerating data manipulation by simultaneously applying a single instruction 2 multiple data. And its two execution cores are designed 2 share resources & conserve power, helping it 2 achieve higher levels of performance since it uses fewer watts.

Hard Drive & Memory
The 320 GB Serial-ATA (SATA) hard drive (7200 RPM) quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin 2 FireWire & USB 2.0. The 2 GB of PC6400 DDR2 RAM (two 1 GB SO-DIMMs) has an industry-leading 800 MHz speed, & the RAM capacity can be increased 2 4 GB.

Graphics & Video
The 20-inch widescreen TFT active-matrix LCD offers a resolution of 1680 by 1050 pixels. It has a brightness rating of 290 cd/m2 (candela per square meter), a contrast ratio of 800:1, & a viewing angle of 160 degrees (both horizontal & vertical). An ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO graphics processor powers the iMac with 256 MB of dedicated GDDR3 memory. It features some of the most advanced graphics technology available & delivers new levels of visual realism & a huge texture fill rate 4 smooth surfaces & complex character details. GDDR3 (Graphics Double Data Rate, version 3) is a graphics card-specific memory technology that's better able 2 deliver fluid frame rates 4 even the most advanced games & applications.

This iMac also enables you 2 connect a second display in either extended desktop mode or video mirroring mode. The mini-DVI port connects 2 DVI displays, VGA monitors & projectors, & S-video & composite devices using the appropriate adapter (sold separately).

Wired & Wireless Connectivity

You get a full complement of ports on the back of the iMac, including three USB 2.0 & two flavors of Firewire--400 & 800.

The iMac gives you plenty of room 2 grow, accommodating as many as five peripherals at a time thanks 2 its three USB 2.0 ports & the two USB 2.0 ports on the Apple Keyboard. It also includes two powered FireWire ports--one FireWire 400 & one FireWire 800 (one of the fastest peripheral standards available)--enabling you 2 quickly transfer content from digital video cameras, hard drives, & other high-speed devices.

Share files around your house with built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T Ethernet as well as the next-generation high-speed wireless 802.11n technology, which is integrated into the latest Apple Airport Extreme Base Station. The iMac is also Wi-Fi Certified 2 work with base stations & routers that use industry-standard 802.11a, 802.11b, or 802.11g wireless technologies.

The integrated Bluetooth wireless connectivity--version 2.1 + Enhanced Data Rate (EDR)--allows you 2 use a wireless keyboard or mouse, & synchronize peripherals such as cell phones & PDAs. Enjoy high-quality sound on almost any speaker system with double-duty analog/digital audio. Record digital & analog sources through audio line in, perfect 4 your latest podcast in GarageBand.

SuperDrive
Integrated neatly into the iMac is a slot-loading SuperDrive that lets you play & burn your own CDs & DVDs--including double-layer DVDs. And there's no disc tray--just slide the disc right in. It offers the following speeds:

• Writes DVD+R DL & DVD-R DL discs at up 2 4x speed
• Writes DVD-R & DVD+R discs at up 2 8x speed
• Writes DVD-RW at up 2 6x speed & DVD+RW discs at up 2 8x speed
• Reads DVDs at up 2 8x speed
• Writes CD-R discs at up 2 24x speed
• Writes CD-RW discs at up 2 16x speed
• Reads CDs at up 2 24x speed

Other Features

• Two SO-DIMM slots support up 2 4 GB of RAM
• Built-in stereo speakers with internal 24-watt digital amplifier
• Support 4 external display in extended desktop mode: 1920 by 1200 pixels 4 digital & 2048 by 1536 pixels 4 analog
• Meets ENERGY STAR requirements with maximum continuous power rating of 200 watts
• Dimensions: 19.1 x 18.5 x 7.4 inches (WxHxD)

Preloaded with Leopard, you'll enjoy enhanced productivity & a clutter-free desktop (thanks 2 the the redesigned 3D Dock with Stacks).

Preloaded with Leopard & iLife '08
The biggest Mac OS X upgrade ever, the Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system features over 300 new features, including:

• Time Machine, an effortless way 2 automatically back up everything on a Mac
• A redesigned Finder that lets users quickly browse & share files between multiple Macs
• Quick Look, a new way 2 instantly see files without opening an application
• Spaces, an intuitive new feature used 2 create groups of applications & instantly switch between them
• A brand new desktop with Stacks, a new way 2 easily access files from the Dock
• Major enhancements 2 Mail & iChat

Leopard's new desktop includes the redesigned 3D Dock with Stacks, a new way 2 organize files 4 quick & easy access with just one click. Leopard automatically places web, email & other downloads in a Downloads stack 2 maintain a clutter-free desktop, & you can instantly fan the contents of this & other Stacks into an elegant arc right from the Dock. The updated Finder includes Cover Flow & a new sidebar with a dramatically simplified way 2 search for, browse & copy content from any PC or Mac on a local network.

Time Machine lets you easily back up all of the data on your Mac, find lost files & even restore all of the software on their Mac. With just a one-click setup, Time Machine automatically keeps an up-to-date copy of everything on the Mac. In the event a file is lost, you can search back through time 2 find deleted files, applications, photos & other digital media & then instantly restore the file.

The iMac also comes with the iLife '08 suite of applications that make it easy 2 live the digital life. Use iPhoto 2 share entire high-res photo albums with anyone who's got an email address. Break into indie filmmaking with iMovie & iDVD. Then take all the stuff you made on your iMac & share it on the web in one click with iWeb.

iLife '08 also features iWeb '08, with live web widgets such as Google Maps that let you create even more dynamic websites, & GarageBand '08, with its new Magic GarageBand feature that makes it fun & easy 4 both musicians & non-musicians 2 create great sounding songs.

Included Software
Mac OS X v10.5 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 ’08 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand)

What's in the Box
iMac, Apple Keyboard, Mighty Mouse, Apple Remote, cleaning cloth, power cord, install/restore DVDs, printed & electronic documentation