Apple iMac 21.5-Inch (Late 2012)

Though the Apple iMac 21.5-inch (Late 2012) ($1,299 list) is technically Apple's entry-level all-in-one desktop, that price point puts it in more in line with midrange all-in-one desktop PCs (Midrange all-in-ones usually retail for between $899 and $1,499). Many, including a notable example from the largest PC maker in the world, mimic the iMac's industrial design. If you're not too keen on joining the Windows 8 touch-screen PC crowd, the iMac is a perfect alternative. With a bit of extra work, it will even run the Windows XP/7 programs you want to continue to use. With a new slimmer profile and updated components, the 21.5-inch iMac continues to be a lust object, and regains its status as our Editors' Choice for midrange all-in-one desktops.

Design and Features
The new 21.5-inch iMac is a lot slimmer than its predecessor, thanks to the elimination of the optical drive (the DVD based SuperDrive), as well as new manufacturing techniques like "friction-stir welding." The result is an aluminum chassis that is 5mm thick at the edges, though the chassis still bows out in the middle near where the stand connects to the system. It's not technically a unibody chassis, but it still manages to look and function like one.

While there are ways to get into the system for intrepid technicians, the iMac is essentially a sealed system to end-users, so make sure you configure it for the future as well as the present. The system can handle up to 16GB of memory and use the innovative Fusion Drive (if you choose the more expensive 2.9GHz CPU version of the 21.5-inch iMac).

The system we reviewed is the $1,299 base model available off the shelf at Apple Stores and other big box stores. Aside from the thinner profile, the system still looks like the previous-generation Apple iMac 21.5-inch (Thunderbolt) , especially from the front. It has a similar 21.5-inch, 1,920-by-1,080 resolution LED backlit IPS screen, but Apple has tamed stray reflections a bit with a combination of anti-glare coatings and tighter construction. In the back, you'll find the system's four USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt ports, Ethernet, a Kensington lock port, and a SDXC slot. The second Thunderbolt port replaces the FireWire 800 port that was on the last iteration of the iMac.

The SD slot was moved to the back from the side, where it was more convenient to use, but that is the price of slimness. As with the previous 21.5-inch iMac, you can use the Thunderbolt port as an expansion port for DisplayPort, HDMI, VGA, USB, and FireWire, but you'll have to get the adapter(s) separately.

The iMac comes with a wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse, though a Magic Trackpad is available as a no-cost substitution for built-to-order systems. If you want both, be prepared to shell out an extra $69 or pick up the Trackpad after your purchase. The included mouse and keyboard are the same standard Bluetooth-based ones that Apple has been using for years. While this is great if you're used to their feel, some folks don't like the way the height-challenged Magic Mouse feels in hand. You can of course hook up a third-party keyboard and mouse set to one of the USB ports.

The power cord feeds an internal power supply, so you won't have to use an external power brick like you would for the Apple Mac mini or the Vizio 24-Inch All-in-One (CA24T-A4). This keeps setup to a minimum, just plug in the power cord, power on, go through the initial setup, and you'll be up and running in minutes. The system's 1TB hard drive is a "slower" 5,400rpm drive, but it's certainly fast enough for the multimedia hobbyist, as seen in the benchmark numbers below. There's plenty of space on the hard drive, since the only thing on it is OS X (10.8 Mountain Lion) and iLife. You'll need a $79 external SuperDrive if you still have programs on CD or DVD, or you can buy new ones from Apple's App Store online. The iMac comes with Boot Camp, a Windows compatible environment, where your iMac runs Windows (XP and above) seamlessly. You'll need your own copy of Windows to set up Boot Camp.

The iMac was as quiet as a mouse when in use: Even during CPU-heavy tasks we couldn't hear the system's case fans over the ambient noise in PC Labs. We did enjoy listening to the iMac's new speaker setup. It pumps out a good amount of quality sound, whether we were listening to music or watching a movie. Thought the screen isn't touch sensitive, OS X doesn't require a touch screen for daily operation, unlike the Windows 8 operating system found on systems like the Asus ET2300INTI-B022K.

There are hints to OS X's possible touch future with full-screen mode and the Launchpad application, but for the time being touch screens on a Mac are totally superfluous. Like other Macs, the iMac isn't compatible with WiDi, but you can use an Apple TV to mirror the iMac's screen on a HDTV.

Performance
The iMac 21.5-inch (Late 2012) base model comes with a third-generation Intel Core i5 processor, discrete Nvidia GeForce GT 640M graphics, that 1TB hard drive, 8GB of DDR3 memory, and other future looking technology like Thunderbolt and USB 3.0. The system's components certainly help it out on multimedia tasks like Handbrake (video encoding) and Photoshop CS6, where the iMac comes out ahead of similarly priced systems like the Vizio CA24T-A4 and remains competitive with the ostensibly faster-clocked processor in the Asus ET2300INTI-B022K.

The iMac also shows very good performance on the Heaven gaming benchmark test. While slow when all the quality and resolution sliders are turned up, the iMac shows a quite playable 30 fps on the middle quality Heaven test. You should certainly be able to handle fairly strenuous graphics tasks and gaming on the new iMac. This would be a good system for the rank and file graphics or scientific workers in your organization, and is certainly enough for the university bound student in your life.

If you're currently a Mac user, the Apple iMac 21.5-inch (Late 2012) svelte gives you everything you'd expect from a new Mac desktop. Our last Editors' Choice for mid-range all-in-one PCs was the Asus ET2701INKI-B046C. While that system remains a good choice if you are looking to enjoy your Blu-ray movie collection, the iMac surpasses it as a desktop to do real work on. The best is a moving target, and for now that bull's eye rests on the Apple iMac 21.5-inch (Late 2012), our Editors' Choice for midrange all in one desktops.

BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS

COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Apple iMac 21.5-Inch (Late 2012) with several other desktops side by side.

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