Expert's Rating
Pros
- Good performance
- Attractive price
Cons
- 2GB RAM limit
- Lack of free RAM slot makes for costlier memory upgrades
- Limited internal expansion options
- Missing some features of other models
Our Verdict
The iMac plunges below the $1,000 threshold with this model, whose specs bear a strong resemblance to the 1.83GHz iMac Core Duo that Apple sells to education institutions. The main difference: this iMac is powered by the next-generation of dual-core Intel chips, the Core 2 Duo. Otherwise, this 17-inch model has many of the same features, including integrated Intel GMA 950 graphics that share RAM with the main memory and no built-in support for Bluetooth. It’s also worth noting that memory on this model tops out at 2GB, as opposed to 3GB on the other Core 2 Duo iMac configurations. Apple’s remote is a build-to-order option for this iMac.
If you want a low-cost iMac to have around the house for everyday use, the 1.83GHz iMac is a nice system for the price (even factoring in a RAM upgrade from Apple). It also makes for an appealing system for many students, who can buy one for the same $899 price as the education iMac. However, the other iMac Core 2 Duo models out-perform this system.