Apple's 2012 iMac: Ready for its close-up (pictures)
We get up close and personal with the 2012 27-inch Apple iMac.
Rich Brown
Rich was the editorial lead for CNET's Home and Wellness sections, based in Louisville, Kentucky. Before moving to Louisville in 2013, Rich ran CNET's desktop computer review section for 10 years in New York City. He has worked as a tech journalist since 1994, covering everything from 3D printing to Z-Wave smart locks.
The 2012 iMac was unveiled on October 23 at the same event where the iPad Mini was announced.
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On the flipside
This is the 27-inch iMac. It's available for preorder today at configurations starting at $1,799, and begins shipping in December. The 21.5-inch iMac is available online and in stores today starting at $1,299.
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Thin edges, but thicker toward the middle
The new display is 5mm thick at the edges, but the body does bulge out toward the center of the screen's rear.
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Wireless keyboard, Magic Mouse
As usual, the standard Apple keyboard and Magic Mouse are onboard -- both are wireless and use Bluetooth to interface with the desktop.
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Need for speed
The jack pack includes four USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt ports, a Gigabit Ethernet jack, a headphone jack, and an SDXC card slot. But their location -- on the iMac's backside -- isn't convenient for fast cable or drive swaps.
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Power under the hood
Hidden under that bulge is a third-generation "Ivy Bridge" Intel CPU (Core i5 or Core i7), an Nvidia GeForce graphics card (GT 640M to GTX 680MX), and 1TB to 3TB of storage (with a Fusion Drive or flash storage options as well).
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No need to yell
The dual microphones are designed to improve audio performance during FaceTime sessions.
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Secret panel
The 27-inch iMac allows for user-accessible RAM upgrades; that's not an option on the 21.5-incher.
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No Retina Display, no touch screen
Despite rumors (or hopes), the 2012 iMac has the same screen resolution as the 2011 model (2,560x1,440 pixels). And, unlike new Windows 8 PCs, Macs do not offer touch-screen options.
