Apple's legendary Macintosh turns 30 today.

Over the years, the popular computer has taken on various shapes and sizes, constantly improving both externally and internally. Designed by renowned genius Steve Jobs, Mac computers have become one of the most iconic achievements of Apple and the technology world in general. Mashable has followed the path of “becoming” the Mac - from bulky “dinosaurs” to today's ultra-thin iMacs and MacBooks.

1. Lisa

In 1983, Apple presented its very first computer based on graphical interface- Apple Lisa, named after Steve Jobs's daughter. It took more than 3 years and about $ 50 million to create it. The price tag was appropriate - about $ 10,000, which was too expensive for most buyers and therefore the project turned out to be a financial failure. Even though Lisa is not technically a Mac, there is no doubt that it made a huge impact on the first Mac, which was introduced on January 24, 1984.

2. Macintosh XL

To compensate for the modest success of the Lisa, in 1985 Apple redesigned the model, changed the name to Macintosh XL, and dropped the price to $ 3,495.

3. Macintosh 128K

Introduced in 1984, the Macintosh 128K was the very first Macintosh personal computer in history, selling for $ 2,495. The 9-inch screen, 128KB RAM and revolutionary usability marked the beginning of the Macintosh's long history.

4. Macintosh 512K

Just after 128, wasreleased 512 - in fact, the same externally, but with four times more memory.

5. Macintosh Plus

In early 1986, the world meets the Macintosh Plus. It was equipped with 1MB of RAM and cost about $ 2,599. Also, it had a SCSI port, which meant it was possible for the user to connect additional hard drives.

6. Macintosh Portable

The first battery-powered Mac was released in 1989. At one time, it was considered fast enough, having a frequency of 16 MHz. But even that did not help him become widely popular. Maybe because he weighed almost 7 kg?

7. Powerbook

Another thing! The Powerbook came out a few years later, in 1991, and, thanks to its light weight, became Apple's first truly portable computer. The floppy drive (remember floppy disks?) Was external. The line lasted until 2006. By the way, in the TV series "Sex and the City" the main character Carrie Bradshaw wrote most of her notes on the Powerbook G3.

8.iMac

Just look at this computer - it looks more like a bubble gum! The iMac debuted in 1998 and was the first big project since Steve Jobs's return as Apple CEO. Transparent and bright, the iMac was a bold step forward also because it replaced floppy disks with USB ports.

9.iMac G4

The iMac G4 has captured the hearts of tech enthusiasts with its flexibility and incredibly flat display. Thanks to the metal "leg", the monitor could be moved at almost any angle. At his presentation, which Steve Jobs gave in 2002, the public could not hold back emotions.

10. MacBook

Apple introduced the first MacBook in 2006. Its distinctive features are a built-in iSight webcam, a bright and high-contrast LCD display, and an impressively complementary keyboard.

11. MacBook Air

The “holy grail” of modern MacBooks is, of course, the MacBook Air. The thinnest Apple invention and also the thinnest laptop in the world. Jobs introduced it to the public in 2008 and since then the line has been regularly updated to keep up with the times. The very first MacBook Air was equipped with hard disk 80 GB and bright LED-backlit.

12.iMac today

Thinner and larger than ever before, today's iMac includes only a monitor, wireless keyboard and a mouse. Latest 27 '' models feature powerful Intel processors and storage Fusion drive that unite HDD and solid state drive(flash memory).

When buying a flash drive, many people ask themselves the question: "how to choose the right flash drive." Of course, choosing a USB flash drive is not so difficult if you know exactly for what purpose it is being purchased. In this article I will try to give a complete answer to the question posed. I decided to write only about what to look at when buying.

Flash drive (USB drive) is a storage device for storing and transferring information. The flash drive works very simply without batteries. You just need to connect it to USB port at your PC.

1. USB stick interface

At the moment there are 2 interfaces: USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. If you decide to buy a USB flash drive, then I recommend taking a USB 3.0 flash drive. This interface was made recently, its main feature is a high data transfer rate. Let's talk about speeds a little below.

This is one of the main parameters to look at first. Now flash drives from 1 GB to 256 GB are on sale. The cost of a flash drive will directly depend on the amount of memory. Here you need to immediately decide for what purpose the flash drive is being bought. If you are going to store text documents on it, then 1 GB will be enough. For downloading and carrying movies, music, photos, etc. you need to take the more, the better. Today, the most popular are flash drives from 8GB to 16GB.

3. Body material

The body can be made of plastic, glass, wood, metal, etc. Mostly flash drives are made of plastic. There is nothing I can advise here, it all depends on the preferences of the buyer.

4. Baud rate

Earlier I wrote that there are two standards USB 2.0 and USB 3.0. Now I will explain how they differ. The USB 2.0 standard has read speeds up to 18 Mbps and writes up to 10 Mbps. The USB 3.0 standard has a read speed of 20-70 Mbps and a write speed of 15-70 Mbps. Here, I think, there is no need to explain anything.

Now in stores you can find flash drives of different shapes and sizes. They can be in the form of jewelry, fancy animals, etc. Here I would advise you to take a flash drive that has a protective cap.

6. Password protection

There are flash drives that have a password protection function. Such protection is carried out using a program that is located in the flash drive itself. The password can be set both on the entire flash drive and on part of the data in it. Such a flash drive will be primarily useful for people who transfer corporate information into it. According to the manufacturers, having lost it, you don't have to worry about your data. Not so simple. If such a flash drive falls into the hands of an understanding person, then hacking it is just a matter of time.

Such flash drives are very beautiful outwardly, but I would not recommend buying them. Because they are very fragile and often break in half. But if you are a neat person, then feel free to take it.

Output

As you have noticed, there are many nuances. And this is just the tip of the iceberg. In my opinion, the most important parameters when choosing: flash drive standard, volume and speed of writing and reading. And everything else: design, material, options - it's just everyone's personal choice.

Good afternoon, my dear friends. In today's article, I want to talk about how to choose the right mouse pad. When buying a rug, many do not attach any importance to this. But as it turned out, this point needs to be given special attention, tk. the mat determines one of the indicators of comfort while working at the PC. For avid gamer the choice of a rug is generally a different story. Consider what options for mouse pads have been invented today.

Rug options

1. Aluminum
2. Glass
3. Plastic
4. Rubberized
5. Double-sided
6. Helium

And now I would like to talk about each species in more detail.

1. First, I want to consider three options at once: plastic, aluminum and glass. These rugs are very popular with gamers. For example, plastic rugs are easier to find commercially. On these rugs, the mouse glides quickly and accurately. And most importantly, these mats are suitable for both laser and optical mice. Aluminum and glass mats will be a little more difficult to find. And they will cost a lot. True, there is a reason - they will serve for a very long time. These types of rugs have small disadvantages. Many people say that they rustle when working and feel a little cool to the touch, which can cause discomfort for some users.

2. Rubberized (rag) mats have a soft slide, but the accuracy of their movements is worse. For ordinary users, such a rug will be just right. And they are much cheaper than the previous ones.

3. Double-sided mousepads are, in my opinion, a very interesting kind of mousepads. As the name implies, these rugs have two sides. Typically, one side is high speed and the other high precision. It so happens that each side is designed for a certain game.

4. Gel mats have a silicone cushion. She supposedly supports her hand and relieves tension from it. For me personally, they turned out to be the most uncomfortable. By design, they are designed for office workers, since they sit at the computer all day. For casual users and gamers, these rugs will not work. The mouse glides very poorly on the surface of such rugs, and their accuracy is not very good.

Dimensions of rugs

There are three types of rugs: large, medium and small. Everything here primarily depends on the taste of the user. But as is commonly believed, large rugs are well suited for games. Small and medium-sized ones hire mainly for work.

Design of rugs

In this regard, there are no restrictions. It all depends on what you want to see on your rug. Fortunately, now on the rugs that they just do not draw. The most popular are logos computer games such as dota, warcraft, ruler, etc. But if it happened that you could not find a rug with the pattern you need, do not be upset. Now you can order the printing on the rug. But these rugs have a drawback: when printing on the surface of the rug, its properties deteriorate. Design in exchange for quality.

This is where I want to end the article. On my own behalf, I wish you to make the right choice and be satisfied with it.
Who does not have a mouse or wants to replace it with another one, I advise you to look at the article:.

Monoblocks Microsoft replenished with a new monoblock model called Surface Studio. Microsoft presented its new product recently at an exhibition in New York.

On a note! I wrote an article a couple of weeks ago where I reviewed the Surface all-in-one. This candy bar was presented earlier. To view the article, click on.

Design

Microsoft calls its novelty the world's thinnest candy bar. Weighing 9.56 kg, the thickness of the display is only 12.5 mm, the other dimensions are 637.35x438.9 mm. The dimensions of the display are 28 inches with a resolution of more than 4K (4500x3000 pixels), an aspect ratio of 3: 2.

On a note! The display resolution of 4500x3000 pixels corresponds to 13.5 million pixels. That's 63% more than 4K resolution.

The monoblock display itself is touch-sensitive, enclosed in an aluminum case. It is very convenient to draw on such a display with a stylus, which ultimately opens up new possibilities for using a monoblock. In my opinion, this monoblock model will appeal to creative people (photographers, designers, etc.).

On a note! For people of creative professions, I advise you to look at the article where I considered monoblocks of similar functionality. Click on the highlighted:.

To everything written above, I would add that the main feature of the monoblock will be its ability to instantly turn into a tablet with a huge working surface.

On a note! By the way, Microsoft has another amazing candy bar. To find out about it, go to.

Specifications

I will present the characteristics in the form of a photograph.

From the periphery, I note the following: 4 USB ports, Mini-Display Port, Ethernet network port, card-reader, 3.5 mm audio jack, 1080p webcam, 2 microphones, 2.1 Dolby Audio Premium, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The all-in-one also supports Xbox wireless controllers.

Price

When you buy a candy bar, it will have Windows 10 Creators Update installed. This system due out in spring 2017. In this operating system will be updated Paint, Office, etc. The price of the candy bar will be from $ 3,000.
Dear friends, write in the comments what you think about this candy bar, ask your questions. I will be glad to talk!

OCZ showcased the new VX 500 SSDs. These drives will be equipped with a Serial ATA 3.0 interface and are made in a 2.5-inch form factor.

On a note! Anyone interested in how SSD drives work and how long they live can be read in the article I wrote earlier:.

The new items are made using 15-nanometer technology and will be equipped with Tochiba MLC NAND flash memory microchips. The controller in the SSDs will be used by the Tochiba TC 35 8790.
The VX 500 will be available in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB drives. According to the manufacturer, the sequential read speed will be 550 MB / s (this is for all drives of this series), but the write speed will be from 485 MB / s to 512 MB / s.

The number of input / output operations per second (IOPS) with 4 KB data blocks can reach 92000 when reading, and 65000 when writing (all with random).
The thickness of OCZ VX 500 drives will be 7 mm. This will allow them to be used in Ultrabooks.

The prices of new products will be as follows: 128 GB - $ 64, 256 GB - $ 93, 512 GB - $ 153, 1 TB - $ 337. I think they will cost more in Russia.

Lenovo presented its new IdeaCentre Y910 all-in-one gaming machine at Gamescom 2016.

On a note! Earlier, I wrote an article where I have already considered gaming monoblocks from different manufacturers. This article can be viewed by clicking on this.

The new product from Lenovo received a 27-inch bezel-less display. The display resolution is 2560x1440 pixels (this is the QHD format), the refresh rate is 144 Hz, and the response time is 5 ms.

The candy bar will have several configurations. The maximum configuration provides a processor 6 Intel generations Core i7, up to 2TB or 256GB hard drive capacity. The amount of RAM is 32 GB DDR4. NVIDIA graphics card will be responsible for graphics GeForce GTX 1070 or GeForce GTX 1080 with Pascal architecture. Thanks to such a video card, it will be possible to connect a virtual reality helmet to the candy bar.
From the periphery of the monoblock, I would single out the Harmon Kardon audio system with 5-watt speakers, the Killer DoubleShot Pro Wi-Fi module, a webcam, USB ports 2.0 and 3.0, HDMI connectors.

The basic version of the IdeaCentre Y910 monoblock will go on sale in September 2016 at a price of 1,800 euros. But the monoblock with the "VR-ready" version will appear in October at a price of 2200 euros. It is known that in this version there will be a GeForce GTX 1070 video card.

MediaTek has decided to upgrade its Helio X30 mobile processor. So now the developers at MediaTek are designing a new mobile processor called the Helio X35.

I would like to briefly talk about the Helio X30. This processor has 10 cores, which are combined into 3 clusters. Helio X30 has 3 variations. The first - the most powerful consists of Cortex-A73 cores with a frequency of up to 2.8 GHz. There are also blocks with Cortex-A53 cores with a frequency of up to 2.2 GHz and Cortex-A35 with a frequency of 2.0 GHz.

The new Helio X35 processor also has 10 cores and is created using 10-nanometer technology. The clock frequency in this processor will be much higher than that of its predecessor and is from 3.0 Hz. The novelty will allow you to use up to 8 GB of LPDDR4 RAM. A Power VR 7XT controller will most likely be responsible for the graphics in the processor.
The station itself can be seen in the photos in the article. In them, we can observe the drive bays. One bay with a 3.5 "jack and the other with a 2.5" jack. Thus, it will be possible to connect both a solid-state disk (SSD) and a hard disk drive (HDD) to the new station.

The dimensions of the Drive Dock are 160x150x85mm, and the weight is no less than 970 grams.
Many people probably wonder how the Drive Dock is connected to a computer. The answer is: this happens via USB port 3.1 Gen 1. According to the manufacturer, the sequential read speed will be 434 MB / s, and in the write (sequential) mode, 406 MB / s. The novelty will be compatible with Windows and Mac OS.

This device will be very useful for people who work with photo and video materials on a professional level. Also Drive Dock can be used for backups files.
The price for the new device will be acceptable - it is $ 90.

On a note! Renducintala previously worked for Qualcomm. And in November 2015, he moved to a rival company Intel.

In his interview, Renuchintala did not talk about mobile processors, but only said the following, I quote: "I prefer to talk less and do more."
Thus, the top manager of Intel brought in excellent intrigue with his interviews. We have to wait for new announcements in the future.

The most striking element of the past on Tuesday was certainly. A new page begins in the history of this computer, which has been going on for almost 15 years. And we are starting a series of articles in which this story will be told. Unfortunately, the format of the site does not allow to paint all the details (this will require a whole book), but we will try to mention all the most interesting points.

The birth of the iMac

The iMac is more than just a computer. It would be more correct to call it a symbol of a new era in the history of Apple. It was with him that the revival of the company began. Introduced in May 1998, the very first iMac was the first triumph of a returning Jobs, who needed a masterpiece to delight audiences and bring Apple back to attention. It appeared on sale in August 1998 at a price of $ 1299 for the minimum configuration (before that Apple had never sold computers below $ 2000). Nearly 280,000 iMacs were sold in the first six weeks of sales alone.

Until the end of the year, about 800,000 units were sold. At that time, it was the best-selling computer in the history of the company. Interestingly, for 32% of people who bought an iMac, this was the very first computer. And another 12% of consumers had previously used a PC, but they liked the extremely attractive iMac so much that they decided to change the platform. It was an absolute success, after which it became clear to even the most convinced skeptics that the "imminent death of Apple", predicted back in 1997, is clearly delayed.

The new computer is based on the PowerPC 750 (G3) processor with a frequency of 233 MHz. The 15-inch CRT screen supported a resolution of 1024x768 pixels at 75Hz. The graphics card was handled by an ATI Rage IIc video card (a little later - Rage Pro) with video memory from 2 to 6 MB. The maximum amount of RAM could reach 384 MB. All this was more than enough for comfortable work with Mac OS 8.1 Classic. Moreover, the computer was quite capable of pulling even Mac OS X 10.3.9. Subsequently, the characteristics were slightly improved, the processor reached a frequency of 700 MHz, an ATI Rage 128 Ultra video card with 16 MB of video memory was installed, and the maximum amount of RAM was increased to 1 GB.

An unusual innovation was also the use of USB ports, which in those years had just appeared and did not gain sufficient popularity (moreover, their introduction was too slow). At first, this move was sharply criticized by old Apple fans who lost the opportunity to use old accessories. But Jobs was not interested in the past, he was all aimed at the future, he not only renewed the company, but made a real revolution, wanted to abandon everything old, turn the page and start from scratch. And time has confirmed that he was right. There is even a theory that USB ports would never have become popular so quickly if they were not installed in the iMac.

But striving for the future, Jobs still managed not to completely break with the past. The iMac is an example of a successful rejuvenation of an old brand. By the late 1990s, no one was as enthusiastic about the Macintosh brand as it was in the mid-1980s. New computer was the reincarnation of the old, very first Mac, produced in 1984. What the inscription made it clear Hello (again)(during the presentation of the very first Mac, the inscription was shining on the computer screen "Hello", which became one of the symbols of this computer).

History has preserved the fact that Jobs originally wanted to name the computer MacMan, from which he was dissuaded, and specialists from TBWA \ CHIAT \ DAY subsequently suggested the name "iMac". The main argument against MacMan was that the name was too similar to Pac-Man and Walkman. They later recalled that it was not at all easy to dissuade the stubborn Steve.

Since 1998, six editions of the iMac with a CRT screen have been introduced, each of which brings something new, although the appearance of the computer has remained almost unchanged, except for the color of the case. The very first model had a blue dull transparent body. And also an optical drive with a sliding tray, which wildly angered Jobs, who wanted to install a "swallow" drive (this episode is colorful in Isaacson's official biography)... Later, brighter colors appeared, as well as democratic dark graphite and completely white variations. Somewhat less well-known are the models with a spotted body and a body painted with bright flowers. In total, during the release of the first variations of the iMac (that is, models with a CRT screen), 13 different color options were used.

All existing color options for the iMac case (clickable)

By the way, each iMac case cost Apple $ 60. This is three times the cost that other companies paid for similar products. But it was worth it! The future of the company was at stake.

Each release of a new device from Apple is a celebration for fans and admirers of the brand. Millions of eyes are instantly cast on the screen during a live broadcast hosted by the company. After all, Apple does not do trivial things, but tries to bring something fresh to the design and functionality. Recently, due to the specifics and characteristics of the market, the company is more chasing after a decrease in thickness and changes in colors. Previously, the devices were radically different, constantly changing the design, even for transparent elements. They wanted such devices not only because of their functionality and capabilities, but also because having such a thing at home or at work in the office is an indicator of taste and status.

However, in addition to external beauty, the company tried to innovate inside the device, creating innovative solutions for the design of the case and internal components. And besides the filling, the company constantly thinks about the software component, including the operating system, branded applications and the policy regarding manufacturers of other programs, utilities and software, which have only grown in recent years.

These rules apply to every line of the company, including headphones and iPods, as well as iMac and Mac Pro computers. The company is trying to present the most convenient and comfortable computer that is used for a variety of needs. Starting from home use and surfing the Internet, ending with professional photo retouching and video editing. In addition, students and students are able to create presentations and work with text files without any problems.

In this article, we will talk about the iMac computer, specifications why the iMac line is so popular and we will discuss the history of models from the very beginning, namely from 1998 to the present day. The candy bar has truly conquered millions of people around the world and has shown the level and the quality of stationary computers, which, perhaps, has not surpassed until now. Modern poppies are productive, functional, nimble and optimized. However, at one time, the same iMac G5 was a truly breakthrough and revolutionary device that brought a lot of new things to the stationary devices market.

It is worth saying that the iMac is an original device for stationary computer and is fundamentally different from standard and familiar devices. An important feature of a computer from Apple is that the device is very compact, the case immediately includes all the components for professional work and home use of the computer. Also, a minimum of noise and an innovative cooling system allows you to work comfortably, not to be distracted and know that the iMac will last for many more years. Cooling affects the processor, hard drives and critical components such as motherboard on the iMac. It is enough to connect a mouse, keyboard and the device is completely ready for work.

IMac history

As already mentioned, the history of mono blocks, about which the whole world is talking, began in 1998, when Apple, under the leadership of Steve Jobs, released the iMac G3. The computer that turned the minds of people. Yes, of course it was quite large and voluminous, because there was a cathode-ray tube inside the computer, and the diagonal of the mono block was 15 inches. However, performance fixed this issue. How many ports were fixed, for example, the same USB. Floppy disks at that time were no longer so popular, the situation is similar to regular discs... Therefore, the company abandoned the use and implementation of a floppy disk slot in the computer. They thought that this was already in the past, as then they thought so about the floppy drive, and then about USB, changing to USB Type-C. For storage of memory, hard drives were used, the size of which ranges from four to sixty gigabytes.

First iMac and Steve Jobs

At that time, the company was independently engaged in the production of its processors and for this reason they lagged somewhat behind the main competitor Intel Pentium. But the device took on its design and functionality, and the performance, in fact, was not much inferior to competitors and users could use the computer without problems. In addition, a mouse was included with the mono unit, which was not the most description of the users. strong point iMac. What person did not want to buy one box with a computer and immediately receive the set necessary for work?

Steve Jobs was proud of the aimag, but he understood the shortcomings of the resulting device and for 4 years was preparing the release of a new, updated and revolutionary device that would correct the disadvantages of the previous model and turn the market around. We will talk about it further.

Second generation iMac G4

Thus, the first mono block was a successful product, albeit not without its drawbacks. Therefore, the company decided to continue experimenting and released the second generation of the mono unit in 2002 - the iMac G4. This is the device where the company first introduced a 15 ", 17" and 20 "LCD monitor. This significantly reduced the size of the device and made it revolutionary thin. In those days, it was impossible to place iron in the same case, so it was decided to make a semicircular stand, in which the necessary parts were located, allowing the device to work correctly. Many people compared the device to a lamp.

The processor was updated and now there was an iMac G4 processor on board the computer. The component has successfully competed with major market leaders, including Intel. The memory of the computer has also increased and hard drives, which was now from forty to one hundred and sixty gigabytes!

Realizing the success and profitability of the production of such computers, the company decided to continue the line. People love the way their desk looks after they buy an Apple computer and are eager to buy more. In addition, the computer is not big and, for example, the printer will fit without any problems. At the same time, experts and the press spoke well about the device. This prompted the production of the third generation - the iMac G5.

Third generation iMac G5

This time the display size was 17 and 20 inches with a fairly decent quality LCD monitor. It is worth noting that outwardly the device has reached the form that the company has not changed until now. If we talk about memory, then the capacity of hard drives has grown again, this time forty and up to five hundred gigabytes. The processor of the device was still Apple's and it is important to note that this last device from the line of poppy, which was made without the help of Intel, which we will talk about further.

Fourth, fifth and sixth generation iMacs

The device came out in 2006 in January. Here the number of inches increased, there were options for 17, 20 and 24 inches and the monitor was still LCD. The case was plastic, the processor was supplied by Intel and was called Intel Core Duo. Hard drives ranged in size from eighty to seven hundred and fifty gigabytes.

Further generations, the poppy was twisted and steel comes out much more often than at the beginning of its life. The fifth generation comes out a year later - in the summer of 2007, called the Aluminum device. It is not difficult to guess that the computer got its name because of the aluminum case. In inches, the monitor was version 20 and 24, of course LCD. The processor was also updated and was called Intel Core 2 Duo. Winchester was in size from two hundred and fifty gigabytes and up to terabytes, which at that time was a huge size for a stationary computer.

It is important to say that the competition developed, other companies did not sleep, and after the success of Apple, they realized that producing mono blocks is profitable and the market needs them, there is a demand for them. Therefore, Apple and began to gain momentum, releasing a generation so often, without focusing on design afterwards. Although ironic is the fact that now the company does not focus on design only for the reason that iMac sales have fallen due to wearable devices and the policy they promote that the tablet (we are talking about the iPad Pro) is able to replace the computer. You just need to buy a keyboard for more convenient use and the same functions are available, but only in a more compact and convenient format. However, the production of poppies has not stopped, because there are millions of professionals around the world who need a device for photo retouching, processing, drawing designs, 3-D models. It is convenient to edit videos or films on it.

Only two years later, a new device from the company appears, where new components to choose from appeared. The iMac had the following specs: Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i5 and Core i7. Now the modification of the processor can be chosen as well as the size of the screen, which this time has grown and began to start at 21.5 inches and end with 27 inches. Winchesters were five hundred gigabytes, terabytes, two terabytes in size, and SSD drives began to appear, the size of which was 256 gigabytes.

It is important to note that the devices mentioned above have already been decommissioned and are no longer produced. The lineup is growing, we need to get rid of outdated devices. Therefore, the question: "how to choose an iMac" is not worth it, because you can officially buy only the latest versions. This happens after each new device appears and the line is updated. But this does not mean that the devices are gathering dust in the museum. No, such computers are quite durable, especially if we talk about the first ones on Intel processors. Those that were on the company's own processors are rather weak, RAM for iMac important condition, which the devices of that time could not do today.

Apple iMac 2010

If you remember the iMac Aluminum, which adorned the table of any person, like a newfangled printer, then it is worth noting that not the entire body was made of this material. The back wall was plastic, but since 2010, the iMac has been produced in an all-aluminum case. The design has changed, but not too much. If we describe the changes, then these are the standard parameters for the company - the thickness and weight have decreased, the delivery has become thinner and lighter, the tilt angle has become easier and more reliable to adjust. There is a hole for the cords, although it is quite difficult to get tangled in them, given that the speakers are connected unnecessarily, and there is only one power cable, the keyboard and mouse are connected to the back, and after a year or two they are generally wireless.

The monitor remains the same size - 21.5 and 27 inches, but the weight is only 10 kilograms, which is not too important for a stationary computer, but its installation and transportation has become much more convenient and simpler.

On the right side of the device there are two slots, one of which is a DVD ± RW drive, and the other is an SDHC card reader. The port is no longer required, because the device has a Wi-Fi module, the router is installed anywhere and the cable no longer interferes and the table is clean. Tangle-free cables are no longer a hindrance.

The computer, as already mentioned, has its own acoustics, the sound quality of which suits most of the users. Otherwise, no one bothers to use the headphones, the input for which is on the back of the device. If the table permits, then it is enough to install speakers and a stereo system. For people who communicate on Skype, there is a 1.3 megapixel camera and a built-in microphone.

The device has built-in processors from Intel i3, 5, 7. I7 only for the 27-inch version. If we talk about RAM, then it was 3 gigabytes, and hard drives did not differ from the previous version: they were five hundred gigabytes, terabytes, two terabytes in size, and SSD drives began to appear, the size of which was 256 gigabytes. It is worth saying that the protective iMac glass allows you to easily erase fingerprints.

The image quality has increased significantly due to the IPiS matrix, so the device began to be used by designers and other professionals who care about how the photo looks without distortion and in its original quality. This is important for video editors too. Convenient was the fact that the aspect ratio was listed as 16 by 9 and Full AichDi did not leave anyone indifferent from professionals and people who need a Mac for work and to ordinary users who need a computer for their daily household needs.

It is important to note the fact that Apple does not deny itself and the device came with a keyboard and mouse, there was even an option with a touchpad. There was an opportunity to buy a wireless remote control, which was previously applied to computer models.

Apple iMac 2011

In 2011, the iMac came out in the spring, which looks no different from the previous series. The company has focused on hardware and components and still adheres to this policy, practically without changing the design of devices, making only slight adjustments. The device had a new AMD graphics card Radeon HD 6970M, the processor was quad-core, it started from i5 at 3.1 GHz and the second version was i7 at 3.4 GHz. The device has become even faster and more professional.

The speed and performance are also matched by the RAM, which was 4 gigabytes, the capacity of the hard drives was a terabyte or 2 terabytes. On the video card, plus one more gigabyte on the 27-inch version. There are Thunderbolt ports, so you could easily connect up to two additional external displays and work in Photoshop, Premiere and other professional programs became easier and more convenient.

Even large video files with 1080p quality were loaded instantly, the result surpassing even more expensive versions of the company's competitors. There was even an updated iSight camera that supported HD mode.

The monitors, as ironic as it is about the current situation in the market, are supplied by Samsung, so the merit of such phenomenal quality is partly not only from Apple. The weight of the device ranges from 9 kilograms to 13 kilograms, depending on the modification of the iMac. This is not so important, the table will hold up even more, but transportation has become more pleasant.

iMac older than 2013

In the fall of 2013, the company unveiled the new Mac, which received an even thinner aluminum body, newer hardware and software components. All parameters significantly surpassed not only competitors in the same 2013, but, of course, previous generations of devices from Apple. Users used them without problems, they were not outdated and perfectly coped with their duties, but the world had changed and it needed more powerful computers that made it possible to comfortably work professionally at home and in the office.

The processors did not change and the Intel i5 was on board, but the frequency was either 2.7 or 3.5 gigahertz, which depended on the version that the user decided to purchase. In addition, the 21.5-inch model had a graphics core called Iris Pro, and if we talk about the 27-inch model, it had an n-video chipset called the Gifors 700, which had 4 gigabytes of memory built into it. The performance of computers was improved by forty percent, which the company was incredibly proud of. And there is a reason, because the result was really impressive and surpassed most of the competitors. The computer was one of the most powerful on the market.

Memory and hard drives on a computer are also a separate conversation, because thanks to the PCIExpress interface, it was possible to supply memory from 1 terabyte to 3 terabytes. Built-in 8 gigabytes of RAM expanded to 32 gigabytes. This allowed "heavy" applications to work better and run two or three especially "heavy" programs at once, which previously could not have been done without serious performance damage and without system brakes.

It is worth noting the iMac display, which was based on an IPS matrix, the resolution of which was 1920 by 1080 pixels for the 21.5-inch version, and 2560 by 1440 pixels for the 27-inch version. The weight was significantly reduced and now the smaller version had 6 kilograms, and the older one, by 27 inches, weighed 10 kilograms. The weight has decreased by almost 4 kilograms. The number of ppi was at the level of 102, it is almost impossible to notice the pixels, except if you get very close to the device and take a closer look. Monitors of this device, like most monitors on Apple devices are among the best.

The computer had an OS called Mountain Lion. It was redesigned compared to the previous version, it had many new functions, the number of which reached two hundred pieces. The company began to develop Icloud, the necessary information was stored on the "cloud", the system monitored the updates of applications and programs, there were many other useful functions that were new then, but now they are absolutely familiar to us and users cannot even imagine how without some people dispensed with older devices only about five years ago.

The main changes in the software part:

Thus, the device impressed users not only with its innovative design and aluminum body, which was thinner than that of competitors, but also with its filling and capabilities. So before that people were only struck by a telephone or a printer. Memory, processor, graphics cores and so on have allowed the device to receive amazing reviews. The device received a new Wi-Fi module, flash drives and cards worked even faster. It is worth talking about this in a little more detail below.

The mono block acquired its final form, which the company does not dare to change until 2017. It would seem that there is simply nothing to come up with and change, so at Apple they manage with simple cosmetic changes. Components and what is needed for work are built into the mono unit, which allows you to call the device a full-fledged one. It is enough to buy one box and the user will immediately receive everything from it to start professional work in the same hour, because even setting up an iMac is not difficult and does not take time.

The next generation of computers

The next generation is not much different from the past at all. The design has remained practically unchanged, except that the computer "lost weight" again. If we talk about the screen, then everything has remained at the same excellent level. The number of ppi was at the level of 102, it is almost impossible to notice the pixels, except if you get very close to the device and take a closer look. The monitors on this device, like most monitors on Apple devices, are among the best.

Intel processors are no less powerful, appeared new graphics card from the n-video called the Gifors 780M. The video memory was 4 gigabytes, which was enough for basic operations with graphic editors and editing programs.

The displays are IPS panels with a resolution of 1920 × 1080 for 21.5 ”and 2560 × 1440 for 27” models. They deliver bright, clear images with excellent color reproduction and maximum viewing angles. Despite the seemingly low pixel density - 102 ppi, you can only notice them when you get close to the screen. It is not for nothing that these devices are ranked among the best monitors for stationary computers.

Glass protection is even better thanks to specially designed glass, which not only has increased reflectivity, thanks to which the interior of the house or the glare of the sun is not visible, but is also easy to wipe clean. It does not deteriorate and these micro-scratches do not appear on it, which often arise even from simple dust on ordinary screens of budget devices. However, the matte screen is no worse, and it costs less. The choice of coverage depends on the user's wishes, preferences and budget.

It is worth noting that the backlight on the iMac does not contain the fumes of mercury or arsenic, which is found in budget versions of competitors' monitors. After all, Apple cares about nature and the environment, which is confirmed in many of its actions and general policy in the market. The company's products carry the EPEAT gold certification for electronic products environmental assessment.

Connectors on the iMac

The ports of the device should be highlighted separately. In total, the following computer connectors were distinguished:

• Ethernet.
• USB 3.0 ports in the amount of four pieces.
• Two Thunderbolt.
• 3.5mm headphones are supported.
• Slot for CD-cards.

Wi-Fi has improved, in the new generation of devices there was the 802.11ac format, which provides three times faster speed than it was on the previous device. The connection provides speeds of about 1.3 gigabits per second.

Flash memory is easier and more efficient to install thanks to PCIExpress, which, however, was in the previous version of the device. But one cannot but say that the increase in speed was achieved up to fifty percent relative to the previous version of the computer. Thanks to Fusion Drive, the OS starts faster, applications and programs, as well as file processing or rendering in programs. Users were eligible to order a terabyte or three terabyte version of Fusion Drive. In addition, they were free to install flash memory up to a terabyte.

This is a custom build made by the company to order. The standard assembly was considered a terabyte version with 8 gigabytes of RAM. This is against 3 terabytes and 32 gigs, respectively. You can increase the RAM yourself, but only in the 27-inch version.

Then there were the iMac models, but they did not differ at all from the past, not counting the hardware, a more powerful processor, video card, memory, and so on. Introduced SSD system, but the monitor and resolution remained at the same level as the iMac Retina. The iMac accessories haven't changed either.

2017 Apple iMac pricing review

A month ago, the company unveiled the new 2017 iMac, which will only start shipping later this year in December. It will be on sale starting from 5 thousand dollars. At first glance, this price is unjustified and too high. But it is worth keeping in mind that the computer has quite expensive parts, which include a processor, 128 gigabytes of memory, 4 terabytes SSD memory and the Radeon Pro Vega video card with 16 gigabytes of memory on board. The company did not announce the price for the maximum assembly, so below we will try to calculate the cost and understand how much the top-end configuration will cost and is 5 thousand dollars really an overpriced?

CPU

It's worth starting with the processor, but it's not clear what the Cupertina company will use. Experts believe it will be the Xeon E5-2697. It turns out that the 18-core version from Xeon will cost $ 2,300.

The company always makes a small mark-up on devices. This is obvious, because they need to make a profit, and not work to zero. Experts have long figured out the formula used in the company, and based on it, you will have to pay 4 thousand dollars for the processor. This is a huge price to pay, but it is worth remembering that it is best processor on the market. It turns out that the company will wind up seventy-five percent of the cost of the processor. It's scary to calculate how much profit the apple company will make, given that the computer will undoubtedly be popular.

RAM on the device

Next comes an important part any stationary and portable professional device - random access memory. In 2017, it is possible to expand the RAM up to 128 gigabytes of memory. This means that it is worth taking this figure as a starting point. Journalists calculated that, with a high degree of probability, such a memory, immediately with a wrap from the company, would cost an additional $ 2,700. They took the company Crucial as a basis, the price of which for RAM in 128 gigabytes reaches $ 1900.

Graphics card for the new iMac

The video card will be from the Radeon company called Pro Vega, but it is rather problematic to predict its price. After all, the video card will come from the Radeon company only closer to the release of the newest poppy, which means that it is difficult to predict the price for it. The journalists had to take as a basis the video card Nvidea DzhTiX Titan X on board which a choice of six or twelve gigabytes. It is worth adding to its cost about eighty percent of the markup, which the company adds to each component according to its formula. So they get benefits and profits.

SSD memory

SSD memory is becoming commonplace, although just three years ago it was incredibly scarce and expensive. Not every company was engaged in production, and if it was, the price was tremendous. Although the pricing problems remained, in general the feature became more accessible than it was before. The journalists decided to use Samsung's memory, which they had previously found in the latest versions of Apple's MacBook Pro laptops. After that, the journalists added the epl markup using the formula and it turned out that the cost would be almost three and a half thousand dollars.

Let's list the main points that the journalists got. Putting them together, you get the final price, which is amazing. But on the other hand, it becomes clear that the price is justified, because it turns out to be one of the most powerful devices on the market, which anyone who has that kind of money can buy. And in addition to the device, a person receives an Apple guarantee, a proprietary amazing operating system that is optimized for the device and works like a clock, and also a stylish device that will work faithfully for many years. If a user professionally makes video editing on an iMac, photo processing, modeling or design, then such a device will pay off several times in a very short time, since the level of work will increase significantly.

So, let's consider the main parameters and cost:

1. The standard model for the new iMac is $ 5,000.
2. The processor in 18 cores will cost 4 thousand dollars.
3. RAM in 128 gigabytes costs $ 2,700.
4. The video card is estimated at least two thousand dollars.
5. A four terabyte SSD will cost $ 3,600.

It is not so difficult to calculate that it turned out more than 17 thousand dollars without components: an iMac motherboard, coolers and some others. But we must remember that these are approximate estimates, which may change when the device is released. It is worth considering separately the pros and cons of the device when it goes on sale. In addition, prices will be greatly distorted in Russia after the release. After all, most devices from Apple are on average one and a half times more expensive.

Conclusion

Apple is innovative and modern, ahead of its time and continually bringing new and exciting things to every device. Of course, thanks for this should be the head of Steve Jobs, who competently thought through the development strategy of the company and "chips" for a year or two ahead, overtaking the market. Reliability of devices, convenience and comfort of their use many years after work - this is what the company was famous for and is famous for. And the service that Apple provides is still considered a benchmark.

So until now, in America and some European countries, an old device is brought to a store and a discount is obtained on a new one that has just been released. This works even if the device is not from Apple at all, but, for example, from Samsung! Awesome policy that makes users happy.

There was a discount on the MacBook and iMac for students who couldn't afford to pay the full price. But the company wants young professionals to use only the best devices for their work and study, which means they need to give them an opportunity, which is what Apple is doing. And this does not only apply to devices. So, the company provides a decent discount on subscription Apple Music for students, if you register on the network through the access point and Wi-Fi of your university.

It is worth noting the fact that there are powerful versions of tablets. Yes, for a complete iPad work needs additional equipment. For example, in an external keyboard. Considering the fact that the company focuses on tablets and creates iOS optimized for work like on OS X, it should be said that the need for iMac is falling, despite their manufacturability. After all, a tablet for everyday activities has something that helps to work, study and feel comfortable. It doesn't matter if I'm editing, watching a movie, viewing photos or editing them. Students and employees use Numbers, Pages and Keynote, and if they are uncomfortable, there is an opportunity to download a package from Microsoft and use the familiar Word, Power Point, Excel, and so on. Tablets have one big thing: they are compact and not as expensive as the MacBook and iMac. They easily support the print function and a printer that connects to them via Wi-Fi or bluetooth.

However, for designers and professional editors, the iMac can only be replaced by a new device from Microsoft - Surface Studio. A professional device for designers, where a handy graphic editor, adjusting, retouching and correcting a photo is easy to draw and create. Much emphasis is placed on drawing 3D models, which are then so easy to twist and view from all sides. After all, such 3D objects are drawn, do not believe it, in Point! After all, a 3D printer has become available to ordinary users as well.

Thus, Apple is not at the head of the market and in order to get ahead again, it is necessary to create the same revolutionary device as the iMac G5 and other devices that we talked about in this article.

iMac Is a monoblock Personal Computer which has been produced by Apple since 1998. The design of the iMac is very original, in its small case, a monitor, processor, video card, RAM, hard disk and SuperDrive for CD and DVD drives are collected.

What is an iMac?

Apple's all-in-one is the best solution for web designers or photographers, and fits perfectly into any decor. This candy bar has always played a special role in the entire world of computers. It was chosen and chosen by the developers software and people who spend a lot of time at the monitor screen can look at the Apple iMac 21.5 or its older brother Apple iMac 27 - very nice, the colors are bright, the picture is located as close to the eyes as possible.

In addition to a stunning and perfect display, the computer offers a lot of ideas. For example, Fusion Drive is a storage technology that helps integrate HDD and SSD drives into a single logical volume. This is especially convenient if you like to store a large number of movies, clips, music and photos, and at the same time you like high download speed and computer operation. Fusion Drive will help you combine these two points and forget about the constant question: "Where can I get free space?" This technology works in this way: files (videos, music and photos) that you use are very rarely stored on the hard HDD, and applications and any other information that you use most often is processed and stored on a high-speed SSD drive.

Also, Apple iMac computers have a good filling. Of course, they are not famous for their technical characteristics, which will be discussed a little later, which cannot be said about computers, since the thickness of the last monoblock is only 5 mm and it is simply unrealistic to put powerful components in a computer.

History

1998 was a significant year for Apple, as the first model of a computer from a series of all-in-ones appeared. She received a Power PC G3 processor, a 15 "(") monitor (if possible, a 13.8 "model could be ordered) and a 60 GB hard drive. After the release of the second Apple iMac, exactly one year later, production of the G3 model ceased. The second candy bar received 17 and 20 inch LCD displays and a new Power PC G4 processor.

The third model came out at the end of August 2004 and received a Power PC G5 processor. The Intel Plastic model, released on January 10, 2005, received a new design, a 24 ″ LCD display, 750 GB of physical memory and, most importantly, an Intel Core Duo processor. The next monoblock received a dual-core processor and a whole 1 TB of hard disk memory.

The next models, namely iMac 21.5 and iMac 27, received new second and third generation Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, fast SSD drives up to 768 GB and support for the operating system. From of this moment until the end of the article, we will be talking about the latest model iMac 2012 - the thinnest and fastest all-in-one model in history.

Above in the photo, you can see the history of generations of monoblocks (from 1998 to 2012).

Equipment

Apple loves to approach its products with a special side and with special love. The same words can be said about the complete set of the computer.

Opening the beautiful-looking box, you can see small-sized foam molds that protect the display from damage, a network cable, a Wireless Keyboard and Magic Mouse, a quick start guide, and the computer itself.

Design

Apple iMac computers are not very popular among devices in which each new model gets a new appearance... But 2012 was a creative year for the company and it updated its candy bar not only from the inside, as it always was, but also from the outside.

The new, thin and absolutely lightweight case has become the main feature of the computer. The thickness is only 5mm, isn't that cool? You can look at it for hours and wonder: "How could such a filling be placed in such a thin case."

To make the iMac so thin, though, we had to ditch the CD / DVD drive. They say that the company will soon abandon the drive on the Mac Pro, as everyone now uses flash or hard drives, which have become indispensable for us in school and work.

As you can see in the picture, the iMac has 2 Thunderbolt and four USB 3.0 ports, a headphone output, an Internet connection and a memory card slot. In 2012, the company ditched the FireWire port and microphone input.

Summing up the design, we can say one word - "Great!" Mostly everything is done with a twist and the most creative approach.

Specifications

If you want to buy a good candy bar and at the same time make an upgrade in a few years, then you need to choose a model iMac 27, since the smaller model does not provide such an opportunity. The 27-inch model offers a lot more and comes with room for extra RAM. There is a lot to say, but let's talk in essence.

The iMac 21.5 has an IPS LED display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, which cannot be said about the 27 ″ model, which has a resolution of as much as 2560 x 1440 pixels. As for the processors, both models have a quad-core Intel Core i5, the smaller model has a frequency of 2.7 GHz and 2.9 GHz, and the older one has 2.9 GHz and 3.2 GHz. This processor is standard, if you want a Core i7, you will have to place an order and choose the configuration yourself.

The younger model has only two slots for RAM of 4 GB each, while the Apple iMac 27 has four of them, two of which are occupied, and the other two are free for a future upgrade.

The hard drive in the models is 1 TB as standard, only the 21.5 ″ has a speed of 5400 rpm, and the 27 ″ - 7200 rpm. You can also purchase the Fusion Drive, which combines both HDD and SSD drives.

The video card is discrete: Nvidia GeForce GT 640M and 650M for 512 MB for the smaller model and Nvidia GeForce GTX 660M for 512 MB, GTX 675MX for 1 GB for the older model, respectively. Also in monoblocks Apple iMac there is a built-in FaceTime camera that captures video in HD format, stereo speakers, a microphone and a large number of ports, which were discussed in the Design paragraph. Wi-Fi 802.11n connectivity and Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology make working with your computer much more pleasant.

Price

Appliances from Apple are famous for their high prices and it is not easy and simple to buy some kind of product, since each person has his own pocket. For as much money as iMac computers, you can buy more powerful computers from other manufacturers, but with Windows installed.

You can buy it at the iCom.ua store. The price of a monoblock iMac starts from 33 thousand and ends with 59 thousand hryvnia. 27 ″ model is much more expensive, from 59 to 90 thousand hryvnia. On average, for 40 thousand you can buy an iMac, which will serve and delight you for years, or even more, but if you need a computer to work in or other resource-intensive programs, then I recommend buying a model for 100 thousand rubles with Core processor i7, Nvidia GTX 680MX graphics card and 16GB of RAM or better, it depends on you and your goals.

conclusions

Summing up, I want to say that Apple iMac Is a gorgeous all-in-one computer with stunning graphics and a fast processor for office and home use, and thanks to the new OS X "Mountain Lion" operating system, those moments that you will spend sitting at your Macintosh - will remain unforgettable.