Review: Apple iMac 21.5-inch

With the new iMac, Apple has once again proved its design supremacy. The new iMac is amazingly slim for an all-in-one desktop - it tapers to a mere 5mm towards the edge. 

Sure, the shape is fatter in the centre to accomodate the hardware, but overall the impact is stunning. But there are some downsides to the slim design. For instance, the optical drive has been done away with. 

All the ports are now at the back (which makes it an issue to connect USB drives or SD cards). While connecting a device to the ports, you have to hold the desktop firmly in place — else it tends to slide forward. 

The 21.5-inch full HD display is just incredible — vivid colors, sharp output and fantastic viewing angles. Apple has also made it 75% less reflective so it's easier to work on.

The speakers will surprise you with the loud output considering the slim frame. On the rear are four USB 3.0 ports, dual thunderbolt ports (which can be used for data or display out), Ethernet, SD card reader and a 3.5mm audio out. 

The performance is fantastic as expected — heavy photo editing app such as Photoshop or Lightroom run butter-smooth and we were able to edit and export hundred's of photographs without any visible slowdown. 

Unlike the older iMacs, better cooling has ensured that it does not overheat even when taxed. Like most Apple products, the iMac comes at a premium compared to other all-in-one desktops available in the market. 

For a lower price you can get the HP Envy 23 TouchSmart (Rs 71,990) that gives you a 23-inch full HD touchscreen with similar hardware specifications and a built in optical drive. 

Specifications: 23-inch (1920 x 1080 pixels) touchscreen, 2.9Ghz intel core i5, 4GB RAM, nvidia GT 630M, 1TB HDD, USB 3, Windows 8, 11.5kg 

Price: Rs 71,990