I’m sure this isn’t your first look at the newest version of Apple’s iMac, but here’s a completely unbiased opinion about it. Okay, I lied. Please allow me to give you my opinionated skinny on this sleek machine. 

THE BASICS

Back in late August, Apple unveiled this incarnation of the iMac in Paris. This version touts a 17-inch or 20-inch widescreen LCD display. They crammed in a G5 processor ranging from 1.6 GHz to 1.8 GHz, and the system bus gets a boost to 533 or 600 MHz, depending on the processor. Storage is now serial ATA, the optical drive is a vertical slot loader (which crapped out on me, but more on this later), memory jumps to 400 MHz DDR, and internal Bluetooth is an available option. The graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 ultra with 64 MB DDR memory, provides fine performance for standard usage -- but you can forget about playing next-generation games such as Doom 3 (when it eventually hits the Mac platform).

UP AND RUNNING IN 5 MINUTES FLAT

The iMac’s out-of-the-box experience is unparalleled simplicity. There were a total of four items that needed to be plugged in to get you going, five if you count the Ethernet cable. Once out of the box, you connect the mouse (1), keyboard (2), monitor (3), and Ethernet cable (4) and power (5). And all of the USB, FireWire, power, and Internet ports are easily accessible on the back of the monitor.

With a lot of software such as iPhoto, iTunes, iMovie, iDVD, and some programs without an ‘i’ in front of it, like GarageBand, already installed on the computer, this is really a plug-and-play operation. The iMac is EASILY the simplest computer I have ever set up. The one problem with the unit we received is it had a faulty optical drive. My CD got stuck and wouldn’t come out – for 15 minutes. Now this is all well and fine, until I tell you that two grown adults were huddled around that 17-inch monitor with sweat on their brows and tweezers in hand trying to get the disk out. 

Now I can go on and on about processor speeds and how I was able to rip my OutKast CD in less than 5 minutes, but people don’t buy Macs based on that stuff. As a Mac user, I hold strong to the fact that utilitarian objects like computers, don’t need to be grey, mundane, and intimidating. They can look fresh, be easy to use, yet provide kick-ass performance under their cool exterior. Yes, there are arguments to say that PCs are better, faster, cheaper machines, but hey, I like my Macs. The latest version of the iMac delivers unparalleled cool factor with a jam packed high performance core.

THE NEW DESIGN

For a company widely known for sleek and innovative design coupled with function, Apple seems to have taken a more conservative turn with this version of the iMac. Although I loved the look of the last generation iMac, with its half-sphere base and free-floating monitor, this iMac is more compact. With the entire computer built-in behind the display, creating a width of only two inches, this thing is perfect for small spaces. If I hadn’t just purchased my iBook, I would probably be in line buying this computer. Available in three configurations, the entry level system boasts a 1.6 GHz G5 processor mated with a 17-inch LCD ($1300). The top configuration gets a 1.8 GHz processor with a 20-inch LCD ($1900).

COLOR IT BABY!

Now for the fun part. The iMac we showed on The Screen Savers got a kick in the appearance department thanks to ColorWare(www.colorwarepc.com). They painted our iMac ‘Blaze’.

ColorWare made a name for itself as the people who gave Alienware PCs their cool exteriors. Now ColorWare has begun selling new computer products (laptops, iMacs, printers, etc), gaming consoles, and a slew of new Apple products that any consumer can purchase and have painted in 20 colors. And if one of those hues doesn’t match your personality or room, they offer a custom color option. Plus, they offer color services, just in case you already own a piece of technology you’d like painted. Not too shabby.

I love ColorWare because their work is awesome. I’ve been enamored with ColorWare since I saw their work for Digital Digs. They painted the 20-inch iMac, the NASCAR themed X-Box, and the PS2. And let me tell you, my jaw has never dropped as far as it did when I set my eyes upon that sweet ‘Blush’ iMac. The paint has the sparkle of a new car finish and doesn’t fade in sunlight. After the color is applied, a clear varnish is put on to protect your new device from scratches and the like. Why personalize your gear with janky stickers and Sharpie scribblings when I can get a pro-paint job that’ll make my stuff the talk of the block?