Product Description

Apple MA590LL/A 17 Inch iMac - Featuring the Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, this iMac gives you the power and speed that you need to fly through business and creative applications, like iLife, the suite of Apple apps that comes included. iLife has everything for, well, your life - your digital life that is. Seamlessly integrated with the Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger operating system, it lets you easily edit, share, and store your digital photos; play, edit, and create both audio and video, including your own DVD movies. This iMac also comes with an iSight camera built-in, which is perfect for video chats. Give your fingers a rest and :) for real with friends and family around the world. 160GB SATA 7200 RPM Hard Drive Slot-Loading SuperDrive - (write speeds) up to 2.4x DL DVD+R, 8x DVD-R, 8x DVD+R, 4x DVD-RW, 4x DVD+RW, 24x CD-R, & 16x CD-RW Slot-Loading SuperDrive - (read speeds) up to 8x DVD-ROM & 24x CD-ROM 17 Widescreen LCD Native Resolution - 1440 x 900 Built-in iSight Built-in 802.11g Wi-Fi Wireless Network Adapter Built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) module ATI Radeon X1600 with 128MB of GDDR3 of SDRAM Port - 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet, 3 USB 2.0, 2 USB 1.1 (on keyboard), 2 FireWire 400, Optical Digital Audio/Headphone Out, Optical Digital Audio In/Audio Line-In, Mini-DVI Out with support for DVI, VGA, S-Video, & Composite Video via optional adapter Built-in Stereo Speakers Built-in Microphone Built-in IR Receiver Unit Weight - 15.5 lbs.

Product Details

• Brand: Apple
• Model: MA590LL/A
• Platform: Mac OS X
• Original language: English
• CPU: Intel Core Duo 2 GHz
• Memory: 1GB DDR2 SDRAM
• Hard Disk: 160GB
• Graphics: ATI Radeon X1600 graphics processor using PCI Express 128MB
• Processors: 1
• Networking: Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T/Built-in 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme
• Native resolution: 1400-by-900
• Included Software: Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger (includes Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat AV, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Xcode Developer Tools); iLife '06 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand), Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac Test Drive, iWork (30-day trial), Big Bang Board Games, Comic Life, Omni Outliner, and Apple Hardware Test; Front Row; Photo Booth

Features

• 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4 MB shared L2 cache
• 1 GB (single SO-DIMM) 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300); ATI Radeon X1600 graphics processor using PCI Express with 128 MB of GDDR3 SDRAM
• 160 GB Serial ATA hard drive; slot-load 8x double-layer SuperDrive
• Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit); built-in 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (802.11g); built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) module
• 17-inch widescreen TFT active-matrix LCD with 1440 x 900 pixels, millions of colors

From the Manufacturer
Cast your gaze on the ultimate eye-opening experience: the new faster, bigger, and brighter iMacs. Starting at under $1000, the most personal of personal computers comes out packing a powerful punch. That's thanks to the new 64-bit Intel Core 2 Duo processor, you'll find in each and every new iMac.

The iMac's display pivots to whichever angle is best for you.

All in the family
The fastest iMac ever, the 24-inch iMac provides professional performance along with the convenience of an all-in-one design. Like its 17-inch and 20-inch siblings, it features the new 64-bit Intel Core 2 Duo processor with speeds ranging from 1.83 GHz to 2.33 GHz. The new processor delivers up to 50% more performance than the previous 20-inch iMac. It also doubles the amount of L2 cache, the twin cores sharing 4 MB between them. The result? Turbocharged performance, making it easier--and more fun--than ever to work with digital photos, movies, music, and the web.

The simple six-button Apple Remote gives you control over your music, movies, and photos from anywhere in the room--and it stows away neatly (and magnetically) on the side of your iMac when you're not using it.

Dazzling Displays
Whether you're surfing the web, editing video, managing photos, or enjoying face-time with far-flung friends, you'll thoroughly enjoy the lush visual experience of working on iMac. With excellent color saturation, all three models feature a cinematic 16:10 wide aspect ratio that's perfect for watching movies. And iMac delivers a beautifully bright display with the new 24-inch model lighting the way. In fact, it’s a full 40% brighter than the 20-inch model.

It's a wonderful iLife
iMac comes with iLife ’06, a suite of easy-to-use applications that make the spectacular a regular part of your everyday life. Enhance, organize and share your photos via iPhoto. Make an epic starring your kid in iMovie. Turn your photo and movie creations into professional DVDs with iDVD. Create original music in GarageBand, even if you can't carry a tune. Make podcasts and blogs. Then publish them online via your .Mac account and the all-new iWeb.

The ultimate see and say
There's an iSight camera built into every new iMac, so you can start a video chat (or join one) at a moment's notice. There's nothing extra to buy, nothing to attach, no cords to fumble with, no software to install or configure. Simply start up iChat AV, click your buddy's video icon and you’re ready to chat with sight and sound--with up to three friends at once. Proper attire suggested.

Now showing
With iMac, you've got the best seat in the house. The full-screen Front Row media experience--with i ts intuitive menus, large text and brilliant graphics--lets you browse the music, photos, and videos on your iMac as easily as you browse music on your iPod. And the new Apple Remote lets you do your browsing from anywhere in the room. So gather your friends and dazzle them with a slideshow of your vacation pics, a home movie or a DVD. iMac was born to entertain.

Customer Reviews

The REAL 17-inch iMac
When friends and family see my 20-inch iMac and decide it's more than they need, I recommend this one.

They're still thanking me.

Yes, there's a lower-priced 17-inch Apple computer called "iMac" but it's really Apple's replacement for the eMac classroom computer. It comes with a 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 512Mb of system RAM. The Intel Graphics Media Accelerator takes a minimum of 64 Mb from the system RAM plus up to 16 Mb for 3D graphics, leaving 432Mb for the operating system. The optical Combo drive reads CDs and DVDs but only burns music and data CDs. Airport Wi-Fi is built in but there's no Bluetooth, Front Row media or Apple Remote. It's a workhorse but hardly a thoroughbred.

Maybe Apple wanted to go head-to-head with the cheapie PC makers and say "Look! We did it! An iMac for under a grand!" And like a loss-leader Windows PC, once you add all the upgrades you really, really want, you'll come pretty darn close to the price of this iMac. Some items like Bluetooth and a DVD-burning SuperDrive aren't even available as upgrades.

For an extra couple of C-notes, this iMac shares the goods with its 20- and 24-inch siblings: a zippier 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo processor with a 4Mb L2 cache (translation: it's a rocket sled on greased rails), a full Gigabyte of system RAM, both AirPort and Bluetooth wireless, a SuperDrive that burns CDs and DVDs, an ATI Radeon X1600 graphics processor with its own 128 Mb of video RAM, and Front Row entertainment center with Apple Remote. Like the bigger iMacs, this one already supports every major feature in OS X Tiger like Core Image and Core Audio, and that means it's ready for Core Animation in OS X Leopard without any hardware upgrades. About the only thing you'll want to add is a good set of speakers and if you're not crazy about the Apple Mighty Mouse (an acquired taste), any USB mouse or trackball will do. The iMac won't care. Just plug it in and get on with your life without so much as a reboot.

In another review, I dubbed the 20-inch iMac "Still THE computer for the rest of us." That makes this iMac "The OTHER computer for the rest of us."

UPDATE: On August 7, 2007, Apple discontinued the 17-inch iMac. For the price of this iMac, you can now buy the Apple iMac Desktop with 20" Display MA876LL/A (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive, SuperDrive). Bigger screen and hard drive, snazzy good looks inspired by the Apple Cinema Display, and the latest ATI graphics.

Compact yet Powerful
This is not designed to be a technical review stuffed with a lot of jargon and technical data. This is a snapshot summary of what I think to be important to know for the average consumer looking for a more real summary of the iMac often omitted in a technical spec sheet offered by Apple, including set up, ergonomics, etc.

-Set up was a few minutes initially since I knew all my information. The computer took another 20 minutes or so to automatically download 7-8 updates to the iPod, OS, Quicktime, etc.
-Stand for the monitor is built in, plugged in the mouse and keyboard, power, and off I went! (No tools except fingers and arms!)
-No desktop, everything is built into the flat screen
-In the box the unit is about 25 pounds, including the mouse, keyboard, cables, etc. (I was so surprised how light it was!)
-8x DVD/CD burner
-Super fast start up after turning the computer on in as little as 15 seconds (although it seems to vary in certain situations). Shutdown is consistently quick at 13-15 seconds
-Runs 10.4.8 which offers several advancements over other Mac OS versions
-5 USBs!!! Three 2.0 USB needed for new iPods and other devices, and two 1.1 USB ports on the keyboard for a mouse or other low speed (or older) devices (plus you get 2 firewire ports... I use one fire wire for my iPod)
-Runs Windows XP if you buy "Parallels" or Apple's "Boot Camp" (Beta)... both have received high marks for compatibility, speed, and ease of install. Biggest difference is Boot Camp requires a reboot to use but offers almost full compatibility and the best speed, Parallels can run in parallel (can be launched like any program) but is slower for high end applications (games) and I don't think offers quite the same external device compatibility (I don't own Boot Camp, but really like Parallels... see my review of it for more details).
-160 GB hard drive is roomy for us, OS and everything that we have right now including 804 songs for our iPod is 43 GB leaving us 117 GB free still
-Built in wireless internet
-Built in Bluetooth (i.e. good for wireless keyboard or mouse)
-Ethernet connection for networking computers without wireless/Airport
-Super clear and bright computer screen and loud speakers (2 built in)
-1GB memory which I think can be upgraded to 3GB. I also think that this could be upgraded without assistance from a pro using only a Phillips type screwdriver and your fingers. However, as always, seek advice before doing anything like this on your computer.
-"Mighty Mouse" has a scroll wheel which is super handy. I thought it to be a gimmick but am delighted to find it so useful. My computer also works very well with my Sony Memory Stick Mouse/Drive (see my other reviews for this must have)
-Built in camera which can take stills or video (it appears as the little 1/4" x 1/4" black square at the top center edge of the unit)
-Extremely friendly to customize, including extensive availability of widgets (I was surprised to see so many different ones so quickly, reminds me of the pre-System 6 days with all the 3rd party freeware)
-iTunes!!!!
-Blazing fast internet (we have a high-speed wireless T1 line)

Con:
-Price
-Headphone jack is in the back (although it's the first plug and thus the easiest to access)
-I could still use another one or two USB 2.0 ports, keyboard has USB 1.0 connections that aren't very useful any longer with newer power hungry devices
-Unable to get bluetooth functionality working
-Screen saver and energy saver functionality overlap but controls/settings are in different locations so if you turn off the screen saver, energy saver may kick in and turn off your screen... took me a while to figure this out while I chased false system software problems

Bottom line: you get what you pay for and I highly recommend this item. We liked it so much that Mom got a 20" version 2 days after we did. Our Grandfather liked it so much he also got the 20" version about 10 days after we did and will be using it to run Windows XP. We'll browse the internet safely using Mac OS and then use "Parallels" to emulate XP to do everything else.

PC User makes switch to Mac and everything is A - O - K!!!
First off I ordered my iMac from apple.com and got the 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo w/ 2 GB of ram and a 160 GB Hard Drive version. (Props to Apple for the knowledgeable customer service) Though not an option from amazon.com, I figured somebody might find my review helpful and this was the most similar system to mine.
Windows is the only operating system that I have ever used and this is why I wanted to write a review. I know there are a lot of people who have heard good things about iMacs but are afraid of the transition. Well don't be. Having no prior knowledge of anything Mac I made the switch instead of upgrading my Dell Inspiron 5150 laptop with Vista. Total setup time till I was on the internet was approximately 15 minutes. This includes unpacking and installing batteries in my wireless keyboard and mouse. First startup of my iMac was stunning and rather easy. Just plug the power cord in and push the power button. An onscreen guide helps set up your keyboard and mouse (wireless). After that I assigned a user name and password. OSX then loaded up and I was up and running. I plugged my DSL cable into the back and instantly was connected to the web. I plugged my printer in and was connected automatically. No software needed to be installed. My Kodak digital camera was the same way. I connected a 200GB external hard drive and received the same treatment. Every program or hardware I installed was ready to go.
Next I set up an email account through the Apple Mail program. I have used a few email programs and most all share the same basic ideas so nothing really special to report here. Working through OSX took about 1 hour to get a handle on it. I have had the unit for seven days and am confident with the handling of this operating system. Granted I don't know all the little things but I can find my way around quick enough.
I purchased this iMac mainly for use with DigiDesigns Pro Tools 7.1 software. I record music and my Dell just wasn't cutting it. (After a trail version of Office 2007 Beta expired, my poor laptop has just not been the same.) This is why I needed the extra ram and the faster processor. I am able to run a full 32 track (audio) session with numerous aux tracks and an amazing amount of plug-ins with ease. All of this on the 128 sample setting in the Hardware buffer menu. As stated this was the main reason I purchased my iMac but after a week of getting to know it, I am finding myself using it for more day to day activities.
The Software that comes installed covers a wide variety of usable applications. I have been using iTunes and iPhoto about every day. Very simple to use.
Well I am tired of writing so I will close with this...Just like the commercials say "It just works!"