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iMac (Late 2009): External Features, Ports, And Connectors
Using a 27-Inch iMac As An External Display
Apple's New 21.5-in. iMac Packs A Punch For The Price
Jerry Seinfeld Upgrades Classic Mac with iMac
Numbers of new Core i7 iMacs are turning up DOA
Continued Problems For New iMacs
Users Report Issues With Apple's New Core i7-Based iMac
Core i7 iMacs showing up DOA - including ours
Apple Buyers Howl Over Crocked iMacs

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iMac (Late 2009): External Features, Ports, And Connectors

A new Apple Knowledge Base article says:

Learn about the external features, ports, and connectors on the iMac (Late 2009) computers. All ports and connectors described in this document are located on the Input/Output (I/O) panel on the bottom-right side on the back of the computer.







The built-in SD slot allows the iMac (Late 2009) to read and write data to SD media. The slot accepts cards that are Standard SD (Secure Digital) 4 MB to 4 GB and SDHC (Secure Digital High Capacity) 4 GB to 32 GB. For complete information on the SD card slot, see About the SD card slot.

Built-in microphone

The internal microphone operates independently from all other audio input ports and is always available. The internal microphone supports recording at bit depths of 16, 20, or 24 bits per sample and at sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, or 96 kHz. Audio recorded from the microphone is presented as a stereo data stream with the same data on both the left and right channels. You can adjust the microphone gain from -16 dB to +30 dB.

Built-in iSight camera

Video chat using iChat over a broadband connection, take pictures using Photo Booth, or capture video through iMovie HD. The camera has an indicator light that glows when the iSight camera is in use.

Slot-loading optical disc drive

The SuperDrive can read CD-ROM, photo CD, audio, and DVD discs. It can write to CD-R, CD-RW, DVD±R, DVD±RW, and DVD±R Double-Layer (DL) discs.

Built-in infrared (IR) receiver for Apple Remote

The infrared-based Apple Remote (sold separately) works with the built-in IR receiver for use with Front Row to access DVD Player, iPhoto, iTunes, and QuickTime Player.

I/O ports

Apple Mini DisplayPort video port

Using the Mini DisplayPort video output port, mirror video or extend the size of your Mac OS X desktop (extended desktop mode) with a compatible DVI (Digital Visual Interface) display or VGA (Video Graphics Display) or projector using the appropriate Mini DisplayPort adapter:

With video mirroring, you can see the image that is on the iMac flat-panel display on an external monitor, television, or projector.

Extended desktop mode

Connect an external display and use that area in addition to the built-in display for your desktop.

The Mini DisplayPort video port on the 27-inch iMac also supports video input from DisplayPort compliant sources.

Target Display Mode

Use the 27-inch iMac display as an external display for another computer, like a MacBook Pro. Return to the iMac screen by pressing Command + F2 on the keyboard. Note: Requires Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable or a converter that converts other electrical, video and audio protocols to DisplayPort compliant signals. Read more about using this feature in Using a 27-inch iMac as an external display.

Ethernet port (10/100/1000 Base-T)

The iMac (Early 2009) has a built in Ethernet port for 10Base-T/UTP, 100Base-TX and 1000Base-T Gigabit operation. You can connect your iMac to an Ethernet cable from a cable or DSL modem, hub, switch, or router, or to another Macintosh computer.

The connected device can be either a 10Base-T, 100Base-T or 1000Base-T device; the port automatically detects which type of device is connected. You don't have to use an Ethernet crossover cable to connect to other Ethernet devices.

Four USB (Universal Serial Bus) 2.0 ports

The back of the iMac (Late 2009) has a total of four USB 2.0-compliant ports. You can connect both USB 2.0- and USB 1.1-compliant devices to these ports. The USB 2.0 ports support both low-speed, full-speed, and high-speed data transfers, up to 1.5 megabits per second (Mbit/s), 12 Mbit/s, and 480 Mbit/s respectively.

The aluminum Apple keyboard has a USB hub with two high-speed USB 2.0 ports.

All the USB ports use USB Type A connectors, which have four pins each.

Audio line input/optical digital audio input port

Line input

The analog line input operates independently from all other audio input ports and is always available. The line input supports recording at bit depths of 16, 20, or 24 bits per sample and at sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, or 96 kHz. Audio recorded from the line input is presented as a stereo data stream. You can adjust the line input gain from -16 dB to +30 dB.

During input of a 1 kHz, 1 VRMS (-3 dBFS) sine wave (44.1 kHz input sample rate, 24-bit sample depth, 0.0 dB input gain, no weighting) the audio line input has the following nominal specifications:

Jack type: 3.5 mm (1/8-inch) stereo
Maximum input voltage: 3 VRMS (+11.8 dBu)
Minimum voltage input for full scale output: 63 mVRMS (-21.5 dBu) at input gain = +30 dB
Input impedance: > 20 kilohm
Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5 dB/-3 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): >90 dB
Total harmonic distortion + noise (THD+N): <-85 dB (0.006%)
Channel separation: > 85 dB
Optical digital input

The digital audio input has the following electrical characteristics (nominal specifications), based on input of a 1 kHz sine wave at 0 dBFS input level, 24-bit sample depth, and 44.1 kHz sample rate (unless otherwise specified below):

FSI – input sample rates: 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, or 96 kHz
Bits per sample: 16, 20, or 24
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): >130 dB
Total harmonic distortion + noise (THD+N): <-130 dB (0.0003%)
Sound output/digital audio output port

Line/Headphone output

The headphone output is automatically selected for audio output if no external S/PDIF optical digital output device is detected. The headphone output supports a stereo data stream at bit depths of 16, 20, or 24 bits per sample and at sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, or 96 kHz. The headphone output volume can be adjusted from 0.0 dB to -64 dB.

During playback of a 1 kHz sine wave at -3 dBFS voltage level, 24-bit sample depth, 44.1 kHz output sample rate, 100 k load (unless otherwise specified) the audio output has the following nominal specifications:

Jack type: 3.5 mm (1/8-inch) stereo combo
Maximum output voltage: 1.6 VRMS (+6.3 dBu)
Output impedance: <24 ohms
Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz, +0.5 dB/-3 dB
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): >90 dB
Total harmonic distortion + noise (THD+N): <-80 dB (0.007%)
Channel separation: >85 dB
S/PDIF optical digital output

The S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface Format) optical digital output is automatically selected when an S/PDIF optical digital output device is detected on the external combination audio port. The S/PDIF optical digital output supports pulse-code modulation (PCM) and Arc Consistency Algorithm #3 (AC-3) audio formats with the following stereo data stream characteristics:

PCM: 16, 20, or 24 bits per sample at sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, or 96 kHz
AC-3: 16 bits per sample at sample rates of 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz, or 192 kHz
The S/PDIF optical output channel status conforms to International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) 60958-3 consumer mode digital audio.

During playback of a 1 kHz sine wave (S/PDIF output format at 0 dBFS output level, 44.1 kHz sample rate, 24-bit sample depth, unless otherwise specified) the digital audio output has the following nominal specifications:

Jack type: 3.5 mm (1/8-inch) stereo combo
Digital audio signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): >130 dB
Digital audio total harmonic distortion + noise (THD+N): <-130 dB (0.00003%)
FireWire port

The iMac has one FireWire 800 port supported by an Open Host Controller Interface (OHCI) FireWire controller with a FireWire 800 PHY (Physical Layer). The FireWire 800 port supports IEEE 1394b with a maximum data rate of 800 Mbps (100 MBps). The iMac (Late 2009) works with 7W for the port.

For more information, visit:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3913






Using a 27-Inch iMac As An External Display

A new Apple Knowledge Base article says:

With Target Display mode, you can use your 27-inch iMac with Mac OS X as an external display. Connect any computer or other device with a Mini DisplayPort to your 27-inch iMac using a Mini DisplayPort to Mini DisplayPort cable or using a converter that converts other electrical, video, and audio protocols from another source device to Mini DisplayPort compliant signals. (Cables and converters available separately.)

To use a 27-inch iMac in Target Display mode with another computer as the source:

• Make sure both computers are turned on and awake.
• Connect a male-to-male Mini DisplayPort cable to the Mini DisplayPort on each computer. The 27-inch iMac will enter Target Display Mode and display content from the source computer.
• Note: If you are connecting two 27-inch iMacs, connect a Mini DisplayPort cable to each computer and press Command + F2 on the 27-inch iMac keyboard that you will use as an external display.
• To leave Target Display mode, press Command + F2 on the keyboard of the 27-inch iMac that is in Target Display mode. • To return to Target Display mode, press Command + F2 again.

Points to keep in mind:

Applications running on the 27-inch iMac computer remain open and running while it is in Target Display mode.

Use the keyboard of the 27-inch iMac to adjust display brightness and sound volume and to control media playback of applications running on the 27-inch iMac in Target Display mode. Other keyboard and mouse input is disabled on the 27-inch iMac while it is in Target Display mode.

The 27-inch iMac works like any other external display while it is in Target Display mode, except that you cannot access its built-in iSight or USB and FireWire ports. To change display settings, open System Preferences on the external source computer and choose Display from the View menu.

Mac OS X on the 27-inch iMac ignores some sleep requests while it is in Target Display mode, but forced sleep, restart, and shutdown commands will still work. If the external source goes into idle display sleep, the 27-inch iMac in Target Display mode will go dark until activity resumes on the external source.

If you shut down, sleep, or detach the external source while In Target Display mode, the 27-inch iMac will leave Target Display mode.

The Mini DisplayPort in the 27-inch iMac can receive only DisplayPort compliant video and audio signals. Converters not made by Apple may provide options to convert other electrical, video, and audio protocols to Mini DisplayPort compliant signals.

For more information, visit:
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3924






Apple's New 21.5-in. iMac Packs A Punch For The Price

Computerworld's Michael DeAgonia reports:

Last month, Apple updated its iMac all-in-one desktop computers... Externally, the biggest change for the iMacs lay in the move to larger 21.5-in. and 27-in. LED-backlit screens and a 16-by-9 aspect ratio.....

While early attention focused on the 27-in. model... the base 21.5-in. model is attractive in its own right. The entry-level model comes with a powerful 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive and the same Nividia 9400M video card that shows up in many of Apple's laptops and the Mac mini. Recession-crimped holiday shoppers will want to note that it starts at $1,199 -- $500 less than its big brother.....

For the full report visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/ydzagdl






Jerry Seinfeld Upgrades Classic Mac with iMac

Gizmodo's Jesus Diaz reports:

Sadly, obsolete gadgets have to be replaced. Happily, change is good. This is what happened to Jerry Seinfeld's ever-present classic Macintosh which, after all these years, has been replaced by a new iMac.

For the full report visit here:
http://gizmodo.com/5411729/jerry-seinfeld-upgrades-classic-mac-with-imac






Numbers of new Core i7 iMacs are turning up DOA

ZNet's Rachel King says:

Reports are flowing in that some of the recently-shipped iMacs with Core i7 Intel processors are shipping dead-on-arrival. Whoops.

A currently 36-page thread on Apple's official support Forums has a whole slew of unhappy customers listing their already-deceased desktops. Many of them cite cracked screens or just dead computers, and one even cites a footprint on the screen!....

For the full report visit here:
http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews/?p=9691






Continued Problems For New iMacs

MacFixIt's Joe Aimonetti reports:

As we noted in an article soon after the new iMacs were released, they seem to be shipping with many problems. Then, it was Flash and system resource corruption. Now, it seems as though the Core i7 iMacs are shipping DOA or with cracked screens. Several Mac media outlets are reporting an abnormally large amount of complaints surfacing from reception of the new all-in-one from Apple....

For the full report visit here:
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13727_7-10404407-263.html?tag=mncol;title






Users Report Issues With Apple's New Core i7-Based iMac

Appleinsider's Sam Oliver reports:

Apple's new top-of-the-line 27-inch iMac with an Intel Core i7 processor has shown up dead on arrival or with a cracked screen for some who have purchased.

In addition to threads on the Apple Discussions support section, Engadget also received a quad-core machine that would not boot when taken out of the box

.

For the full report visit here:
http://tinyurl.com/yavxjcj






Core i7 iMacs showing up DOA - including ours

Engadget's Nilay Patel reports:

Apple's new Core i7-based iMac might be a performance monster, but it looks like the whole family's having some problems getting out of the gate: in addition to the previously-noted performance issues with the Core 2 Duo models, a quick glance across Apple's support forums and on other Mac boards around the web reveals that some machines are showing up DOA and / or with cracked screens. We're a little more familiar with the DOA issue, since the new i7 we just bought doesn't boot at all....

For the full report visit here:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/11/24/core-i7-imacs-showing-up-doa-including-ours/






Apple Buyers Howl Over Crocked iMacs

The Register's Cade Metz reports:

Apple customers are howling over a pair of recurring flaws in the company's new iMac desktops.

Some buyers say machines are arriving on doorsteps with a conspicuous crack in the lower left-hand corner of Apple's built-in display, while others howl that their freshly-shipped systems won't even turn on.....

According to some users, Apple can't provide replacement systems for at least two weeks....

For the full report visit here:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/24/apple_imac_flaws/

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