The shared Internet navigation on both Mac computers didn’t show any slowdowns and the download and upload rates were equally divided. The router feature on the Airport Express also allows users to use programs that identify the computers through their IPs, and the Airport Express’ rich features also allow the creation of filters in order to block unwanted connections.

The network has a good covering range, and if placed in a favorable position, it reaches more than two walls (provided they’re not too thick).

The printing process through the Airport Express only failed once during the testing. All the other printing processes were done with no problems and no slowdowns, although the network, in this case, is limited to the 802.11b standard

The configuration done for the review might not be for the basic users, however, the software should be more than enough to explain it as well. The network created was a WEP network, with an ADSL connection shared with an unique IP, using DCHP and NAT. The ISP information was setup, and then the network password and the Airport Express password. In the available Mac computers, all it took was to create a new connection with the Airport card activated, set it on the DHCP, activate the AppleTalk network protocol and activate the Airport. The software sets everything up and rather quickly at that, and the network shows up as available.

Upon the first connection, it requires the password, but it does get memorized. And after that, the connection is complete. The configuration tool offers a lot of options, from the network type and its safety, from an automatic internet connection and a closed-number group. From the configuration tool, users can also configure the Airport Express to extend the already present cable networks or to serve as a bridge to another pre-existent wireless connection.

The Apple Airport express is insteresting already from its fashionable package that gives the users a good idea of its portability and the quality of its features. Upon a first glance, it looks like a notebook power supply, also the weight is more or less the same.

Its slim shape, with nothing more than a multifunction led and the connector ports give it the usual minimalistic feel that is so common on the Apple products.

After the connectors are plugged in and the base is connected to the electricity, the led starts flashing in a yellow color. After a simple and fast configuration, thanks to the application that is supplied with the CD included on the pack, and a very rich documentation both in paper and multilingual PDF, the led turns green and the wireless network is ready to use.

Display

Here comes the controversial part. In fact, Apple’s choice to equip the new iMac with glossy displays has made many people unhappy. It’s worth mentioning a concept that has already been talked about many times: comparing two monitors of equal quality, the one with the glossy display will seem better than the one without it. And this is the case with the iMac, the quality in these new displays, obviously equal to the previous generation, is somewhat masked with the glossy display.

It put in front of a light source, the glossy display reflects a great big deal of light and even in the darkness, it won’t stop some of the reflections. The colors are rendered in a good way, in any case.

Components

The design reviews can be somewhat subjective, but the same cannot be said about the components chosen by Apple to equip the new iMacs. The Intel Core 2 Duo processors, 2.0 and 2.4 Ghz don’t need any presentations, even less needed for the Core 2 Duo Extreme 2.8GHz, in the build-to-order option. Also the ATI graphic cards (and here a good “Finally” is needed) are modern and up to the challenges that a normal customer would require, but also in the professional area.

The SerialATA hard disks, working on 7200 rpm, also seem to be suitable as for storage space and performances, while for the optical drive, a support to one of the new formats, either BluRay or HD-DVD would have been expected. But in this case, we truly think it was a choice based on the uncertainty about these two formats and which one will be truly established on the market. In any case, there should have been an option to include a BluRay or HD-DVD drive in a built-to-order configuration.

With the new iMac came also a new keyboard version, now with the keyboard (and the layout in the bluetooth model) following the same style as the MacBook. It’s a beautiful design, at least aesthetically, but it can cause more typing errors than a normal keyboard.

The build quality, the materials and the assembly in general are very well taken care of and show no errors, an example that Apple’s quality standard has not been lost on the iMac.

The new iMac is completely built in aluminium, with the back cover painted in black: this choice seems somewhat dubious. Even though it contributes to the “light” sensation that the product gives, giving a sensation that the iMac is even slimmer than it is, it seems to be out of place with the rest of the product’s colors. The front glass, instead, placed in order to protect the LCD panel, has a high-tech aspect thanks to its black frame.

The I/O connections follow the layout from the Cinema Displays, and the on/off button is now placed on the other side compared to the past models.

The main differences on the new iMac generation (the fourth one since the introduction of the original iMac G3) are basically the design that was strongly reviewed, even though remaining faithful to the original iMac G5 project.

Design

Solidity and quality: these are the sensations that users might have in their first approach with the new Apple all-in-one. The aluminium build and its coolness to the touch contributes to pass on these sensations that the previous model, even though it was well built, didn’t supply.

Conclusion - Part 2

In case you already have movies in H.264 or MPEG4, or are able to purchase movies online, you’ll surely find the Apple TV a good device. If your video collection is in any other format and you cannot purchase movies online, maybe it’s more convenient to wait for a reviewed model

Besides what was previously mentioned, another consideration must be made about the Apple TV’s hard disk capacity. 40 GB are too little if you want to store a good number of movies. Apple should have offered a bigger hard disk, even if in built-to-order. Or even better, allow the USB2 port from the Apple TV to connect to external disks.

Apple TV is surely a good starting point and it seems that the price is adequate to what it offers. Maybe it will become a great product if it succeeds, in the future, to become what its first intention was: a full home entertainment system.

The road, however, seems a little long yet.

The movie trailer download from the Apple server is impressive. With a good internet connection, users can enjoy a high-definition trailer with a very small loading time.

Last but not least, the photo and music playing mirrors almost completely FrontRow’s (on Mac Intel). Once more, no problems at all.

Conclusion - Part 1

It’s really hard to give an opinion about this device. Apple TV does everything it promises to do, without many problems, except for a wireless connection that could be better, and the fact that it tends to heat very easily, since it doesn’t have any cooling fans. The main problems would be in countries that do not allow the online purchase of movies and TV series, and the limited compatible video formats.