IMac

Last updated

iMac
IMac (logo).svg
IMac M4 2024 2 (cropped).jpg
Front face of blue iMac (24-inch, M4, 2024)
Developer Apple Inc.
Product family Macintosh
Release dateAugust 15, 1998;26 years ago (1998-08-15) (G3)
Operating system macOS (see § Supported operating systems for previous)
Related Mac Mini, Mac Pro
Website apple.com/imac

The iMac is a series of all-in-one computers from Apple Inc., sold as part of the company's Mac family of computers. First introduced in 1998, it has remained a primary part of Apple's consumer desktop offerings since and evolved through seven distinct forms. The iMac natively runs the MacOS operating system.

Contents

In its original form, the iMac G3 had a gumdrop, ADM-3 or egg-shaped look, with a CRT monitor, mainly enclosed by a colored, translucent plastic case. The computer was, at the time, an inexpensive, consumer-oriented computer that would easily connect to the Internet. The second major revision, the iMac G4, moved a design with a hemispherical base containing all the main components and an LCD monitor on a freely moving arm attached to it. The third and fourth revisions, the iMac G5 and the Intel iMac, placed all the components immediately behind the display in a plastic casing, creating a slim unified design that tilts only up and down on a simple metal base. The fifth, sixth and seventh revisions swapped the plastic enclosure for metal and became progressively thinner over each revision.

The design of the iMac has been seen as both controversial and trendsetting. From its introduction, the computer has eschewed many entrenched legacy technologies, notably becoming an early adopter of the USB port, and removing floppy disk and later optical disc drives. The most recent revision, the Apple Silicon iMac, uses Apple's own processors (silicon) and is 11.5 millimeters (0.45 in) thick. Between 2017 and 2021, Apple also sold a workstation-class version of the computer called the iMac Pro.

History

The timeline of iMac from 1998 to 2021, comparing it with the original Macintosh 128K (1984). This chart shows the change in the physical characteristics and appearance of the product. Timeline of the product Apple iMac.svg
The timeline of iMac from 1998 to 2021, comparing it with the original Macintosh 128K (1984). This chart shows the change in the physical characteristics and appearance of the product.

Apple was facing bankruptcy in the mid-1990s, with its market share cannibalized by Windows-based PCs and Macintosh clones. The company had tried and failed to ship a modern operating system for its hardware. Looking instead for an outside product to acquire, Apple announced its purchase of NexT, Inc. in 1996. Alongside Next's products and software came Steve Jobs, Apple's co-founder who had been ousted from the company years earlier. Jobs initially was brought on at Apple as an adviser, but Jobs replaced Gil Amelio as interim CEO in 1997 and began a reorganization of the company. He reduced Apple's multitude of confusing computer options to just four: one laptop and one desktop model for consumers, and another laptop and desktop model for professionals. What became the iMac began as Apple's effort to develop the consumer desktop to fill that product gap.[ citation needed ]

Apple's head of design Jony Ive and the rest of the design team developed sketches for a distinctive, all-in-one computer that was to be a legacy-free PC focused on ease of use and internet connectivity. The design team made the new computer colorful and translucent, built around a cathode-ray tube display wrapped in a curved plastic case. Ad agency director Ken Segall suggested the "iMac" name: it was short, had "Mac" in it, and the "i" prefix suggested the internet. Jobs initially hated it, but the name ultimately stuck. [1] :109–110 Apple later adopted the 'i' prefix across its consumer hardware and software lines, such as iPod, iBook (later MacBook), iPhone, iPad and various pieces of software such as the iLife, iCloud suite and iWork and the company's media player/store, iTunes.[ citation needed ]

Three of the seven iMac colors available in 2024--blue, green and pink--with corresponding Magic Keyboards IMac M4 2024.jpg
Three of the seven iMac colors available in 2024—blue, green and pink—with corresponding Magic Keyboards

Despite mixed reviews from the tech press, the iMac was a major commercial success at a time when Apple desperately needed a hit product. [2] The iMac ultimately sold more than six million units, being revised multiple times and appearing in 13 different colors and patterns.[ citation needed ] The iMac was "designed to make it easy for home users to connect to the Internet." [3] A commercial, dubbed "Simplicity Shootout", pitted seven-year-old Johann Thomas and his border collie Brodie, with an iMac, against Adam Taggart, a Stanford University MBA student, with an HP Pavilion 8250, in a race to set up their computers. Johann and Brodie finished in 8 minutes and 15 seconds, [4] whereas Adam was still working on it by the end of the commercial.

As the prices of flat-screen liquid crystal displays (LCDs) began to fall, Apple conceived of an update to the iMac. Inspired by a sunflower, the iMac G4 put the computer in a semi-hemispherical base, with the display sitting above it on a stainless steel arm. The arm allowed the display to be easily tilted, rotated, and raised and lowered by a touch. The exuberant colors of the old iMac was replaced by stark white.[ citation needed ]

Ever-increasing screen sizes led Apple to make the iMac G5 a more conservative design, with the components of the computer attached to the back of the display and raised above the resting surface with an aluminum foot.[ citation needed ]

By 2005, it had become more and more apparent that IBM's development for the desktop implementation of PowerPC was grinding to a halt. Apple announced at the Worldwide Developers Conference that it would be switching the Macintosh to the x86 architecture and Intel's line of Core processors. The first Intel-equipped Macs were unveiled on January 10, 2006: the MacBook Pro and a new iMac, which outwardly looked identical to the iMac G5. Within nine months, Apple had smoothly transitioned the entire Macintosh line to Intel. The Intel-based iMac was redesigned in 2007 with an aluminum enclosure, which was gradually refined and slimmed down in the following years. In 2014, the iMac added high-resolution "retina" 4K and 5K displays, and a more powerful, professional-oriented model, the iMac Pro, was introduced in 2017.

Apple announced a shift from Intel processors to its own Apple Silicon in June 2020. Apple announced redesigned iMacs with a 24-inch display and Apple M1 chip in April 2021. These new models harkened back to the colorful iMac G3s, coming in seven colors. The iMacs were updated in 2023 to use the Apple M3 chip. [5] To date the company stated there will not be a 27" M-series based iMac though there have been rumors of a larger 30" or 32" version in the works. [6]

Influence

The original iMac was the first legacy-free PC. [7] It was the first Macintosh computer to have a USB port but no floppy disk drive. Subsequently, all Macs have included USB. Via the USB port, hardware makers could make products compatible with both x86 PCs and Macs. Previously, Macintosh users had to seek out certain hardware, such as keyboards and mice specifically tailored for the "old world" Mac's unique ADB interface and printers and modems with MiniDIN-8 serial ports. Only a limited number of models from certain manufacturers were made with these interfaces and often came at a premium price. USB, being cross-platform, has allowed Macintosh users to select from a large selection of devices marketed for the Wintel PC platform, such as hubs, scanners, storage devices, USB flash drives, and mice. After the iMac, Apple continued to remove older peripheral interfaces and floppy drives from the rest of its product line.

Borrowing from the 1997 Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh, the various LCD-based iMac designs continued the all-in-one concept first envisioned in Apple's original Macintosh computer. The successful iMac allowed Apple to continue targeting the Power Macintosh line at the high-end of the market. This foreshadowed a similar strategy in the notebook market when the iMac-like iBook was released in 1999. Since then, the company has continued this strategy of differentiating the consumer versus professional product lines. Apple's focus on design has allowed each of its subsequent products to create a distinctive identity. Apple avoided using the beige colors that were then common in the PC industry. The company would later drift from the multicolored designs of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The latter part of the decade saw Apple using anodized aluminum; glass; and white, black, and clear polycarbonate plastics among its build materials. Today many PCs are more design-conscious than before the iMac's introduction, with multi-shaded design schemes being common, and some desktops and laptops available in colorful, decorative patterns. [8]

Apple's use of translucent, candy-colored plastics inspired similar industrial designs in other consumer products. [9] Apple's later introduction of the iPod, iBook G3 (Dual USB), and iMac G4 (all featuring snowy-white plastic), inspired similar designs in other companies' consumer electronics products. The color rollout also featured two distinctive ads: one called 'Life Savers' featured the Rolling Stones song, "She's a Rainbow" and an advertisement for the white version had the introduction of Cream's "White Room" as its backing track[ citation needed ].

Reception

iMac has received considerable critical acclaim, including praise from technology columnist Walt Mossberg as the "Gold Standard of desktop computing"; [10] Forbes magazine described the original candy-colored line of iMac computers as being an "industry-altering success". [11] The first 24" Core 2 Duo iMac received CNET's "Must-have desktop" in its 2006 Top 10 Holiday Gift Picks. [12]

Apple faced a class-action lawsuit filed in 2008 for allegedly deceiving the public by promising millions of colors from the LCD screens of all Mac models while its 20-inch model only held 262,144 colors. [13] This issue arose due to the use of 6-bit per pixel Twisted nematic LCD screens. The case was dismissed on January 21, 2009. [14]

While not a criticism of iMac per se, the integrated design has some inherent tradeoffs that have garnered criticism. In The Mythical Midrange Mac Minitower, Dan Frakes of Macworld suggests that with the iMac occupying the midrange of Apple's product line, Apple has little to offer consumers who want some ability to expand or upgrade their computers, but do not need (or cannot afford) the Mac Pro. [15] For example, iMac's integration of monitor and computer, while convenient, commits the owner to replace both at the same time. For a time before the Mac mini's introduction, there were rumors of a "headless iMac" [16] but the G4 Mac mini as introduced had lower performance compared to the iMac, which at the time featured a G5 processor. [17] Some third party suppliers such as Other World Computing provide upgrade kits that include specialized tools for working on iMacs.

Similarly, though the graphics chipset in some Intel models is on a removable MXM, neither Apple nor third parties have offered retail iMac GPU upgrades, with the exception of those for the original iMac G3's "mezzanine" PCI slot. Models after iMac G5 (excluding the August 7, 2007, iMac update[ according to whom? ]) made it difficult for the end-user to replace the hard disk or optical drive, and Apple's warranty explicitly forbids upgrading the socketed CPU. While conceding the possibility of a mini-tower cannibalizing sales from the Mac Pro, Frakes argues there is enough frustration with iMac's limitations to make such a proposition worthwhile. This disparity has become more pronounced after the G4 era since the bottom-end Power Mac G5 (with one brief exception) and Mac Pro models have all been priced in the US$1999–$2499 range, while base model Power Macs G4s and earlier were US$1299–1799. The current generation iMac has Intel 5th generation i5 and i7 processors, ranging from quad-core 2.7 GHz i5 to a quad-core 3.4 GHz i7 processor, [18] however it is possible to upgrade the 2010 edition of the iMac quite easily. [19]

Timeline

Generation Form factor Display Processor Included HDD Included Mac OS version [20] ReleasedDiscontinued
iMac G3 IMac G3 Bondi Blue, three-quarters view.png 15″ CRT PowerPC G3 4 GB to 60 GB [21] 8.1, 8.5, 8.6, 9.0, 9.1, 10.0, 10.1, 10.2 August 15, 1998March 2003
iMac G4 IMac G4 sunflower7.png 15″, 17″, or 20″ LCD PowerPC G4 40 GB to 160 GB9.2, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 January 2002July 2004
iMac G5 IMac G5 - Frontal view.png 17″ or 20″ LCD PowerPC G5 40 GB to 500 GB 10.3, 10.4 August 2004March 2006
Polycarbonate Intel iMac IMac transparency.png 17″, 20″, or 24″ LCD Intel Core Duo/Core 2 Duo80 GB to 750 GB 10.4 January 2006August 2007
Aluminum iMac IMac aluminium.png 20″ or 24″ LCD Intel Core 2 Duo250 GB to 1 TB 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 August 2007August 2011
Unibody iMac Imac 16-9.png 21.5" or 27" LCD Intel Core 2 Duo/i3/i5/i7 256 GB to 2 TB 10.6, 10.7, 10.8 October 2009March 2013
Slim Unibody iMac IMac vector.svg Intel Core i3/i5/i7 256 GB to 3 TB 10.8, 10.9, 10.10, 10.11, 10.12, 10.13, 10.14, 10.15, 11 November 2012October 2021
Retina iMac IMac vector.svg Intel Core i3/i5/i7/i9 256 GB to 3 TB 10.10, 10.11, 10.12, 10.13, 10.14, 10.15, 11, 12 October 2014March 2022
iMac (Apple silicon) M1 iMac vector.svg 24" LCD Apple M series 256 GB to 2 TB 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 April 2021
Timeline of iMac and eMac models
Mac StudioApple WatchiPadiPhoneMacBookMac MiniPower Mac G5iPodPower Mac G4 CubeiBookPower Macintosh G3iMac (Apple silicon)iMac (Apple silicon)iMac ProiMac (Intel-based)iMac (Intel-based)iMac (Intel-based)iMac (Intel-based)iMac (Intel-based)iMac (Intel-based)iMac (Intel-based)iMac (Intel-based)iMac (Intel-based)iMac G5iMac G5iMac G5iMac G5iMac G4iMac G4iMac G4eMaciMac G3#Model line-upiMac G3#Model line-upiMac G3#Model line-upiMac G3IMac

Supported operating systems

Supported Apple operating system releases

macOS Sequoia is the current release of macOS, being compatible with 2019 or later iMacs. Most unsupported Intel iMac computers can run macOS Sequoia via the use of a compatible utility. [22]

Supported macOS releases on iMac
OS releasePowerPC-basedIntel-basedApple silicon
G3 (Tray Loading)G3 (Slot Loading)G4G5PolycarbonateAluminumUnibodySlim UnibodyRetinaColors
OriginalEarly 1999Late 1999Mid 2000Early 2001Mid 2001Early 2002 15"Mid 2002 17"Early 2003Late 2003Mid 2004Mid 2005Late 2005Early 2006Mid 2006Late 2006Mid 2007Early 2008Early 2009Mid 2009Late 2009Mid 2010Mid 2011Late 2011Late 2012Early 2013Late 2013Mid 2014Late 2014Mid 2015Late 2015 [M 1] 2017 [M 1] 20192020M1, 2021M3, 2023M4, 2024
Mac OS 8 8.1 [M 2]
8.5 [M 3]
8.5.18.6
Mac OS 9 Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg9.0.49.19.2.2Emulation only
10.0 Cheetah With 128 MB RAM10.0.4
10.1 Puma Check-green.svg10.1.210.1.5
10.2 Jaguar Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg10.2.310.2.7 [M 4]
10.3 Panther Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg [M 5] 10.3.5
10.4 Tiger Patch,
With 256 MB RAM
With 256 MB RAMCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg10.4.210.4.410.4.610.4.710.4.10Partial
10.5 Leopard Patch,
With G4 processor upgrade
and 384 MB [M 2] or 512 MB RAM
Patch,
With 512 MB RAM
Patch [M 6]
With 512 MB RAM
With 512 MB RAMCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg10.5.210.5.6
10.6 Snow Leopard Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgWith 1 GB RAMCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg10.6.110.6.310.6.6Unofficial
10.7 Lion Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatch,
With 2 GB RAM [M 7]
With 2 GB RAMCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
10.8 Mountain Lion Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatch,
With 2 GB RAM [M 8]
Patch,
With 2 GB RAM
With 2 GB RAMCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg10.8.210.8.4
10.9 Mavericks Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatch,
With 2 GB RAM [M 8]
Patch,
With 2 GB RAM [M 8] [M 9]
Patch,
With 2 GB RAM [M 10]
Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg10.9.3
10.10 Yosemite Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatch,
With 2 GB RAM [M 8] [M 11]
Patch,
With 2 GB RAM [M 8] [M 9]
Patch,
With 2 GB RAM [M 11] [M 10]
Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg10.10.2
10.11 El Capitan Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
10.12 Sierra Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatch,
With 2 GB RAM [M 12]
Patch,
With 2 GB RAM
Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg10.12.4
10.13 High Sierra Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
10.14 Mojave Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatchCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg10.14.4
10.15 Catalina Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatch,
With 4 GB RAM [M 12] [M 13] [23]
Patch,
With 4 GB RAM
PatchPatch,
With 4 GB RAM
Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg10.15.6
11 Big Sur Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatchPatchCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg11.3
12 Monterey Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatchPatchCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
13 Ventura Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatch [23] Patch [23] Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg13.5
14 Sonoma Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatch [23] Patch [23] Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
15 Sequoia Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatch [23] Patch [23] Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
  1. 1 2 Includes 21.5" non-Retina models released in the same date.
  2. 1 2 Revision A model.
  3. Revision B model.
  4. 15-inch and 17-inch models. 20-inch model can still run Mac OS X Jaguar.
  5. 20-inch model.
  6. 15-inch model requires patches.
  7. Up to 10.7.2 with patches or 10.7.5 with a Merom processor upgrade.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Requires a Merom processor upgrade.
  9. 1 2 There are no graphics drivers available for the GMA 950 after OS X Mountain Lion.
  10. 1 2 There are no graphics drivers available for the NVIDIA GeForce 7 Series after OS X Mountain Lion.
  11. 1 2 There are no graphics drivers available for the ATI Radeon X1600 after OS X Mavericks.
  12. 1 2 Requires a Penryn processor upgrade with SSE4 support.
  13. No Bluetooth on macOS Big Sur and later.

Supported Windows versions

Supported Windows versions
OS releasePolycarbonateAluminumUnibodySlim UnibodyRetina
Early 2006Mid 2006-Early 2009Late 2009Mid 2010Mid 2011Late 2012-Mid 2015Late 20152017–2020
Windows XP
32-bit [W 1] [24] [25]
Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgPartial [W 1] Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows Vista
32-bit [W 2] [24] [25]
Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgPartial [W 2] Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows Vista
64-bit [W 2] [24]
Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgPartial [W 2] Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows 7
32-bit [W 3] [24] [26]
Dark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows 7
64-bit [W 4] [24] [27]
Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows 8
[W 5] [W 6] [24]
Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPartial, Patch [W 7] Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows 8.1
[W 8] [W 6] [28] [27]
Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPartial, Patch [W 7] Check-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgDark Red x.svg
Windows 10
[W 9] [W 6] [29] [27]
Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgPatchPatchCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svgCheck-green.svg
Windows 11
[W 10]
Dark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svgDark Red x.svg
  1. 1 2 Windows XP can only be installed on Macs built up until late 2009 with Boot Camp 3 or earlier, excluding the late 2009 high-end 27-inch model. This includes Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier and copies of Mac OS X 10.7 that have not been updated to Boot Camp 4.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Windows Vista can only be installed on Macs built up until late 2009 with Boot Camp 3 or earlier, excluding the late 2009 high-end 27-inch model. This includes Mac OS X 10.6 or earlier and copies of Mac OS X 10.7 that have not been updated to Boot Camp 4.
  3. The 32-bit version of Windows 7 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 3.1 to 6.0. This includes OS X 10.11 and earlier.
  4. The 64-bit version of Windows 7 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 3.1 or later, running macOS High Sierra or earlier. Later versions of macOS no longer support Windows 7.
  5. Windows 8 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 5.0 to 6.0. This includes OS X 10.11 and earlier.
  6. 1 2 3 Only 64-bit versions of Windows are supported for Windows 8 and later.
  7. 1 2 Only the 27-inch model of the Mid-2010 iMac supports Windows 8 and 8.1. The 21.5-inch model is not supported.
  8. Windows 8.1 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 5.1 or later, running macOS High Sierra or earlier. Later versions of macOS no longer support Windows 8.1.
  9. Windows 10 can only be installed on Macs with Boot Camp 6.0 or later. It is the only supported version of Windows on macOS Mojave and later.
  10. Windows 11 is not officially supported for use via BootCamp by either Apple or Microsoft.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Power Macintosh</span> Family of personal computers released by Apple Computer

The Power Macintosh, later Power Mac, is a family of personal computers designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Computer, Inc as the core of the Macintosh brand from March 1994 until August 2006.

eMac All-in-one desktop computer made by Apple

The eMac is a discontinued all-in-one Mac desktop computer that was produced and designed by Apple Computer. Released in 2002, it was originally aimed at the education market but was later made available as a cheaper mass-market alternative to Apple's "Sunflower" iMac G4. The eMac was pulled from retail on October 12, 2005, and was again sold exclusively to educational institutions thereafter. It was discontinued by Apple on July 5, 2006, and replaced by a cheaper, low-end Intel iMac that, like the eMac, was exclusively sold to educational institutions.

Apple Inc. has sold a variety of LCD and CRT computer displays since introducing their first display in 1980. Apple paused production of their own standalone displays in 2016 and partnered with LG to design displays for Macs. In June 2019, the Pro Display XDR was introduced, however it was expensive and targeted for professionals. In March 2022, the Studio Display was launched as a consumer-targeted counterpart. These are currently the only Apple-branded displays available.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac OS X Leopard</span> Sixth major release of Mac OS X

Mac OS X Leopard is the sixth major release of macOS, Apple's desktop and server operating system for Macintosh computers. Leopard was released on October 26, 2007 as the successor of Mac OS X Tiger, and is available in two editions: a desktop version suitable for personal computers, and a server version, Mac OS X Server. It retailed for $129 for the desktop version and $499 for Server. Leopard was superseded by Mac OS X Snow Leopard in 2009. Mac OS X Leopard is the last version of macOS that supports the PowerPC architecture as its successor, Mac OS X Snow Leopard, functions solely on Intel based Macs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac transition to Intel processors</span> 2005–2006 change of processors in Apple computers

The Mac transition to Intel processors was the process of switching the central processing units (CPUs) of Apple's line of Mac and Xserve computers from PowerPC processors over to Intel's x86-64 processors. The change was announced at the 2005 Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) by then-Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who said Apple would gradually stop using PowerPC microprocessors supplied by Freescale and IBM.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hackintosh</span> Non-Apple computer running macOS

A Hackintosh is a computer that runs Apple's operating system macOS on computer hardware that is not authorized for the purpose by Apple. This is due to the software license for macOS only permitting its use on in-house hardware built by Apple itself, in this case the Mac line.

The Apple USB Modem is a combined 56 kbit/s data modem and 14.4 kbit/s fax external USB modem introduced by Apple Inc. after the internal 56k modem was dropped on the October 12, 2005 iMac G5 revision. While it looks similar, it should not be confused with Apple's optional USB Ethernet Adapter accessory, available for its MacBook Air and MacBook Pro Retina range of laptops since 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MacBook Pro</span> Line of notebook computer

The MacBook Pro is a line of Mac laptop computers developed and manufactured by Apple. Introduced in 2006, it is the high-end sibling of the MacBook family, sitting above the ultra-portable MacBook Air and previously the low-end MacBook. It is currently sold with 14-inch and 16-inch screens, all using Apple M-series chips. Before Apple silicon, the MacBook Pro used Intel chips, and was the first laptop made by Apple to do so, replacing the earlier PowerBook. It was also the first Apple laptop to carry the MacBook moniker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MacBook (2006–2012)</span> Line of notebook computers by Apple

The MacBook is a line of Mac laptops sold by Apple Inc. between May 2006 and February 2012. It replaced the iBook series of notebooks as a part of Apple's transition from PowerPC to Intel processors. Positioned as the low end of the MacBook family, below the premium ultra-portable MacBook Air and the performance-oriented MacBook Pro, the MacBook was aimed at the consumer and education markets. It became the best-selling Mac in Apple's history. For five months in 2008, it was the best-selling laptop of any brand in US retail stores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Apple–Intel architecture</span> Unofficial name used for Macintosh models that use Intel x86 processors

The Apple–Intel architecture, or Mactel, is an unofficial name used for Macintosh personal computers developed and manufactured by Apple Inc. that use Intel x86 processors, rather than the PowerPC and Motorola 68000 ("68k") series processors used in their predecessors or the ARM-based Apple silicon SoCs used in their successors. As Apple changed the architecture of its products, they changed the firmware from the Open Firmware used on PowerPC-based Macs to the Intel-designed Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI). With the change in processor architecture to x86, Macs gained the ability to boot into x86-native operating systems, while Intel VT-x brought near-native virtualization with macOS as the host OS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boot Camp (software)</span> Built-in macOS software to natively install Microsoft Windows on a Mac.

Boot Camp Assistant is a multi boot utility included with Apple Inc.'s macOS that assists users in installing Microsoft Windows operating systems on Intel-based Macintosh computers. The utility guides users through non-destructive disk partitioning of their hard disk drive or solid-state drive and installation of Windows device drivers for the Apple hardware. The utility also installs a Windows Control Panel applet for selecting the default boot operating system.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac Pro</span> Series of computers by Apple Inc.

Mac Pro is a series of workstations and servers for professionals made by Apple Inc. since 2006. The Mac Pro, by some performance benchmarks, is the most powerful computer that Apple offers. It is one of four desktop computers in the current Mac lineup, sitting above the Mac Mini, iMac and Mac Studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parallels Desktop for Mac</span> Virtual machine software

Parallels Desktop for Mac is a hypervisor providing hardware virtualization for Mac computers. It is developed by Parallels, a subsidiary of Corel.

iMac (Intel-based) Line of all-in-one desktop computers by Apple Inc.

The iMac is a series of all-in-one desktop computers designed, manufactured, and sold by Apple Inc. Between 2006 and 2022, the iMac series used chipsets based on Intel architecture. While sold, it was one of three desktop computers in the Mac lineup, serving as an all-in-one alternative to the Mac Mini, and sat below the performance range Mac Pro. It was sold alongside a higher-end, Xeon-based iMac Pro from 2017 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MacBook Air</span> Line of ultraportable notebook computers by Apple

The MacBook Air is a line of laptop computers developed and manufactured by Apple since 2008. It features a thin, light structure in a machined aluminum case and currently either a 13-inch or 15-inch screen. The MacBook Air's lower prices relative to the larger, higher performance MacBook Pro have made it Apple's entry-level notebook since the discontinuation of the original MacBook line in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac (computer)</span> Family of personal computers made by Apple

Mac is a family of personal computers designed and marketed by Apple since 1984. The name is short for Macintosh, a reference to a type of apple called McIntosh. The current product lineup includes the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro laptops, and the iMac, Mac Mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro desktops. Macs are sold with Apple's proprietary macOS operating system, which is not licensed to other manufacturers and exclusively bundled with Mac computers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac Mini</span> Desktop computer by Apple Inc.

Mac Mini is a small form factor desktop computer developed and marketed by Apple Inc. It is one of the company's four current Mac desktop computers, positioned as the entry-level consumer product, below the all-in-one iMac and the professional Mac Studio and Mac Pro. From its launch, the device has been sold without a display, keyboard, or mouse, and was originally marketed with the slogan "BYODKM"(Bring Your Own Display, Keyboard, and Mouse). This strategic pitch targeted current owners of Windows desktop computers; by leveraging peripherals users likely already owned, the computer offered a cost-effective way to switch to a Mac.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">12-inch MacBook</span> 2010s line of Apple notebook computers

The 12-inch MacBook is a discontinued Mac laptop made by Apple Inc., which sat between the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro in Apple's laptop lineup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mac transition to Apple silicon</span> 2020–2023 transition of Apple computers to using Apple-designed ARM-based processors

The Mac transition to Apple silicon was the process of switching the central processing units (CPUs) of Apple's line of Mac computers from Intel's x86-64 processors to Apple-designed Apple silicon ARM64 processors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MacBook Pro (Intel-based)</span> Line of notebook computers

The Intel-based MacBook Pro is a discontinued line of Macintosh notebook computers sold by Apple Inc. from 2006 to 2021. It was the higher-end model of the MacBook family, sitting above the low-end plastic MacBook and the ultra-portable MacBook Air, and was sold with 13-inch to 17-inch screens.

References

  1. Segall, Ken (2013). Insanely simple: the obsession that drives Apple's success (2nd ed.). The Penguin Group. ISBN   978-1-5918-4621-5.
  2. Snell, Jason (December 28, 2020). "20 Macs for 2020: #1 – iMac G3". Six Colors. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  3. McIntosh, Jane; Chrisp, Peter; Parker, Philip; Gibson, Carrie; Grant, R. G.; Regan, Sally (October 2014). History of the World in 1,000 Objects. New York: DK and the Smithsonian. p. 382. ISBN   978-1-4654-2289-7.
  4. "iMac Review: It's a Mac". Washington Apple Pi. December 13, 1998. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  5. Apple ‘Scary Fast’ Mac launch event: the 4 biggest announcements, Emma Roth, The Verge, October 31, 2023
  6. Seifert, Dan (November 6, 2023). "Apple has no plans to make a 27-inch iMac with Apple Silicon". The Verge. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  7. Spooner, John G. (December 16, 1999). "Compaq Hopes to Follow the iMac". ZDNet . Archived from the original on July 3, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  8. "Eight ways the iMac changed computing". Macworld . August 15, 2008. Archived from the original on December 22, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2008.
  9. Edwards, Benj (September 15, 2008). "10 Years of Cuddly, Friendly iMacs". Wired. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  10. Walt Mossberg; Katherine Boehret (November 30, 2005). "A New Gold Standard for PCs". All Things Digital. Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  11. Jon Swartz (April 14, 2000). "Resurgence Of An American Icon". Forbes. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved November 24, 2006.
  12. Rich DeMuro (November 22, 2006). Must-have desktop: Apple iMac Core 2 Duo (24-inch, 2.16 GHz). CNET (Internet). Archived from the original on August 19, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2007.
  13. "Apple hit with another "millions of colors" lawsuit". AppleInsider . March 31, 2008. Archived from the original on April 6, 2008. Retrieved April 6, 2008.
  14. Sanders v. Apple Inc., 672F.Supp.2d978 ( N.D. Cal. January 21, 2009).
  15. Frakes, Dan. "The Mythical Midrange Mac Minitower". Macworld. Archived from the original on September 11, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  16. Bangeman, Eric (December 29, 2004). "Apple supposedly prepping cheap "headless iMac"". ARStechnica. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2011.
  17. Berger, Jennifer (January 26, 2005). "Mac mini: Perfect Bookshelf Box for Mac Minimalists". Macworld . Archived from the original on April 2, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  18. "iMac Technical Specifications". December 10, 2012. Archived from the original on July 28, 2015. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  19. Rawlins, Stephen (April 15, 2012). "Upgrade iMac Intel Core i3 CPU to Core i7". EnglandGreen. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  20. "Mac OS X versions (builds) included with Intel-based Macs". Apple. April 21, 2010. Archived from the original on April 1, 2010. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
  21. "iMac G3".
  22. "Supported Models | OpenCore Legacy Patcher". dortania.github.io. Archived from the original on February 1, 2022. Retrieved June 14, 2021.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "OpenCore Legacy Patcher Supported Models". OpenCore Legacy Patcher. Dortania. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "System requirements to install Windows on your Mac via Boot Camp". March 10, 2015. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  25. 1 2 Keizer, Gregg (August 2, 2011). "OS X Lion requires Windows 7 for Boot Camp". Computerworld . Archived from the original on November 3, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  26. Hu, Jonathan (August 12, 2015). "Apple Released Boot Camp 6.1 with Windows 10 Support". nextofwindows. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  27. 1 2 3 "System requirements to install Windows using Boot Camp for macOS". Apple Support. December 6, 2018. Archived from the original on March 12, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  28. "Use Windows 8.1 on your Mac with Boot Camp". Apple Support. September 24, 2018. Archived from the original on September 6, 2017. Retrieved August 21, 2020.
  29. "Install Windows 10 on your Mac with Boot Camp Assistant". Apple Support. June 16, 2020. Archived from the original on August 21, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2020.