iMac looks good, is capable as ever

It looks so beautiful with its simple, yet elegant design.

Outside, the new iMac features a 17- or 20-inch cinema display with Apple's standard white keyboard and new "Mighty Mouse" with 360-degree scrolling and customizable buttons.

Inside, the iMac's processor and other functional hardware is tucked behind the screen, compact and discrete, so the whole system looks sleek.

If you've watched the iMac design evolve over the past decade, you'll note that this one further advances the iMac tradition of being compact and good looking.

Embedded in the top center of the screen's frame is an iSight video camera. To use it for video conferencing, the system includes iChat software and Photo Booth software for taking snapshots, adding visual effects, and sharing pictures.

The latest iMac also features Front Row software and a remote controller for viewing photo collections, movies and other media from a comfy chair across the room.

And, naturally, this computer includes Apple's latest operating system, fondly known as "Tiger," with the new Intel Core Duo Processor.

In addition, the latest version of iLife ('06) is pre-installed, which includes updates of iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, and GarageBand applications, plus the new iWeb, for creating Web sites, blogs and podcasts. Then, when you're done creating, you can use Apple's .Mac subscription service (or other Web-hosting service) to publish them on the Internet.

The iMac also comes with Safari, Mail, and iCal (calendar) software, plus Rosetta translation technology, which enables users to run most Mac OSX PowerPC applications on this new Intel system.

The 17-inch iMac costs $1,299, and includes a 1.83 GHz Intel processor, 512MB of RAM, a SuperDrive for burning CDs and DVDs, iSight camera for video conferencing, AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth for wireless networking, and a 160GB hard drive, built-in stereo speakers and microphone, a Mighty Mouse and standard Apple keyboard.

The 20-inch iMac costs $1,699 and has a 2.0GHz Intel processor, 512MG of RAM, SuperDrive with double-layer support, iSight camera, AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth, a 250GB hard drive, built-in stereo speakers and microphone, Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Keyboard.

Those are a few of the iMac's new features — now let's try some of them to see if this latest iMac performs as promised.

The first thing I try is Apple's new PhotoBooth application that can take snapshots of anyone who's willing to sit in front of the screen for the short time it takes to shoot and save the photos. While testing PhotoBooth, I remember the fun and anticipation I had as a kid sitting in an arcade photo booth (usually with a friend or two), waiting for the camera to take the photos and then collecting the strip of four from the slot in front.

Back to the present. When I'm done taking pictures in this PhotoBooth, I can press the Mail icon at the bottom of the screen to e-mail them, the iPhoto icon to store them in my iPhoto Library, the Account Picture icon to place one with my account information, or the Buddy Picture icon to display the picture when I write others on my Instant Message Buddy List.

There's no one else at home to sit in front of the camera when I first try PhotoBooth, so I take a dozen pictures of myself and quickly delete all but one or two. Besides confronting the proof that I look awful, I also discover the software works well, and guess that PhotoBooth is likely to be a hit with youthful users of this iMac.

The next new feature I try is the Front Row application, plus remote controller, which enables me to view photos and movies I've taken and stored in my Photo and Movie folders, while sitting back in a comfortable chair. The little remote clings to the side of the computer until I'm ready to use it to control the display from up to 30 feet away.

Front Row's menu makes it easy to click on what I want to see and take me there. Plus, the menu's text and graphics are enlarged so they're easy to see (with my glasses) from across the room.

I use the Front Row menu to select and view some of the slideshows I've made with iPhoto, and movies I've made with iMovie HD. They look clear and colorful on this iMac's 20-inch screen.

Finally, I decide to try the new iWeb software included in iLife '06. Since I already have an Apple .Mac account, I figure creating and posting a Web site with iWeb will be easy. (See Getting Started, June 10, about creating sites with iWeb.)

Well, it is, when I stick to creating and posting Web pages with text, photos and movies no larger than 10MB. If the movie file is too big, a message suggests shrinking the file with QuickTime software. When I try that, it reduces the quality, so I stick with smaller (shorter) video files. Then the iWeb results look clear and sharp.

Apple's switch to using an Intel processor hasn't caused problems in my experience, and that may be due to the included Rosetta translation software. The Intel is noted to make the system run faster, but so far, I haven't noticed much difference. Still, it's fast.

If you're interested, go to the nearest Apple store where they're sure to have one of these iMacs running and available for you to try yourself.

In sum, if you want a computer that's capable, looks good enough to sit in your living room, and is easy enough to learn how to use, consider the new iMac.

Write Linda Knapp at lknapp@seattletimes.com; to read other Getting Started columns, go to: www.seattletimes.com/gettingstarted