More of a refinement than an evolution, the new Apple iMacs set the bar for what users should expect from a desktop computer. They resolve many, if not all of the complaints users levelled at their predecessors and, if you can afford one, present a near-perfect all-in-one solution.

I’ll start out by saying I went with an iMac because I needed specific design tools, only available with Apple, for creating video content for a new website. Hence I went one step above the base model with the following build: a high-end 21.5” screen system, equipped with a 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, one terabyte of storage, four gigabytes of system memory and an ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256mb dedicated VRAM. This model is really more for users interested in gaming or design; but if you’re a less intensive user, do note there is a cheaper model available, aimed specifically at students, that cuts the storage space in half, removes some graphics capabilities but handles day-to-day tasks and minor design projects fluidly.

Taking the iMac out of the box, the first thing you’ll notice is that it simply smacks of quality. The new 1080p LED display with IPS (or ‘in-plane switching’) is absolutely stunning and, to my joy, the irritating aluminium edging on the last model has disappeared. Instead, the glass display now stretches all the way to the perimeter, sucking you into a screen that – thanks to the IPS technology – is visible from almost any angle with no reduction in picture quality. As the image above will hopefully show, the old iMac’s infamous ‘chin’ is also significantly reduced to a pleasing strip across the bottom, where the shiny black Apple logo proudly sits. The enclosure is fully aluminium this time around and, as metal, is specifically designed to actually conduct heat away from the components located within. As a result, the back of the iMac can feel incredibly hot to the touch when running intensive applications like video editing software or games, particularly in the top corners near the graphics card and processor. One complaint we forecast from designers will surely be that Apple currently offers no matte option on the screen. There is only a glossy finish available, which can be very reflective of bright light sources but, on the plus side, boosts the contrast to a beautiful vibrancy that borders on the unreal. Ice Age 3 in HD practically leaps out of the screen. This display truly takes your breath away.

I’ve had a chance to test this machine’s performance pretty heavily over the past few weeks and the iMac has held up well under some strenuous multitasking with intensive applications from both the Adobe suite and Apple’s own Final Cut Studio. The extra horsepower from the ATI card makes 3D work in Motion 4/After Effects easily manageable and offers an overall smoother experience than you would find in the cheaper NVIDIA model. It can even handle games like the Sims 3 or Bioshock in 1080p on practically maxed out settings with relative ease, though if you truly want a fuller gaming experience you’d need to upgrade to one of the pricier Quad Core machines with their ATI HD 4850 cards… and sell a kidney to pay for it.

All the standard ports carry over from the old iMac. There are four USB slots, audio input and output, and a FireWire 800 port – upgraded over the last model. But while the 27” models come with a mini-display input, the option is sadly missing from both 21.5” systems, which only have an output option to export the image onto a bigger monitor or run a dual screen configuration. Sadly then, the option to send signals from, say, an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 through your iMac’s full HD display remains but a dream.

Also shipping with the new iMac is Apple’s newly patented touch-sensitive ‘Magic Mouse.’ This amazing little gadget ditches the scroll wheel that always used to clog up with dirt for, well, nothing. The entirety of the mouse’s surface will instead now detect gestures made with your fingers, just like an iPhone. Scrolling through web pages or an application is as easy as flicking a fingertip down the centre of the mouse and you can also navigate forward and backwards by dragging two fingers to the left or right, though this proves a bit fiddly in practice. In truth, the dirt problems of the old Mighty Mouse aren’t altogether vanquished. Sweat and grease will slowly accumulate on the surface of the track pad if you don’t regularly clean it and will hamper scrolling somewhat, but a simple rub on a cleaning cloth (or the corner of your jumper) will clear the way for you to flick and scroll to your heart’s content. It really is amazing how much more intuitive the functionality feels than a regular mouse and after using it I for one would never go back to conventional designs. Users prone to repetitive strain injuries should be warned however that neither the mouse, nor the chic little Bluetooth keyboard is ergonomic.

Key to the Mac platform’s success is the software it runs. Every new iMac ships with iLife ’09, featuring well designed and intuitive programs for viewing and sharing photos, editing movies and recording audio clips or songs. The important thing to say about these programs – and the interface in general – is that everything justworks. There are no needless complications performing basic operations like you would find on a Windows computer. Uninstalling a program is as easy as dragging its icon into the recycle bin. Just like that. Done. A big negative on the software front however, is that the system does not ship with its own word processor (that comes in the iWork package at an additional cost), which is a bit disappointing given the expense of the machine. Thankfully, Open Office remains a free alternative to the Apple/Microsoft suites.

Those of you who already own a relatively new Mac could probably hold off upgrading until something more revolutionary comes out of Apple’s design labs. But anyone stuck on an older model (or worse: a Windows machine) should give some serious thought about making the switch to what is, in my opinion, simply the most stunning and comprehensively designed desktop on the market. If you don’t require the portability of a laptop, enjoy watching and creating HD movies and like your gadgets to look ridiculously sexy, an iMac is undoubtedly the way forward. Or, of course, you could stick with that Acer netbook you’re using… It’s your choice I guess.