iMac 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 20-inch (Al)

Aluminum | 2.66GHz Intel | 20-inch

This is the middle model of the Early 2008 series. This refresh brings the Penryn processor to all models and several speed improvements. This series has faster L2 cache (from 4MB to 6MB), frontside bus (from 800MHz to 1066MHz) and memory (from 667MHz to 800MHz).

The standard memory for this model and it’s high-end sibling is bumped up to 2GB from 1GB. Which is a good thing, since these models come with Leopard. Other features such as hard drive size and graphic controllers remain the same, as do most configeration options from the previous series.

Standard features across the entire Early 2008 series include built-in iSight camera, built-in speakers and microphone, Apple remote, mini-DVI port, one FireWire 400 and one FireWire 800 port, five USB 2.0 ports (counting the two on the keyboard), digital audio output/input and Gigabit Ethernet. Software included the bundled applications and utilties and iLife ‘08 with iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb and GarageBand.

Naturally, AirPort Extreme (802.11n) is included, as well as Bluetooth 2.1+EDR (bumped up from 2.0+ on previous models) and an IR receiver.

The other models in the Early 2008 series are the low-end 20-inch 2.4GHz iMac and the high-end 24-inch 2.8GHz iMac

distinguishing features

Aluminum case with flush glass display and matching aluminum keyboard.

system software

Mac OS X v10.5.2 Leopard

etymology

[1] iMac: From Internet + Mac

[2] The “i” in iMac originally stood for Internet but eventually developed into a marketing symbol for a wide range of Apple products.

[3] The “Al” or “AL” often seen appended to models in this series denotes the aluminum case.

design

Photo credit: Apple