For ease of setup, aesthetic appeal, and overall performance and flexibility, the iMac is as hard to ignore as ever.

Apple's $1,199 iMac doesn't offer the same home entertainment features as Windows-based all-in-ones, but its speed, looks, and the future utility of its Thunderbolt port make it a strong choice for performance-sensitive professionals.

The $1199 entry-level 21.5-inch 2.5GHz Core i5 iMac offers the most bang for the buck, keeping up with its more expensive siblings in most tasks. Its drawbacks include the lowest capacity hard drive, slower 3D game performance at higher resolutions, and a lack of customization options.

Apple has delivered a solid update to what was already a popular and successful line. The Sandy Bridge chips add a speed boost, Thunderbolt offers the promise of peripheral heaven in a few months, and the iMac design itself remains current. It's equally at home in the boardroom or the living room.

It’s hard not to be charmed by the 2011 iMac’s combination of swift processors and capable graphics...This isn’t the all-in-one for buyers on a budget, and shopping around for regular desktops may find you equal or greater performance for your money, but the 2011 iMac is a polished update.

A massive performance boost means it actually rivals the power offered by the high-end 2010 iMac 27-inch SSD from the previous generation, and its new Thunderbolt port will prove its worth over time. It could use more configuration options...but overall, it's a superb update.