Apple Updates iMacs, Mac Minis
Apple pulled a surprising move today and discretely updated the iMac and Mac Mini’s before the confirmed September 12th “Showtime” event. Hopefully this means that the event is going to show off many new products and that Apple had to get these out of the way. So let’s see what Apple unleashed today.
iMacs Get Core 2 Duo, 24-inch Model
The iMac lineup got sprinkled with the mobile dual-core processor from Intel, the Core 2 Duo. Models are offered with processor speeds ranging from 1.83GHz to 2.33GHz with each core using its own 2MB L2 cache (1MB L2 cache/core on the 1.83GHz model). The iMac lineup got topped off with the addition of a flat-out amazing 24-inch iMac. The top-end 24-inch model includes a FireWire 800 port, an Nvidia 7300GT graphics card and more powerful 24-Watt amplified speakers. A nice thing to note is that the 24-inch iMac’s display has a viewing angle of 178° from side to side - making it perfect for watching movies with a bunch of kids filling up your dorm room from end to end.
The best part about the new comer to the bunch, the 24-inch iMac, is that it’s priced at $1999. Yeah that’s not exactly cheap but you get a 24-INCH SCREEN! Consider the Apple Cinema Display pricing of yesteryear. A 23-inch display was something like $1300. So for $700 more you get an extra inch and a full dual-core computer with tons of goodies. I can see this type of computer coming in handy for graduate students that could really soak up the extra screen real estate with drafting and video editing programs.
Mac Minis Say Goodbye to Core Solo
The Mac Minis also saw a minor update with the base model featuring a 1.66GHz Intel Core Duo processor instead of the 1.5GHz Core Solo. The higher model now features a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor instead of the previous 1.66GHz Core Duo. Everything else remains the same.
iLounge has some speculation as to what these early updates mean for the upcoming “Showtime” event.
I really want to sell my MacBook and pickup a 24″ iMac, but I can’t do that, I need mobile :(.
Anyone who wants to buy a 20″ intel iMac with top specs? ;) Damn I’d like that 24″ model!
As much as I hate to say it, I think the ipods are out dated and this special event will bring some new ones to the family.
I’m glad Apple decided to do this. It narrows down the list of new product releases for September 12th.
Of course I get my iMac a month before the really hot 24″ comes out. Not that I could afford it right now, but I’d still like to think of it as an option!
The 24″ iMac is nice, but way out of my budget. What I do find very interesting is the new price for the 17″ and 20″ models! Way to go Apple.
I got my el cheapo Solo Core Mac Mini at the beginning of summer and now it’s already deprecated. Not that it’s anything away from what I currently have, somehow feels like I got yanked buying inadequate stuff they knew they weren’t gonna support more than few months. Should I dare to follow Pauls lead and upgrade to Duo Core? Has it not melted yet? :)
The 24″ inch model sure is an expensive paperweight when the computer attached to it becomes obsolete. I’m still using the same monitor I bought in 1999 and it still rocks (assuming like me you prefer CRTs over LCDs, but let’s not go there). I’m not really a fan of buying a new monitor every time I buy a new computer.
Apple need (imo) to provide a video-in for the iMac as well as a video-out, imo. It’d be a much more appealing product if I could reuse it as a normal monitor when I’m done with the computer part of it.
I really don’t like the whole philosophy behind the iMac; when it comes to PCs, I like to keep my hardware and monitor separate. The package deal only makes sense with laptops.