By Prince McLean

Published: 09:00 AM EST

Ahead of expectations, Apple on Wednesday announced that its entire iMac line now features the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor in every model, delivering up to 50 percent faster performance than the previous iMac.

The new iMac with its 24-inch widescreen display joins the 17- and 20-inch models, and iMac prices now start at just $999, Apple said.

Every new iMac includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing out-of-the-box; Apple’s breakthrough Front Row media experience; and iLife ‘06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications.

"Every iMac—from the $999 model up through the new dazzling 24-inch widescreen model—now features blazing Core 2 Duo performance," said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "And the new 24-inch widescreen iMac is the fastest, biggest and brightest iMac we’ve ever made."

The new iMac lineup includes four models: a 1.83 GHz and a 2.0 GHz 17-inch, a 2.16 GHz 20-inch and the all-new 2.16 GHz 24-inch iMac, and features the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor which delivers up to 50 percent faster performance than the previous 20-inch iMac running industry standard benchmarks.

Ideal for both consumers and professionals, the 24-inch iMac features a 24-inch widescreen LCD display with a 1920-by-1200 pixel resolution that offers 30 percent more screen real estate than the 20-inch model and a brighter display to make reading text and viewing images even easier. It packs professional performance into the convenience of an all-in-one design and includes a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB of shared L2 cache, 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory, a 250GB Serial ATA hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics with 128MB of GDDR3 memory and a SuperDrive for burning professional-quality DVDs. Delivering greater customization for performance and expansion needs, users can configure the new 24-inch iMac with a 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 3GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory, a 500GB Serial ATA hard drive and the NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT with 256MB of GDDR3 memory for outstanding graphics performance.



Every iMac includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing out-of-the-box using Apple’s iChat AV software, or recording a video podcast or iMovie using iLife ‘06, and the breakthrough media experience of Front Row for a simple, intuitive and powerful way for consumers to enjoy their content. Providing the latest in high-performance connectivity options, the iMac includes built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, built-in AirPort Extreme, a total of five USB ports (three USB 2.0) and two FireWire ports (including one FireWire 800 port on the 24-inch model).

Every iMac also comes with iLife ‘06, the next generation of Apple’s suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand and iWeb, the latest iLife application that makes it super-easy to create amazing websites with photos, blogs and podcasts and publish them on .Mac for viewing by anyone on the Internet with just a single click. Every iMac also comes with the latest release of the world’s most advanced operating system, Mac OS X version 10.4.7 “Tiger” including Safari, Mail, iCal, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth, running natively on the Intel-based desktop.



Pricing & Availability

The new iMac line is shipping today and will be available through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The new 24-inch 2.16 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:

24-inch widescreen LCD display;

2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;

1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 3GB;

8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);

PCI Express-based NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT with 128MB GDDR3 memory;

built-in iSight video camera;

built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;

250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;

mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);

built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and

the infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

The new 20-inch 2.16 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:

20-inch widescreen LCD display;

2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;

1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 3GB;

8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);

PCI Express-based ATI Radeon X1600 with 128MB GDDR3 memory;

built-in iSight video camera;

built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;

250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;

mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);

built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and

the infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

The new 17-inch 2.0 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,199 (US), includes:

17-inch widescreen LCD display;

2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;

1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 3GB;

8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);

PCI Express-based ATI Radeon X1600 with 128MB GDDR3 memory;

built-in iSight video camera;

built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;

160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;

mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);

built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and

the infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

The 17-inch 1.83 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $999 (US), includes:

17-inch widescreen LCD display;

1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;

512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 2GB;

24x Combo drive;

Intel GMA 950 graphics;

built-in iSight video camera;

built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking;

160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;

mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);

built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and

Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

Build-to-order options and accessories include: a 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 3GB DDR2 SDRAM, NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT with 256MB GDDR3 video memory and a 500GB Serial ATA hard drive on the 24-inch iMac; a 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 3GB DDR2 SDRAM, 256MB GGDR3 video memory and a 500GB Serial ATA hard drive on the 20-inch iMac; a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, up to 3GB DDR2 SRDAM and a 500GB Serial ATA hard drive on the 2.0 GHz 17-inch iMac; and up to 2GB of DDR2 SDRAM, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR and Apple Remote on the 1.83 GHz 17-inch iMac. Additional build-to-order options also include: pre-installed copies of iWork 06, Logic Express, Final Cut Express and Aperture; AirPort Express and AirPort Extreme Base Station; Apple Wireless Keyboard and wireless Mighty Mouse; Apple USB Modem; and the AppleCare Protection Plan.