Apple ships 24" iMac and updates range

Apple has updated its entire iMac line with new Intel Core 2 Duo processors in every model and also launched a 24-inch iMac.

The company claims its new processor offers up to 50 percent faster performance than before. In the U.S., iMac prices now start at $999.

"Every iMac-from the $999 model up through the new dazzling 24-inch wide-screen model now features blazing Core 2 Duo performance," said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing. "And the new 24-inch wide-screen 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.

The new 20-inch 2.16 GHz iMac costs $1,499. Features remain the same, except the model now includes a 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. The 17-inch iMac now costs from $999 and features either a 1.83GHz or a 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor.

The new 24-inch iMac features a 24-inch wide-screen LCD display with a 1,920 x 1,200 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 includes a 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB of shared L2 cache, 1GB of 667Mhz DDR2 SDRAM memory, a 250GB Serial ATA hard drive, Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT graphics with 128MB of GDDR3 memory and a SuperDrive.

A 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor is available as a build-to-order option.

The 24-inch model costs $1,999 in the US. Its features include:


1GB of 667Mhz 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;

AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;

250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7,200 rpm;

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

Built-in stereo speakers and microphone;

Infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

U.K. prices will be published when available.