Apple iMac line gets 64-bit Intel Core 2 Duo processors; pricing starts at $999; new 24-inch model

Apple today 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. A new 24-inch iMac with a brilliant 24-inch widescreen display joins the 17- and 20-inch models, and iMac prices now start at just US$999. 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 Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in the press release. “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.

The new 24-inch iMac features – you guessed it – 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. The all-new 24-inch iMac 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(TM) 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.

Every iMac includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing out-of-the-box using Apple’s award-winning iChat AV, 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 award-winning 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.

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, 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
• 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, 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
• 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, 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
• the infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard

The 17-inch 1.83 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $999, 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
• 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.

See the new Apple iMac models here.

MacDailyNews Note: After a double-take, we did double-check these prices before publishing. They are correct.

MacDailyNews Note: These new iMacs are not eligible for the “Buy a new Mac and get a free iPod nano” promotion that Apple has running through September 16th. The older iMac 17-inch Intel Core Duo with SuperDrive and iMac 20-inch Intel Core Duo with SuperDrive are eligible.

Related article:
Apple ups Mac mini speeds, all models now feature Core Duo processors, prices unchanged – September 06, 2006