RUMOR: Apple to start new iMac pricing at US$1,199

“Apple will deliver three new iMac configurations Tuesday, priced at US$1,199, $1,499, and $1,799,” Think Secret reports.

“Based on the pricing information it is clear that Apple is simply cutting the 17-inch iMac out of the picture,” Think Secret reports.

The redesigned 20-inch iMac will start at $1,199 and the 24-inch iMac will start at $1,799, according to the Think Secret report.

Full article here.

AppleInsider concurs, “According to one source, Apple has issued to suppliers three new iMac price points for models that are expected to be immediately available following their introduction on Tuesday.”

“Apple currently offers two 17-inch iMac configurations (for $999 and $1199, respectively), a 20-inch configuration for $1499, and a high-end 24-inch configuration for $1999. However, the new pricing information suggest Apple will drop one configuration and sell just three models at $1199, $1499 and $1799,” AppleInsider reports.

Full article here.

MacRumors reports, “We’ve received word that price points for the new ‘Good,’ ‘Better,’ and ‘Ultra’ iMac models will fall at $1199, $1499, and $1799 price points. No details beyond this are available, and it does not exclude the possibility of other configurations.”

Full article here.

Other possibilities for today’s Apple event (starts 10am PDT/1pm EDT) include a revamped .Mac service, the fate of the Mac mini, iLife, and even the possibility of an ultra-portable, lightweight MacBook Pro.

27 Comments

  1. Why does everyone keep mentioning the fate of the mac mini. AI had an article a while ago, but it was all conjecture.

    The Mac mini doesn’t need refreshes as often. It is supposed to be a low-cost, low-power machine. This is perfect for consumers switching from Windows, and more importantly, schools switching from PC towers.

    I think the mini is around for a while.

  2. This would be fine as long as they have a high end Mini: something akin to the Mac LC II i.e. a Mac Mini in the normal silver form factor but larger width and depth with an easily removable cover (no pastry knifes!) and two PCI slots.

  3. What is Holy Mackeral TALKING about ? ! ? ! ?
    “the normal silver form factor but larger width and depth …”
    Yes, Apple would do well to introduce a “Mac midi”, large enough to accept a graphics card, 4GB of RAM (or 8?), a second HD(?) and a fan, but all that ain’t gonna fit in the Mac mini form factor. Or it might leave half of a Mac Pro case sitting empty. This calls for a mini-tower, plain and simple.
    The suggested iMac line-up makes sense, the devil is in the details (except when he’s using an iPhone) ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”wink” style=”border:0;” /> and we’ll know in a little bit just what those details are.

    DLMeyer – the Voice of G.L.Horton’s Stage Page pod cast – featuring a reading from Partners.

  4. Yeah, let’s hear it for the Mac midi. Or the Half-Mac Pro. In a Mac IIcx/ci or Mac LC-like form factor.

    1/2 the size. 1/2 the slots. 1/2 the price of a Mac Pro.

    4 RAM slots, 2 PCI slots (1 for graphics card), 2 internal drive bays. 4 USB2, 2 FireWire 400,1 FireWire 800, 1 ExpressCard 34 slot (in front).

  5. I hope they keep the 17″.

    It’s a great all-in-one starter machine with plenty of kick… as long as it has a real graphics card. I was thinking of getting one for my mother. Her old 500mhz G3 iMac is looooooooong in the tooth!

  6. “The Mac mini… perfect for… schools switching from PC towers.”

    Not so much, for “mini” reasons:

    –too small, and no way to secure it well from walking off without buying additional hardware.
    –we seldom have extra monitors. The old PC CRTs are dying faster than the towers.
    –assuming a tower or desktop dies, the keyboard and mice are usually PS2 and the extra adapter to USB is extra and kinda sucks.
    –More bang for the buck from desktop Macs with easier access to RAM and hard drives (and faster ones at that) – we do actually have space for the computers, we don’t need the small form factor.

    But, the low-end iMacs are too expensive, and the LCD screens need protection in school full of fingers and pencils and pens and markers and whiteout, etc…

    Give us a $600 (edu pricing) iMac 17″ with even a single core processor, 160GB HD, 1GB RAM, and Apple will sell so many to schools it will make their heads spin. They can even take out the airport and bluetooth, as most schools already have wiring infrastructure, and hard-wired Macs are heck of a lot easier to manage with ARD (can’t wake an Airport-connected Mac from sleep remotely).

    Quality is important, OS X is the best, but the bottom line with budgets and administrators is usually the price.

    And I hope these new MacBooks I’m setting up in carts will be as durable as the iBooks have been. They just don’t feel quite as durable, but time will tell. Also curious to see how the kids productively use the webcam, or if they just waste time with it.

  7. Even with a complete refresh to the iMac line, I don’t think Apple will cut the 17″ iMac all together. I bet they keep it around in a low end, education only, version. If they don’t, I bet schools will be asking for it — think what happened just before they came out with the original eMac.

    Either way I’m excited to see whatever Steve has up his sleeve.

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