Apple to launch new iMac range

The site has learned that the Apple iMac is about to undergo a substantial redesign. People familiar with the matter say the Cupertino-based PC maker has called upon its award-winning design chief Jonathan Ive to slim down the current iMac line and outfit a pair of new Core 2 Duo-based models in a box that will be both slimmer and sleeker than today's offerings.

Apple last updated its iMac offerings in September of last year, when it equipped the 17 and 20-inch models with Core 2 Duo processors from Intel and added a top-of-the-line 24-inch widescreen model to the iMac range.

The same insiders have said that they are confident that the forthcoming iMac redesign will grace only the 20 and 24-inch models, which are outfitted with widescreen displays comparable to smaller living room television sets. It is doubtful a 17-inch product will launch alongside the larger models, unlike the current range which includes the smaller screen size.

A shortage of iMacs and other Apple systems in Europe was recently met by unusual iMac price cuts at some big-box Canadian resellers. There's also been rumours State-side, where sources at some of the largest online retailers have passed on the word that Mac inventories could be constrained early next month. These movements are allegedly all tied to the possibility of major product refreshes.

The current range of iMac is pretty slim and unobtrusive already, could the next range simply improve on the current systems by having the PC disappear into the monitor completely, offering a computer in an LCD?

This has been done before by less experienced companies, if you add the flair and design engineering qualities of Apple to a device such as this, then Apple may further penetrate the desks and walls of our homes.

This makes sense considering Apple's further movement into the home entertainment market with the Apple TV product, recently launched. µ

L'Inq
AppleInsider