Apple makes new low-end 1.4GHz iMac official with $1,099 starting price
Apple on Wednesday formally launched its anticipated new low-end 21.5-inch iMac with a lower entry price of $1,099, boasting a 1.4-gigahertz dual-core Intel Core i5 CPU, a 500-gigabyte hard drive, and 8 gigabytes of RAM.
The new machine comes in a full $200 cheaper than the 21.5-inch 2.7-gigahertz model, which served as the previous low-end model. That faster model, along with Apple's other all-in-one desktop configurations, remains unchanged.
For $200 savings, users will downgrade from a faster quad-core chip to a dual-core CPU. RAM stays the same, but hard drive space is cut in half from 1-terabyte on the $1,299 model. Graphics are also downgraded from Intel's Iris Pro integrated solution to Intel HD Graphics 5000.
The new model can be upgraded with a 1-terabyte Serial ATA drive for an additional $50, a 1-terabyte Fusion Drive for $250, or a 256-gigabyte flash drive for $250. The 1.4-gigahertz processor and the 8 gigabytes of RAM cannot be upgraded.
Despite the new lower pricing, authorized Apple resellers are already offering a much better deal on the the more well equipped 2.7-gigahertz Core i5 model, boasting a 1-terabyte hard drive and dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 640M graphics. As can be seen in the AppleInsider Price Guides, that configuration can be purchased for just $999 after a $70 mail-in-rebate (PDF) through MacMall, making it a much more powerful computer at $100 less, and tax-free in 41 states.
Apple issued a press release Wednesday morning touting the machine as "the perfect entry-level Mac desktop." Sporting the same thin design as all other current iMacs, it features 802.11ac Wi-Fi, two Thunderbolt ports, and four USB 3.0 ports. It also comes with iLife -- featuring GarageBand, iPhoto and iMovie -- as well as the iWork suite of Pages, Numbers and Keynote.
The new 21.5-inch iMac also comes with OS X Mavericks, and can be upgraded for free later this year to OS X Yosemite. In addition to being available through Apple's online store, it will also be available at Apple retail stores and authorized resellers.
The last time Apple offered a $1,099 iMac was in early 2013, but that model was only available for sale to educational institutions. Apple hit that price point with a dual-core 3.3-gigahertz Intel Core i3 processor and Intel HD Graphics 4000.
The new machine comes in a full $200 cheaper than the 21.5-inch 2.7-gigahertz model, which served as the previous low-end model. That faster model, along with Apple's other all-in-one desktop configurations, remains unchanged.
For $200 savings, users will downgrade from a faster quad-core chip to a dual-core CPU. RAM stays the same, but hard drive space is cut in half from 1-terabyte on the $1,299 model. Graphics are also downgraded from Intel's Iris Pro integrated solution to Intel HD Graphics 5000.
The new model can be upgraded with a 1-terabyte Serial ATA drive for an additional $50, a 1-terabyte Fusion Drive for $250, or a 256-gigabyte flash drive for $250. The 1.4-gigahertz processor and the 8 gigabytes of RAM cannot be upgraded.
Despite the new lower pricing, authorized Apple resellers are already offering a much better deal on the the more well equipped 2.7-gigahertz Core i5 model, boasting a 1-terabyte hard drive and dedicated Nvidia GeForce GT 640M graphics. As can be seen in the AppleInsider Price Guides, that configuration can be purchased for just $999 after a $70 mail-in-rebate (PDF) through MacMall, making it a much more powerful computer at $100 less, and tax-free in 41 states.
Apple issued a press release Wednesday morning touting the machine as "the perfect entry-level Mac desktop." Sporting the same thin design as all other current iMacs, it features 802.11ac Wi-Fi, two Thunderbolt ports, and four USB 3.0 ports. It also comes with iLife -- featuring GarageBand, iPhoto and iMovie -- as well as the iWork suite of Pages, Numbers and Keynote.
The new 21.5-inch iMac also comes with OS X Mavericks, and can be upgraded for free later this year to OS X Yosemite. In addition to being available through Apple's online store, it will also be available at Apple retail stores and authorized resellers.
The last time Apple offered a $1,099 iMac was in early 2013, but that model was only available for sale to educational institutions. Apple hit that price point with a dual-core 3.3-gigahertz Intel Core i3 processor and Intel HD Graphics 4000.
Comments
Rogi- that 2007 runs circles around our 2013 $500 Dell workstations (no monitor) regarding opening FileMaker, opening mail vs dell opening outlook, and opening numbers vs dell opening excel. Only reason our IT guy buys dell is I have to run sharp desk for printing our reports. Of course, I don't write reports so I have an imac
With those specs and that price point who is this geared towards?
Anybody in business. Most desktop computers are overpowered for the tasks they tend to run (Office, CS application, and inventory tracking/management) and this would be ideal. I could probably get something like this approved as a desktop replacement than the more expensive older entry level model because when you add up the numbers I can get more workstations for the same amount of money.
Other iMacs appear unchanged. Disappointing, as I was looking for any excuse to upgrade from my 2006 model.
I can see where this would be good for simple people to do simple things. Things are never cheap enough, however I think this should be $999 at those specs. Breaking that sub-$1000 is important for people.
Any particular reason why Apple prefers 5400 rpm hard drives to the nore common 7200 rpm variety? You can't even get 5400 rpm drives on Newegg these days.
8GB is all you get, though many tech sites have reported that 8GB is the sweet spot for most general purpose tasks, practically eliminating the spinning beach ball.
Decent specs for a general purpose office machine not requiring high-end video or photo editing, or for kids in a school lab, or for the mom and pop shop for inventory control, or for beauty salon cash register, or for Windows XP switchers, or for a host of other low end, practical uses.
Spec chaser?
Educators, budget conscious families, students. Anyone price sensitive with light computational loads. It's a fine system that will meet lots of people's needs. I still have an older Core2 Mac running far less RAM, and OS X runs fine, apps run fine. Safari, Chrome, Xcode, Pages, even iMovie. Oh, but please look down on my old Mac dismissively because its not up to current specs. Just don't tell me it is no good.
1.4GHz? Wow that is quite a bit lower than the iMac has been for a while. I wonder what the thinking is on this? Maybe the cooling is designed so that it will stay in Turbo Boost (2.7GHz) most of the time.
Any particular reason why Apple prefers 5400 rpm hard drives to the nore common 7200 rpm variety? You can't even get 5400 rpm drives on Newegg these days.
Heat and noise, I would expect.
This reduces entry from £1049 to £899 in the UK. That's a big psychological barrier broken, in my opinion.
Greed.
Like
Yes it's great for all of that...but unfortunately $100-$200 overpriced.
Just like all of their Mac product line... I don't understand why Apple consumer desktop hardware is so overpriced and under-powered. Their mobile device hardware is price competitive... I never understood this...
On the canadian apple site, the 1TB fusion drive upgrade or 256 SSD upgrades are $275. The 500mb to 1TB upgrade is $50. I have the fusion drive on my 27" imac and its worth it, I would never go back to regular drives.