New iMac releases Friday, built-to-order pricing revealed
Apple’s brand new, ridiculously thin iMac computer will be available in Apple retail stores this Friday, finally putting all rumors to rest when the desktop computer would finally release.
In a rare move, Apple simply announced the release date in a press release, even though their webpage has no mention of it. From the release:
Apple today announced the all-new iMac will be available on Friday, November 30. Featuring a stunning design, brilliant display with reduced reflection, faster processors and an innovative new storage option called Fusion Drive, the new iMac is the most advanced desktop Apple has ever made. The 21.5-inch iMac will be available through the Apple Online Store, Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. The 27-inch iMac will be available for order through the Apple Online Store and will begin shipping in December.
Previous rumors said Apple would release 21-inch models of the new iMac starting Today, Nov. 27. Upon further review, they (including me, I’m ashamed to say…) must have been accidentally predicting the press release.
One Apple reseller has actually posted full configuration prices for each iMac model.
- A base 21.5-inch model will start at $1299, with a $200 charge to upgrade your 8GB of RAM to 16 GB.
- The higher end 21.5 inch model starts at $1499, with a $250 charge to upgrade to a new Fusion drive.
- A base 27-inch model starts at $1799, with a $600 charge to upgrade to 32 GB of RAM.
- And a higher end 27-inch model starts at $1999, with a $150 and $200 upgrade charge for larger storage hard drives.
The eighth-generation iMac is extremely thing and very sexy in design. It’s 80 percent thinner, which was largely helped in part to having no CD disc drive.
The new iMac, which comes in 21.5-inch and 27-inch sizes, features a full lamination design that utilizes a process called Plasma deposition. This allowed Apple to apply anti-reflecting coating to a mere nanometer thickness. The significantly thinner design takes off about 8 pounds from its previous generation.
