Rumor: Apple to launch a lower-spec iMac this month

By Trevor Mogg August 7, 2011

If you’re considering the purchase of a 21.5-inch iMac in the coming weeks, you may be interested to know that, according to a 9to5Mac report, the Cupertino company is about to launch a new one to add to its current range.

It’s thought that the new 21.5-inch iMac will have slightly less under the hood – in which case, it should cause slightly less damage to your wallet.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the expected specifications of the new machine, with information for the existing entry level 21.5-inch Mac shown in brackets:

3.1 GHz dual-core processor (2.5 GHz quad-core processor)

2 GB of DDR3 RAM (4 GB of RAM)

250 GB of hard drive storage space (500 GB)

AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics processor with 256 MB of dedicated memory (same processor but with double the dedicated memory at 512 MB)

Apple’s entry level 21.5-inch iMac is currently priced at $1,199, so it could well be that this rumored model will break the $1000 barrier. It may be worth a look if you’re eager to save a few hundred bucks – you’ll still be getting a neat piece of kit with plenty of power.

It’s also pointed out by 9to5Mac that refurbished entry level iMacs are currently showing on Apple’s online store for $929. Will the new one beat this on the price front?

9to5Mac’s source, a Mr. X who is known to have got things right in the past, says that the new computer will be launched (without fanfare) on August 16, or thereabouts.

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Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

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