Apple Reveals $1,099 iMac

Apple has unveiled its latest entry into the iMac family–a lower-cost $1,099 iMac. The new iMac will be 21-inches in size, but of course won’t be as powerful as its $1,299 cousin, as it will contain a 1.4GHz Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost up to 2.7GHz, the same power you’d find in the MacBook Air. Clearly, Apple has sacrificed power for price, here.

The $1,099 iMac will also only have a 500GB hard disk, although buyers could always upgrade to 1TB via serial ATA for an extra $50, or 1TB Fusion for an extra $250 (which sort of defeats the purpose of a lower price point, doesn’t it). The new iMac will also come with the standard 8GB memory, and an onboard Intel HD Graphics 5000 chip. All iMac models will include 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The all-in-one desktop will also include two thunderbolt ports and four USB 3.0 ports for easy expandability.

Clearly, this system is geared more towards those that just use their computer for browsing and checking emails, maybe with a little light photo and video editing. You won’t be playing the latest games on this one. The stock operating system will of course be OS X, and will include stock software such as iLife and iWork free with every new iMac, which will allow users to edit videos and create, edit and share professional documents and presentations. As far as optional software is concerned, Apple is offering Final Cut Pro X ($299.99), Logic Pro X ($199.99), and Aperture ($79.99).

Although this new $1,099 iMac makes the all-in-one desktop more affordable, Apple is muddling their quality by offering less-than-impressive power. Potential buyers could easily find a better all-in-one desktop with more power for a much lower price tag. Better yet–build your own PC with much better specs at $1,000, so that you’re able to upgrade at your own leisure.

The new 21.5 inch iMac is now available via the Apple Online Store, Apple Stores and other Apple resellers.