Apple rumours: Sandy Bridge iMacs tomorrow
Apple plans to introduce the new models of its iMac range tomorrow (Tuesday), according to the Apple Insider blog, describing it as a "a much-needed refresh". The new machines will have this year's Sandy Bridge processors instead of first-generation Intel Core iX chips, and Thunderbolt ports instead of MiniDisplay ports, says the site. "However, rumors that 2011 would see changes to the iMacs' display panel size and the inclusion of 6000-series AMD Radeon HD chips, could not be confirmed with any degree of certainty."
Apple Insider says in its post, Apple preparing to introduce Sandy Bridge iMacs early next week - sources, that a "visual night" has been scheduled "for the early morning hours of May 3rd". This is when Apple stores change their product displays to introduce new models.
The changes are expected because Apple updated its portable range to the new specification on February 24. The iMac models are pretty much portables anyway, just packaged differently.
Apple Insider points out that "desktops have seen their share of Mac shipments slip into a slow but inevitable decline, falling from more than 50 percent of the company's Mac product shipments in the first quarter of 2006 to just 26 percent of the total units Mac units shipped during the second fiscal quarter of 2011".
Apple also has a range of "real" desktop PCs in the Mac Pro line, at prices from £2,000 to £4,000. These have Intel Xeon processors and still have ATI graphics cards, but they don't have Thunderbolt or even USB 3 ports.