23-inch Core 2 Duo iMac rumors begin swirling

You know how the industry loves a good Apple rumor or two (or ten, or a thousand), but when you start getting some synchronicity between the menagerie of rumor sites out there, it's bound to rise to the top. Today's hit: September will see the entry of a 23-inch iMac, as well as a line revamp for the all-in-ones over to Merom Core 2 Duo mobile (i.e. not desktop) processors. (Our staff of twelve interns gave it a quick mock right upstairs there.) We've seen our fair share of Merom launches this week, so it stands to reason that if the spec bump is on target, then the MacBook Pro may get that upgrade as well -- certainly Apple wouldn't want to feel left behind now that they're competing mano-a-mano with all those PC manufacturers, now would they? Oh, and while we're at it, we'll tack on one more for ya: at the same time, reports are starting to come in regarding sly Mac mini upgrades from Core Solo to Core Duo processors, perhaps in anticipation of bumping those specs up a little, too. Apple has indeed been known to upgrade to their customers' pleasant surprise (see: MacBook Pros going up with nary a word, for example), but then again perhaps they're just out of the Core Solo parts, and needed to get those units out the door.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Read - 23-inch Merom iMacs (via MacRumors)
Read - Mac mini

[mingistech @ Sep 1st 2006 5:19PM]

I'm ordering a 23 inch iMac day one..... if this is True.

Imagine Mac OS X and Vista on this beautiful machine!

[L.M.N.O.P. @ Sep 1st 2006 5:23PM]

With that much space i'm sure they could fit 2 full sized hard drives, and room for 4Gb of RAM.

Time Machine's backup needs a 2nd drive to work.

[Brendan @ Sep 1st 2006 5:34PM]

Engadget think it will look like that, the kids over at Mac Rumors disagree: http://static.flickr.com/95/231249512_9eccfef387_o.jpg

[hmurchison @ Sep 1st 2006 5:49PM]

How's an internal backup going to help you if your computer is stolen or destroyed?

Looking forward to seeing what a 23" iMac looks like. I love the 20" and the 23" should look even better. I'd love to see Apple actually add another DVI input so that you could use the 23" with a second computer. Simply put an A/B switch in software or something. That would calm people who are afraid that they'd be buying a monitor they couldn't use with another computer.

[JinKazama @ Sep 1st 2006 5:48PM]

Wow, thanks engadget, I was going to get my new iMac this weekend. Me thinks I'll give it a week or two.

[tiuk @ Sep 1st 2006 5:56PM]

Cool, but I can't imagine what a 23" iMac would cost.

[tonylimo @ Sep 1st 2006 6:31PM]

Hi All.
think the 23 inch IMac should be wonderful and it might run about $1,999.00

[p-diddy @ Sep 1st 2006 6:29PM]

@Brendan, that mock up is for a Mac Pro, not an iMac.

While I'm at it, to see if you should buy a mac product any time (i.e., "are updates on the horizon?"), MacRumors runs a good buyer's guide.

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/

-p-

[ElectroGeek @ Sep 1st 2006 6:38PM]

That's how it starts. Intel processor. Next they'll be running Windows Vista on these bad boys before you know it!

[Alex @ Sep 1st 2006 6:55PM]

I would trade in my macbook pro that cost me $2800 for one of these BAD BOYZ!! I really hope this rumor comes true!

[Andy @ Sep 4th 2006 6:03PM]

I don't know, a 23" LCD would probably last for at least a few years longer than the iMac. Don't get me wrong, I'm typing this on a Mac Pro. Just buying the monitor integrated into the computer is sort of a turn-off.

Let's say that the computer has lived out it's life and it dies; is there a video input on the iMac that would let you use it with a headless box?

[Kevin @ Sep 1st 2006 8:51PM]

I hope they reduce the bottom bezel (aka "chin") like the mockup shows. Right now it's just too bulky.

[Dan @ Sep 1st 2006 10:04PM]

Yeah, I suppose the iMac bottom bezel is a bit big, but I never mind because I know why it's there. A smaller one would be nice but it doesn't matter.

[ben @ Sep 2nd 2006 12:23AM]

fry's a computer chain here in SoCal had a Mac Mini Super in their ad today.
1.66 GHz Intel Core Duo
80 Gig HD
Dual Layer Super Drive
for 700 dollars

[Aaron @ Sep 2nd 2006 1:42AM]

Can't say I'm a Mac fan, but the news about the improved Mini specs is cool. Those are slick little machines, and being able to run Windows makes them viable competitors for companies like Dell. I think they really should emphasize that fact in their commercials, instead of "Macs are cool, PCs are for dorks". I think more people would buy them if they knew that now they really can do the stuff their PC does.

[Jeff Foster @ Sep 2nd 2006 3:38AM]

I really just want them to release a smaller tower... you know, so they'll have a mac mini, imac, something like a Mac Tower, and mac pro...

i want expandability... but not a crazy workhorse. just core duo and only 3 drive bays and half the ram and half the price... that's what i'm talking about.

i know the iMacs are sick, but i want 2 monitors, and i want real sized drives and PCI slots (er, PCIE or whatever) i dont want an all-in-one or a tiny non-upgradable box where everything is external. boo!

[Yixian @ Sep 2nd 2006 5:52AM]

Why don't they go ahead and make a TV ffs?

[Scabrous Vermicelli @ Sep 2nd 2006 12:32PM]

I will buy this so fast it hurts. My ONLY disappointment with the 20" iMac G5 is not being able to view/edit at full HD resolution without adding a second display. More pixels + Intel + all-in-one = hardware lust.

And if they offer it in black, watch out, this could get downright kinky.

[Peter Olsen @ Sep 2nd 2006 12:56PM]

Why remove the chin, in my opinion it looks beautiful on the 20", not on the 17".

[Falsoman @ Sep 2nd 2006 4:03PM]

I also would love a less expensive upgradable mac, Jeff, i hear you on that, but i don't think is going to happen, well not at half the price and not with all you are expecting them to come...
That being said, you should know that the imac has regular size HDD and optical drive, the thing that it can only be one of each is what sucks. =/
And you actually can have 2 monitors on the iMac - the main one and another - because it has a mini DVI port included, so if you buy a 20 dollar adaptor you can connect another monitor =)
I know that is not the same as a tower but at least some of the things you want, can be done with the imac.
I still have hopes that some sort of Core 2 Duo desktop processor computer from mac is gonna comme sooner or later, i just can't imagine in wich form.