Apple to Debut LCD iMac Monday

Apple CEO Steve Jobs is expected to announce a new iMac in his two-hour Macworld keynote on Monday. Details of the machine were inadvertently revealed early by Time Canada.

While specifications of the new iMac are slim, it includes a 15-inch LCD display attached to a half-sphere base via movable arm. Also included is the higher-speed G4 processor that is used in Apple's professional machines, along with a DVD burner. Prices will range from $1,299 USD for the entry-level model to $1,799 USD for the high-end model.

The current 3-year-old iMac models with a slower G3 processor range from $799 to $1,499 USD. The new iMac design has been in the works for over two years, according to Time. Jobs envisions the new iMac to serve as a "digital hub," with consumers using the computer to easily connect complex devices, such as MP3 players and digital cameras.

Apple is also expected to announce iPhoto Monday, a consumer-level photo editing and management software package. iPhoto is designed to make it easy for users to retrieve and organize pictures from digital cameras. For $30 USD, a user can even have a hard-cover album made composed of their photos.

Apple's secrecy about upcoming product announcements has led to a large amount of speculation in the Mac community, and the early posting of details surrounding the new iMac is likely to upset Jobs. Mac rumor sites are additionally reporting that a PowerMac G4 system with a 1GHz or faster processor may be unveiled tomorrow. Also rumored to be announced is a new digital consumer device.