The next version of Apple's iMac - dubbed "the ultimate all-in-one" by the California-based manufacturer - might be just around the corner. According to AppleInsider, resellers have been warned that availability for the top-end 3GHz 24in iMac is to become severely limited in the immediate future - consequently sparking a plethora of rumours suggesting that an iMac refresh is imminent.
Though official details remain obsolete, the timing appears to fit. Just last week, industry analyst Shaw Wu suggested that Apple's refreshed iMacs would appear in store before March.
Although we know little about the inevitable new systems, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Apple remove the dual-core limitation by adopting Intel's recently-launched 65W Core 2 Quad processors. Having sat in the shadows of well-publicised MacBook upgrades for the best part of a year, we'd expect Apple to provide a healthy boost to its iMac line and - as with newer MacBooks - graphical improvements may take the form of NVIDIA's GeForce 9400M IGP.
Conjecturing somewhat, an optional solid-state drive may be a welcome addition, and a multi-touch screen to take advantage of the multi-touch framework in the forthcoming Snow Leopard might just steal some of Windows 7's thunder.
Either way, if you're contemplating spending over a grand on a 24in iMac, you might want to hold out just a touch longer.
