Apple CEO Steve Jobs kicked off this week’s Special Event by unveiling two new models of the iMac G5, the stylish all-in-one desktop computer with the “guts” of the computer contained within the monitor. Retaining the 17 and 20-inch screen sizes, the iMacs get processor speed bumps to 1.9 GHz and 2.1 GHz respectively. They both get faster frontside buses (just trust me, that means they’re faster), big 160GB and 250GB hard drives, more powerful video processors with 128MB of dedicated video memory, DVD-burning SuperDrives, built-in Airport Extreme Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and the new Apple Mighty Mouse as standard equipment. These are really nice upgrades, especially considering that both models are $100 cheaper than their predecessors, at $1299 and $1699 respectively.

Besides pricing, the new iMac has slimmed down in size as well. Both models are thinner than before, with the 20-inch model now thinner than the old 17-inch version.

But wait – it gets better. The new iMacs have an iSight web camera installed just above the screen. And it’s a new-and-improved iSight, with better resolution than the $150 stand-alone models. The new setup is perfect for video conferencing for business and pleasure with iChat AV.

To compliment the iSight, Apple wrote a cute and fun little “fluff” application called PhotoBooth. With PhotoBooth you can take a picture of yourself with the iSight to save as your iChat Buddy picture, email to friends, or put in your iPhoto library – all with one click. What makes PhotoBooth fun is you can, in real time, apply any of Mac OS X’s Core Image effects to the photos you take. Plus, and this is quite ingenious, when the picture is taken the entire iMac screen flashes white to illuminate your face like a camera flash. Cool.

But wait – it gets better. The new iMac also comes with a remote control to turn your iMac into a home entertainment center. The interface is called “Front Row”, and consists of beautiful 3-D icons and menus (that, of course, make use of the power of Mac OS X’s Core Image) that you move through with the remote to access your music, photos, videos (including online movie trailers if you have a broadband connection), and DVDs – from your sofa.

And yes, the new iMac works great with the new iTunes Video Store. And, it’s shipping this weekend.

© 2005 Peter F. Zimowski