If you’ve a regular reader of this column you know that occasionally I’ll suggest that you delay purchasing an Apple product until after a certain date. We’re at one of those confluences in the time-space continuum where you may want to wait until after September 12th if you’re in the market for a new iPod. But, in the interest of creating maximum suspense, we’ll get to all that later.

It is, however, a great time to buy an iMac. This week Apple introduced four new models of their sleek, stylish, space-saving, gorgeous, powerful, computer-built-into-the-monitor desktop computers. Each model gets Intel’s new 64-bit Core 2 Duo dual-core processor. Remember a few weeks ago I talked about 64-bit computing. Unlike the boys from Redmond (Microsoft, that is), Apple is serious about the speed and power of 64-bit computing and building an operating system and applications (like iMovie and iPhoto) to make good use of it.

Apple claims that the Core 2 Duo is up to 1.5 times faster than the Core Duo it replaces (which is only about six months old). I have read online anecdotal reports of a 10 to 15 percent speed gain.

I don’t have room here to describe the details of each model in detail. Here’s some highlights, though. The entry-level iMac (remember, we’re talking 64-bit here) is $999. The high-end model sports a 24-inch-diagonal high-resolution display. That’s right – 24 inches. It’s gonna be stunning, and lists for $1999. There are many options in between. Check them out for yourself at apple.com.

OK, back to my iPod purchase alert. Remember, I’m not always 100% right on these, so don’t hold me to them.

Next Tuesday, September 12th, Apple will host a Special Event at a theater in San Francisco. Their invitation to the media bears the words “It’s Showtime!” over a background of Hollywood movie premiere searchlights.

Most pundits believe that Apple will announce the iTunes Movie Store, where you can purchase and download movies the same way you currently buy music. As usual, Apple is releasing no information in advance.

I think Apple will take the opportunity to announce new iPods as well, specifically the nano, which hasn’t really been updated in a year. There’s also a chance we’ll see the much-rumored video iPod, perfect for viewing movies from the new movie store. Check back here next week to find out what really happened.

© 2006 Peter F. Zimowski