
The new models each run on Intel Core 2 Duo processors with clock speeds of 2GHz and 2.4GHz, faster than earlier models. The system bus is also faster than in previous iMacs – 800MHz compared to 667MHz.
Apple holds about 21 percent of the retail PC market in the US and analysts expect that figure to increase significantly this year and into 2009. In fact, Jobs indicated that Mac growth for the last four quarters is three times over all PC industry growth.
"Apple's decision to incorporate 1394b into all its iMacs is another indication of increasing momentum for the 'b' version of FireWire," said James Snider, executive director of the 1394 Trade Association.
"The storage product designers set the pace by adopting FireWire 800 for hard disk drives, and now, with this announcement from Apple, 1394b is in the mainstream."
1394b delivers 800Mbps bandwidth and can move audio and video up to 10 meters, while delivering the quality of service provided by the 1394 standard. It has been adopted firms including Seagate, Western Digital and La Cie.