As was rumoured would be the case, Apple has updated its range of iMac desktops computers for consumers, although, unusually for the company, on a Monday rather than the traditional Tuesday.

The range now boasts Intel's latest Core 2 Duo ("Penryn") processors offering speeds of up to 3.06GHz on the top-end model.

The £799 entry-level 20-inch model now offers the afore-mentioned Intel Core 2 Duo processor, but at 2.4GHz, 1GB memory, 250GB hard drive, 8x double layer SuperDrive and ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB graphics.

The 24-inch top o' the line offering, for £1389, gives you a 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB memory, 500GB hard drive, 8x double layer SuperDrive and NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS with 512MB graphics.

In between there's £949.00 and £1149.00 models offering variations on the theme.

"The iMac's gorgeous aluminium and glass all-in-one design has been an incredible hit with our customers and is just one of the reasons Mac sales are growing three and a half times faster than PC sales", said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing.

"With the latest Intel processors, a faster new graphics option and more memory, customers now have even more reasons to love the iMac."

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