Apple Launches $1,099 21.5-Inch iMac For Educational Institutions

Yesterday, Apple quietly launched a new iMac. The iMac takes on a lower-end 21.5-inch design with a dual-core i3 processor. This iMac is $200 cheaper than the current bottom model iMac that’s available to the public.

Here’s a list of the iMac’s specifications:

iMac 21.5-inch: 3.3GHz Dual-core Intel Core i3 (Education only model)
Product Number : ME699LL/A

– 3.3GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i3
– 1920 x 1080 resolution
– 4GB (two 2GB) memory
– 500GB hard drive
– Intel HD Graphics 4000

Ready for the bad news? This iMac isn’t available for everyone. Actually, it’s only available for educational institutions. Your child may have one of these low-end iMacs in their classroom in the future.

MacRumors explains:

Potential customers should note that the $1,099 iMac is only available for purchase by educational institutions and is not available to individuals making purchases through Apple’s educational discount program. Orders are currently quoted as shipping in 5-7 business days, slightly longer than the 3-5 day estimates for other models through the Apple Store for Educational Institutions.

For $200 less, you’re not getting a huge bargain anyway. It’s a perfect iMac for schools, but if you want power, stick with the quad-core models that start at $1,299.

Source: Apple via MacRumors