Apple has updated the existing Intel based iMacs and added a new even larger (23″) model, all now feature the Intel Core 2 Duo™ processor.

• The new iMacs. Faster. Bigger. Brighter.
• iMac Line Now Features Intel Core 2 Duo Processors In Every Model
• The Apple Store (US) – iMac

They’ve also bumped up the speeds of the Mac minis and converted them all to Dual Core processors (the low end unit previously used a single core.)

The timing of this update is very interesting in that Apple has scheduled an event titled “Its Showtime!” for September 12th, presumably to announce new and/or updated products. That they saw fit to update the iMacs a week before and with minimal fanfare suggests we will see something even bigger next Tuesday. The rumor sites are pumping out all manor of possibilities from updated iPod nanos to the announcement of an official Apple iTunes Movie Store (and maybe even an Apple branded cell phone.) Tune in next week for the exciting conclusion!

Here are the standard specs for the new lineup:

The new 24-inch 2.16 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:

• 24-inch widescreen LCD display;
• 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
• 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 3GB;
• 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• PCI Express-based NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT with 128MB GDDR3 memory;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
• 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• the infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

The new 20-inch 2.16 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:

• 20-inch widescreen LCD display;
• 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
• 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 3GB;
• 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• PCI Express-based ATI Radeon X1600 with 128MB GDDR3 memory;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
• 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• the infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

The new 17-inch 2.0 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,199 (US), includes:

• 17-inch widescreen LCD display;
• 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
• 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 3GB;
• 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
• PCI Express-based ATI Radeon X1600 with 128MB GDDR3 memory;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• the infrared Apple Remote, Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

The 17-inch 1.83 GHz iMac, for a suggested retail price of $999 (US), includes:

• 17-inch widescreen LCD display;
• 1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
• 512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM expandable to 2GB;
• 24x Combo drive;
• Intel GMA 950 graphics;
• built-in iSight video camera;
• built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking;
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
• mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);
• built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
• Mighty Mouse and Apple Keyboard.

If you wish you can customize many aspects of these models through Apple’s online ordering system.