Cupertino, California-based Apple also announced it was shipping a new 24-inch iMac. The new computer promises to be as much as 50% faster than the earlier 20-inch iMac that has the original Core Duo chip from Intel, according to Apple.

Apple first announced it was moving its entire computer line to from IBM PowerPC chips to Intel chips in June 2005.

Prices for iMacs begin at $999, Apple said.