New iMac goes on sale

Apple is hoping to make its iMac desktop computers more attractive to consumers with the introduction of a new lower-cost entry-level machine.

But the 21.5 inch desktop will still set you back more than €1,100, Apple said. And the new iMac sacrifices chip speed and hard drive space to achieve that price tag.

The online store went down earlier today as the company added its latest machine to the lineup.

The new iMac comes with 1.4 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, Intel HD 5000 graphics, 8GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive. The company also offers configurable options to boost hard drive space and RAM.

Apple also gives its iLife and iWork software free with the desktops, covering everything from movie and music editing to productivity.