Those of our readers looking for a new iMac for education purposes will be glad to hear about an update to the 21.5-inch iMac, which receives a 500GB hard drive, 4GB of RAM, and a 3.3GHz dual-core Intel i3 processor for under $1,100 if you can prove it’s for education.

This is a notable upgrade if you consider that the previous Apple iMac for education featured just 2GB of RAM, an i3 CPU clocked at 3.1GHz and half the storage at 250GB. It is also worth noting that the new iMac includes Intel’s HD 4000 integrated graphics rather than the Radeon HD 6750M graphics from AMD.

We have been using the 2012 redesigned iMac for a few months now and find everything faster, especially when multitasking and performing tasks that need more memory, although looking from the front of the new iMac you cannot see much difference. You only need to take a look from the side to see that the new iMac design is radically different, although we wonder if this really means much with a desktop that you look at from the front?

The new 21.5-inch iMac for education includes pretty much the same specs as the retail version, which includes Bluetooth 4.0, USB 3.0, and Thunderbolt. The redesign drops FireWire and the optical drive in a move that some people find hard to accept at this time.

It will be interesting to see what some schools think about the lack of optical drive considering they use a lot of CD content, although it is fair to say that an external optical drive is available for purchase.

You can see the full specs and shipping times for the new 21.5-inch iMac on the Ecommerce section of Apple for education, although we can see that delivery times are a couple of days longer for education when compared to retail models.

The deadline for the iPen 2 release is fast approaching with just 6 days to go and there’s a strong possibility that the stylus for the iMac, MacBook Pro and the iPad might not achieve the funding in time. The goal of $360,000 has yet to be achieved because the amount pledged so far stands at $271,547, and if it does not receive the required funds by February 5th then it could be game over.

If you would love to see the iPen 2 released then you had better get your donation in before it is too late. For those who have not heard of this Kickstarter, which was launched on December 27, 2012, it is a universal stylus that can be used on a number of Apple products, which you can see a demo off in the video below.

This is not like the old stylus pen from several years ago that was very simple in its design because the iPen 2 has several levels of pressure sensitivity well 1024 to be precise. Previous devices like this would require you to hold the pen in a less than natural way, but with the iPen 2 you can hold it any way you feel comfortable without loss of performance.

There is to be two versions of this new stylus, the iMac iPen 2 model, which is to cost $169 and the iPad version for $119. The former is to come with a stand included while the latter benefits from a compatible iPad Smart case.

The new iMac configurations launched towards the end of 2012, and while we would expect some changes in 2013, to see things altered already seems a bit strange to Apple newbies. The more seasoned Apple computer users wouldn’t be surprised at all, and this is thanks to Apple doing similar things in the past for whatever reason they had. The new 21.5-inch iMac is the model that has changed in configuration slightly, which now includes the Fusion Drive as a build-to-order option from the cheapest 2.7GHz setup.

When the 21.5-inch model went on sale in October you could only include a Fusion Drive with the top-end models, and of course with a larger 27-inch iMac. This French website first spotted the change although we can confirm this change as well, and the fact that it hadn’t been available on the cheapest options when we placed an order for the new iMac in October. We ended up ordering a 27-inch model with a Fusion Drive.

The price of a Fusion Drive on the base iMac model is around $250, although the benefits are well worth considering. You can see the Fusion Drive vs. a normal hard drive in this visual Mac mini review. You can also see the insides of a 2012 iMac via this article, which shows how easy the all-in-one desktop might be to repair.

In a nutshell you can expect the new iMac with a Fusion Drive to boot up in half the time. This performance increase comes without the higher cost of an SSD, and the hybrid version achieves similar speeds but with a lot more storage. The driving force behind this improvement is advancements in both technology and software. The software improvements are built into Apple’s latest OS X Mountain Lion, and the hardware includes a 128GB SSD fused with a 1TB or 3TB hard drive.

Windows users have known for years that putting a lot of files onto an external hard drive, or by including a boot up drive just for the Windows OS would increase speed over the long-term. The 2012 iMac performs something similar, and the operating system is stored permanently on the solid-state drive with important applications you use most. Mountain Lion will optimize performance on the fly, and keeps frequently accessed files on the faster SSD.

Why do you think Apple didn’t include the Fusion Drive on all iMac models at release? We’re not sure why Apple didn’t include the Fusion Drive as an option on the lower end models right away, although some people feel it could have been a problem with production capacity and others feel they wanted you to purchase the most expensive 21.5-inch iMac at 2.9GHz. If you held off ordering and want the smaller display, then we think you should seriously consider the Fusion Drive for the performance boost alone.

Just under 2 weeks ago we saw the new 2012 iMac go live for ordering after a long wait, which had apparently been due to production problems. We placed an order for the new 27-inch iMac, part of the late 2012 refresh, and received a shipping estimate that stated our new iMac could ship up to “02 Jan, 2013 by standard shipping“. This is for an order that had been placed within 5 minutes of ordering going live for the first time, although today we received a shipping notification for our 2012 iMac with a delivery date.

You can see a screenshot of the shipment notification below, which has certain parts blanked out for privacy reasons. Our new 27-inch iMac will be shipping earlier to our UK address, when compared to what we were first quoted as an estimate, and this is obviously good news. We’re sure a number of PR readers are now receiving shipping notices from the Apple Store, so feel free to leave a comment below if you’re also receiving your 2012 iMac before Christmas.

2012 iMac shipping dates will vary by configuration – it is worth noting that delivery dates will vary by the configuration chosen when ordering, so if you didn’t add too much extra and ordered right away then you should receive a shipping notification soon, or you might already have one. The 21.5-inch models were shipping right away, and it is the bigger 27-inch displays that had a longer shipping time.

Did you order the new 2012 iMac right away, and are you still waiting for an exact shipping date? Our new iMac configuration included a 27-inch screen, 1TB Fusion Drive, 16GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 2.9GHz Quad-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz, and also NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660M graphics with 512MB GDDR5 memory. Feel free to share your 2012 iMac configuration, when you received a shipping notification, and what part of the world you are in? If you want to see an internal review of the 2012 iMac then take a look at this article.

We’ve already placed an order for the 27-inch 2012 iMac with a Fusion Drive and a number of other optional upgrades, although some people are a little undecided or just fancy a closer look at the design and how well the 2012 iMac performs. Today we wanted to feature a couple of new iMac reviews that look at the all-in-one Apple desktop from different perspectives. One shows how the design looks when compared to past generations and another looks at the hardware in detail.

2012 iMac showcased in a visual review – this article showcases 17 photos taking a closer look at the 2012 iMac design, and then compares it to other Apple hardware. The author doesn’t offer much insight into how well the 2012 iMac performs, but the new 21.5-inch iMac is compared from a number of angles to a 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro, a 2011 MacBook Air, 2008 and 2011 iMac, plus a number of other devices like an iPhone 5. It is strange seeing so many Apple gadgets compared to the new iMac in this way, which is exactly what some people thought after looking at this particular review.

2012 iMac given a performance review – another article found on MacWorld has taken a look at the performance of build-to-order versions of the new iMac. This article explains what specs come with the 2012 iMac as standard and also the different upgrade options available to max-out the hardware. They then take a look at how the custom 2012 iMacs score in their tests, and also compare these test scores to previous generations of iMac. It is no surprise that the late 2012 iMac scores very high for Speedmark/application scores and in the graphics tests. You can see the Speedmark scores in the image below, although head over to MacWorld via the above link for all the results.

Have you ordered the 2012 iMac yet, and if so what configuration did you choose? On paper the second review shows that the new iMacs are really impressive, and the visual review in the first article reveals how much the form factor has changed overall. You can also see a couple of internal 2012 iMac reviews via this article, which provide a look at how easy hard they’re to repair.

Apple’s 21.5-inch version of the 2012 iMac has released to the public with the 27-inch set for a delivery at the end of December, or at the start of Jan, for early orders. We placed an order in the UK for the 2012 iMac with a 27-inch display and Fusion drive, which currently has a shipping date set for Dec 21 to Jan 2nd. If you want to see an internal 2012 iMac review then you’re in luck, which is thanks to a couple of websites carrying out the teardown to reveal how easy the desktop computer would be to repair.

The first inward review of the 2012 iMac comes from a non-English speaking website, although you can see a translated version of their review here. You’ll notice a lot of images showing the process step-by-step, although not much is explained about the insides, so this is why we’ve tracked down another internal review from a more popular website known for teardowns.

You can see the new 21.5-inch iMac from the side below, which had been taken before iFixit started to take apart the all-in-one computer. As always they first detail the tools used in their teardown, which included a heat gun, a number of screwdrivers, guitar picks, spudger, and of course suction cups to remove the display.

The next image shows what the 2012 iMac looks like after iFixit completed their 26 steps, which deliver a really nice guide on how to take apart the new iMac. As always they like to point out that their teardowns are published so people can understand how easy or hard the device is to repair, and shouldn’t be used as instructions to take apart the 2012 iMac. This is obviously a disclaimer to protect them, so if you do decide to take apart your computer it will be at your own risk.

Have you ever felt the need to take an Apple product apart? One thing most Apple products share in common is their poor reparability scores, which the 2012 iMac scored a 3/10 from iFixit. You can see the full detailed review here in their article, which reveals some new fixings in this redesign that make it much harder to repair. Replacing the magnets with glue that hold the LCD and glass to the frame had been one such issue.

The new 2012 iMac release time is just hours away and since our earlier article about the date being finalized by Apple, we now see consumers wondering exactly what time they’d be able to order the 2012 iMac today? Our sources tell us it should land at midnight Pacific Time, which is within 30-minutes at the time of writing, so it might be recommended to keep hitting the refresh button on the official Apple Store over the next hour.

Expect 2012 iMac delays and shortages – we’ve already heard from Apple that there will be supply problems, so if we do see the new 21.5 iMac go up for order with pre-orders for the 27-inch iMac, you should expect shipping times to slip fast. We just checked a few moments ago and we still see the same availability message, although if everything goes as planned this should change within the hour.

The 2012 iMac midnight launch – this is midnight for PST and 8am for GMT, which follows a traditional launch for Apple when products don’t release right after a keynote. It is worth noting that rumors state the reason for delays had been with LG Display, and the problem with mass producing a new component for the new iMac display. This means there are limited parts available, and while orders will go live there’ll be in limited supply, so expect a lot of people to be disappointed with long shipping times for those that don’t get in early.

You might be able to purchase the 2012 iMac from just under $1,300, but you can expect to pay up to $4,200 when you add on all the upgrades to the 27-inch model with Fusion drive as well. If you want your 2012 iMac to ship right away then don’t add on customized options, although if you do then expect the shipping time to be much longer. Let us know if you manage to get an order in at midnight, unless Apple delay things further that is?

Did the 2012 iMac go live to order at midnight for you, and if so what’s your location?

Update: The new iMac is now live in the US to order, and it is worth noting you can also pre-order the 27-inch model as well. The UK had to wait around 25 minutes longer, although orders are live in the UK now as well.

It has been a strange month for people looking to order the new 2012 iMac, which has been lacking an exact release date for a few weeks now. We touched on this fact yesterday, although within the last couple of hours we’ve seen Apple confirm the 2012 iMac release date for the 21.5-inch model, and explained the 27-inch option will go up for pre-order at the same time with shipping next month.

Eagerness from Apple fans – we’ve been contacted by a few PR readers that have been checking the official Apple Store more than 3 times a day, and each time they’ve been hoping to see the 2012 iMac up for order. Some people even stated they would “purchase a PC if it doesn’t launch soon“, and others were betting “we won’t hear anything until the last day of the month“. Thanks to an official press statement, a quote can be seen below, we know this isn’t the case and an exact release date has been offered for the 2012 iMac.

Will you purchase the new 21.5-inch or 27-inch iMac? The good news is you don’t need to check everyday to see if the 2012 model is up for order, and instead you just need to visit the store on Nov 30. We’ll update our readers when the release time arrives, so for now hit the comments with the configuration your planning on purchasing. Will you choose the Fusion Drive?

You can also read about the storage options in this article, and we’ve embedded a video below that takes a look at the main specs for a quick recap with a few photos to give you a closer look.

Frustration is certainly a word 2012 iMac shoppers feel right now, and after the Apple event we thought our new iMac pre-order would have been in right away. This hasn’t been the case thanks to just a month being displayed when they’d be available to order. As we all know the month for the new 21.5-inch iMac had been November 2012, but strangely this month has just 5 days left including today, so Apple need to change something or come out and state the 2012 iMac might actually be a 2013 iMac.

The 2012 iMac problem for some people – while some of us kept hold of our existing desktop computer, it seems other people were not so wise and sold their current setup after seeing the November shipping claim on Apple’s website. One of PR’s readers explained they sold their “2007 iMac last week“, and they want the new 27-inch iMac that is due in December 2012. Other people have been saving up over months for the new iMac and a 2012 release date has really dragged on for them.

Shock considering we have just 5 days left including today – if we’re to see the 2012 iMac in 21.5 inches this month, then what are Apple playing at leaving it this long into the month with no announcement at all? We know Apple doesn’t like to comment on speculation and rumors, but communication is key when people are selling computers for a 2012 iMac. If we see these dates slip, then some people will ask why this delay hadn’t been mentioned sooner?

With only 5 days left in November it won’t be long before we know if the shipping date is going to change, and if it does change then we’d like to know why Apple left the current date unchanged for so long? It will be interesting to see if Apple bothers to give a reason why the pre-order process is taking so long, and if Apple has had problems knowing when they can deliver the new iMacs?

Our confidence had been restored for the 2012 iMac release date 6 days ago, which came from insiders claiming the orders would go live by the end of this month, although with this month almost over our confidence is slowly dwindling.

It looks like the original months that the 2012 iMac release date will fall in are likely to stick, if new unnamed sources are to be believed, which follows some doubts as the month dragged on with potential buyers doubting the 21.5-inch 2012 iMac would arrive, especially now there’s only 11 days left in this month. Apple hasn’t changed a thing from their original statement that the new iMacs would arrive this month and next, rather than the rumors of a delay after fears of production problems.

The proposal made 5 days ago certainly contradicted what we were told by Apple, and these claims have been refuted by this popular news website that focuses on all things Apple. They’ve offered some reassurance within the last 24 hours, and stated the iMac refresh for 2012 is “still on track“, and we should expect the ordering process to start by the end of this month. While this latest update is pretty vague on where the information has come from, we’d be more inclined to believe the latest rumor considering the reputation this Apple news website has built over the last couple of years.

Both 2012 iMac models on order at the same time – Apple currently state that the 21.5-inch model will be available for order this month, and the larger 27-inch will see a shipping date next month, but it is our understanding from the same insiders that there’s a chance of both of these new iMac models going up for order at the same time. One will ship almost right away, while you’ll be able to pre-order the 27-inch for shipping in December.

We’re also hearing from PR readers that have started purchasing refurbished 2011 iMacs, which is due to the long wait with strangely no new iMac to purchase on Apple’s store. This isn’t for everyone thanks to the old specs, and most people are happy to wait a few more days until the 2012 iMac goes up for order.

How often are you checking to see if the new 2012 iMac is available to order? It is worth noting that Apple have officially confirmed stock will be significantly limited, so it couldn’t be more important to be one of the first to order if you want your new iMac to ship this year. We’ll update our readers when the 2012 iMac is live for ordering, so keep connected to PR on Facebook and other social channels. You can also see a review here that shows the Fusion Drive vs. a normal hard drive, although this is showcased on a new Mac mini.