Even if the growth difference is based on percentage and that PCs are far larger in numbers, the results still represents a milestone for Apple, who’s flying high these days because of the iPod and the iPhone.

And for that, the Cupertino, California-based computer maker is all pumpedup to rollout the all new iMac, with the Philippines being the first stop in the Southeast Asian swing, in order to sustain its hypergrowth momentum.

At its recent local launch attended by Apple regional officials, it also became evident that the company is pouring tremendous effort in enhancing its software features as it also unveiled the iLife ‘08, an all-purpose software package that is included in the new iMac.

The iLife ‘08, only the second version of the software since its launch, can also be bought separately but it runs exclusively on the Mac platform. The new iMac runs on Mac OS X version 10.4.10 Tiger.

"The software is a very important part of our strategy," said Apple regional executive Melvyn Chen. "Unlike the PC, where the hardware and software makers are different and do always talk, Apple makes sure these components work really well."

Chen said the new iMac is the "best all-in-one" computer that Apple has ever produced, meaning the monitor and the CPU are already integrated. "It is made up of a single piece of aluminum with no screws. The new keyboard is also just one-third of the original size of its predecessor."

The new iMac line comes in 20- and 24-inch widescreen displays in professional aluminum and glass enclosures. It is powered by Intel Core 2 Duo processors and has built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing.

The 20-inch iMac starts at R67,390, which is R29,700 less than the previous 20-inch model. The 24-inch iMac, meanwhile, starts at just R102,690, R23,700 less than the previous 24-inch model.

Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO, said in a statement that the new design of the iMac "features the innovative use of materials, including professional-grade aluminum and glass, that are highly recyclable."

The ultra-thin aluminum Apple keyboard is also just 0.33 inches thin at its front edge. An optional Apple wireless keyboard can be paired with Apple’s wireless Mighty Mouse for a cable-free desktop.

The new iMac’s Intel Core 2 Duo processors run up to 2.8 GHz with 4MB of shared L2 cache and up to 4GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory. Its graphics features include the ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB of GDDR3 memory and the ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB of GDDR3 memory.

To accommodate a user’s growing library of digital photos, movies, and music, the new iMac offers up to 1TB of internal storage.

For connectivity, the iMac has a built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi networking; Gigabit Ethernet; a total of five USB 2.0 ports (including two on the new Apple keyboard); and one FireWire 400 and one FireWire 800 port.

As mentioned, the iMac also includes iLife ’08 suite of digital lifestyle applications, featuring a new version of iPhoto and a reinvented iMovie, both seamlessly integrated with the new .Mac Web Gallery for online photo and video sharing.