I am thinking of buying a new IMac I was wondering if I should wait until the new OS (mountain lion) comes out this summer or just get the Lion now? I am a very newbie and don't own a Mac yet.

The iMac is rumoured to being updated in June. If you need a Mac now, you will be absolutely thrilled with it and it'll be over five years before it becomes obsolete, if you can wait until June then good things will come! Mountain Lion is due later and it will be a $29.95 upgrade, so to me that's a small price to pay to enjoy a Mac sooner rather than later.

Where have you heard the June Rumours for the iMac?

Everything I've read says iMacs could be updated anytime now that Intel's released the new Ivy Bridge processors (3rd Gen Core-i series) and AMD has released the Radeon 7000-series video cards.

Not sure if History can be all that helpful here. But in 2010 they updated the iMacs in July and in 2011 they updated them in early May. So really it's anytime from now onward.

June has been reported on many sites for the iMac launch, including Mac Rumors:
Rumors of June Launch for Updated iMacs Begin to Build - Mac Rumors (http://www.macrumors.com/2012/04/06/rumors-of-june-launch-for-updated-imacs-begin-to-build/)

Thanks everuone...I think that I will wait until June and see what comes out.

I think the next iMac could come out with no optical drive making it thinner.

lol the optical drive isn't whats making the iMac thick...its only 12mm

I'm watching for the new iMac updates closely.
It has been about a year now, and the new Ivy CPUs are being delivered, I can't see it being more than a few weeks before updates on iMac and MacBook Pros.
On my five year upgrade cycle, I have one more year to wait, but I'm hoping that they update this spring and next spring before I jump on a new one.
I wonder if by May 2013, the whole thing will see a major redesign, it's been about the same for 5 years now. Could they bump the 27 to a 28 inch screen? the only big change recently is the Thunderbolt port.

Personally I'd wait a month or so if it were my choice for a new iMac.

Besides the newer CPU chips and video cards, the new models are reportedly going to be using a newly developed crystal clear glass that's completely non-reflective - finally!!!

That alone would be a good reason for me to wait.

That was kinda what I was thinking after doing some more reading. Thank you very much for the reply. Jim

My prediction either by the end of May the updates will be out, or if not we will have specific details of what and when by then . Most releases are once a year. Waiting for the next generation of CPUs was the holdup I think.

If you're in no rush I'd just wait until the new ones come out to get one. Then you won't have the feeling that you got screwed.
If they really are going to get rid of the DVD drive Id get one now. I use mine for software, to burn discs and to watch DVDs. I wouldn't want one without the drive.

Yeah ... That's always the big dilemma when you want/need to buy your new gear ... wait till June .. I'm in the same boat :)

The iMac, Mac Mini, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro all have to be updated by JUly at the latest.

The Mac Pro??? Is also due soon.
It's been two years and Mac Pro users I think will be more than ready ASAP.

The 2010 Mac Pros are super-fast and have room for expansion but if they go later than this summer with no update, the Pro users will feel abandoned.