The only thing that's a fail is another "Steve wouldn't have blah blah blah" post.
if I remember correctly we saw a white iPhone 4 at 2010 WWDC yet it wasn't available until 2011. That was under Steve's watch.
Yes, but I said 95%, not 100%. Also said major product launch. A color is not a major product launch, it's a variation. The black iPhone 4 launched on schedule. People were upset white didn't come out but most bought the black instead. Apple didn't lose sales because of the delay, just made customers a bit grumpy.
That's not the case here. Apple will lose 2/3s of a quarter of iMac sales, maybe even a full quarter. That is significant. If you think that would have happened under Job's watch OK. I do not. He made blunders, but not like this.
First, it is very likely that this new iMac design was green-lighted by Steve Jobs. To invoke "Steve would have never done this" probably doesn't line up with the timeline....
Speed bump how? The switch to Ivy Bridge involved a change to the mainboard to use the new USB 3.0, new GPUs, and other updates. The size and shape of the new 2012 motherboards is incompatible with the 2011 ones. If they stuck with Sandy Bridge components you'd heard the wail of "its ancient technology .... oh the agony.... fail ".
The fact is folks can still buy an iMac if they want one.
Go to google and search on "iMac buy" and click on the "Shopping tab". It even show you local stores with them in many cases. Amazon, Frys.com , Abt , Bhphoto , etc. all have them. Retailers like Best Buy etc. all have them.
1. Steve being involved in design is not the point. I never said it was a bad design, so you are completely off topic there. Cook announcing them for sale when the manufacturing wasn't yet perfect for full-on ramp up is.
2. You cannot go to the Apple Store online or retail and buy a new iMac. Some 3rd party resellers have inventory still, yes, but who is going to buy one and near full price knowing they've been discontinued and an all new one w/ modern connectors has been announced? (Take a look at iPhone sales once mere speculation of a new phone hits the general Internet news feeds.)
3. Speed Bump: Bump up the Sandy Bridge proc in each model. Top of the line can get the 3.5ghz. That's what a speed bump is. You are suggesting a major overhaul which is what the new iMac is, but Apple can't push out.