Before you go and blame your mac newsreader, be aware that the root of the problem seems to be originating from Flash-based videos. Many of the users in the Apple newsgroups call up the OS Activity Monitor and report that the Flash Player demanded a surprising 114.4 percent of the iMac’s CPU processes when a YouTube or Flash video was playing.

Frustrated iMac owners have suggested a number of unofficial and temporary fixes, including power cycling Apple’s AirPort, triggering the iMac’s sleep\wake cycle, resetting PRAM\NVRAM and re-installing Snow Leopard.

With a recent campaign attacking the new Windows 7 by questioning its reliability, this is the fourth time since the Snow Leopard OS launch that a major problem affecting most of its users has occurred. No official word from Apple to either acknowledge or fix the problem that appears to be wide spread.