Apple preempts Win 7 with fresh iMacs, Macbooks
Lets you multitouch its mouse
Apple has announced a major overhaul of its iMacs, a new unibody white Macbook, and updated Mac Minis for its holiday lineup. The Cupertino company also unveiled a new wireless multitouch mouse featuring a completely touch-sensitive top side.
The company refreshed its line of iMacs today with additional two screen sizes: a 21.5-inch and 27-inch model. They both feature a new LED backlit displays with a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.
The 21.5-inch model starts at $1,200 (£950) and features a 1920x1080 pixel display. It sports a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache standard. The new iMac also comes with improved graphics with a choice of Nvidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphics or ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics.
The 27-inch iMac starts at $1,700 (£1,350) and features a 2560x1440 pixel display, which is 60 per cent more pixels than the previous 24-inch model, according to Apple. The larger model sports either a 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or 2.66 GHz Intel Core i5 quad-core processor standard. It has an option of ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics or ATI Radeon HD 4850 discrete graphics. Build-to-order options for the 27-incher includes a 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core processor.
Both the 21.5- and 27-inch models include 4GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 memory, which is upgradable to 16GB across four SO-DIMM slots.
Apple's latest MacBook gains a unibody polycarbonate enclosure like the MacBook Pro line, but retains the line's all-white look.
Weighing at just 4.7 pounds, the new MacBook comes with a LED-backlit display and a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB RAM, a 250GB hard drive, and Nvidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphics. It starts at $1,000 (£800).
Apple says the new battery lasts up to 7 hours on a single charge.
The Mac Mini received a minor update for the holiday season in two configurations: a $600 (£500) model with a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of 1066 Mhz RAM and a 160 GB hard drive. A $800 (£650) model has a 2.56 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, and a 320GB drive. Both use Nvidia GeForce 9400 graphic chipsets.
The 2.53 GHz configuration also includes a $1,000 option (£800) that includes Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server and two hard drives.
Tuesday's announcement included the successor to the Mighty Mouse, dubbed the Magic Mouse. Apple reckons the wireless device is the first-ever multitouch mouse on the market.
'Any sufficiently advanced mouse is indistinguishable from magic.'
The entire top of the Magic Mouse is one seamless multitouch surface. Apple said the technology lets users navigate with "intuitive gestures" rather than mechanical buttons, school wheels, or scroll balls.
The mouse can be configured as either a single button or two button mouse, according to the user's preference, Apple said. It comes with the new iMac, and it's priced for standalone purchase at $70 (£55). ®
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COMMENTS
Our right to complain!
I used to enjoy not a few of your posts, Anonymous Coward, but, lately, you seemed to have lost the plot - perhaps it's stress.
>This is a company [Apple] that's just posted record profits - in a recession.
Yes, and tell me exactly what Apple did to avert a financial meltdown during the recession? What genius within himself did Jobs call upon to stave off a collapse in sales? A recession affects different sectors differently. A recession is NOT a complete failing of the economy. So, it should come as no surprise that there are profitable companies during downturns. Apple has maintained profitability because it is selling to a wealthier crowd, and those with more disposable income.
Let's be honest, many corporations use child, and cheap, labor to maintain profits - our manufacturing base moved to China and elsewhere for a reason. Corporations also lay off workers when profits slump. Let's not pretend it's all down to the sheer audacity and business acumen of the CEOs. It's often down to simple things that any idiot can do, especially if they have no concern for others. British American Tobacco, for example, pays its workers in Kenya so little, they can't afford enough food for their families. BAT, not satisfied with making its employees' children go hungry, interferes in Kenyan politics to worsen the lot of Kenyans generally. The profits BAT is making for its investors and executives is pure theft.
>People want their stuff, they'll buy it. This is clear.
Apple has found a niche market. That's what's clear!
>Apple knows exactly what it's doing and will continue to sell bucketloads of this stuff to very
>happy punters.
Apple has stumbled plenty of times in the past. Apple does NOT know exactly what it's doing. It is NOT "God"! If Apple knew exactly what it was doing in the past, it would be Microsoft today.
>It's almost like they are really good at what they do and you complaining whingers are just
>bitter armchair warriors who resent their success?
A person can't be bitter towards a corporation - it's not an individual! People resent having more money taken off them than is necessary or fair. The CEOs you defend moan about their taxes, despite being rich, and do all they can to avoid paying tax, both personally and on behalf of their corporations. Why don't you call them bitter? Steve Jobs hires people to do the work for him. The real geniuses behind Apple and Microsoft are Steve Wozniak and Gary Kildall (the real father of the PC operating system), neither of which I resent (Kildall, sadly, is dead).
>Grow up and get a life you sad prats.
So, if we're not rich executives, or if we don't kiss CEO ass, or if we don't like our money effectively stolen from us, we're bitter little children who need to grow up?
I defend Linux simply because it's in our interests to have another operating system. Linux is Unix for the PC. Unix is a professional OS! The biggest problem for Linux is the lack of manufacturer support - that's not Linux's fault!
I can only assume Anonymous_Coward is trying to give us a foretaste of what the next government is going to be like.
@ Andrew Martin 1
"I put WIn7 on my Mac a few months ago. My productivity has shot up."
HAHAHAHAHAHA... HAHAHAHAHA
... oh, you were being serious?
Quit chasing the edge
Don't buy things because they are the fastest/smallest/etc, they never will be for long. Buy things because they are the best thing on the market at the time that has all the features you need, good value, good ergonomics, and good durability.
Oh, hang on, I think I just explained in two sentences why some people buy Macs instead of Windows machines. Oh, and I'm typing this on a Powerbook G4 that was discontinued about 4 years ago. Look at that...
One thing to point out in the whole Apple Tax debate: a 5 year old PC is so worthless it's almost impossible to give away, even to charity (speaking from experience on that one), and a 5 year old Mac in good condition will still be worth 30% of it's original value on eBay. Case in point: my 15" Powerbook G4 (the Hi-res 1.67GHz version) is still worth £400.
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