Category Archives: New from Apple

Apple Updates MacBook Pros: Faster CPUs and Thunderbolt

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Apple MacBook Pro Line - February 2011Apple has updated its MacBook Pro notebook computer line with faster “Sandy Bridge” CPUs and Intel’s new Light Peak high-speed dual-purpose connector which Apple is calling Thunderbolt.

15 and 17-inch display models feature quad-core i7 processors – 2.0 or 2.2 GHz on the 15-inch units with the larger display model available with either a 2.2 or 2.3 quad-core GHz CPU. 13-inch units are shipped with either 2.3 dual-core i5 or 2.7 dual-core i7 chips.

The major addition of the Thunderbolt port adds the ability to daisy chain up to six high-speed drives and/or disk arrays as well as external displays. The single port takes the place of the Mini DisplayPort and serves both DisplayPort and PCI Express needs with dual-channel 10 Gb/sec throughput. This compares to 480 Mb/sec of USB 2.0 and 800 Mb/sec of Firewire 800 connections.

Like the external display connector it replaces, the Thunderbolt port also allows for the following hookups to larger monitors:

  • Native Mini DisplayPort output
  • DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter
  • VGA output using Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter
  • Dual-link DVI output using Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter supports 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display
  • HDMI audio and video output using a third-party Mini DisplayPort to HDMI Adapter

Adapters sold separately.

All new MacBook Pros also include a gigabit ethernet port, a Firewire 800 port, three USB 2.0 ports (two on 13-inch models) as well as 802.11n wifi and 802.11a/b/g Bluetooth wireless connectivity. 13-inch models include an SDXC card slot and a single audio in/out port while the larger display units feature the ExpressCard/34 slot and separate audio in and out ports.

4 Gb of RAM (upgradable to 8 Gb) comes on all models as does the internal CD/DVD SuperDrive. Hard drive options include 500 or 700 Gb 5200 rpm SATA drives, a 500 Gb 7200 rpm SATA drive (not available on 13-inch models), or a choice of 128/256/512 solid state drives.

The entire line of new MacBook Pros are shipping immediately in standard configuration prices ranging from $1199.00 (2.3 GHz dual-core i5, 13-inch) to $2499.00 (2.2 GHz quad-core i7, 17-inch – add $250 for the 2.3 quad-core i7) with a number of build-to-order options available.

Apple Unleashes 12-core Mac Pro Workstations …

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Apple Mac Pro WorkstationsApple is now taking orders for its updated line of Mac Pro mini-tower computers. The series can now be ordered in single or double Intel Quad-Core (4/8) Xeon “Nehalem” processor configurations up to 3.2 GHz, or with new dual “Westmere” Six-Core CPUs for up to 2.93 GHz 12-core operations.

In addition, the new Mac Pros feature new and faster graphics cards: the ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 128-bit 1 Gb memory or the ATI Radeon HD 5870 with 256-bit 1 Gb memory. Both offer two Mini DisplayPorts plus one dual-link DVI port.

All dual-CPU units can be configured with up to 32 Gb DDR3 RAM (6 Gb standard), while single-core unit can house up to 16 Gb (3 Gb standard).

Four hard drive bays can each accommodate 1 or 2 Tb 7200 rpm SATA drives or 512 Gb high-speed solid-state units. They can also be outfitted with one or two 16x Apple SuperDrive optical bays.

Standard input devices consist of the full-sized Apple keyboard with numeric keypad and the Apple Magic Mouse. The new Apple Magic Trackpad can specified as well.

Each Mac Pro incorporates four FireWire 800 ports (two front/two back), five USB 2.0 ports (two front/three back), two 10/100/1000 BASE-T Ethernet ports (back), front and back headphone/speaker minijacks, as well as built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless and Bluetooth 2.1 capabilities.

Prices for the new Mac Pro line begin at $2499.00 for the single 2.8 GHz Nehalem Quad-Core workstation, $3499.00 for the entry level 2.4 GHz Westmere Eight-Core, and $4999.00 for the Westmere 12-Core tower.

Apple is accepting orders for the new Mac Pro Workstations today, with shipping scheduled to start next week.

Apple updates iMacs

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iMac Line July 2010This morning, Apple has updated its iMac product line, featuring separate ATI graphics cards. Previous models had graphics models integrated on the CPU.

Depending on configuration, the new iMacs will ship with an ATI Radeon HD 4670 with 256MB of GDDR3 graphics memory, an ATI Radeon HD 5670 with 512MB of GDDR3 memory, or an ATI Radeon HD 5750 with 1GB of GDDR5 memory.

The line ranges from 21.7 inch displays with a 3.06GHz Intel Core i3 processor ($1199.00) to the top of the line 27-inch 2.93 Quad-Core i7 ($2199.00). 4 Gb RAM comes standard, upgradable to 16 Gb.

All units offer a single Firewire 800 port in addition to four USB 2.0 ports, audio in/out ports, Mini DisplayPort, and a gigabit ethernet port.

iMac models by default are shipped with the Apple wireless compact keyboard (no numeric keypad) along with the wireless Magic Mouse. A wired keyboard with full numeric keyboard (no price difference) as well as Apple’s new Magic Trackpad (an additional $69.00) can be specified as a build-to-order option.

Other build-to-order options include the addition of a 256 Gb solid state hard drive (SSD) as the boot drive (additional $750.00) – OS and apps, leaving your 500Gb – 2Tb SATA drive (as specified) for data only as well as emergency boot.

The new iMacs are available immediately.

Snow Leopard ships early

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snowleopardboxApple today announced that its newest version of Mac OS X – 10.6 Snow Leopard will start appearing on doorsteps and in stores this Friday, August 28. This beats Apple’s original ship date of “sometime in September.”

More of a refinement of 10.5 Leopard than a re-do, Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard touts much tighter code, more 64-bit processing capabilities, improved multi-processor support, and improved graphics processing. The refinements result in a much smaller footprint on your hard drive, according to Apple, up to 6-7 gigabytes of less space.

The new operating system also brings a new version of QuickTime plus support for Microsoft Exchange 2007.

QuickTime X boasts a new streamlined player with “a clean, uncluttered interface with controls that fade out when they’re not needed.” It professes smoother playback. QuickTime Player can now capture audio or video using a Mac’s built-in camera and microphone. Basic editing tools allow you to cut video to a desired length, and send it to iTunes for syncing to an iPhone, iPod, and Apple TV. It also has enhanced streaming capabilities.

For Mac users in the corporate world, you can now sync Apple Mail, Address Book, and iCal with Exchange services such as email, calendar invitations, and Global Addresses – if your company is running Microsoft Exchange 2007. While it doesn’t offer all the bells and whistles of full Outlook environment – e.g., public folders, this greatly streamlines getting Macs on the corporate grid.

The best news of Snow Leopard is its price for previous Leopard owners – $29.00 – $10.00 if you purchased your Mac after June 8 via Apple’s Up-to-Date program. Users of 10.4 Tiger can buy the Mac Box Set for $169.00 which not only includes Snow Leopard, but the latest iLife ’09 and iWork ’09.

The one downside, Snow Leopard is Intel Mac only. So 10.5 Leopard was the end of the line for owners of PowerPC (PPC) Macs.

New 17-inch MacBook Pro – unibody, unibattery

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The Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro notebook computerToday, Apple announced an updated version of its 17-inch MacBook Pro notebook computer. The new model uses the unibody construction of the recently shipped MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro notebooks.

A major change is that this notebook incorporates a non-removable battery – rated at 8 hours (integrated graphics), 7 hours (discrete), and it’s rated at 1000 recharges – approximately five years, according to Apple. Replacement batteries will be handled with an exchange program ($179.00), similar to the iPod. It is scheduled to ship in 3-4 weeks with a list price of $2799.00. Basic specs are:

  • 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo / 6MB L2 cache
  • 4 Gb 1066 MHz DDR3 memory (expandable to 8 Gb)
  • 1920 x 1200 (2.3 million pixels) LED-backlit display – (glossy)
  • Dual Nvidia GeForce 9400M/Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics processors
  • 320 Gb hard drive (5400 rpm)
  • Slot-loading SuperDrive

Build to order options include a 2.93 GHz processor, matte/anti-glare display, 7200 rpm 320 Gb hard drive, as well as either a 128 Gb or 256 Gb solid state hard drive.

The Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro notebook computer also features Apple’s Multi-Touch trackpad, a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing; Apple’s MagSafe Power Adapter; 802.11n wireless networking; built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet; Bluetooth; three USB 2.0 ports; one Firewire 800 port, built-in SuperDrive, and a DVI video output to connect up to a 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display. NOTE: no Firewire 400 port.