Apple Updates Desktop/Laptop Hardware
As expected by the myriad of overpaid analysts, Apple has refreshed their MacBook, Mac Mini and iMac lines along with introducing new accessories such as the multitouch Magic Mouse.
The white polycarbonate MacBook has received a slight redesign on top of an expected improvement in specifications, with a new LED-backlit display, internal battery from the Pro series and rubberized bottom plate for additional grip on softer surfaces.
In terms of hardware, the MacBook now features a 2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 250GB hard drive, while the 2GB of RAM is now the faster DDR3 type from the Pro series. Additional options include the 4GB DDR3 RAM upgrade along with hard drive upgrades to 320 GB or 500GB.
Buy the New MacBook from Apple
Apple has also refreshed the venerable iMac lineup with larger displays, unibody construction, faster Core i5/i7 processors and improved graphics options.
The new iMac comes in two sizes, with 21.5 and 27-inch IPS LED-backlit displays, returning to the more expensive but better performing display type. The 21.5 inch version is at a 16:9 ratio while the 27 inch version is set at the more cinematic 21:9, though 21:9 formatted films will still playback with black borders on the 27 inch version due to scaling differences.
Because of the larger chassis space afforded by the display sizes, Apple was able to fit two additional RAM modules on each model. With the adoption of Core 2 Duo/Core i5/Core i7, Apple has upgraded the RAM to DDR3, with the new total amount of RAM supported at 16GB, with Apple shipping quad-core Core i5/i7 chips at 2.66 and 2.80GHz respectively in November.
Graphics configurations on the new iMac consist of the Nvidia 9400m or ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics card in the 21.5-inch model, with the latter being 4x as fast, according to Apple. The 27-inch iMac has the ATI Radeon HD 4670 as its low-end card and a ATI Radeon HD 4850 on the top end.
Closing out the new hardware is the refreshed Mac mini, which has recieved improvements in speed and storage space on the low-end and a dual hard drive configuration with Snow Leopard Server on the high-end.
The $999 Mac Mini server includes two 500GB hard disks, 4GB of RAM, and integrated GeForce 9400M graphics, the 320GB Mac mini stays at $800, but has the new 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo processor, and 4GB of memory up from 2GB in the previous model.
The $599 entry-level Mac mini has a faster 2.26GHz processor (up from 2.0 GHz), 2GB RAM (up from 1GB), and has 160GB of storage (up from 120GB) with all models featuring DisplayPort.
Buy the new Mac mini from Apple
Apple has also introduced a new mouse that will replace the venerable and maligned Mighty Mouse in the Magic Mouse. The mouse is an aluminum base with a smooth multi touch panel on top that is software programmable for right and left handed people. The surface can also simulate the left and right buttons with added physical feedback to improve input, runs on AA batteries and Apple claims 4 months of use per set. It’s bundled with the new iMac or available for $69 separately.
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