And just a day after our No-Blu Ray-for-iMacs article (and posting their record revenues and profits), the Apple mothership quietly announces their iMac refresh – 2 new iMac models plus a new MacBook a mere 2 days (well, 1 day for some, depending on time zones) before Microsoft‘s Windows 7 launch. Intentional? We’ll let you make up your mind about that. Meanwhile, onto the new models — we are a tech website first and foremost, tech industry scandalous rumors run a far second in our list of priorities. (haha)
New iMacs
According to InternetNews.com, here’s what we have: 2 spanking new iMac desktops. As we’ve reported to you, no Blu-Ray option for the Macworld these holiday season. You will still have to get yourself a USB Blu-Ray burner if you want to store data in 25GB Blu-ray discs. And here we thought Mr. Jobs was gonna play Santa to all of you Mac users out there.
The new iMac, 2009 baby!
Other features:
- The new 21.5-inch and 27-inch models replace the 20- and 24-inch models currently on the market and feature a true widescreen 16×9 aspect ratio display.
- The new screens are backlit LEDs, similar to the ones used in the MacBook line — the first time Apple has used these displays in its desktops.
- A couple of firsts: they have an all-aluminum back, come with quad-core Intel processors and come with an SD card slot.
- They now support a maximum of 16GB of RAM, double the capacity of previous models, and can handle up to 2TB of storage.
- The 21.5-inch model supports 1920×1080 pixel resolution while the 27-inch model supports 2560×1440 pixels.
Read the full report at InternetNews.com.
These enhancements aside, Apple is minding the price-conscious public this time (what changed your tactics, Mr. Jobs?), the new iMacs starting at the old model’s same base price of $1,199. This amount of your hard-earned cash will get you a 21.5-inch iMac, 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, with an Nvidia GeForce 9400M video GPU.
Magic Mouse?
According to InternetNews.Com:
Touch-capable Magic Mouse
The new models also include a new input device that Apple calls the Magic Mouse. The mouse features support for Apple’s multitouch technology — popularized on the iPhone — to support trackpad-like gestures and swipes on the top surface of the mouse itself.
As a result, users can click, scroll, zoom and flip between pages simply using finger gestures. The device can be configured as either a single-button or two-button mouse.The Magic Mouse also, of course, works like a traditional mouse, with laser tracking — a step up from optical tracking.
Wireless Magic Mouse for your Mac systems
Way to go for harping on a winning feature from the iPhone. Touch gestures on top of your mouse? Are you freaking kidding us?!? This is wonderful! Zoom and flip mania from your Magic Mouse, here we come!
The New MacBook
The MacBook 2009
Most people though the Mac Mini was the one that was in line for a re-touch. Instead what we get is a new MacBook – Apple’s budget-end laptop. Here’s what you’re getting for the same standard price of $999 (same source):
Apple is giving it the new polycarbonate unibody shell, the LED-backlit display, a glass multitouch trackpad and the built-in battery like the other MacBooks.
Apple promises seven hours of battery life with this new model, and a new battery design that Apple said is good for 1,000 charges — three times the normal laptop battery lifespan.
It comes with a 13.3-inch display, 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, nVidia 9400M integrated graphics and 250GB of storage.
Pretty good facelift, considering the fact that you still get it for the same price as before. You notice Apple really hitting the budget shoppers for the holidays, don’t you?
The Lowdown
While the PC world waits with baited breath for Windows 7, Apple has quietly tried to steal the show with this new lineup. Did it work? Your dear Mac PC Wiz nerds think not — Windows 7 has generated way too much hype for the momentum to shift so suddenly. Call it diversionary tactics — Apple, apart from all the Mac lovers out there, will try to steal anyone who might just cast a moment’s glance towards them, give them better options on the whole.
