Tag Archives: Macbook

Apple Improves Mac and Accessories Lineup

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Just in time for the holiday sales rush, Apple has updated much of their Mac line.

New iMacs

iMac
The iMac now have larger screen sizes and LED-backlit displays. The 20-inch model is now 21.5-inch, while the 24-inch is now 27-inch. While the 21.5-inch is only available as a dual-core, the 27-inch can be bought as a dual or quad-core. The aspect ratio has been changed to 16:9 which will be an improvement for multimedia viewing. The back is aluminum now instead of black. The black backing felt out of place on the previous iMacs. The 27-inch model is also VESA mount compatible as well as capable of accepting video input. All models are available now except for the quad-core iMac, which is coming in November. iMac prices begin at $1199.

Macbook
The entry level MacBook is still white and plastic, but is now unibody like the MacBook Pro. The unibody gives it a cleaner, more simplistic look. Just like the iMac, the MacBook has a LED-backlit display. The MacBook also includes a multi-touch glass trackpad and an all rubber bottom reminiscent of the Airport Extreme’s underside. The built-in battery seen on the Macbook Pros is now present in the Macbook. The 7-hour battery is not user removable. This is not that big of a deal as many users do not use multiple batteries and the battery life is very long. There are a few downsides to the updated MacBook. It lacks any FireWire ports, there is only one port for audio input/output, and it does not have a infrared receiver for accessories like the Apple Remote. These changes clearly cement this model as an entry-level product. Prices start at $999.

Mac Mini
Apple has not given the Mac Mini much love in the past. Rumors have circulated for some time that it would be axed, but the rumors are always proven untrue. The Mac Mini has been updated and now comes in the regular version and a new version that has Snow Leopard Server pre-installed. The optical drive has been replaced with a second hard drive. Both hard drives are 500 GB. An external SuperDrive can be used if an optical drive is still needed. There is only one configuration of the server Mac Mini and it costs $999. The regular Mac Mini base price is $599.

Mouse
The product I am most excited about is the new Bluetooth mouse from Apple, which is called the Magic Mouse. It is a multi-touch mouse which thankfully does away with the needs-to-be-cleaned-constantly scroll ball. Cosmetically, it has a sleeker look than the previous model. The top is clear white plastic. It does not have separate buttons for left and right click but it can be configured to be a one or two button mouse. The Magic Mouse is an inevitable evolution of an Apple branded mouse, as multi-touch has already found its way into the iPhone, iPod touch, and Mac notebooks. If you still want a corded mouse, the Mighty Mouse is still available, which is now called the Apple Mouse. The Magic Mouse comes with all new iMacs unless configured to include the Apple Mouse. It will be available late October and costs $69.

Apple Remote
Another product that received a new look is the Apple Remote. It is now all aluminum. This change was bound to happen because aluminum is Apple’s current style of the moment. It is also longer then the previous remote, looks more comfortable to hold, and is less difficult to lose. The play button has been moved near the menu button and the battery can now be removed easily from the back. According to Apple, the remote is “Compatible with Apple products introduced in 2005 or later that have a built-in infrared (IR) receiver” and “requires the iPod Universal Dock and any iPod with a dock connector or any iPhone.” The Apple Remote cost $19 and the Apple online store says it is shipping in 2-4 weeks.

Time Capsule/Airport Extreme
If you blinked, you might have missed the Time Capsule update. Not much in terms of specs, just that the backup speed is 60% faster than previous models (using Snow Leopard). Wireless networking performance was also improved in both the Time Capsule and Airport Extreme.

While the changes to the Mac and Accessories lineup are not revolutionary, they are welcomed improvements.

Review: Incase Neoprene Sleeve for Macbook and Macbook Pro

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One of the first accessories I purchased for both my Macbook and Macbook Pro is the Incase Neoprene Sleeve. I didn’t have a traditional laptop bag at the time, so I knew I needed some kind of protection when traveling with my laptop. The Neoprene Sleeve proved to be the perfect notebook accessory.

The Incase 13″ Neoprene Sleeve fits the Macbook like a glove. Just slide the Macbook into the sleeve and zip it up. Place the sleeve in your backpack and you’re ready to go.

The Incase 15″ Neoprene Sleeve fits the Macbook Pro well, but not as sleek a fit as the 13″ sleeve with the Macbook. There is a little room at the top of the case, most likely to also fit the 15″ Powerbook . Despite this, the MBP slides in and out of the sleeve with ease. The width is a good fit, it’s just the length that is a little longer than the Macbook Pro.

The sleeves retail for about $35 and come in a large variety of colors. Both sleeves are a great accessory if you own either a Macbook or Macbook Pro. According to Incase, the 13″ will also fit the Macbook Air. One tip if you buy one of these sleeves. Take a razor blade or pair of scissors and take out the tag on the inside of the sleeve. Some users have reported that the tag can scratch the laptop. I took both my tags out just to be sure. I would recommend these sleeves for anyone carrying their laptop inside a backpack or other none laptop bags. They are also great if you want to carry your laptop without any bag at all. Just slide your laptop in the sleeve and carry it like you would a Moleskine journal or other paper notebook.

Recap Of Tuesdays “The spotlight turns to notebooks” Event

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Unless you were hiding in a secret underground lair, you probably know Apple released some new laptops and other goodies last week. Here is a quick recap of all the changes (all that I could find):

Macbook

  • There are now two different designs for the Macbook and three different price points ($999, $1299, $1599). The white plastic design of before, and a brand new aluminum design
  • The white Macbook remains unchanged, except for a new price of $999 (down from $1099)
  • The new Macbook received a radical design change. Gone are the days when you could easily spot the difference between a Macbook and Macbook Pro
  • The new Macbook has been updated with a new precision aluminum unibody look
  • The new Macbook sports a GeForce 9400M video chipset; way more powerful than the previous Intel chipset
  • The new $1299 Macbook now has a slower processor; 2.0GHz C2D instead of a 2.4GHz C2D processor available in the previous $1299 white Macbook
  • The $1599 Macbook has a 2.4GHz processor and 250GB HDD
  • The new Macbook is without Firewire ports
  • The new Macbook is sporting a new video port; the Mini DisplayPort
  • The new Macbook has a glass trackpad that acts as both the trackpad and trackpad button
  • The new glass trackpad supports multi-touch gestures ala the Macbook Air
  • You now have a 128GB SSD option on the new Macbook
  • The new Macbook has the same keyboard as the Macbook Air
  • The new Macbook has a backlit keyboard; but only on the $1599 model
  • The new Macbook supports the 30″ Apple Cinema Display
  • The new Macbook has an LED Screen
  • The new Macbook is lighter, thinner, and slightly deeper
  • The new Macbook is rated for 5hrs vs. 4.5hrs in the older white model
  • The battery indicator is on the side of the case instead of on the battery itself in the new Macbook

Macbook Air

  • The MBA sports a GeForce 9400M video chipset; way more powerful than the previous Intel chipset
  • The MBA comes standard with a 120GB HDD and also has a 128GB SSD option
  • The MBA is sporting a new video port; the Mini DisplayPort
  • The MBA now supports the 30″ Apple Cinema Display
  • Battery life is rated at 4.5hrs vs. 5 in previous documentation (ed: Could be change in the calculation methods)
  • Not shipping until “Early November”

Macbook Pro

  • All models have a 128GB SSD HDD option
  • The 17″ MBP remains unchanged design wise
  • The 17″ MBP and the $2499 15″ comes standard with 4GB RAM and a 320GB HDD; both increases
  • The 17″ MBP now comes standard with a LED display (matte or glossy)
  • The 17″ MBP has a standard resolution of 1920 x 1200 (previously was a BTO option)
  • The 15″ MBP was updated with the new precision aluminum unibody look
  • The 15″ MBP now contains two NVIDIA chipsets; the GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT
  • On the 15″ MBP, the DVI port is gone. Now you have the mini DisplayPort
  • On the 15″ MBP, the ports are now on one side
  • All 15″ MBP are glossy screens. You cannot get a 15″ MBP with a matte screen
  • On the 15″ MBP, gone are both the FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 ports. Now you have one FireWire 800 (backwards compatible with FW 400)
  • The 15″ MBP has a glass trackpad that acts as both the trackpad and trackpad button
  • The new glass trackpad supports multi-touch gestures ala the Macbook Air
  • The $2499 MBP received a very slight speed bump, up to 2.53GHz from 2.5GHz
  • The RAM and HDD are now vastly easier to replace in the 15″ MBP via a compartment on the bottom of the laptop
  • The 15″ MBP has the same keyboard as the Macbook Air
  • The new 15″ MBP is slightly thinner, yet heavier, wider, and deeper
  • The battery indicator is on the side of the case instead of on the battery itself in the 15″ MBP
  • The 15″ MBP now has a magnetic latch similar to the Macbook

Cinema Displays

  • Introduced a 24″ LED display for $899
  • Built in iSight, mic, speakers, and three USB ports
  • The new display contains a MagSafe connector to charge your notebook
  • The new display uses the new Mini DisplayPort
  • No adapter available for DVI to Mini DisplayPort available
  • The previous 20″, 23″, and 30″ displays are still available; unchanged
  • Not currently available for sale; “Coming Soon”

Other

  • Apple talked a lot about their new products and how environmentally friendly they are. You can read the Apple 2008 Environmental Update for more information.
  • Apple is now the # 1 notebook seller in education

New Mac Notebooks On The Way

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If you’re in the market for a Mac notebook, you might want to hold off for a few days. Multiple sources have confirmed a special event Apple has scheduled for 10AM Pacific time on October 14th. The tag line, “The spotlight turns to notebooks” accompanies the invitation to the event.

The rumors about an October 14th notebook event have been circulating for some time. Indications are the the Macbook and Macbook Pro are getting a redesign. While the Macbook Air hasn’t been often mentioned in this rumor, I would be surprised if the Air didn’t get at least a processor refresh.

In related news, the Inquisitr website is reporting that Apple will release an $800 notebook. This could be either a significant price drop for the Macbook or an entirely new device. This would be Apple’s first foray into the sub $1000 notebook category. Apple has one of the healthier margins in the computer industry, so it would be a little shocking if they were to hit this price point with the Macbook. I guess we’ll find out on Tuesday.

New Macbook and Macbook Pro Released Today

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Updated MB and MBP

The often rumored Macbook Pro updated came true today on Apple Tuesday (that’s my new name for Tuesdays).  In addition to the new MBP, the Macbook also saw an update.  Of the two updates, the Macbook Pro sees the most significant changes.  So what’s new?

Macbook Pro

  • Base model now features the 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo and 200GB HDD
  • Mid 15″ and 17″ come with 2.5GHz Core 2 Duo and 250GB HDD
  • The base model now has 256MB video RAM and the other two have 512MB RAM
  • 4GB RAM upgrade is now cheaper, but still not worth it ($400)
  • You now have a 300GB HDD option on the 17″ MBP
  • The 17″ now sports an LED display
  • Multi-Touch trackpad added to all models

Macbook

  • Base model now features the 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo and 120GB HDD
  • Other model now features a 2.4GHZ Core 2 Duo, 160GB HDD, and 2GB RAM
  • Price for the Black option now down to $100 (from $125)
  • 4GB RAM upgrade is now cheaper, but still not worth it ($400; $500 if you’re buying the base model)

Both updates are available immediately with the same pricing as previous models.  I’m glad to see Apple is keeping up with the changing hardware, but when will they just make 2GB of RAM standard across their entire notbook line?  The entry model Macbook is the only model that doesn’t come with 2GB of RAM.

Update: I made a few corrections to the earlier post to reflect the 17″ LED display and the wording on the video card update. In addition to that, the Apple Remote is now a $19 paid upgrade. I hardly ever use mine and I suspect Apple is trying to cut cost/waste with the move.

Choose The Perfect Apple Notebook With This Comparison Chart

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Update, August 2009: Apple now has their own laptop comparison chart (scroll down a little on the linked page) with even more data. I’ll no longer be updating the comparison chart linked below.

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Choosing the right Apple notebook is an important decision for first time and seasoned Mac users. While there are only three notebooks to choose from, each product has its own strengths and drawbacks. I thought I would make it easier for you to choose the proper Apple notebook.

I’m compiled a detailed chart listing every possible option I could find or think of based on the current notebook offerings. If you see that I missed something, please lease a comment and I’ll update the chart. I present to you, the Apple Notebook Comparison Chart (pdf).

Update: I’ve updated the chart to reflect the recent Macbook and Macbook Pro updates.

Apple quietly bumps Macbook and Macbook Pro lineups

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Apple quietly made some changes to their notebook lineup today. Between the Macbook and Macbook Pro, changes include processors, graphics cards, and hard drives. Similar to the recent Mac Mini update (if someone hadn’t ask at a press event nothing would have been said), these changes did not accompany any type of press release.

Macbook Changes:
-The Macbook now runs on the Santa Rosa Intel platform. This includes 4GB of RAM support and an 800MHz system bus.
-The Macbook now ships with the Intel GMA X3100 graphics adapter. The previous GMA 950 has 64MB shared RAM, while the new X3100 has 144MB shared RAM.
-HDD options up to 250GB 5400RPM SATA drive.

Macbook Pro Changes:
-Core 2 Duo processor options up to 2.6GHz

When I saw the update, I was about to curse since I just recently upgraded to a new 2.2GHz MBP. Since the only upgrade to the MBP was the 2.6GHz processors (and at $250), I didn’t care too much. The difference between the 2.4GHz and 2.6GHz isn’t really worth $250. The changes to the Macbook though are more significant. Even though the Macbook has been updated to the Santa Rose platform, the MBP is still the only Apple notebook to offer an LED display.