Apple’s next big thing?
Posted in This Just In... on October 20th, 2009 by gkrakow
Today is announcement day at Apple – and that means the keys are flying at fan blogs – extolling the virtues of every new piece of equipment and change/upgrade that they can find. Here too!
First, Apple is now selling new iMac all-in-one computers/monitors with 21.5-inch (1920 by 1080 pixels) or 27-inch (2560 by 1440 pixels) backlit, LED displays. 16-by-9 HD displays, of course. They all come with the new Snow Leopard OS too.
The big iMacs sport Intel 2.6 GHz or 2.8 GHz Core 2 Duo processors. The smaller 21.5-inchers sport 3.06 GHz and 3.33 GHz chips. They all come with 4GHz of RAM, 500 GB hard drive for the 21.5-incher or 1 TB for the 27), wireless keyboards and mice plus Apple’s latest Snow Leopard OS. Wow!
Prices start at $1,199 for the smaller and $1,699 for the larger model.
There’s also a totally redesigned MacBook as well. The outer shell has been completely overhauled. The new design is only slightly more than an inch thick but weighs in at a still somewhat zaftig 4.7 pounds.
The screen is a 13-inch LED design; the track pad is both glass and multi-touch plus Apple now claims you can squeeze up to 7 hours from the new, built-in battery pack.
Prices start at $999 for the 2.26 GHz MacBook – and range from $1,199 (2.26 GHz, 13-inch) to $2,499 (2.8 GHz, 17-inch) for the newly redesigned MacBook Pro models.
There are upgraded Mac Minis too. Think in terms of up to 4GHz of memory, processors up to 2.66 GHz, 802.11n Wi-Fi (to go with the new, $179, 802.11n Airport Express Base Station). Prices range from $599 (2.26 GHz, 160 GB) to $799 (2.53 GHz, 320 GB).
And then, there’s the new Mac Mini server. This could be Apple’s biggest announcement of the day.
The computer is a Mac Mini without a CD/DVD optical drive. That’s because Apple have stuffed two 500 GB drives inside that little box – for a total of 1 TB of storage. An optional, external Super Drive will set you back $100.
Inside there’s a 2.53 GHz processor, 4GB of RAM. Mini server runs the new Snow Leopard Server OS software.
Apple thinks this is the perfect device for small businesses and the like. I think this could be the perfect home music/media server on the planet.
Apple has already recreated the music industry in its own image – and now, the new Mini Server could be the next step in total world domination.
Think about it. This tiny, $999 box will be able to store all of your space-saver-compressed audio and video files – or a whole bunch of not-so compressed media files in one easy-to-find, easy-to-use place. iTunes software already handles all sorts of media files – including those giant, ultimate-fidelity, super-high-bit-rate monsters that audiophiles are shouting about. That’s something that Windows Media Player only dreams of.
You know that Apple’s new server software will run like a top and be easy to master. For the record, Snow Leopard Server software, by itself, sells for $499 (unlimited licenses). $1K for the Mini Server seems to me to be a bargain.
Apple may have just defined a new market for their products – and not many people realize it yet. iPod redux!
One more item of note was announced today, the new Apple Magic Mouse. It’s a fantastic-looking, multi-touch, Bluetooth-connected device that works a lot like a touch-pad on a laptop computer. You can point and click, double click, scroll, flick, etc on the Magic Mouse’s surface. It’s available now for $69.