Steve Jobs announced both new iMac and MacBook Pro notebooks at today’s Macworld keynote. Here are a few more details.
The new Intel iMac is almost identical to current iMacs except that it is powered by Intel’s new Core Duo processor. Two models are available for order now (but shipping in February). The 17-inch widescreen model, priced at $1299 USD or $1499 CAD, uses a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor and comes with 512MB RAM, a 160GB hard drive, a slot-load 8x double-layer SuperDrive, iSight, an Apple Remote, a 128MB ATI Radeon X1600 graphics card and built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0. The 20-inch widescreen model ($1699 USD or $1999 CAD) comes with a slightly more powerful 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo processor and a 250GB hard drive (all other specs are the same).
Replacing the PowerBook, the new MacBook Pro will come with a 15.4-inch display capable of 1440×900 resolution. One model with come with a 1.67GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 512MB RAM, 80 GB 5400RPM hard drive, a slot-load SuperDrive and a 128MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics card for $1999 USD ($2299 CAD). The second model will come with a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 1GB RAM, 100GB 5400RPM hard drive, a slot-load SuperDrive and a 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics card for $2499 USD or $2899 CAD.
The performance boost claimed by Apple is truly impressive. The new iMacs are about 2-3 times faster than the PowerPC ones. And benchmarking the MacBook Pro shows it to be some 3 times faster than the PowerBooks. A lot of Mac users should be very happy today!