Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:14a.m.
So Apple released a few different things recently, and I'm a bit of an Apple fan (hey its based on UNIX!), so I thought I would take a look at the new offerings.
Macbook Unibody
First of all they upgraded/released the Macbook Unibody, or did they? I have a Macbook and I’m not overly fond of the
splintering problem on the case that needs fixing, so just quietly I am hoping they have upgraded to a decent plastic.
The hardware to the untrained eye looks much the same specs as the laptops 2-3 years back, however there are changes.
If you look at the CPU speed of 2.26GHz , though the speed is not far different - the actual CPU type has changed. They have closed the gap between Macbook and Macbook pro, the Macbook Pro will now be moving to use the i7 CPUs.
It also has a larger trackpad to match the Macbook Pro and a lovely rounded case to slide off your lap. It’s about the same size as previous Macbooks, it just looks different with the rounded corners.
Of course they thought of the sliding off your lap part, and coated the entire bottom with rubber. This not only stops the slipping, it also stops you from changing the battery. No idea on if it helps it overheat at all, but I,m not overly fond of the idea that I cant change my battery or easily upgrade the HDD and RAM like I could.
Since it’s not a particularly nice looking laptop anymore I don’t see it as a problem, I think I'll give that model a miss and move up to the Macbook Pro next time round.
Magic Mouse
Now this I thought was over priced crap at first, however after
watching this video, I was totally driven to wanting one. It’s effectively a track pad on a mouse ... a very sleek sexy looking mouse. Of course the $119 price tag means it will go on the wish list for now, but I will have one!
Apple iMac
I like the iMac, its great to have an all-in-one computer for the masses who don’t want to upgrade, mess about with internals, wires, plugs etc. It’s simple and does the trick for a lot of the less technical.
I admit my mother still uses an old iMac (its finally been upgraded from 230mhz to 400mhz!). She loves it and it works well for her. The new iMac, built with the same unibody style as the Macbook, comes in two sizes 21.5" and 27" screens.
It's got edge-to-edge glass which leaves the screen feeling much bigger and will have Core 2 Duo and new Core i5/i7 quad-core options (which graphics people will love).
The 21.5" does a respectable 1920x1080 pixels, while the 27" does 2560x1440 pixels.
I find the resolution could possibly be a little better for the size of the monitor, but Apple always seems to be behind the times on that it seems, at least, however, they are finally LED back lit now.
Bonus likes: Up to 16GB RAM, SD card slots, and is said to be HDCP compatible. It can now be setup as a Display Port also, able to receive video and audio (pending 3rd party adapters) so you can turn it into a second screen.