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Of all the new products, I’m most exited about the 27-inch iMac. It looks like a perfect Final Cut Express/Studio production machine. The top of the line model, with an i7 quad-core processor and 2TB internal drive, will devour all sorts of HD footage. As soon as we get them in this November, I’ll be putting one through its paces and reviewing here in Kibbles & Bytes.
Want in-depth speed test for all the new gear? Check out Barefeats.com.
Until next week!
Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,
Kali & Ed
Apple quietly updated both the AirPort Extreme Base Station and Time Capsule Wi-Fi Base Station/wireless hard drive Tuesday. Both feature improvements in antenna design that provide up to 50 percent better Wi-Fi performance and 25 percent better range than with the previous-generation models.
Also, both devices are now certified to the 802.11n specification. Previously, they were certified to the draft-n spec.
Base prices are unchanged for “AirPort Extreme”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/x/Apple|AirPort and “Time Capsule”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/x/Apple|Time_Capsule, but we have all Time Capsules currently on sale.
We also still have some closeout Time Capsules on sale with our best prices ever! “Click here to see these.”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/x/Apple|Time_Capsule
_Dear Friends,_
This week it’s Edward Shepard, writing for Don who is back in the US, but currently away in Nevada celebrating his 42nd wedding anniversary. The remarkable thing about Don and Grace’s marriage isn’t its duration, but its health. I mean, they’ve been together for the equivalent of a geologic epoch, but you’d think they’re still dating. I’m glad to report that they’re having a nice time in the desert. Don will be back and writing next week.
This was a huge week in Apple news. On Monday, Apple released its fourth quarter results, which came in above all expectations and truly rocked Wall Street. On Tuesday, Apple released newly redesigned (and amazing) iMacs, new Mac minis, a new white MacBook, new Multi-Touch Magic Mouse, updated the AirPort Extreme Base Station, updated the Time Capsule line, and introduced a sleek new aluminum remote.
Next week will be big for Small Dog Electronics. On Monday, Kali and I will be at the Vermont 3.0 Innovation Jam. This event showcases some of the most innovative tech and creative-oriented companies in Vermont. It is also something of a job/career fair for tech-oriented industries. “Click here to learn more.”:http://www.vermont3.com/
On Friday we celebrate Halloween with our annual Small Dog costume party. You’ll be able to vote for your favorite Halloween costume at “Blog.smalldog.com.”:http://blog.smalldog.com
On Friday, we’ll also be picking contest winners of our fun, random “Facebook”:http://www.facebook.com/smalldogelectronics, “Twitter”:http://twitter.com/hellosmalldog and newsletter drawing.
And this Saturday, 10/24, we’re participating in the International Day of Climate action, by helping at a “350 Vermont”:http://www.facebook.com/350Vermont event at Green Mountain Coffee Roaster’s headquarters in Waterbury, Vermont. This town-hall style event is sponsored by NRG, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and the National Wildlife Federation. Senator Bernie Sanders will be speaking. “Learn more about the 350 effort to tackle climate change.”:http://www.350.org/mission
If you’re in the area, come Green Mountain Coffee Roasters to participate from 9:00 – 11:00! “Click here to learn more.”:http://www.facebook.com/350Vermont
Apple’s new aluminum remote is now perfectly synched with their aluminum iMac line. Still $19.99 (or included with new iMacs), the remote features the same four directional buttons along with the menu and play/pause buttons.
Apple has shifted the placement of these buttons slightly, but other than that, it’s the same simple sleek remote you know and love with a shiny new finish. It would make a great gift for the holidays for your favorite media-lover…!
“View the Apple Remote here.”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/74719
The white MacBook has been a staple of the Apple notebook line for about four years now. On Tuesday, Apple gave it a facelift–it now boasts a *curved, polycarbonate __unibody__ enclosure.*
Fortunately, the updated white MacBook has new features under the hood as well. Along with the new enclosure and non-slip rubberized bottom (much like the Mac mini, the entry-level machine on the desktop side), it has a (much larger) glass Multi-Touch trackpad, an LED backlight, a longer-lasting (7 hr) non-replaceable battery and updates to its specs.
The processor has been bumped to 2.26 GHz from 2.13GHz and the hard drive is now 250GB (formerly 160GB). The RAM is now slightly faster, with 2GB included, and upgradable to 4GB. It now features the Mini DisplayPort, a new standard in video connectivity.
All notebooks meet EPEAT Gold status and Energy Star 5.0 requirements. The LED-backlit displays are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. All internal cables and components are PVC-free and are constructed of recyclable materials.
Overall, the white MacBook now includes things that were formerly exclusive either to the Pro line (built-in battery) or the aluminum unibody models (Mini DisplayPort, unibody enclosure and LED backlight). Many of these features have a reduced environmental impact, which is great to see carry over into Apple’s entry-level machines.
Here’s a rundown of what the white unibody MacBook includes:
* 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display
* 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
* 1066 MHz front-side bus
* 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, upgradable to 4GB
* an NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics card
* 250GB serial ATA 5400 rpm hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor (in case you drop it)
* slot-loading double-layer 8X SuperDrive (DVD+ / -R DL/DVD+ / -RW/CD-RW)
* Mini DisplayPort for video output
* built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1
* Gigabit Ethernet port
* built-in iSight video camera
* (2) USB 2.0 ports (and NO FireWire)
* (1) audio line in/out port, supporting optical digital out and analog in/out
* glass Multi-Touch trackpad
* built-in 60WHr lithium polymer battery
* 60W MagSafe Power Adapter
“Read Apple’s full press release.”:http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/10/20macbook.html
*The white unibody MacBook still starts at $999.99,* with multiple custom configurations available as well. We should see these on Monday, so any order that is placed today or over the weekend will ship immediately.
“See the $999.99 model here.”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/74726
Apple announced that the Mac mini has been upgraded with faster Intel Core 2 Duo processors across the board, and now also offers more standard storage and double the standard memory.
Starting at $599, the entry level Mac mini features a faster 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, a 160GB hard drive, five USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics and a SuperDrive.
The $799 Mac mini features a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of memory and a larger 320GB hard drive, with an option to upgrade to a 2.66GHz processor with a 500GB drive.
For the first time ever, Apple is offering a server version of the Mac mini. This will be very welcome by the thousands of people and institutions that currently use the Mac mini in this capacity. The server version of the Mac mini is loaded with the full, unlimited version of Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server.
This specially configured Mac mini also features two 500GB hard drives for a total of 1TB of internal server storage. All this in a tiny 6.5-inch square by 2-inch tall enclosure — the world’s most energy efficient desktop computer.
The server version of the Mac mini retails for $999.99. Snow Leopard server by itself would cost $499 from Apple (or $449.99 from Small Dog Electronics.)
Click here to see the Mac mini, with free shipping and bundled AppleCare!
On Tuesday, Apple introduced new versions of its very popular all-in-one iMac desktop computer. The new models boast incredible 21.5-inch and 27-inch LED-backlit displays with a 16:9 aspect ratio, ideal for watching – and creating – high definition movies, editing photos, or making any kind of digital media. The improved larger displays make it easier to multitask and handle everyday computer tasks.
These are the fastest iMacs ever, up to twice as fast as the previous models. The new iMacs feature faster Intel processors across the board, starting with a 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo in the entry-level 21.5-inch model and moving all the way up to Intel Core i5 or i7 quad-core processors in the top of the line 27-inch iMacs.
Note that the 3.06 processor used in the new entry-level iMac was featured as the top-of-the-line processor in the just-discontinued 24-inch iMac, which was selling for $2199.99 earlier this week. That’s quite an upgrade!
The quad-core Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor in the 27-inch iMac puts four processing cores on one chip, so data doesn’t have to travel far to get from core to core. This boosts application performance up to 2x over the previous-generation iMac. These quad-core processors connect memory directly to the processor, improving memory bandwidth up to 2.5x. This is unprecedented in an all-in-one computer.
The new iMacs feature more standard RAM (4GB, expandable to 16GB), and larger standard hard drives (500GB to 1TB).
These new iMacs also feature a built-in SD card slot for the first time ever, along with four USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, headphone/optical digital audio port, audio line in, built-in microphone, iSight camera, and Mini DisplayPort output.
The new iMacs have a new seamless, precision-forged aluminum enclosure, redesigned speakers, edge-to-edge glass on the monitor, and a new tapered stand.
The new iMac is the first Mac to come standard with the Apple Wireless Keyboard and the new wireless Magic Mouse. The Magic Mouse is described below, but in brief it uses Multi-Touch technology to let you click, scroll, or swipe anywhere on its perfectly smooth, seamless top shell.
Going back to the display, the 21.5-inch iMac features a high resolution 1920-by-1080 pixel display (native HD) while the 27-inch iMac features a 2560-by-1440 pixel display offering 60 percent more pixels than the previous 24-inch model. Both 21.5 and 27-inch displays use IPS technology to deliver consistent color across an ultra wide 178 degree viewing angle.
The 21.5-inch iMac offers great graphics performance with the integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor or the ATI Radeon HD 4670. The 27-inch iMac comes with dedicated high-performance ATI Radeon HD 4670 or, for top-of-the-line performance, the ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics processor.
The 21.5-inch iMac starts at $1199.99. “Click here to see the 21.5-inch iMac. We offer it with free shipping and bundled with AppleCare.”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/x/Apple|iMac|21.5in
The 27-inch model starts at $1699.99. The top-of-the-line Intel Quad-Core i5 costs $1999.99, with an option to custom-order Quad-Core Intel Core i7 for $200 more. “Click here to see the 27-inch iMac. Again, we offer it with free shipping and bundled with AppleCare.”:http://www.smalldog.com/category/x/x/x/Apple|iMac|21.5in
The 3.06GHz-equipped iMacs will be shipping very quickly, while the i5 and i7-equipped iMacs won’t be shipping until November.