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Apple announces new Intel-based iMac, MacBook Pro

by David Chartier Jan 10th 2006 at 2:03PM


If you've been following our chatcast extravaganza of the Macworld 06 keynote that just wrapped up, you might have heard that Apple announced both a new Intel-based iMac and a "MacBook Pro," which will be replacing the PowerBook line. Both of these zippy new Macs feature Intel Dual Core processors, essentially meaning that two processors are on one chip, which will offer incredible boosts in speed. Each core of the new iMac is faster than the previous G5 chips, offering a 2-3x increase in speed and power, while the MacBook Pro's 1.67 or 1.83 GHz Dual Core Intel chip will bring a 4-5x increase in speed over the previous G4 chips.

The iMacs are shipping today, while MacBook Pros will ship in Feburary, with preordering open for business. Here's a rundown on specs for each model. Most of the now-standard specs such as SuperDrives and lit keypads are present, so I won't bother listing them. Commence drooling:

new Intel-based iMac, starting at $1299:
  • Up to 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo processor
  • Click, squeeze and scroll Mighty Mouse
  • Get the big picture with a 17- or 20-inch widescreen flat-panel display
  • Play fast with PCI-Express ATI Radeon X1600 graphics processor
  • See and be seen with built-in iSight camera and iChat AV5
  • Enjoy truly personal theater with Front Row and Apple Remote
  • Burn DVDs or CDs with 8x SuperDrive
  • Banish clutter with built-in wireless
  • Extend your desktop on your TV, display or projector with optional adapters
  • Connect to a Windows network
  • Organize and share music, movies and photos with iLife ’06 featuring iWeb
new Inte-based MacBook Pro, starting at $1999:
  • 15.4-inch widescreen display
  • 1.67 or 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo
  • built-in isight
  • 667MHz frontside bus and main memory
  • PCI Express architecture
  • Up to 120GB Serial ATA hard drive
  • ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with up to 256MB memory on 16-lane PCI Express
  • Dual-link DVI, VGA adapter included
  • Optical digital and analog audio I/O, built-in microphone and stereo speakers
  • Mac OS X Tiger with iLife ’06 featuring iWeb, iWork ’06 trial, and more
Update: Here's Engadget's take on the iMac.

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Gavin Strange

Thats a good point dude, i was just very frustrated when i first read about all the new stuff.

You're so happy with your top-of-the-range new toy and then they take the wind right out of your sails!

i know this happens and i know it always will happen, i just always get abit angry at the start!

im just a bit bitter i've not got that much cash at the moment i think :)

January 11 2006 at 3:34 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sixhoursago

Gavin Strange -
I'm not upset about the constant updates. As everyone says; a product is outdated when you buy it. That's especially true in this industry. It's better than a computer company who hardly ever updates their product lines. What really matters is Apple's continued support of their old models. Seeing how 10.4.4 will run natively both on a MacBook, as well as my old iMac G3, I'd say they're doing pretty well.

All of your software will run, thanks to universal binaries or help from Rosetta. Other than that, these new iMacs are faster than yours. But the release of a faster Mac was and always is imminent.

January 11 2006 at 12:55 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gavin Strange

I'm sorry but is noone else completely FUCKED off that Apple updated their iMac line-up just 12 bloody weeks ago and then go and do it again?

I love apple but my patience with all this shit is really wearing thing.

January 10 2006 at 7:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dinesh

I wanted to switch from PC this year. It is disappointing that there is no update to Mac mini :( but iMac looks juicy to me!

January 10 2006 at 5:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Thomas Deliduka

All these people complaining about having gotten powerbooks and now they're pissed because a new one is out. Jobs announced intel-based Macs a while ago and said they'd be coming out this year. You KNEW they were coming, quit your complaining.

January 10 2006 at 4:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brett

I just bought a new 15" Powerbook a month ago, but after reviewing the specs of the new Macbook I'm not disappointed at all. For me, the 1.67 processor is plenty fast, and I need the PC slot for my wireless broadband internet access. This slot seems to have changed on the Macbook to something smaller that won't work with my wireless card.

I also like the dual layer DVD burner on the Powerbook, which looks like has been downgraded on the new machines. The firewire 800 port and modem are also gone, and while the modem isn't a big deal to most, I use it to fax.

So, while the processor speed, MagSafe power adapter, better graphics card, built-in iSight and faster RAM are sexy, they are not all that useful for me personally. Cool new machines, but I will wait a while before upgrading.

January 10 2006 at 4:45 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Wojtek

I'm about to switch, and this makes my decision a lot harder. I was thinking of a G5, but the iMac does look pretty tempting.

Could someone who has a lot of experience with Macs direct me the right way? Is it worth getting the iMac over the G5 now because of the price and Intel?

January 10 2006 at 4:44 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sam the Deaf

if MacBook Pro is faster and powerful than PowerBook 15". PowerBook should lower the cost. I would buy it!

January 10 2006 at 4:17 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iFelix

Also anyone notice that Apple are still selling G4 PowerBooks?

Some applications will not run on an Intel Mac and therefore a G4 PowerBook is your only real option.

January 10 2006 at 3:56 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
iFelix

The lack of a PC Card slot is certainly a downer for me. I use my 3G card with my current PowerBook a lot. Hopefully a new 3G Express card will be released soon...

January 10 2006 at 3:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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