Moments ago, Steve Jobs announced new super slim models of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air and a LED-backlit cinema display at Apple headquarters in Cupertino, CA.
Sorry kids. A MacBook Touch was NOT announced. Rumors Apple would announce a touchscreen laptop have been swirling around the Internet since July. But in the Q&A session after the announcements, Jobs and company were asked if they planned on adding touchscreens to laptops. This was their response: “So far it hasn’t been a lot of sense to us, but we may see it in the future. We’ve experimented with it before.”
Blu-ray support and HDMI connectivity were also NOT announced. Hope you didn’t have your fingers crossed for those.
But let’s go over the new laptops and display.
MacBooks
The next generation MacBook and MacBook Pro features a LED-backlit display, new NVIDIA graphics card technology, a multi-touch glass trackpad (a la the iPhone), Mini DisplayPort connector and a new unibody enclosure manufactured using an environmentally responsible process.
By using a new manufacturing process where the body of the laptops are cut from a single piece of aluminum, Apple was able to not only make the new laptops thinner but more eco friendly. On stage, Steve Jobs proudly proclaimed “This is the most eco friendly MacBook ever in the history of human existence.”
Another amazing feature of the new MacBooks is the inclusion of the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT graphics cards. NVIDIA’s new advanced integrated graphics cards provide more responsive gameplay and more realistic 3D environments. Under the 9400, you get 5 hours of battery life vs. 4 hours on the 9600 GT. Apple is the first company to bring these new NVIDIA cards to market.
The MacBook Pro connectors are, in order from the left, Magsafe, Gigabit Ethernet, Firewire 800, two USB 2.0 ports, a Mini DisplayPort, Audio In/Out (analog and optical digital), ExpressCard/34, and a battery indicator lights. The MacBook no longer has a Firewire port.
The MacBooks are shipping today. The entry model MacBook starts at $1299. MacBook Pro $1999.
MacBook Air
Although a little overshadowed today, the MacBook Air is also getting an update. The new MacBook Air will also include the new NVIDIA 9400M graphics cards, as well as a 120GB hard drive and a 128GB SSD option (solid state drive). The MacBook Air will also migrate away from microDVI and switch to a Mini DisplayPort.
The new MacBook Air starts at $1799 and you’ll start seeing these in stores starting in November.
LED Cinema Display
The new 24-inch LED Cinema Display has 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution, a built-in iSight (with mic), stereo speakers, Mag Safe connector and a 3 port USB hub ($899).
The new MacBook Air and LED Cinema Display don’t start shipping until November.
Frank Wilson is a retired teacher with over 30 years of combined experience in the education, small business technology, and real estate business. He now blogs as a hobby and spends most days tinkering with old computers. Wilson is passionate about tech, enjoys fishing, and loves drinking beer.
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