| Wednesday, July 19th
Apple CEO Steve Jobs shook up Apple's product line Wednesday, introducing a new line of dual processor G4 desktops, lower cost and higher powered iMacs in sophisticated new colors, and in a move which drew a standing ovation from the Macworld Expo keynote crowd, a new 8" cube with a DVD that pops up like a piece of toast.
The product announcements came as the summer Macworld Expo got underway in
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| Steve Jobs announces the new iMacs. |
New York. The new iMacs will generally cost less than the computers they replace, and the lowest price iMac, the only computer in Apple's line and the only one which is not capable of importing digital video, will cost $799.
The new, beefed-up G4 400, and the new dual processor 450 and 500 mHz G4's will be sold at the current prices for each speed.
Apple also announced new versions of its mouse and keyboard, which included an optical mouse and extended keyboard which will come standard on all machines, and an extensive upgrade to iMovie which will be available as a download from Apple's website in August.
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| Macworld Expo show floor, crowded with Mac enthusiasts. |
Six members of the Gold Coast Mac Board of Directors were in the audience as VIP guests of Apple to hear the speech from Apple's CEO. The keynote has traditionally been used to launch new products and Apple services, and Wednesday's speech was no exception. Jobs announced a whole line of new G4 Computers, new iMacs, a major revamp of the widely disliked "hockey puck" mouse and reduced size keyboard, a major upgrade to iMovie, the new Cube computer, and a line of one cable displays aimed at Cube buyers. He also announced yet another delay for OS10.
New G4's
Taking advantage of new changes in the Mac OS to support multiprocessors, Jobs announced that effective immediately, Macs with processor speeds of 450 megaHertz or greater will now ship with dual processors at Apple's current prices. That in effect means double the processor speed for the same money. Jobs demonstrated a complex Photoshop file on both the dual processor Mac and 700 mHz Pentium 2 computer, and showed the dual processors allowed the Mac to finish the file almost a full minute before the PC. Based on processor speeds, the machines will come with from 20 to 40 GB of hard disk storage, and gigabit Ethernet built in. All will be ready for Airport wireless networking.
Jobs says Apple is the first company to make multiprocessors standard on its high end personal computers. The new computers were available to dealers and online at the Apple Store immediately.
New iMacs
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| Macworld Expo enthusiasts check out new line of iMacs. Photo by Dave Game |
Jobs also announced sweeping upgrades to the iMac line, which celebrated its second birthday at the Expo. Gone are the five flavored iMac DV's, the DV special edition, and the low priced $999 Bondi Blue iMac. In their place are 4 new iMacs aimed at everyone from casual websurfers to sophisticated digital editors. The line carries new, more sophisticated colors.
The entry level iMac will now be the Indigo model. It will be much the same as the current iMac, with more memory and a faster processor, and available only in the deep purple color Apple calls Indigo. Suggested price is $799.
The Ruby model, at $999, is the midlevel entry in the iMac line. It's the first sub-$1000 Macintosh to support Digital Video. It comes in a clear dark red case, and includes extra hard disk space and Firewire. The iMac is also available in Indigo.
The new Sage iMac, which replaces the iMac DV line, will be cost $1299, and will offer the same features as the basic DV iMac but with more memory and a bigger hard disk.
Finally, the DV Special Edition was reduced in price to $1499, given more
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| New Snow iMac gets the once over at Expo. Photo by Dave Game |
memory, a faster processor, and a bigger hard disk, and placed in an improved Graphite case. It also comes in a new color Apple calls Snow, a translucent milky white which captivated people who caught their first glimpse at the show.
The new iMacs are available today, with the exception of the $799 model, which will be available in early September.
Jobs also announced that the new iMac line wll now be carried by Circuit City, the nation's largest electronics chain.
The Cube
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| The Cube has a much smaller than standard G4 footprint. |
Apple responded to what it claims is a consumer desire for a smaller, faster computer which is not an all in one model like the iMac, with a new computer called the Cube.
The white computer sits inside a translucent plexiglas housing which raises it from the desktop for connecting cables. The 8 inch square computer, which has no cooling fan, is lifted out of the cube with a built-in handle. It then snaps out of its case for easy upgrading or servicing. The 450 mHz single processor computer comes with 64 megs of RAM and a 20 GB hard disk, and a DVD drive which pops up the DVD like a toaster. It will be available exclusively in the Apple Online Store, with delivery expected in August. The Cube carries suggested price 0f $1799, or $2299 with a faster processor, more memory, and a bigger hard disk.
The Mouse and Keyboard
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| New Optical Mouse |
Jobs announced that Apple has eliminated the "hockey puck" mouse and the widely criticised reduced size keyboard, and introduced a Pro mouse and a Pro keyboard, both USB devices. The mouse has no ball within, as it's totally optical. This makes Apple the first computer company in the world shipping an optical mouse as standard equipment. The new keyboard carries extended keys, a numeric keypad, and even a key to eject removable media like ZIP disks. The new peripherals will come standard on all Macs, and users of current USB Macs will be able to buy their own through the Apple store for $59 each.
iMovie 2.0
Taking advantage of the increasing number of Macintosh users making digital movies, Apple announced the release of iMovie 2 set for late August, and the new version incorporates a number of major changes. It allows for enhanced audio editing, slow motion and speed motion, and easier editing. A new range of effects has been added, including sepia tone, for giving your moves an old time look, among others. iMovie 2 will be included with all New DV Macs, and will be available as an $49 online upgrade for current iMovie owners. Jobs also announced Apple has enhanced its web authoring service for Mac OS 9 owners, adding easier and more creative ways to display pictures and iMovies. 20 mb of data storage, as well as the web page hosting on Apple's servers, is free to Mac OS 9 owners.
 Your GCMac Board members working at the show.
We're looking for potential exhibitors and sponsors, and getting them to contribute something to the group.
We'll be there the entire week, reporting from New York just for you!
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