Apple goes greener in new desktops
Published: 03 Mar 2009 18:50 GMT
As expected, Apple announced desktop updates on Tuesday with a focus on energy efficiency.
It has launched new Mac Pro high-end desktops powered by Intel's Nehalem-based Xeon processors, alongside new and more graphics-intensive Mac Mini machines, and updated iMacs that offer the lowest price yet for Apple's consumer desktops.
All the new machines meet the requirements for the US government's Energy Star 5.0 certification, which will be officially adopted by electronics makers this summer. The environmental programme, which has also been adopted by some UK manufacturers, guarantees that a device meets certain agreed standards for power efficiency.
The new Mac Pro is priced at £1,899 (including VAT) for the quad-core version and at £2,499 for the eight-core version. The quad-core has one Nehalem-based Xeon processors running at 2.66GHz, while the eight-core has two running at 2.26GHz, according to the Apple Store UK website. Both can be customised with chips running at 2.93GHz, for £400 and £2,080 respectively. The interior of the machine has been cleaned up to make physical expansions easier.
The new iMac all-in-one desktop offers a 24-inch screen, and is priced from £1,199. The 20-inch model now costs £949.
The 20-inch version comes with a 2.66GHz processor, a 320GB hard drive, and 2GB of RAM expandable to 8GB. The 24-inch model offers processor speed options of 2.66GHz, 2.93GHz (for £1,499), or 3.06GHz (for £1,799). All the 24-inch iMacs come with a 640GB hard drive and 4GB of RAM, expandable to 8GB.
The new Mac Mini has a big upgrade: it includes a Nvidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphics chip, which Apple says will improve graphics performance as much as fivefold. The machine, which comes without peripherals, costs £499 for a lower-end edition (1GB RAM, 120GB hard drive) or £649 for the higher-end (2GB RAM, 320GB hard drive). Both come with a 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo chip.
The Mac Mini is the "world's most energy efficient desktop computer", Apple chief operating officer Tim Cook said in a statement. Cook is currently at the helm of the company while CEO Steve Jobs is out for six months due to health reasons.
Credit: Apple polishes its desktop line from CNET News
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