With all the hype surrounding the iMac and Mac mini updates, a quick look on the ‘New to the Store’ section on Apple’s website shows another interesting little addition. They’ve released a wired version of the cut down wireless Keyboard with two USB Ports. Seems a little odd to me, where is the wireless version of the full keyboard…?

Also, the MacBook Pro has seen a minor speed bump, the mid-range model going from a 2.53GHz to a 2.66GHz, with a BTO option of a 2.93GHz for an extra £206. Apple don’t deem this an update worthy of a ‘New’ badge in the corner of the product picture though.

With all the talk surrounding the iMac and Mac mini, many failed to spot the leaked product codes for the Mac Pro. The update wasn’t earth shattering, but here we go.

Quad-Core

One 2.66GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Nehalem” processor
3GB (three 1GB) memory
640GB hard drive
18x double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512MB
£1,899.00

8-Core

Two 2.26GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Nehalem” processor
6GB (six 1GB) memory
640GB hard drive
18x double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512MB
£2,499.00

I’ll take one of each thanks.

After over a year without a single update, the Mac mini is officially back. The last update to the Mac mini came way back in August 2007 when they received Core 2 Duo processors. They are still using Core 2 Duo processors, and not the Intel Atom as many feared. There is no change to the speed, only the processor revision, which is the same that’s used in the entry level Alu MacBook. Elswhere the graphical prowess has been boosted thanks to NVIDIA and their rather tasty 9400m Chipset/GPU combo chip, which offers up to 5 x the performance over the Intel GMA950 GPU in the existing Mac mini. Also a welcome boost is the inclusion of N-spec WiFi, the lack of which some found as a limitation when using the previous model as a Media Server, many ended up connecting it via Ethernet.

2.0GHz : 120GB

2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB DDR3 Memory
120GB Hard Drive
8 x double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics
£499.00

2.0GHz : 320GB

2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB DDR3 Memory
320GB Hard Drive
8 x double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics
£649.00

Not much bang for your buck I’ll have to be honest. Very dissapointed to see the top end model only have a 2.0GHz CPU, what about the 2.4GHz? You can get a 2.26GHz BTO option on both models, at a whopping £120! No thank you Apple.

After speculation all weekend about possible updates, Apple have today finally refreshed the iMac product line. With speeds roughly resembeling previous models, some people may be dissapointed not to see the Core 2 Quad processors . What is new though is the NVIDIA Chipset architecture which offers faster memory bandwidth using DRR3 RAM. As reported last night Apple have decided to push the 24″ model even more by only offering one option on the 20″. This is an aggressive move by a company which is never shy on taking  a few risks. The 17″ iMac has been well and truly forgotten. Here is a rundown on all four systems.

20-inch: 2.66GHz

2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
2GB DDR3 Memory
320GB Hard Drive
8 x double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics
£949.00

24-inch: 2.66GHz

2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB DDR3 Memory
640GB Hard Drive
8 x double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Graphics
£1,199.00

24-inch: 2.93GHz

2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB DDR3 Memory
640GB Hard Drive
8 x double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 256MB Graphics
£1,499.00

24-inch: 3.06GHz

3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
4GB DDR3 Memory
1TB Hard Drive
8 x double-layer SuperDrive
NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 with512MB Graphics
£1,799.00

The first thing that strikes me is the prices! If anything they have risen to previous models. Whether this is a sign of the pound being so weak at the moment I don’t know. But yesterday I could get an iMac for £799, now I have to pay £949 for a similar model? Crazy! The first two models are also limited to using the 9400M GPU, which whilst not slow, is not exactly earth shattering for a desktop computer. Overall, I’m very dissapointed.

Latest news in the new iMac/Mac mini saga is that we could see these machines as early as tomorrow. Apple have a history of releasing product refreshes on a Tuesday so I don’t see why not. Hardmac have posted product numbers, while  OneMoreThing have supplied the apparent specs of the new models.

The new iMac models and their corresponding references:
- MB417: Entry level model
- MB418: “Mass market” model
- MB419: high-end model
- MB420: ultimate model
The entry level model should come with a 20″ display, while the three other models will feature a 24″ panel.

For the Mac mini, the references are the following:
- MB463: entry-level model
- MB464 high-end model

Mac mini
- 5x USB
- 1x FireWire 800
- 1x mini DVI
- 1x Display poort
- Nvidia chipset (like the newest MacBook)
- starting at Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 Ghz
- 1 of 2 GB DDR3 memory (max 4 GB)
- 120 GB hard disk (max 320 GB)

iMac
- one 20″ model, three 24″ models
- Intel Core 2 Duo (not a quad core): 2.66 Ghz, 2.93 Ghz and 3.06 Ghz
- 1x Display port
- 20″ 2 GB DDR3 memory, 24″ 4 GB DDR3 memory (max 8 GB)

Interestingly, if true, there will now be only one 20″ model, with the other three sporting 24″ displays. The days of the 17″ seem long forgotten now. No mention of any Core 2 Quad processors either, I still fancy the top end 24″ model to have one. Anyway, we will wait and see what happens tomorrow, I know at least one person chomping at the bit to get his hands on an updated iMac, you know who you are…

[Update]

Comet have updated their website with new product numbers and place holder prices! New models tomorrow are officially IMMINENT!

Comet showing new models!

[Update x2]

I’ve just been emailed by a reliable source who tells me these are the full specs of the new machines. Not much to get exctited about then, no 2.4GHz option in the Mac mini seems a strange decision?

IMAC 20″/2.66/2GB/320/SD/MSE/KB
IMAC 24″/2.66/4GB/640/SD/MSE/KB
IMAC 24″/2.93/4GB/640/256/SD/MSE/KB
IMAC 24″/3.06/4GB/1TB/512/SD/MSE/KB

MAC MINI 2.0/1X1G/120/SD/AP/BT
MAC MINI 2.0/2X1G/320/SD/AP/BT

All signs are pointing to Apple releasing a complete refresh of their iMac product line. In the past few weeks resellers have all reported dwindling stocks. Macrumors have received a picture which looks like a piece of Apple marketing describing the iMac as having “High performance NVIDIA graphics”. Now the current high end 24-inch model does use a GeForce 8800GS but this image clearly states both screen sizes.

If they do release the aforementioned updates I expect the low end 20-inch model to use the same GeForce 9400m GPU/Chipset that the new MacBook’s use. Not only would this keeps costs down, but it is also a very capable GPU in it’s own right. Expect all other models to use the 9400m in a similar way to the new MacBook Pro, i.e along side a more powerful GPU. I also have a feeling Apple will stick a Core 2 Quad CPU in the high end 24-inch model. I might be suprised and find they’ll also use one in the high end 20-inch aswell, but I’m not so sure.

Image courtesy of Macrumors.com