School Days: Apple Updates iBooks and Mac minis

School Days: Apple Updates iBooks and Mac minis
07/29/05

Just in time for back-to-school, Apple this week announced upgrades to its entry-level iBook laptops and Mac mini lines. While some had speculated that the iBooks would get the “widescreen treatment” similar to the PowerBook line, there are no changes to the iBook form factors in this revision.

The $999, 12-inch iBook gets a speed bump from 1.2 GHz to 1.33 GHz, standard 512MB of RAM (considered by many to be the minimum to run Mac OS X “Tiger”), and a larger 40GB hard drive. It retains the DVD-playing, CD-burning “Combo” optical drive.

The $1299, 14-inch iBook gets a speed bump to 1.42 GHz, 512MB RAM standard, and a larger 60GB hard drive (upgradeable to a whopping 100GB). It retains the DVD-burning, CD-burning “SuperDrive”.

Both models still come with built-in 802.11g Airport Extreme wireless networking. New to the iBooks is built-in Bluetooth 2.0 wireless connectivity, featuring enhanced data rates, which can be used to connect to a wireless keyboard or mouse, as well as a myriad of mobile phones and PDAs.

The new iBooks also inherit two features introduced in the last revision to the PowerBook line. Trackpad Scrolling gives the user the ability to scroll up, down, and across documents like long/wide web pages with two fingers on the scrollpad. Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor protects the hard drive (and your valuable data) in case of a fall or heavy jarring. If it senses a sudden change in axis position and accelerated movement, the Sudden Motion Sensor instantly parks the hard drive heads so they won’t damage the hard drive disks on impact. Once the iBook is level again, the hard drive heads are unlocked automatically.

Best of all, iBooks and Mac minis ship with Tiger and Apple’s iLife ’05 suite – iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, and GarageBand – as well as Quicken 2005, World Book Encyclopedia, AppleWorks, games, and a MS Office “30-Day Test Drive” edition.

The Mac mini is now available in three models, all with 512MB RAM and built-in Airport Extreme and Bluetooth. $499 gets you 1.25 GHz, a 40GB hard drive, and Combo drive. $599 bumps you to 1.42 GHz, 80GB hard drive, and Combo drive. $699 brings 1.42 GHz, 80GB hard drive, and SuperDrive. All in a box just 6.5 inches by 6.5 inches by 2 inches tall. Both the new iBooks and Mac minis are shipping today.