What secrets lurk below its sleek surface?
Not content to buck the economic downturn with the announcement Monday of record quarterly profits, Apple spruced up its computer line Tuesday with a slew of updates and the introduction of the new multi-touch "Magic Mouse."
Bigger, faster, better was the order of the day as the company updated the iMac, Mac mini, Macbook and brought its so-far successful multi-touch technology to the mouse.
That's the big question coming out of this series of announcements: Will Apple hit a home run with this mouse? Can it make us forget about its various questionable attempts to improve the device it first made popular in the 1980s? I have high hopes because they've managed to mainstream multi-touch technology with the iPhone. But Apple also planted a seed of doubt in my mind when I saw that they have decided to call it, with a straight face, the Magic Mouse.
The other question I had after absorbing the Apple news was: Do I need a Mac mini server for my house? I could use it as a hub for sharing information between the three other computers in my house. But it's got to be overkill, right? They can all talk to each other and share files now without going through a central server. Obviously I don't need it. Even Apple says, "It's perfect for any small business or group — retail shops, doctor and law offices, classrooms, design studios — you name it."
I guess I fall into the "you name it" category. But my house really isn't like a business or office. So, here's the skinny on the announcements today:
The iMac is now available in 21.5-inch and 27-inch(!) screen sizes. Processors are either dual-core or quad-core and the discrete graphics cards have been beefed up. The iMac now comes standard with a wireless keyboard and Magic Mouse. Prices range from $1199 to $1999. The quad-core models will not be shipping until November.
The entry level Macbook starts at $999 and gets a new "polycarbonate unibody design." It's also been updated with a screen lit by LEDs and a glass trackpad. Finally, it also gets a built-in battery that, according to Apple, gives up to seven hours of life to the Macbook.
The Mac mini gets faster processors, more memory and the aforementioned server edition. Apple calls the little square box the "world's most energy efficient desktop." Mac minis start at $599 for the base model and $999 for the server edition.
The Magic Mouse, which comes as standard with the new iMacs, is also available as a $69 accessory starting at the end of October.
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