I am a drinker with writing problems - Brendan Behan
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Apple updates Macbook Air and Mac Mini
MAKER OF SHINY TOYS Apple has launched its updated Macbook Air laptop and Mac Mini desktop at the Apple Store.
The online Apple Store was down earlier today so we started wondering what the fruit themed firm was going to add to it. It turns out that it has refreshed the Macbook Air and Max mini, both with faster processors.
Philip Schiller, SVP of worldwide product marketing at Apple said, "MacBook Air features our most advanced technology and is an ideal match for Lion, especially with its new Multi-Touch gestures, full-screen apps, Mission Control and Mac App Store."
The Macbook Air is apparently no thinner than it was before. This comes as a surprise and a bit of a let down from the company that is seemingly obsessed with making things thinner. It does have a faster Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor though, and will ship with Apple's latest Mac OS X Lion operating system.
The cappuccino company claims that OS X Lion is the "the world's most advanced operating system" and said its Macbook Air has up to twice the performance of the previous model.
Other additions to the wafer thin laptop include Thunderbolt I/O technology, a glass Multi-Touch trackpad and the keyboard, wait for it, is now backlit. Models are still the 11in and 13in sizes as before, with Intel HD Graphics 3000 and up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM. Prices start at £849 for the 11in model with 64GB of storage and peak at £1,349 for the 13in model with 256GB of storage.
The latest Mac Mini has also has the Intel Core i5 or Core i7 processor, which is accompanied by an AMD Radeon HD 6630M discrete graphics card. Like the Macbook Air, it has Thunderbolt I/O and OS X Lion.
You can opt for up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM and a 256GB solid state drive. If you don't fancy these extras then the Mac Mini will come with 2GB or 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.
Connectivity includes four USB 2.0 ports, Firewire 800, Ethernet, HDMI, microphone, headphone and a card reader. There's also built in WiFi and Bluetooth.
Prices start at £529 for a configuration with a Core i5 chip, 2GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive. If you're feeling like splashing the cash then you can opt for the Mac Mini with OS X Lion Server for £849. µ
Tags: Hardware
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to get its size down to only 7.7x7.7x1.4", and I guess that would shut the fans up and reduce the maximum power draw to less than 85W, but I'm not sure how well it would drive a 2560x1600 screen at that point.
SNIFF! THATS DOWNRIGHT HURTFUL.
BUT SINCE YOU (DIDNT) ASKED, JOBS AND ME HAVE TO DEAL WITH HURTFUL PEOPLE ALL DAY EVERY DAY. AND ITS PAINFUL EXPERIENCE ILL HAVE YOU KNOW.
(FYI MY UNIT IS UPDATED EXACTELY LIKE THE MAC MINI, AND SO IT HAS EQUAL BATTERY LIFE TO THE MINI, MR. T, IF THAT REALLY IS YOUR REAL NAME THAT IS, WHICH I SINCERELY DOUBT, BUT THATS YOUR BUSINESS I GUESS)
Now perhaps you can explain how you're going to get that lot in your satchel and what its battery life is like. That or how you're going to hear the sound over the howl of the fans if you use it as a HTPC.
You're comparing against the wrong models and for the wrong reasons. What percentage of the public do you think have the skills and inclination to build their own boxes rather than wandering down to Best Buy and coughing for a tin box that will never be opened in its life.
The Mac Mini is such a great media center PC hooked to the TV - it's simply ridiculous to not have an optical drive.
I had bought a iMac a few years back and it was the most crash happy machine I ever owned, maybe leopard was just to new. I am thinking about about a high end macbook pro, if I can get past the sticker shock. I am wondering if Lion is to new or if they are truly minor updates . I want a laptop that will last for years and not have to go fetch a dvd drive or other m.i.a thing I would need on a macbook air. I don't know if anyone making stuff that will last regardless of cost anymore.
WHY, I JUST WENT AHEAD AND UPGRADED MY OWN PIECACRAP COMPUTER AT THE SAME TIME!
I TOOK ALL MY OLD CRAP (MY FX-62, MY ASUS MOTHERBOARD, MY BFG VIDEO CARD, MY OCZ RAM CHIPS) AND CASHED IT IN USING FLEABAY TO THE TUNE OF $200.
THEN I WENT AND GOT PHENOM II 720 BE (I ALREADY UNLOCKED 4TH CORE & OVERCLOCKED TO 3.7 GHZ), PLUS 16GB DDR3-1600 RIPJAWS, PLUS XFX 5670 (WITH DIRT 3 FOR FREE), PLUS NEW CHEAPIE MSI MOTHERBOARD ALL FOR $300.
BOLTED IT ALL TOGETHER, WAY WICKED UPGRADE FOR NET COST $100. I EVEN INSTALLED WIN 7 UPGRADE OVER TOP OF THAT PIECACRAP VISTA.
YOU KNOW, ME AND JOBS ARE ALIKE IN MANY OTHER WAYS TOO...