Apple’s new 15-inch MacBook Pro lineup may look identical to its predecessor (the mid-2009 models that brought the fixed battery and SD card slot to the line), but under the hood, changes to both the CPU and GPU combine to make an impressive leap in performance over the systems these replace. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro comes in three standard configurations, all priced similarly to the last iteration. All three models come standard with 4GB of DDR3 RAM, two graphics processors, and a glossy 15.4-inch LED-backlit screen. Read more Read more »
Technology
Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server
Ever since the Mac mini was first released, people have been using Apple’s diminutive Mac desktop as a server. At 6.5 inches square and 2 inches high, it bears just the sort of compact computing power you want to stick in a closet or under a desk and use as an all-purpose receptacle for all your stuff.
Well, wouldn’t you know it—someone at Apple was paying attention to those of us who have been praising the Mac mini as a good server. Because in October Apple announced a new configuration of Mac mini designed specifically to be a server. The new $999 Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server is a fantastic product for workgroups, small businesses, and even schools to use. But for some other common uses, you might be better off buying a regular old Mac mini instead. Read more Read more »
27-inch iMac (i5 and i7)
When Apple announced new iMacs last month, it included a major step forward amid the subtle-but-welcome refinements in most of the models: the first ever iMac to offer a quad-core processor. The new high-end 27-inch iMacs are the first to use Intel’s Core i5 and Core i7 quad-core processors, and they were not available at the time of the announcement. But finally, the wait is over, and the Core i5 and Core i7 27-inch iMacs have arrived—and let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Read more »
21.5 and 27-inch iMacs
Featuring bigger and better screens and shiny new mice, the physical changes to the aluminumiMac in this update are the most dramatic since it was introduced over two years ago, but the speed improvements are marginal at best. Read more
13-inch MacBook/2.26GHz (Late 2009)
In just three and a half years, the MacBook, targeted at average computer users, students, and PC switchers, has become Apple’s best-selling Mac model. In its first major remodeling since 2006, the polycarbonate MacBook has gained many of the marquee features of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, including a unibody design, a glass trackpad, and an LED-backlit display. Read more.
Wacom Intuos4
The Intuos4 feels great, looks gorgeous, and is extremely well-made. Photographers, designers, illustrators, and visual effects artists can all benefit from the innovations in this new line of tablets.
It always surprises me when I discover that an otherwise gear-laden photographer lacks a Wacom pressure-sensitive drawing tablet. I forget that not everyone understands that a Wacom tablet is an essential piece of post-production equipment, like a computer. Read more
LaCie d2 Blu-ray Drive
Lacie’s d2 Blu-ray Professional BD-R, BD-RE Drive is an external optical drive that can burn data to Blu-ray discs, as well as single and dual-layer DVD and CD media. The drive connects to your Mac via FireWire 400 or USB 2.0, though we had some trouble using the USB 2.0 connection with the included Toast Titanium 9 software. Read more
