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Apple introduces 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display and new iMac systems

Press release, October 24; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES Asia

Apple has introduced an all-new version of its 13-inch MacBook Pro featuring a Retina display and all flash storage in a new compact design. At 0.75-inch and 3.57 pounds, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is 20% thinner and almost a pound lighter than the current 13-inch MacBook Pro.

The new MacBook Pro packs more than four million pixels into its 13-inch Retina display. The 13-inch Retina display uses IPS technology for a 178-degree wide viewing angle, and has 75% less reflection and 28% higher contrast than the current generation, Apple claimed.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display features 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 processors with the option to choose faster 2.9GHz Intel Core i7 processors, Intel HD Graphics 4000, 8GB of 1600MHz memory, and up to 768GB of flash storage. Two Thunderbolt and two USB 3.0 ports allow users to connect to multiple displays and high-performance devices, and a new HDMI port offers quick connectivity to an HDTV. The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display also features a FaceTime HD camera, dual microphones, improved speakers, three-stream 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, and a MagSafe 2 power port.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro battery delivers up to seven hours of wireless productivity and can remain in standby for up to 30 days. With the all new Power Nap feature in OS X Mountain Lion, the MacBook Pro with Retina display stays up to date while it sleeps.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is available with a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of memory and 128GB of flash storage starting at US$1,699; and with 256GB of flash storage starting at US$1,999.

Meanwhile, Apple also unveiled a completely new iMac with a new design, display with reduced reflection, and faster processors. The machine features Intel's third-generation quad-core processors, Nvidia graphics and an new storage option called Fusion Drive.

Redesigned from the inside out, the new iMac features an aluminum and glass enclosure with up to 40% less volume than its predecessor and an edge that measures just 5mm.

The new iMac also features a completely reengineered display that reduces reflection by 75% while maintaining its color and contrast. In the new design, the cover glass is fully laminated to the LCD and an anti-reflective coating is applied using a high-precision plasma deposition process. Every iMac display is individually color calibrated using an advanced spectroradiometer, apple said.

The new iMac features third-generation quad-core Intel Core i5 processors that can be upgraded to Core i7, and the latest Nvidia GeForce graphics processors. Every new iMac now comes standard with 8GB of 1600MHz memory and a 1TB hard drive, and customers can choose to configure their iMac with up to 32GB of memory and a new 3TB hard drive, or 768GB of flash storage.

Fusion Drive is a new storage option that gives customers the performance of flash storage and the capacity of a hard drive. It combines 128GB of flash with a standard 1TB or 3TB hard drive to create a single storage volume that intelligently manages files to optimize read and write performance.

Apple also updated the Mac mini with third-generation dual-core Intel Core i5 and quad-core Intel Core i7 processors that are up to twice as fast and have integrated graphics that are up to 65% faster. Mac mini comes standard with 4GB of 1600MHz memory with support for up to 16GB.

The 21.5-inch iMac is available with a 2.7GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and Nvidia GeForce GT 640M for a suggested retail price of US$1,299; and with a 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and Nvidia GeForce GT 650M for a suggested retail price of US$1,499. The 21.5-inch iMac will be available in November through the Apple Online Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple authorized resellers.

The 27-inch iMac is available with a 2.9GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 660M for a suggested retail price of US$1,799; and with a 3.2GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor and Nvidia GeForce GTX 675MX for a suggested retail price of US$1,999. The 27-inch iMac will be available in December.

The Mac mini is available with a 2.5GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive for a suggested retail price of US$599; a 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, 4GB of memory and a 1TB hard drive for a suggested retail price of US$799; and a 2.3GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, OS X Server, 4GB of memory and two 1TB hard drives for a suggested retail price of US$999. The Mac mini is already available for purchase.

Apple Retina Display-featured 13-inch MacBook Pro notebook

Apple Retina Display-featured 13-inch MacBook Pro notebook
Photo: Company

Apple new iMac all-in-one PC

Apple new iMac all-in-one PC
Photo: Company