MacManLee’s Apple Mac Blog

New iMac’s, Apple Magic Mouse, MacBook’s and MacMini’s

Posted by: macmanlee on: October 20, 2009

Apple have made some great updates today, read on…..

Apple have updated the Macbook line with a new durable polycarbonate unibody design with LED-backlit display, glass multi-touch trackpad and a 7 hour battery life. The new design includes a non-skid bottom surface, and weighs only 4.7 pounds. It contains a 2.26 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of RAM, 250GB HD and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics card.

MacBook

New LED backlit iMac’s including NEW 27″ iMac

The 21.5-inch model, which begins at £949 and carries a 1920×1080 display, offers Intel Core 2 Duo processor options running at 3.06 GHz or 3.33 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M or ATI Radeon 4670 graphics card options. Pricing on the 27-inch model, which carries a 2560×1440 display, begins at £1349. In addition to the same processor options found on the smaller model, buyers can also select from a 2.66 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 or 2.8 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, although machines carrying those higher-end processors will not ship until November.
All new iMac models feature an SD card slot and ship standard with a wireless keyboard and the new Multi-Touch Magic Mouse also unveiled today, see below for details.
iMac 27 inch

Apple’s NEW multitouch Magic Mouse.

Apple introduced a new multi-touch mouse today called “Magic Mouse”. The mouse uses the same multi-touch technology found in the iPhone, iPod Touch, and Mac notebook trackpads. The entire surface of the mouse is a seamless multi-touch surface.

The new mouse comes standard with the new iMacs introduced today and is also available separately for £55

Magic mouseThe gesture commands allow users to scroll through documents, pan across images, or swipe to move forward or backward through web pages or photos. It is said to work for both left and right handed users and gesture commands can be configured in the System Preferences. Magic Mouse is Bluetooth wireless enabled and will be available at the end of October.

multi touch

AND FINALLY… Apple have updated the MacMini, including a multi drive Server version….whatever next….

Apple today also announced that the Mac mini, the world’s most energy efficient desktop, is now faster, offers more storage and comes standard with double the memory.

Starting at £499, the entry level Mac mini features a faster 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, a 160GB hard drive, five USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics and a SuperDrive. The £649 Mac mini features a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of memory and a larger 320GB hard drive.

Apple now offers a £799 Mac mini that is specially configured with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard® Server. Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server features two 500GB hard drives for a total of 1TB of server storage in the tiny 6.5-inch square by 2-inch tall Mac mini enclosure.


123234-mac_mini_500

The server model runs Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server and replaces the Mac mini’s usual optical drive with a second 2.5-inch hard drive, allowing for the 1 TB total hard drive capacity.

As always, if you have any problems with your Apple Mac and need Apple Mac Support or Repairs in Cornwall or Devon then get in touch with MacManLee.

http://www.macmanlee.co.uk

Snow Leopard 28th August

Posted by: macmanlee on: August 24, 2009

snowleopardThat’s true, Snow Leopard is shipping on 28th August, this week…

If you are using Mac OSX 10.5 you can upgrade ( single user) for only £25 or £39 for the Family Pack Upgrade. If you are using Mac OS X 10.4 you have to purchase the Mac Box Set , which includes the full iLife 09 and iWork 09 packages as well for £129

As originally speculated OSX Leopard is for Intel Mac ONLY so cannot be used on PowerPC computers.

Click on the Snow Panther above to pre-order this upgrade direct from The Apple Store Online UK for shipping on August 28th.

Apple Updates Pro Apps

Posted by: macmanlee on: July 25, 2009

Been a while since I updated so here comes a very quick post…..

Apple Have updated their Pro Apps , ie Final Cut Studio, Final Cut Server, Logic Studio and Logic Express. Prices are a little more competitive than before and there are obviously going to be stability updates to contend with the Leopard problems that have been noted in many places. Too much to explain in one blog, so follow the links below for more details.

FINAL CUT STUDIO

FINAL CUT SERVER

LOGIC EXPRESS

LOGIC STUDIO

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I know this is a bit late for most of you Apple changed the way we look at the Portables by creating the MacBook Pro in 13″, 15″ and 17″ versions, OLD NEWS NOW but check out the following links for more details.

MACBOOK

MACBOOK PRO

MACBOOK AIR

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

As always, if you have any problems with your Apple Mac and need Apple Mac Support or Repairs in Cornwall or Devon then get in touch with MacManLee.

http://www.macmanlee.co.uk

MacBook Update

Posted by: macmanlee on: May 30, 2009

Apple have released a quick update to the entry level MacBook. The White MacBook now comes with a 2.13 Ghz processor, 800MHz DDR2 memory and a 160gb drive as standard ( upgradable to 500gb) These all come with the upgraded NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics as the aluminium models do. The only catch is that they have upped the entry price to £749 ( from £719), a bit cheeky that…

macbook-white.jpg

Other news, nothing much yet but the rumours are seriously building about the pending NEW iPhone which we think will be introduced at the 6th June Keynote address. There are too many rumours to mention about the spec so we will just have to wait until the 6th to find out really.

As always, if you have any problems with your Apple Mac and need Apple Mac Support in Cornwall or Devon then get in touch with MacManLee. http://www.macmanlee.co.uk

NEW Apple kit, and lots of it too.

Posted by: macmanlee on: March 3, 2009

Lots of updates to the Apple kit today, updated iMac’s, MacMini’s , MacPro’s, Time Capsule, Airport Extreme Base Station and some other minor tweaks to the MacBook Pro and Keyboards.

NEW iMac

Here are the specs for the NEW iMac’s announced today, there is the entry level 20″ iMac and then the other 3 in the range are 24″ models.

picture-2

20-inch 2.66 GHz iMac. 2GB RAM. NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Integrated graphics. 320GB HD. Mini Display Port

24-inch 2.66 GHz iMac. 4GB RAM. NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Integrated graphics. 640GB HD. Mini Display Port

24-inch 2.93 GHz iMac. 4GB RAM. NVIDIA GeForce GT 120. 640GB HD. Mini Display Port

24-inch 3.06 GHz iMac. 4GB RAM. NVIDIA GeForce GT 130. 1TB HD. Mini Display Port

A great range starting at only £949 inc vat

NEW MacMini

Contrary to popular belief the MacMini has not been discontinued and the range has had a revamp incorporating the NVIDEA 9400M Graphics chip, 5 USB ports and the following specs for the range

picture-12.0GHz Mac mini. 1GB 1066 MHz DDR SDRAM, GeForce 9400M integrated graphics, 120GB HD, 8x SuperDrive, Mini DisplayPort and mini-DVI, 5 USB Ports, One FireWire 800 Port

2.0GHz Mac mini. 2GB 1066 MHz DDR SDRAM, GeForce 9400M integrated graphics, 320GB HD, 8x SuperDrive, Mini DisplayPort and mini-DVI, 5 USB Ports, One FireWire 800 Port

NEW MacPro

The new Mac Pro includes Intel Xeon processors running at lightning speeds of up to 2.93 GHz and an fabulous integrated memory controller with three channels of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC memory. Apple claims that this will deliver up to 2.4 times the memory bandwidth while cutting memory latency up to 40 percent. Every Mac Pro comes with the NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 with 512MB of GDDR3 memory. an upgrade option up to the ATI Radeon HD 4870 is available for more performance if you demand it. The new Mac Pro also comes with both a Mini DisplayPort and a DVI port to support the 24-inch Apple LED Cinema Display, the 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display, or any other DVI based displays.

picture-31One 2.66GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon 3500 Processor. 3GB of RAM. NVIDIA GeForce GT 120. 640GB HD.

Two 2.26GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon 5500 Processor. 6GB of RAM. NVIDIA GeForce GT 120. 640GB HD.

NEW Time Capsule and Airport Extreme Base Station

They both come with 2 main fantastic new features included:

Simultaneous dual-band support – Operates simultaneously on both 5 GHz (802.11n) and 2.4 GHz (802.11b/g) frequencies to allow all wireless products to connect on the best available band

Access files on a networked drive from anywhere – Allows MobileMe subscribers to register their AirPort Express Base Station or Time Capsule with their MobileMe account, providing them access to their files from anywhere via the Internet. Drives will appear in the Finder sidebar like any other attached drive, acting just like a personal file server with remote access

Other items

Apple have also made minor improvements to the MacBook and MacBook Pro, a few speed bumps in the MacBook Pro and a 256GB SSD upgrade option for the MacBook and MacBook Pro ranges.

Also Apple have introduced a wired keyboard without the numeric keypad ( similar to the wireless version)

applekeyboard

VISIT http://www.macmanlee.co.uk for Apple Mac Repair and Apple Mac Support in Cornwall and Devon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Apple Macintosh! 25 years old today.

Posted by: macmanlee on: January 24, 2009

 

The Apple Macintosh Computer is 25 years old today, the 24th January. The Apple Macintosh made it’s debut on 24th January 1984 and thus started the computer revolution changing the face of computing for years to come. 

macintosh

The  Apple Mac introduced all types of new technologies that did it’s best to revolutionise computer usage. Apple made such innovations as the graphical user interface (GUI), the mouse,, and the 3.5 inch diskette were all technologies introduced by the Mac. Apple still produce and create innovations every single day and then the others tag along soon afterwards as they did in 1984.

I could go on for hours about the Mac/Windows debate but all things aside Windows owes all the GUI innovations available today to the Apple Macintosh. Windows would not be what it is today without the Mac OS developing the GUI user-friendly, point-and-click, drag-and-drop and so much easier user friendly interface and not forgetting the development of that little device we use every single day the mouse.

So anyway, thank you Apple Macintosh and a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you.

VISIT http://www.macmanlee.co.uk for Apple Mac Repair and Apple Mac Support in Cornwall and Devon.

VISIT http://www.macmanlee.co.uk for Apple Mac Repair and Apple Mac Support in Cornwall and Devon.

powerbook17

Apple have announced a brand new Aluminium UniBody MacBook Pro 17″ which will be available in late January. This NEW MacBook Pro utilises the same unibody construction as the existing 15″ MacBook Pro and MacBook’s announced late 2008. The NEW MacBook Pro 17″ comes with 3 USB ports, Mini DisplayPort, Firewire 800 (but no FW400), Digital audio in/out, Expresscard port, Gigabit Ethernet, Glass Button-less Trackpad, up to 8 Hours longer lasting battery. It also comes with the dual 9400M and 9600M graphics cards built in for improved graphics and RAM can be upgraded to 8gb.

 

NEW SOFTWARE TOO…..

softwareApple also announced NEW versions of iLife 09, iWork 09 and a new item called Mac Box Set.

iLife 09

iPhoto 09 - Organize photos two new ways: Faces, based on who’s in your photos, and Places, based on where your photos were taken. Then share on Facebook or Flickr with a click.

iMovie 09 - Make a great movie in the time you have. Choose a dynamic theme to enhance your movie in seconds. Or refine every shot with the Precision Editor.

Garageband 09 - Learn to play piano and guitar. Learn songs from the artists who made them famous. Rock like a legend with new guitar amps and stompbox effects

iWeb 09 - Design a website to share your photos, movies, and music just by dragging and dropping. Add new dynamic widgets and publish and share with a click.

iWork 09

Pages 09 - With advanced tools for writing and easy page layout, your documents in Pages are beautiful beyond words.

Numbers 09 - Numbers helps you get more from your data with easy-to-create formulas, one-click charts, and table categories.

Keynote 09 - New cinematic animations, transitions, and effects in Keynote will keep your audience captivated.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES - Open, save, and email Microsoft Office files and also iWork.com BETA announced, a new public beta, web-based service from Apple that lets you share your iWork ’09 documents, spreadsheets, and presentations in a way that’s both simple and smart.

Mac Box Set

Get the latest versions of the Apple software for your Mac — all in one box:

  • Mac OS X v10.5.6 Leopard, the latest version of the world’s most powerful operating system
  • iLife ’09, featuring the new iPhoto ’09, iMovie ’09, GarageBand ’09, iWeb ’09, and iDVD
  • iWork ’09, Apple’s productivity suite for home and office including Pages ’09, Numbers ’09, and Keynote ’09

 

As always all these items are available to buy ( or pre-order) via our Sales pages on the website. http://www.macmanlee.co.uk

Apple NEW announcements very soon….

Posted by: macmanlee on: January 3, 2009

VISIT http://www.macmanlee.co.uk for Apple Mac Repair and Apple Mac Support in Cornwall and Devon

First MINI blog of 2009: Apple are due to make NEW announcements very soon on the 6th January at their Keynote address on the opening of the MacWorld Expo. There are many rumours around about their announcement including the strong possibility of the iPhone Nano and a revamp for both the iMac and the MacMini computers, the application iWork is also due for a update as well. All we can do is wait until Tuesday for the full details so watch this space. As soon as I get some information I will get it posted here.

More to come soon, and may I wish a very HAPPY NEW YEAR to all.

Upgrades, why buy new when you can upgrade.

Posted by: macmanlee on: October 29, 2008

VISIT http://www.macmanlee.co.uk for Apple Mac Repair and Apple Mac Support in Cornwall and Devon

In this present climate, why buy new kit when you can upgrade your Mac. Upgrade your Apple Mac with bigger hard drives, more ram etc.

It has occurred to me that rather than buy a new Mac ( especially one without firewire) you can happily upgrade your mac with more capacity and memory so I came up with a new section of the website that will give you an idea of costs to upgrade your mac. 

VISIT http://www.macmanlee.co.uk/servicing.html and then follow the link to the upgrades section to get an idea about costs. Upgrade your internal hard drive from only £119 +vat or your RAM from only £49 +vat.

We can even upgrade your older Mac’s as well, if in any doubt just drop us an email by filling in the form on the Support page.

NEW Apple Laptops

Posted by: macmanlee on: October 19, 2008

VISIT http://www.macmanlee.co.uk for Apple Mac Repair and Apple Mac Support in Cornwall and Devon

Apple as predicted have introduced NEW laptops across the range. There are some fantastic improvements to the features as usual but a few surprises as well. Read on for the information….

 

Firstly the new MacBook. These have been redesigned and have some fabulous improvements listed below:

 

Precision aluminum unibody enclosure. made from one solid piece of aluminum comes a MacBook that’s thin and light, beautifully streamlined, and durable.

Ultrathin 13.3-inch LED-backlit display. Seamless glass and instant full screen brightness make everything you see flat-out spectacular. Including the display itself.

Up to 5x faster NVIDIA graphics performance. Advanced NVIDIA integrated graphics provide more responsive gameplay and more realistic 3D environments

All-new, smooth glass Multi-Touch trackpad. It’s redesigned with even more room for even more gestures. Now the entire glass trackpad is also the button, so it’s clickable everywhere

These are all fantastic improvements from Apple but there are also a few unusual happenings too. The entry level MacBook which was previously £699 has now increased in price to £719, very unusual move for Apple as prices usually go down not up, also the entry level computer does not have any of the features included in the middle and top range MacBook’s as it is of the old white plastic construction as per the previous model, maybe Apple are trying to get rid of excess old stock?

The one big feature that caused the most controversy was the lack of a firewire port on the NEW MacBook, so anybody who has firewire peripherals will have to get a USB to firewire adaptor to utilise it or replace with a USB alternative. This won’t affect all users but can caouse problems for people upgrading from a previous Mac. There has been a feature for the last few years to migrate your settings and users from a previous Mac to your new computer, this is not lost BUT the option of firewire has now gone so you will have to migrate via Ethernet or Airport which will take considerably longer to transfer ( from about 1-2 hours up to several hours)

 

 

Now the NEW MacBook Pro’s. These have the same fabulous features as above:

 

 

Precision aluminum unibody enclosure. made from one solid piece of aluminum comes a MacBook that’s thin and light, beautifully streamlined, and durable.

Ultrathin 15-inch LED-backlit display. Seamless glass and instant full screen brightness make everything you see flat-out spectacular. Including the display itself.

Up to 5x faster NVIDIA graphics performance. Advanced NVIDIA integrated graphics provide more responsive gameplay and more realistic 3D environments

All-new, smooth glass Multi-Touch trackpad. It’s redesigned with even more room for even more gestures. Now the entire glass trackpad is also the button, so it’s clickable everywhere

I don’t have anything bad to say about the new MacBook Pro’s as they are greatly improved although again Apple has bumped up the price from £1299 to £1399 for the entry level MacBook Pro. The 17″ MacBook Pro is still of the old design without any of the above new features but will be updated in the near future.

 

 

 

Finally the MacBook Air

 

These have the improved graphics as the other laptops and better storage capacities, minor bumps but still an improvement on the earlier models.