Apple introduced the long-anticipated update to its ageing Mac Pro range in the form of the “Nehalem”-powered towers. Featuring Intel’s latest Quad-Core Xeon which pack all four cores on one die for efficient transfer of data as opposed to splitting them over two, the new Mac Pros show no cosmetic differences. Top-end clock speed on the processors went down in a rare move, from 3.2GHz to 2.93GHz, but performance claims from Apple state they are twice as powerful as the outgoing generation.

It’s worth noting that the 20″ and 23″ cinema displays have quietly disappeared from the range, and the new Mac Pro is now featured alongside the LED Cinema Display in product shots.

So it looks like the various images and video posted on various websites were the real deal, as Apple announced the updated Mac Mini sporting no less than five(!) USB ports. To much relief, Apple has replaced the onboard Intel GMA graphics chipset with the much healthier NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with up to 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM, and also upped the max support of RAM to 4GB.

Probably the coolest feature in our opinion is the Mac Mini’s ability to now support dual displays in extended desktop mode at 1920×1200 resolution from the Mini-DVI and DisplayPort outputs.

Still sticking with the Intel Core 2 Duo processors, the iMac range did receive an update too, albeit a tame one bar (relatively) recession-friendly pricing, with a 24″ iMac starting at just $1,499 (£1,199 inc. VAT). Note that the standard issue keyboard is now sans numeric keypad, but the full length version is still available via the Configure-To-Order options on the Apple Store as a no-cost upgrade.

On a more subtle note, the MacBook Pro range got a sort-of update in the form of faster CTO options on the processor front. The 17″ and backlit 15″ MacBook Pro’s can now be spec’d up with lap-scorching 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors for an additional $300 (£210 inc. VAT).

http://www.insanelymac.com/apple-announces-updated-mac-pro-mac-mini-imac-quietly-updates-macbook-pro

Biggest news IMO is that Apple is finally making good on their promise to offer Radeon HD4870 support. This will inevitably lead to reliable 48xx card support for hackintoshes, and that is great news.

edit: I've got to say that the mac mini is still a joke. Geez that thing is overpriced for what you get. There *should* be a quad core option with the iMac as well considering the price it's going for.

All I can say is that I wish they would have killed the Mac Mini instead of updating it.

Dual display on the Mac Mini is a huge benefit. Now you don't have to buy that crappy $170 add-on to get multiple monitors with it.

I so want a Mac Pro!

Processor downgrade is quite significant for an upgrade.  Previously it was dual 3.2 or 2.8  processors (8 cores)!

I hope Apples performance claims are realistic!

Firewire 800!  Anyone used it?

I recently got the new Macbook, stupid money but beautiful and software is very nice.  Highly recommended.

How often does Apple have a new generation of these things? I know that right at launch is the best and most price-efficient time to buy them, and I've been considering it for a long time...

I'd recommend a hackintosh over a full mac.

The Mini has no competition. Nothing else in that form factor. So why would Apple kill a fat margin, no competition product? OP said it was overpriced. Compared to what other size-of-an-external-CD-drive and totally silent PC?

I think Dell came out with something specifically to compete with it, but I forget the name.

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetails.aspx/desktop-studio-hybrid?c=us&cs=19&l=en&ref=dthp&s=dhs

Ah yes, the Studio Hybrid.

@WoW:

Why?

I love my MacBook Pro.

Mini is the only model that got an interesting upgrade, IMO, and long overdue. Very nice to get a real graphics chipset and keep a firewire port along with the extra display port and USB port. Maybe I should consider upgrading before they start releasing software which doesn't support PPC...