Apple Unveils Faster, More Affordable PowerBooks
New PowerBook Line With Scrolling TrackPad & Sudden Motion Sensor Starts at
Just $1,499
CUPERTINO, California-January 31, 2005-Apple today unveiled the fastest,
most affordable PowerBook line ever, featuring PowerPC G4 processors
running up to 1.67 GHz, faster hard drives and a faster 8X SuperDrive-all
housed in the PowerBook’s signature aluminum enclosure. All new PowerBooks
come standard with 512MB memory, faster graphics, integrated AirPort
802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0 wireless networking and two new Apple patent-pending
technologies-the scrolling TrackPad and the Sudden Motion Sensor.
“Apple continues to lead the industry with the most innovative notebooks,”
said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product
Marketing. “With new features like the scrolling TrackPad and Sudden Motion
Sensor, the new PowerBooks are the ultimate combination of performance and
portability.”
Designed for creative and business professionals, the new PowerBooks
introduce Apple’s patent-pending scrolling TrackPad that works with every
application and document, so users can easily scroll through long web pages
or across large photographs. Simply touch the trackpad with two fingers
instead of one to quickly scroll or pan within the window. Every PowerBook
also includes Apple’s patent-pending Sudden Motion Sensor technology which
integrates a tri-axis accelerometer to help protect a spinning hard drive
if the notebook is accidentally dropped. Apple’s revolutionary backlit
keyboard with ambient light sensors for working in low-light conditions is
now built in to all 15- and 17-inch PowerBooks and is up to 10 times
brighter than before.
The new PowerBooks deliver increased performance with both the 15- and
17-inch PowerBook models offering up to 1.67 GHz PowerPC G4 processors and
industry-leading ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics processors with 64MB or
128MB of graphics memory. All models now include 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM
and faster 5400 rpm hard drives for demanding professional applications.
The 17-inch PowerBook now features Dual Link support to drive Apple’s
breakthrough 30-inch Cinema HD Display as an external monitor, and this
feature is also available as a build-to-order option on the 1.67 GHz model
of the 15-inch PowerBook.
Apple continues to lead the industry in integrated wireless
communications, and every PowerBook now includes built-in AirPort Extreme
54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking. Apple is the first notebook maker
to include integrated Bluetooth 2.0 (Enhanced Data Rate) for up to three
times greater data rates, up to 3 Mbps, for faster wireless connectivity to
a range of peripherals including cell phones, PDAs, printers and headsets.
Bluetooth 2.0 is also compatible with Bluetooth 1.2 devices such as the
Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mouse.
Every PowerBook now includes iLife ’05, Apple’s award-winning suite of
digital lifestyle applications. iLife ’05 continues to lead the industry
with the most innovative and comprehensive suite of software for
organizing, editing and sharing digital photos; creating stunning digital
movies and DVDs; and purchasing, managing and creating digital music. iLife
’05 includes iTunes 4.7.1, the world’s best digital music jukebox software
with the iTunes Music Store inside. iTunes provides seamless integration
with Apple’s complete family of popular iPods, including the new iPod
shuffle. iLife ’05 also includes iPhoto 5 for organizing and sharing
digital photos; iMovie HD for digital HD-quality movie-making; iDVD 5 for
creating and burning Hollywood-style DVDs; and GarageBand 2, the
revolutionary music application that turns the Mac into a
professional-quality musical instrument and recording studio.
Mac OS X version 10.3 “Panther” is pre-installed on every PowerBook and
delivers breakthrough features including iChat AV desktop video
conferencing, Mail, Safari web browser, Sherlock, Address Book, QuickTime,
iSync, iCal and DVD Player. Panther also features FileVault, which uses the
latest security standards and 128-bit encryption technology to ensure that
data in the home directory is kept secure; Instant On, which wakes the
PowerBook from sleep in just one second; and Automatic Networking, which
automatically switches the network connections between Ethernet, 802.11 and
modem.
The new 12-,15- and 17-inch PowerBook models will be available later this
week through The Apple Store (www.apple.com), at Apple’s retail stores and
Apple Authorized Resellers.
The 1.67 GHz, 17-inch PowerBook, for a suggested retail price of $2,699
(US), includes:
* 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, with one open slot, expandable up to 2GB;
* a 100GB (5400 rpm) Ultra ATA/100 hard drive and Sudden Motion Sensor;
* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive (DVD=B1RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
* ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics with 128MB video memory;
* DVI (Dual Link for 30-inch support), VGA, S-video and composite video
support;
* AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi fast wireless networking and
internal Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
* Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000BASE-T) and 56K V.92 modem;
* two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 and 800;
* optical digital audio input and output;
* a scrolling TrackPad; and
* illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor.
The 1.67 GHz, 15-inch PowerBook, for a suggested retail price of $2,299
(US), includes:
* 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, with one open slot, expandable up to 2GB;
* an 80GB (5400 rpm) Ultra ATA/100 hard drive and Sudden Motion Sensor;
* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive (DVD=B1RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
* ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics with 64MB video memory with Dual Link
DVI functionality;
* DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video support;
* AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi fast wireless networking and
internal Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
* Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000BASE-T) and 56K V.92 modem;
* two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 and 800;
* a scrolling TrackPad; and
* illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor.
The 1.5 GHz, 15-inch PowerBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,999
(US), includes:
* 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, with one open memory slot, expandable up to 2G=
B;
* an 80GB (5400 rpm) Ultra ATA/100 hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;
* a slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive;
* ATI Mobility Radeon 9700 graphics with 64MB video memory;
* DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video support;
* AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi fast wireless networking and
internal Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
* Gigabit Ethernet (10/100/1000BASE-T) and 56K V.92 modem;
* two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 and 800;
* a scrolling TrackPad; and
* illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor.
The 1.5 GHz, 12-inch PowerBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,699
(US), includes:
* 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, expandable up to 1.25GB;
* an 80GB (5400 rpm) Ultra ATA/100 hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;
* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive (DVD=B1RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
* NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 graphics with 64MB of video memory;
* DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video support;
* AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi fast wireless networking and
internal Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
* Ethernet 10/100BASE-T and 56K V.92 modem;
* two USB 2.0 ports and Firewire 400; and
* a scrolling TrackPad.
The 1.5 GHz, 12-inch PowerBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,499
(US), includes:
* 512MB of 333 MHz DDR SDRAM, expandable up to 1.25GB;
* a 60GB (5400 rpm) Ultra ATA/100 hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor;
* a slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive;
* NVIDIA GeForce FX Go5200 graphics with 64MB of video memory;
* DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video support;
* AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi fast wireless networking and
internal Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
* Ethernet 10/100BASE-T and 56K V.92 modem;
* two USB 2.0 ports and Firewire 400; and
* a scrolling TrackPad.
Additional build-to-order options for the new PowerBook line include up to
1.25GB DDR RAM on the 12-inch model and up to 2GB on the 15- and 17-inch
models, an 8X SuperDrive (DVD=B1RW/CD-RW) optical drive, 128MB graphics
memory with Dual Link DVI on the 1.67 GHz 15-inch (for enabling the 30-inch
Apple Cinema HD Display as an external monitor), a 100GB Ultra ATA/100 hard
drive running at 5400 rpm on all models, AirPort Extreme or Express Base
Station, Apple displays and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple
II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh.
Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its
award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and
iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital
music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online
music store.
