Archive notice: This article was originally published on January 13, 2006. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Six months earlier than originally announced, Steve Jobs was able to present the first Macs with Intel dual-core processors on January 10: the iMac and the 15-inch Mac Book Pro as the successor to the Powerbook. While Macworld is ending today in San Francisco, the German branch has already shown three of the new devices in Munich.
The iMacs have remained unchanged on the outside, but the Mac Book Pro has undergone some changes compared with its predecessor: new features are a built-in iSight camera and a significantly brighter display. Among the interfaces, an Express Card 34 slot replaces the old PC Card slot, and the power cable attaches to a new safety connector that releases gently in the event of jerky movements without dragging the device along. However, the FireWire 800 port is missing in return. In response to questions, Apple explained that third-party solutions for the Express Card slot might soon be available for separate purchase.
According to Apple, the new dual-core processor from Intel and higher bandwidths between the individual system components are intended to make the devices twice (iMac) and four times (Mac Book Pro) as fast as their respective predecessor models. The iMac is available now, while the Mac Book Pro will not be available until February.
As already announced in the summer, a technology called Rosetta allows software programmed for Power PC G3 or G4 to run on the Intel Macs without the user noticing anything apart from weaker performance. In Munich, several applications could then also be seen starting seamlessly.
However, there is also a long list of software that Rosetta does not support: this includes the Mac OS X Classic environment, in which older Mac OS systems and software ran; but it also includes all applications optimized specifically for the G5 processor.
Thus, “early adopters” who work with Apple’s professional applications Final Cut Studio, Aperture and Logic Pro 7.1 must also be a little patient until they can install the software on a new Mac Book Pro or iMac: only at the end of March will it be possible, for a fee of 49 US dollars and submission of the original DVDs, to obtain a “Universal” installation that supports both Power PC and Intel. However, for Final Cut Studio components there is only an upgrade to the entire Studio, not to individual applications. From Final Cut Pro 5, the upgrade costs 99 US dollars; from DVD Studio Pro 4, Motion 2, or Soundtrack Pro, 199 US dollars.
Older versions of the professional applications, on the other hand, are supported by Rosetta. However, Apple also alternatively offers upgrades to the Universal version of Final Cut Studio.
Further Links:
- iMac
Mac Book Pro
Apple Rosetta
