Apple releases faster iBooks

Apple has announced a new iBook G4 line for consumers and education customers with faster Power PC G4 processors running up to 1.42 GHz, 512MB memory across the line, higher performance graphics and built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth wireless connectivity.

The new iBooks feature two patent-pending Apple technologies made popular in the PowerBook G4 line, the scrolling TrackPad and the Sudden Motion Sensor.

Encased in a sleek, durable polycarbonate plastic enclosure, the new 12- and 14-inch iBooks offer improved performance with either a 1.33 GHz or 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 processor and provide up to six hours of battery life for all-day use on the road or in the classroom.

Each iBook features the ATI Mobility Radeon 9550 with 32MB of dedicated video memory for improved graphics and either a slot-load SuperDrive, for burning DVDs and CDs, or a slot-load Combo drive for watching DVDs and burning CDs. Every iBook also includes a scrolling TrackPad to easily scroll through long web pages or pan across large photographs and Apple's Sudden Motion Sensor technology to help protect a spinning hard drive if the notebook is accidentally dropped.

Apple is now including both 802.11g and Bluetooth 2.0 wireless technologies across its entire line of notebook products. Every iBook now features built-in Bluetooth 2.0 (Enhanced Data Rate) and integrated AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking. Bluetooth 2.0+EDR delivers up to three times greater data rates for faster wireless connectivity to a range of peripherals and is also compatible with Bluetooth 1.2 devices such as the Apple Wireless Keyboard and Mouse.

The new iBooks also include built-in 10/100 BASE-T Ethernet for high-speed networking, two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port for easy plug-and-play connections to popular peripherals such as Apple's market-leading iPod digital music player, digital video camcorders, digital still cameras and printers.

Each iBook includes iLife '05, Apple's suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, GarageBand and iTunes. 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.

Mac OS X version 10.4 "Tiger," comes with every iBook. Tiger delivers more than 200 new features and innovations including Spotlight(TM), a revolutionary desktop search technology that lets users instantly find anything stored on their Mac, including documents, emails, contacts and images; and Dashboard, a new way to instantly access important information like weather forecasts and stock quotes, using a dazzling new class of applications called widgets.

The new iBook lineup is immediately available through Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers in two standard configurations.

The 1.33 GHz PowerPC G4 iBook, weighing just 4.9 pounds, has a suggested retail price of US$999 and includes a 12.1-inch (diagonal) active-matrix TFT display; 512MB DDR SDRAM expandable to up to 1.5GB maximum memory; a 40GB Ultra ATA hard drive; AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR; two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400; VGA video out, S-video and composite video out support; 56K v.92 modem, Ethernet (10/100 BASE-T); and a slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) drive.

The 1.42 GHz PowerPC G4 iBook, weighing just 5.9 pounds, has a suggested retail price of US$1,299 and includes a 14.1-inch (diagonal) active-matrix TFT display; 512MB DDR SDRAM expandable to up to 1.5GB maximum memory; a 60GB Ultra ATA hard drive; AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR; two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400; VGA video out, S-video and composite video out support; 56K v.92 modem, Ethernet (10/100 BASE-T); and a slot-load SuperDrive (DVD+/-R/CD-RW) drive.

Additional build-to-order options for the new iBook include up to 1.5GB of DDR SDRAM, a 60GB, 80GB or 100GB Ultra ATA/100 hard drive and the AppleCare Protection Plan.