Apple Mac Computers

Apple fans extol the virtues of Apple's easy-to-use operating system, reliability, and sleek design ethic. Apple Mac computers are favored by many people working in creative fields, and the reliability of the operating system and applications make it a good tool for music, video, and graphic design.

iMac

The iMac is Apple’s current flagship consumer desktop computer, powered by the mobile version of the Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. It is an all-in-one unit with screen sizes available at 17", 20", and 24". The iMac has won awards for its design chic and has been popular with first-time buyers who have no preference towards the PC. The iMac comes with built-in Internet connectivity and is one of the easiest computers for the beginner to use.

Apple G4/ G5 Desktop Computers

Apple chose to base its Apple G4/G5 computers on chips developed by Motorola and IBM. These Power PC class processors use a completely different architecture from Intel and AMD Pentium class chips. Consequently, the associated speed rating for Apple computers, measured in megahertz, is, on paper, often considerably less than Intel or AMD chips.

However, in practise, the fastest Apple desktops are normally equivalent to PCs due to the elegance of their design. However, in contrast to very high-specification PCs, which can also double as workgroup servers or powerful workstations, Apple computers tend to be aimed at individual users.

Mac Pro Workstation

The Mac Pro, Apple’s most expensive, high-end workstation computer, replaces the Power Mac G5. The current models feature two dual-core Intel Xeon CPUs or two quad core Intel Xeon ('Clovertown') CPUs. They do not include displays.

Apple iBook & Powerbook Laptops

Like its desktop counterparts, the Apple notebook range has a striking look, offering light chassis designs and good performance. However, with an effective monopoly on pricing, Apple notebooks tend to be more expensive than PC laptops that offer equivalent performance. Like its desktop range, Apple has included the high-speed Firewire port in its laptops to provide more external connections, but the range of optional bays is very limited.

MacBook Laptop

The MacBook uses an Intel Core 2 Duo processor running at speeds of 2.0 GHz or 2.16 GHz and replaces both the iBook G4 and the 12-inch PowerBook, which used PowerPC G4 processors.