Intel Mac Pro

The last Apple machine to move to Intel processor, the Mac Pro has introduced new performance and expansion possibilities for people in the Creative Industries. With the recently announced Quad-core Intel ‘Nehalem’ chip, these machines deliver incredible power for those of you that just need raw number crunching power. So that means you, Mr. Avid or Final Cut editor, Mr. Cinema 4D, Lightwave or Maya man. However, at present, unless you are running Intel native “Universal binaries” like Final Cut, Aperture, Logic, etc and the like, you won’t experience the full power of these machines. When Adobe finally announced the Creative Suite 4, the full performance gains that Apple have been promising could finally be realised. With every major programme now Intel native and OS X exceelent support for multi-core processors, so there’s no reason not go upgrade your old G5 based hardware right now.

The less power hungry Intel processors allow Apple to reduce the number of fans required to cool the computer. Fewer fans means less noise and more space inside the case, which means they have squeezed in 4 internal drive bays. That means 8TB of internal storage using 2TB drives! With higher capacity drives being released regularly, I think you’ll be able to have 16TB (that’s 16000GB) within 6 months. Anyone working in video or TV will adore this possibility. The Mac Pro could also double up as a VERY nice server with a copy of OS X Server installed on it. It’s a monster.

Intel iMac

I love the new iMac. I think the new design is another inspired piece of work by Jonathon Ives. Since flat panel screens were introduced I have been waiting for someone to put the computer behind the screen in an elegant fashion. With the Dual or Quad Core Intel processors the iMac becomes an even more powerful photo and video editing system when running native software. Running applications in Rosetta gives you performance roughly
equivalent to a 1.5Ghz G4 processor which is acceptable; just make sure you put enough RAM in them. I recommend shoving in 8Gb if you are using Creative Suite 5 a lot, as it gobbles RAM. As a bonus they are still very quiet, ideal for audio work.

Intel macmini:

Its been nearly 12 years since Apple introduced the first LC “Low Cost” Apple Mac. It was the first Mac I owned. Now we have the Mac mini, an incredibly compact, inexpensive and quiet machine that will make the perfect 2nd or 3rd computer for geeks like me, a wonderful digital hub for people that just want to play and create with their digital devices,
or a easy way of reusing your old monitor and keyboard and replacing that old slow Mac or PC. For small businesses that need an inexpensive way of getting OS X Server, Apple supply a model with an internal mirrored 500GB array and OS X Server unlimited included.

Windows at full speed:

The Intel chip also brings an intersting new possibility; running Windows,
either via Apple’s Boot Camp software, or via a Virtualization solution like Parallels.
No more messing about with awful Virtual PC performance. Windows at full speed. And with these intel chips, that means really damn fast!