Apple Unveils Faster iBooks

Apple today enhanced its affordable iBook G4 line for consumers and education customers with faster PowerPC G4 processors running up to 1.42GHz, 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, with prices starting at an affordable £699 (inc VAT).

“The new iBook is the perfect portable for the go anywhere, do anything digital lifestyle of consumers and students”, said David Moody, Apple's vice president of Mac Product Marketing. “With improved performance, double the memory, and new mobility features like the scrolling TrackPad, Sudden Motion Sensor and Bluetooth, the new iBooks are amazing value”.

Encased in a sleek, durable polycarbonate plastic enclosure, the new 12- and 14-inch iBooks offer improved performance with either a 1.33GHz or 1.42GHz 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-loading SuperDrive, for burning DVDs and CDs, or a slot-loading 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 continues to lead the industry in integrated wireless communications and is the first computer maker to include 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 54Mbps 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 award-winning 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 organising, 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”, the fifth major release of the world's most advanced operating system, comes with every iBook. Tiger delivers more than 200 new features and innovations including Spotlight, 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.

Pricing & Availability:
The new iBook line-up is immediately available through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorised Resellers in two standard configurations.

The 1.33GHz PowerPC G4 iBook, weighing just 4.9 pounds, has a suggested retail price of £699 (inc VAT) and includes:

The 1.42GHz PowerPC G4 iBook, weighing just 5.9 pounds, has a suggested retail price of £899 (inc VAT) and includes:

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.

The new iBook is also available to education customers in the UK and Ireland through the Apple Store for Education or by calling an Apple education sales representative on 0800 039 1515 (UK) or 1800 92 38 98 (Ireland).

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, Mac 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.

Press Contacts:
Apple UK and Ireland Public Relations
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (020) 8218 1440