Apple Rolls Out New 500 MHz & 600 MHz iBooks

Apple has refreshed the iBook line today, rolling out new models that include bigger hard drives, and a faster bus speed and faster processors on the medium and high end models. The new lineup includes the same 500 MHz G3/66 MHz system bus model with a CD-ROM drive at the low end, with the DVD mid-range model and DVD/CD-RW high-end model coming with a 600 MHz processor and a 100 MHz system bus. The CD-ROM and DVD-ROM models come with a 15 GB drive, while the combo-drive model comes with a 20 GB drive. All three models feature 128 MB of RAM. Pricing remains the same for the low-end and mid-range models, while the high-end model has been dropped by US$100. From Apple:

Apple® today enhanced its popular iBook® line of consumer and education notebooks with faster PowerPC G3 processors up to 600 MHz, a new system bus running up to 100 MHz, larger hard drives up to 20GB and now 128MB of RAM standard across the line. The new iBooks are priced starting at $1,299, and the popular top-of-the-line model featuring a DVD-ROM/CD-RW "Combo" drive is now priced $100 lower at $1,699. The new iBooks now include both the new Mac® OS X version 10.1 and Mac OS 9.2.1 pre-installed.

Powered by a fast 500 MHz or 600 MHz PowerPC G3 processor, all iBook models now offer 128MB of SDRAM. For additional performance, the 600 MHz iBook includes a 100 MHz system bus. Featuring either a 15GB or 20GB hard drive, iBook customers can choose from a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or DVD-ROM/CD-RW "Combo" drive for both burning CDs and watching movies on DVDs.

The iBook line offers an impressive set of features in every model, including:

  • an impact resistant polycarbonate enclosure;
  • a crisp 12.1-inch (diagonal) active-matrix 1024-by-768 resolution TFT XGA display;
  • new 600 MHz or 500 MHz PowerPC G3 processors with 256K level 2 cache;
  • new 128MB SDRAM standard, with expansion up to 640MB;
  • ATI Rage Mobility 128 graphics controller with 8MB RAM and AGP 2X;
  • 15GB or 20GB Ultra ATA hard drives;
  • AirPort®-ready with integrated antennas and card slot for wireless Internet access;
  • USB and FireWire® ports;
  • VGA video out and composite video out with optional Apple AV cable;
  • built-in 56K modem and 10/100BASE-T Ethernet;
  • built-in microphone and stereo speakers;
  • iTunes™ MP3 digital "jukebox" software and iMovie™ 2 digital video editing software;
  • new Mac OS X v10.1, Appleis next-generation operating system pre-installed, as well as Classic Mac OS 9.2.1;
  • a new small, lightweight power adapter; and
  • free 30-day Internet access with EarthLink.

Pricing and Availability
The new iBook is available immediately from The Apple Store, Appleis retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers and in three standard configurations:

  • iBook 500 MHz, at a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US), includes a 15GB Ultra ATA hard drive and CD-ROM drive;
  • iBook 600 MHz, at a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes a 15GB Ultra ATA hard drive and DVD-ROM drive; and
  • iBook 600 MHz, at a suggested retail price of $1,699 (US), includes a 20GB Ultra ATA hard drive and DVD-ROM/CD-RW "Combo" drive.

Special education pricing can be found at www.apple.com/education/store.

* Depending on configuration.

You can find the specs for the new units at Appleis iBook Spec page.