Tuesday, May 19th 2015

Apple Introduces 15-inch MacBook Pro with Force Touch Trackpad & New $1,999 iMac

Apple today updated the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display with the new Force Touch trackpad, faster flash storage, longer battery life and faster discrete graphics, delivering even more performance and capabilities to the MacBook Pro line. Apple also today introduced a new $1,999 configuration of the 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display featuring a breathtaking 14.7 million pixel display, quad-core processors and AMD graphics, and lowered the price of the top-end iMac with Retina 5K display to $2,299.

"The response to the new MacBook and updated 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display has been amazing, and today we are thrilled to bring the new Force Touch trackpad, faster flash storage and longer battery life to the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "Customers love the groundbreaking iMac with Retina 5K display, and now with a new lower starting price, even more people can experience the best desktop we've ever made."
The updated 15-inch MacBook Pro features the amazing Force Touch trackpad that brings a new dimension of interactivity to the Mac. With built-in force sensors and a Taptic Engine that delivers haptic feedback, the Force Touch trackpad allows you to click anywhere with a uniform feel and customize the amount of pressure needed to register each click. The new trackpad supports a range of new gestures, including the new Force click, and APIs are available for third-party developers to incorporate Force Touch capabilities into their apps. The updated 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display also features up to 2.5 times faster flash storage than the previous generation, with throughput up to 2GBps, and offers an additional hour of battery life, with up to 9 hours of wireless web browsing and up to 9 hours of iTunes movie playback. In addition, MacBook Pro with Retina display discrete graphics deliver up to 80 percent faster performance using new AMD Radeon R9 M370X graphics for editing video in Final Cut Pro X, rendering 3D images in pro graphics apps or playing high-resolution games.

With a resolution of 5120 x 2880, the new $1,999 iMac with Retina 5K display has 67 percent more pixels than a 4K display, and features a 3.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost Speeds up to 3.7 GHz and AMD Radeon R9 M290 graphics. The new iMac also includes 8GB of memory and 1TB of storage, as well as four USB 3.0 ports and two Thunderbolt 2 ports that deliver up to 20Gbps each, twice the bandwidth of the previous generation. The top-end iMac with Retina 5K display now starts at $2,299 and features a 3.50 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.90 GHz, AMD Radeon R9 M290X graphics and a 1TB Fusion Drive.

Every new Mac comes with OS X Yosemite, the world's most advanced desktop operating system, redesigned and refined with a fresh, modern look, powerful new apps, and Continuity features that make working across your Mac and iOS devices more fluid than ever.

Photos, iMovie and GarageBand, and iWork come free with every new Mac. Photos for OS X keeps your growing photo and video collection automatically organized, easy to navigate and accessible across all of your compatible Apple devices using iCloud Photo Library. iMovie lets you easily create beautiful movies, and you can use GarageBand to make new music or learn to play piano or guitar. The iWork suite of Pages, Numbers and Keynote makes it easy to create, edit and share stunning documents, spreadsheets and presentations. Pages, Numbers and Keynote for iCloud let you create a document on iPhone or iPad, edit it on your Mac and collaborate with friends, even if they are on a PC.

Pricing & Availability
The updated 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is available today through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers with a 2.2 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.4 GHz, 16GB of memory, 256GB of flash storage and Intel Iris Pro graphics starting at $1,999 (US); and with a 2.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.7 GHz, 16GB of memory, 512GB of flash storage and AMD Radeon R9 M370X graphics starting at $2,499 (US). Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core Intel Core i7 processors up to 2.8 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.0 GHz and flash storage up to 1TB. Additional technical specifications, configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/macbook-pro.

The new 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display is available today through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers with a 3.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost Speeds up to 3.7 GHz, AMD Radeon R9 M290 graphics and 1TB of storage starting at $1,999 (US). The top-end iMac now starts at $2,299 (US) and features a 3.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.9 GHz, AMD Radeon R9 M290X graphics and a 1TB Fusion Drive. Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core Intel Core i7 processors up to 4.0 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 4.4 GHz and flash storage up to 1TB.
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19 Comments on Apple Introduces 15-inch MacBook Pro with Force Touch Trackpad & New $1,999 iMac

#1
Mathragh
Looks like Apple completely abolished Nvidia from their lineup now.

I wonder if all the patent trolling Nvidia has been up to behind the screens (if semiaccurate is correct) has something to do with it. Other possibilities might be more freedom in the use of AMD's chips, better open standards support (OpenCL vs CUDA), or maybe just simply better performance in their pricebracket.
Posted on Reply
#2
RCoon
MathraghLooks like Apple completely abolished Nvidia from their lineup now.

I wonder if all the patent trolling Nvidia has been up to behind the screens (if semiaccurate is correct) has something to do with it. Other possibilities might be more freedom in the use of AMD's chips, better open standards support (OpenCL vs CUDA), or maybe just simply better performance in their pricebracket.
I think AMD just gives them a super sweet, super cheap deal on their mobile GPUs. NVidia are pricey, and if AMD are cheap, that means Apple can spend less, but charge a sizable overhead profit and reap in more dollah.
Posted on Reply
#3
Fluffmeister
They do chop and change between the two anyway, what hasn't changed is their massive markup. :nutkick:
Posted on Reply
#4
NC37
Apple flip flops between AMD and nVidia all the time. Don't read anything into it. But this is the first time since the end of the Powerbook line that they have used a more high end GPU. Apple's GPU selection has otherwise always been utter crap with anemic midrange GPUs. Suspect this is all due to the higher resolutions. Finally Apple has been forced to give consumers a "pro" level solution.
Posted on Reply
#6
Uplink10
I just looked at the price and knew it was from Apple.
Posted on Reply
#7
xvi
RCoonI think AMD just gives them a super sweet, super cheap deal on their mobile GPUs. NVidia are pricey, and if AMD are cheap, that means Apple can spend less, but charge a sizable overhead profit and reap in more dollah.
I must admit I'm not too familiar with AMD's mobile offerings, but I wouldn't think of them as my first choice for a laptop that also advertises battery life. Cheap, sure, but if a few more dollars can increase the marketing specs?
Posted on Reply
#8
manofthem
WCG-TPU Team All-Star!
I'd like to try one out even though I wouldn't know what to do with it. 5k (at 27") is some serious desktop real-estate.... Does it actually increase desktop space, or does the retina thing not really increase space rather just make things prettier/sharper? I've no idea, which is why I'd like to try one out.
Posted on Reply
#9
rooivalk
Uplink10I just looked at the price and knew it was from Apple.
The title has Apple word in it (the first word!), has two Apple's products in it, has an Apple's own trackpad technology name and preceded with Apple logo beforehand and you have to read until the end of sentence to get a clue...
Posted on Reply
#10
testudo
Can someone help me out?

How big do you think the performance difference is between the new 15" MacBook Pro and the old model? The reason I ask is because I recently purchased the 15" Retina/i7 2.5/16 GB/512 GB/750m model for work (web development/graphic design and light video editing), and I am just out side of the return window. So, if I wanted the new model, I would have to sell my current rMBP at a loss.

Anyhow, what do you all think?

Thank you in advance for your help!
Posted on Reply
#11
Caring1
Their prices are still ludicrous.
Buyers must either really need it or have more money than sense.
Posted on Reply
#12
Easy Rhino
Linux Advocate
Uplink10I just looked at the price and knew it was from Apple.
i looked at the build quality and knew it was apple.
Posted on Reply
#13
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
manofthemI'd like to try one out even though I wouldn't know what to do with it. 5k (at 27") is some serious desktop real-estate.... Does it actually increase desktop space, or does the retina thing not really increase space rather just make things prettier/sharper? I've no idea, which is why I'd like to try one out.
5K on 27 inches without any kind of scaling would be absolutely impossible to use. OSX handles scaling very well afaik.

About the price: Show me an AIO with a 5K screen (or even 4K), other than Apple. No? There you have it. You cannot compare it to desktop towers, as people tend to do when talking about Apple and pricing.
Posted on Reply
#14
Easy Rhino
Linux Advocate
At this rate, we are looking at 8k display adoption in the next 2 years. Amazing! Apple leads the way!
Posted on Reply
#15
Casecutter
Caring1Their prices are still ludicrous.
Buyers must either really need it or have more money than sense.
It's always hopp'n at their South Coast Plaza Store Location!
It's a hell of a Phenomenon...
Posted on Reply
#16
Frick
Fishfaced Nincompoop
Easy RhinoAt this rate, we are looking at 8k display adoption in the next 2 years. Amazing! Apple leads the way!
In the interest of balance, I do think especially 5k is pretty silly, and their obsession with making a computer not made for moving around as thin and light as possible is ridiculous.
Posted on Reply
#17
Caring1
Easy Rhinoi looked at the build quality and knew it was apple.
By build quality I take it you like unserviceable by end user products, that require technicians that charge like wounded bulls.
Yeah they look flash, and I wouldn't mind one, but they are a PITA to work on at home, I'd rather sell it if it broke.
Posted on Reply
#18
Prima.Vera
Easy Rhinoi looked at the build quality and knew it was apple.
Urban legend dude
Posted on Reply
#19
Easy Rhino
Linux Advocate
Prima.VeraUrban legend dude
I disagree. I have owned several Apple products and they have all outlasted ones the plastic ones from Dell,Lenovo,Sony,etc.
Posted on Reply
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