Apple Products 2008/2009
The Apple product line has expanded to such a degree this year that people thinking about making a purchase may be overwhelmed by the options. Even when it comes to the iPod, how do you decide which one is right for you? This guide is meant as a general overview for our readers to figure out their options.

2008 saw its share of surprises with the debut of Apple’s New MacBook and MacBook Pro lines recently along with MacBook Air and the iPhone 3G . A whole new year of surprises from Apple gives us the perfect opportunity to update you on what’s out there.

IPhone 3G
“Twice as fast half the price” Apple has a hit on its hands. Over one million iPhone 3G’s were sold in the first three days the product was on shelves. CEO Steve Jobs summed it up in a statement: “iPhone 3G had a stunning opening weekend…It took 74 days to sell the first one million original iPhones, so the new iPhone 3G is clearly off to a great start around the world.” The iPhone 3G features are very impressive, with fast 3G wireless technology, GPS mapping, support for enterprise features like Microsoft Exchange, and the new App Store. Like the original iPhone, it combines three products in one — a chic phone, a widescreen iPod, and a convenient Internet device with rich HTML email and a state of the art web browser. With a maximum of 16GB of storage space for music, video, and photos, and a multi-touch user interface unlike any other touch screen technology we’ve seen. Service is available through an exclusive deal with AT&T, iPhone 3G is the ultimate personal technology companion.
8GB or 16GB starting at $199
Apple TV
Apple TV will sync to your computer's iTunes library of videos, TV shows, and music over a wireless network. Watch YouTube on your big screen TV or rent some HD movies with a few clicks of your remote. Apple's Front Row interface allows you to control your media with a remote control right on your TV screen. The only hitch is that it connects solely to widescreen, enhanced-definition, or high-definition TVs. Watch great TV shows in HD, like Grey's Anatomy, a day after they air. Starting at $2.99. You can even sign up for a Season Pass.
Mac + PC 802.11n Wi-Fi wireless
160GB hard drive for up to 200 hours of video at $329.00 or 40GB version for $229.00.
iPod
The iPod was not the first MP3 player on the market, but it was the first to become a cultural phenomenon. It's come a long way since the first generation and has transformed into various shapes and sizes, leaving us with the current lineup: iPod Classic, iPod Touch, iPod nano with video, and iPod shuffle.

iPod touch
Touted by Apple reviewers as the iPhone without the phone, the iPod touch is the first-ever Wi-Fi iPod. iPod touch features the same innovative interface as iPhone. A full, large 3.5-inch display, and the multi-touch interface lets you control everything using only your fingers. Browse the web with Safari and watch YouTube videos, check email, Google Maps, stocks, weather, or watch a movie while you travel. .If you want the future of media players and communication devices in one, this is it.
Specs:
8GB, 16GB, or 32GB flash drive
Holds up to 1,750, 3,500, or 7,000 songs in 128-Kbps AAC format2
Holds up to 10 hours, 20 hours, or 40 hours of video.
8GB,16GB, and the new 32GB Models starting at $229.

iPod classic
Unlike the first incarnations of the iPod, this one is full color and holds photos and videos as well as music on its hard drive. You can set up slideshows with background music just like you would in iPhoto and buy a special USB adapter to transfer pictures directly from your camera to your iPod. It's not a wide-screen yet, 2.5 –inch color screen, so it might make your eyes crazy if you try to watch a full-length movie, but the rectangular display on the video iPod is surprisingly bright and clear. With just a few clicks, the new Genius feature creates a playlist of tracks in your library that go great together. The new classic models don't ship with an AC adapter. Instead, a USB 2.0 cable, which will charge your iPod when connected, and a dock adaptor for Apple's Universal Dock (sold separately) are provided. The classic holds about 30,000 songs and150 hours of video.
Available for $249
iPod nano
The first generation of the iPod nano came in black or white and was the size of a business card. People could literally fit it into a pocket in their wallets. The second generation of nano is much like a cross between the 1st gen and the short-lived iPod mini. Today's new nano has a bright, 2-inch, color display. It supports video and allows you to display album art, import pictures, and program slideshows. Watch up to 16 hours of TV shows, music videos, movies, and podcasts on this stylish, thin device. iPod nano now comes in nine vibrant colors and a new curved aluminum and glass design. Since it's sturdy, cute, and reasonably priced, this is the best iPod for the kids, you can carry 2,000 or 4,000 songs depending on which version you get.
8GB and 16GB models at just $149 up to $199.
iPod shuffle
Unlike the other current iPod models, the shuffle is music only and does not have a display. There are two playback modes with the shuffle switch: shuffle or, for the risk-averse, regular playback. It's a little over an inch and a half long, holds up to 500 songs, and has a built-in clip that makes it easy to wear it on anything from your shirt to your jeans pocket. Since it's so small and easy to wear, it's a great music player for the gym or a jog. The 1GB shuffle ($49) is available in 5 colors including classic silver. This is definitely not one for the kids because it's super small and easy to lose (or eat). The last thing you need is an emergency trip to the doctor's office because a three-year-old swallowed your iPod thinking it was a piece of green candy.
1GB $49.00 or 2GB $69.00
Computers
Since Apple switched from the PowerPC to Intel Processors the Mac is now truly superior to other computers. The switch not only allows them to run faster, it also enables users to boot the computer in OSX or, with Parallels, as a Windows machine. Today's Macs are faster and more versatile than ever thanks to the partnership with Intel and come in various forms and sizes to suit every user's needs.

MacBook Air
Yes, the “Thinnovation” hype is true about Apple’s latest laptop the MacBook Air. At 3 pounds, it will just about fit into a manila envelope, and possibly even slip beneath your office door. Yet it still has a fine 13.3 backlit LED display and full size keyboard and large trackpad. A truly innovative design, the MacBook Air comes with a USB 2.0 port, a headphone jack, and a micro-DVI port that supports DVI, VGA, composite, and S-video output. Glaring omissions include a lack of firewire port and no CD/DVD combo drives. Apple compensates on these points by providing a truly remarkable design that is ultraportable and relies heavily on its built in Wi-Fi capabilities. If the trade-offs make sense, and you’re willing to use external drives for CD/DVD burning, then the MacBook Air is off and running toward wild success (sales so far indicate it is).

MacBook Air’s base configuration is a 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo processor with a 120GB SATA hard drive, 2GB of memory and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics. It has Multi-Touch technology from iPhone. With the Multi-Touch trackpad you can pinch, swipe, or rotate to enlarge text, advance through photos, or adjust images.
$1,799 with many upgrade options.

MacBook
The new MacBook is a fantastic 13" personal computer that is one solid piece of aluminum, which is thin and light. With a processor speed of either 2.0GHz or 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, large hard drives are also available---from 160GB to 250GB. It’s great for music and photo storage. Now with Multi-Touch technology, a spacious glass trackpad makes moving and clicking a breeze. Upgrading RAM is also super easy so if the deciding factor between the low-end model and the next level has anything to do with RAM, it's cheap and easy to buy a stick of RAM and pop it in. All models are Bluetooth equipped and have a built-in Airport Extreme Card. They also all have an ultra thin 1280 by 800 LCD screen and come with mind numbing NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor. In the final analysis the new MacBook is a high performance treat for the eyes.
Starts at $1,299.
MacBook Pro
The new MacBook Pro is bound to satisfy the creative pro and consumer switcher alike. Aside from the obvious material difference—a unibody aluminum enclusure--the MacBook Pro comes in a 15" and 17" model with an ultrathin 15-inch LED-backlit display that is uniformly bright and brilliant. The MacBook Pro also has a lighted keyboard and ambient light sensors. The advanced NVIDIA graphics processor in the MacBook Pro makes programs like aperture and motion come to life. The MacBook Pro has a built-in iSight camera, uses MagSafe for the power cord connection, and has Bluetooth and an Airport Extreme Card. The low-end 15" has a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, a 1440 x 900 px display, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive and a 8x double-layer SuperDrive. The high-end 15" has the same options as the low-end model with a few upgrades including up to 2.8 GHz processor and 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM. The new MacBook Pro also offers a solid-state drive option, which uses technology similar to that in flash-based products. Solid-state drives offer greater durability and improved resistance to data loss in the event of an accident. The latest version now includes Multi-Touch technology. With the new Multi-Touch trackpad you can pinch, swipe, or rotate to enlarge text, advance through photos, or adjust images. The trackpad has no button because it is the button.
From $1999.00
Mac mini
The Mac Mini is the perfect "switcher" computer for those thinking of moving from PC to Mac. It's cheap, it's tiny, and even though it's not as powerful as Apple's other desktops, the Intel Processors inside make it a tiny machine that packs a bit of punch. The unit does not ship with a keyboard, mouse, or display, so those will have to be purchased separately (or salvaged from old machines). It's fantastic for entertainment---mainly music and movies---but for serious creative professionals and gamers will likely need the iMac or Mac Pro for work and play. The low-end Mac mini comes with a 1.83GHz combo drive, 1GB of RAM and a 80GB hard drive. The 2.0GHz high-end Mac mini has a SuperDrive, 1GB of RAM, and a 120GB hard drive ($799). Configuration options allow you to expand it to 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive, but that still doesn't make the Mac mini any more than a darn good personal computer. Now comes with Airport Wi-FI Built in.
80GB $599.00 or 120GB $799.00
iMac
With the advanced dual-core Intel processors, the iMac is faster than ever at speeds up to 2.8GHz. Design-wise, the Intel iMac has an amazingly thin, anodized aluminum frame that packs all components. Inside, Intel Processors have replaced the old Power PC way of life. The Apple Store uses them in their Kids' Section but they're not just great desktops for home. Their storage, power, and design make them an excellent component on the work desk of any visual designer. "I can't imagine a web designer needing anything more than an iMac as a 'desk terminal,'" says Greg Smith, a San Diego-based web designer. Print designers or video editors, however, may need something with a bit more oomph, and that's where the Mac Pro comes in. The iMac comes with a remote control for Front Row and also ship with a keyboard and the much-debated Mighty Mouse. Four stock models are available with screen sizes from 20 to 24 inches, hard drives up to 1TB and memory up to 4GB. Keep in mind that one advantage of the iMac in terms of pricing is that it ships as a complete system. With the display built-in, there's no need to for single-display users to purchase a separate monitor and video chat is a breeze with built in iSight camera and mic.
Starts at $1,199
Mac Pro
Touted as the "fastest Mac ever," this is the mother of all computers for the serious creative professional in film, photography, music, animation, or design. It looks like the G5 tower but with two 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon processors it leaves the G5 in the dust. And unlike previous Mac towers, it's fairly quiet and doesn't get nearly as hot as the Quad G5. This is computer is not a toy. It's a powerhouse system with good stock graphics capabilities (upgradeable to something truly awesome) and the ability to connect up to two displays. Although the other systems come in various stock configurations, there is only one "suggested" configuration for the Mac Pro: two 2.8GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon processors, 2GB of memory, ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT 256MB (two dual-link DVI ports), 320GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s; 7200 rpm; 8MB cache, and a16x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW). However, the configuration options allow you to expand to 32GB of RAM; choose two 3.2GHz processors; purchase a total of four 1GB hard drives for an insane total of 4TB of storage; and upgrade to the NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600 1.5GB (stereo 3D, two dual-link DVI ports). The possible configurations make the Mac Pro the most powerful computer Apple has ever offered. Every Mac Pro packs the power of two multicore “Harpertown” Intel Xeon processors. Choose two 3.2GHz quad-core processors — the fastest Quad-Core Intel Xeon available for groundbreaking, 8-core power.
Starts at $2,799
Mac Product Images used courtesy of Apple.