| MacBook |
− |
- January 7, 2002 — iBook G3 14″
- introduced 14.1″ TFT display
- increased RAM (256 MB)
- slightly faster optical drive
- enhanced battery
- May 20, 2002 — iBook G3
- faster processors (600−700 MHz)
- doubled the video RAM (16 MB)
- 14″ larger hard drive (30 GB)
- November 6, 2002 — iBook G3
- “opaque” white case
- faster processors (700−800 MHz)
- faster video system
- increased video RAM (32 MB)
- larger hard drive (30 GB)
|
- April 22, 2003 — iBook G3
- faster processors (800−900 MHz)
- larger hard drive (40 GB)
- slightly faster optical drive
- October 22, 2003 — iBook G4
- new processors and architecture (G4)
- USB 2.0 ports
- optional AirPort Extreme (802.11g)
- optional Bluetooth 1.1
- can’t boot MacOS 9
|
- April 19, 2004 — iBook G4
- faster processors (1.0−1.2 GHz)
- increased standard RAM (256 MB)
- optional SuperDrive
- pre-installed AirPort in top model
- October 19, 2004 — iBook G4
- faster processors (1.2−1.33 GHz)
- larger hard drive (60 GB)
- improved optical drive
- pre-installed AirPort in all models
|
- July 26, 2005 — iBook G4
- faster processors (1.33−1.42 GHz)
- increased standard RAM (512 MB)
- faster video system
- hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor
- pre-installed Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
- Scrolling Trackpad
|
- May 16, 2006 — MacBook
- new design (white or black)
- 13.3″ glossy widescreen display
- new CPU and architecture (Intel Core Duo)
- iSight video camera
- mini-DVI port
- Gigabit Ethernet
- MagSafe power connector
- Apple Remote
- support for non-mirrored external display
- drops the internal modem
- November 8, 2006 — MacBook
- new processors (Intel Core 2 Duo)
- increased standard RAM (512 MB − 1 GB)
- larger hard drive (120 GB)
- AirPort supports 802.11n
|
- May 15, 2007 — MacBook
- faster processors (2.0−2.16 GHz)
- increased standard RAM (1 GB)
- larger hard drive (160 GB)
- faster optical drive
- November 1, 2007 — MacBook
- faster architecture
- slightly faster processors (2.0−2.2 GHz)
- faster video system
|
- February 26, 2008 — MacBook
- faster processors (2.1−2.4 GHz)
- increased standard RAM (1−2 GB)
- larger hard drive (250 GB)
- enhanced battery
- Apple Remote is optional
- October 14, 2008 — MacBook
- new aluminum unibody design
- new large glass Multi-Touch trackpads
- backlit keyboard in top model
- LED-backlit display
- faster architecture
- faster video system
- Mini DisplayPort port replaced mini-DVI
- Firewire 400 port removed
- Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
|
- January 20, 2009 — MacBook
- low-end model in old pre-Unibody design
- faster architecture
- faster video system
- Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
- May 27, 2009 — MacBook
- low-end model in old pre-Unibody design
- faster processor (2.13 GHz)
- larger hard drive (160 GB)
- October 20, 2009 — MacBook
- new white polycarbonate unibody design
- new large glass Multi-Touch trackpads
- LED-backlit display
- Mini DisplayPort port replaced mini-DVI
- built-in battery (up to 7 hours)
|
- May 18, 2010 — MacBook
- faster processor (2.4 GHz)
- faster graphics (NVIDIA GeForce 320M)
- enhanced battery
- revised MagSafe power connector
- trackpad with inertial scrolling
|
- July 20, 2011 — MacBook
- model discontinued
|
|
− |
| MacBook Pro |
Neutral |
- April 29, 2002 — PowerBook G4 15″
- faster processors (667−800 MHz)
- improved video system
- higher resolution display (1280×854)
- DVI port replaced VGA
- drops the IrDA capabilities
- November 6, 2002 — PowerBook G4 15″
- faster processors (867 MHz − 1 GHz)
- improved video system
- built-in SuperDrive
|
- January 7, 2003 — PowerBook G4 12″ and 17″
- introduced 12″ and 17″ models
- aluminum alloy case
- new logic board
- pre-installed Bluetooth 1.1
- optional AirPort Extreme (802.11g)
- 17″ Ambient Light Sensor
- 17″ Firewire 800 port
- September 16, 2003 — PowerBook G4
- faster processors (1.0−1.33 GHz)
- improved video system
- larger hard drives (up to 80 GB)
- USB 2.0 ports
- 12″ Mini-DVI port replaced Mini-VGA
- 15″ Firewire 800 port
- 15″ Ambient Light Sensor in top model
- 15″ pre-installed Bluetooth 1.1
- 15″ optional AirPort Extreme (802.11g)
|
- April 19, 2004 — PowerBook G4
- faster architecture
- faster processors (1.33−1.5 GHz)
- improved graphics
- faster optical drive
- pre-installed AirPort Extreme (802.11g)
|
- January 31, 2005 — PowerBook G4
- faster processors (1.5−1.67 GHz)
- hard drive with Sudden Motion Sensor
- pre-installed Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
- Scrolling Trackpad
- October 19, 2005 — PowerBook G4 15″ and 17″
- faster architecture
- higher resolution display
- dual-layer SuperDrive
- 17″ enhanced battery
|
- January 10, 2006 — MacBook Pro 15″
- new CPU and architecture (Intel Core Duo)
- ExpressCard/34 expansion slot
- iSight video camera
- MagSafe power connector
- Apple Remote
- drops Firewire 800 and S-video out ports
- drops the internal modem
- can’t run MacOS 9 apps
- 12″ model discontinued
- April 24, 2006 — MacBook Pro 17″
- new CPU and architecture (Intel Core Duo)
- ExpressCard/34 expansion slot
- iSight video camera
- MagSafe power connector
- Apple Remote
- drops S-video out ports
- drops the internal modem
- can’t run MacOS 9 apps
- October 24, 2006 — MacBook Pro
- new processors (Intel Core 2 Duo)
- increased standard RAM (1−2 GB)
- larger hard drives (up to 160 GB)
- 15″ added Firewire 800
|
- June 5, 2007 — MacBook Pro
- faster architecture
- slightly faster processors (2.2−2.4 GHz)
- faster graphics processor
- enhanced battery
- AirPort supports 802.11n
- 15″ LED-backlit display
- November 1, 2007 — MacBook Pro
- optional faster processor (2.6 GHz)
|
- February 26, 2008 — MacBook Pro
- faster processors (2.4−2.5 GHz)
- doubled the video memory (256−512 MB)
- larger hard drives (up to 250 GB)
- updated keyboard layout
- multi-touch gesturing on trackpad
- Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
- Apple Remote is optional
- October 14, 2008 — MacBook Pro 15″
- new aluminum unibody design
- new large glass Multi-Touch trackpads
- glossy displays
- faster architecture
- dual graphics processors
- Mini DisplayPort port replaced mini-DVI
- Firewire 400 port removed
|
- January 6, 2009 — MacBook Pro 17″
- new aluminum unibody design
- new large glass Multi-Touch trackpads
- glossy displays
- faster architecture
- faster processors (2.66−2.93 GHz)
- increased standard RAM (4 GB)
- dual graphics processors
- enhanced but non-swappable battery
- Mini DisplayPort port replaced mini-DVI
- Firewire 400 port removed
- March 3, 2009 — MacBook Pro 15″
- faster processors (2.66−2.93 GHz)
- June 8, 2009 — MacBook Pro
- new 13″ model based on 2006 unibody MacBook
- 13″ 15″ improved display
- 13″ 15″ non-swappable battery
- 13″ 15″ SD card slot
- 13″ Firewire 800 port
- 13″ drops optical digital audio input
- 15″ increased standard RAM (4 GB)
- 15″ drops ExpressCard/34 slot
- 15″ integrated graphics in entry-level model
|
- April 13, 2010 — MacBook Pro
- 13″ faster processors (2.4−2.66 GHz)
- 13″ increased standard RAM (4 GB)
- 13″ larger hard drives (up to 320 GB)
- 15″ dual graphics in entry-level model
- 15″ 17″ new processors (Core i5 and i7)
- 15″ 17″ graphics auto-switching
- 15″ 17″ larger hard drives (up to 500 GB)
- enhanced battery
- trackpad with inertial scrolling
- October 20, 2010 — MacBook Pro 15″ and 17″
- optional faster processor (i7 2.66−2.8 GHz)
|
- February 24, 2011 — MacBook Pro
- 13″ new processors (Core i5 and i7)
- 13″ larger hard drives (up to 500 GB)
- 15″ 17″ faster processors (i7 2.0−2.2 GHz)
- 15″ 17″ larger hard drives (up to 750 GB)
- 15″ 17″ independent audio line in and out
- faster graphics
- high-resolution FaceTime HD webcam
- Thunderbolt port replaced Mini DisplayPort
- October 24, 2011 — MacBook Pro
- 13″ faster processors (dual-core i5 2.4GHz or i7 2.8GHz)
- 13″ larger hard drives (up to 750GB)
- 15″ 17″ faster processors (quad-core i7 2.2−2.5GHz)
- 15″ 17″ faster graphic cards (AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 6770M)
|
|
Spring — Summer |
| MacBook Air |
Neutral |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- January 15, 2008 – MacBook Air
- 13.3″ widescreen glossy display
- Intel Core 2 Duo processor (1.6 and 1.8 GHz)
- integrated graphics (Intel GMA X3100)
- 2 GB of onboard RAM
- 80 GB HDD or 64 GB SSD
- iSight video camera
- full-size backlit keyboard
- thin (0.16−0.76″) and light (3.0 lbs)
- October 14, 2008 – MacBook Air
- faster architecture
- faster graphics (NVIDIA GeForce 9400M)
- larger hard drive (120 GB) and SSD (128 GB)
- Mini DisplayPort port replaced mini-DVI
|
- June 8, 2009 – MacBook Air
- faster processors (1.86 and 2.13 GHz)
- enhanced battery
- includes external Ethernet Adapter
- considerably lower prices
|
- October 20, 2010 – MacBook Air
- completely new design
- introduced 11.6″ model
- higher resolution displays
- RAM can be upgraded to 4 GB
- faster graphics (NVIDIA GeForce 320M)
- non-upgradable SSD (64−256 MB)
- better battery life
- not backlit keyboard
- trackpad with inertial scrolling
- integrated stereo speakers
- 13″ includes SD card slot
|
- July 20, 2011 – MacBook Air
- faster architecture
- faster processors (Core i5 and i7)
- faster graphics (Intel HD Graphics 3000)
- Thunderbolt port replaced Mini DisplayPort
- backlit keyboard
- Bluetooth 4.0
|
|
Summer — Fall |
| iMac |
Buy only if needed |
- January 7, 2002 – iMac G4
- completely new design
- 15″ TFT display
- new processors and architecture (G4)
- 128−256 MB of RAM
- 40−60 GB hard drive
- Combo or SuperDrive
- July 17, 2002 – iMac G4 17″
- introduced 17″ model (1440×900)
- faster video system
- larger hard drive (80 GB)
|
- February 4, 2003 – iMac G4
- 17″ faster processor (1.0 GHz)
- optional AirPort Extreme (802.11g)
- optional Bluetooth
- can’t boot into MacOS 9
- September 8, 2003 – iMac G4
- faster processors (1.0−1.25 GHz)
- faster video system
- USB 2.0 ports
- November 18, 2003 – iMac G4 20″
- introduced 20″ model (1680×1050)
- faster video system
|
- August 31, 2004 – iMac G5
- completely new design
- 17″ and 20″ displays
- new processors and architecture (G5)
- supports VESA mounting standard
|
- May 3, 2005 – iMac G5
- faster processors (1.8−2.0 GHz)
- increased standard RAM (512 MB)
- larger hard drives (160−250 GB)
- Ambient Light Sensor
- Gigabit Ethernet
- pre-installed AirPort Extreme (802.11g)
- pre-installed Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
- October 12, 2005 – iMac G5
- thinner and lighter case
- faster processors (1.9−2.1 GHz)
- faster graphics
- iSight video camera
- Apple Remote
|
- January 10, 2006 – iMac
- new CPU and architecture (Intel Core Duo)
- faster graphics
- support for non-mirrored external display
- Mini-DVI instead of Mini-VGA
- September 6, 2006 – iMac
- introduced 24″ model (1920×1200)
- new processors (Intel Core 2 Duo)
- increased standard RAM (1 GB)
- AirPort supports 802.11n
- 24″ faster video system
- 24″ includes Firewire 800
|
- August 7, 2007 – iMac
- completely new aluminum design
- faster architecture and CPU (2.0−2.8 GHz)
- larger hard drives (up to 500 GB)
- includes both Firewire 400 and 800
- includes new ultra-thin Apple Keyboard
- 17″ model discontinued
|
- April 28, 2008 – iMac
- faster architecture and CPU (2.4−3.06 GHz)
- Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
|
- March 3, 2009 – iMac
- faster processors (2.66−3.06 GHz)
- increased standard RAM (2−4 GB)
- Firewire 400 port removed
- Mini DisplayPort port replaced mini-DVI
- smaller keyboard without numerical keypad
- October 20, 2009 – iMac
- new LED-backlit 21.5″ and 27″ displays
- faster processors
- faster graphics
- up to 16 GB of RAM
- larger hard drives (up to 1 TB)
- better speakers
- includes SD Card slot
- Apple Wireless Keyboard
- Magic Mouse
|
- July 27, 2010 – iMac
- faster architecture and CPU (Core i3, i5 and i7)
- faster graphics
- support for SDXC cards
- 27″ optional additional SSD
|
- May 3, 2011 – iMac
- faster processors (Core i5 and i7)
- faster graphics
- high-resolution FaceTime HD webcam
- Thunderbolt port replaced Mini DisplayPort
- 27″ dual external display support
|
|
Spring — Summer |
| Mac mini |
Neutral |
|
|
|
- January 11, 2005 – Mac mini G4
- G4 processor (1.25−1.42 GHz)
- ATI Radeon 9200 graphics processor
- 256 MB of RAM
- 40−80 GB HDD
- Combo drive
- optional AirPort Express (802.11g)
- optional Bluetooth 1.1
- July 26, 2005 – Mac mini G4
- increased standard RAM (512 MB)
- pre-installed AirPort and Bluetooth in top model
- optional SuperDrive
- September 27, 2005 – Mac mini G4
- faster processors (1.33−1.5 GHz)
- doubled the video RAM (64 MB)
- Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
- modem is optional
|
- February 28, 2006 – Mac mini
- new CPU and architecture (Intel Core Solo/Duo)
- faster graphics
- Gigabit Ethernet
- drops the internal modem
- pre-installed AirPort Extreme (802.11g)
- pre-installed Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
- Apple Remote
- September 6, 2006 – Mac mini
- faster processor (1.83 GHz Core Duo)
- larger hard drive (80 GB)
- SuperDrive
|
- August 7, 2007 – Mac mini
- new processors (Intel Core 2 Duo)
- increased standard RAM (1 GB)
- larger hard drives (up to 120 GB)
|
|
- March 3, 2009 – Mac mini
- faster architecture
- faster graphics (Intel GMA 950)
- larger hard drives (up to 320 GB)
- dual display support
- Mini-DVI and Mini DisplayPort ports
- 5 USB 2.0 ports
- Firewire 800
- AirPort supports 802.11n
- Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
- October 20, 2009 – Mac mini
- introduced server version (two hard drives, no optical drive)
- faster processors (2.26−2.53 GHz)
- increased standard RAM (2−4 GB)
|
- June 15, 2010 – Mac mini
- new aluminum unibody design
- wider and shorter case
- internal power supply
- faster processors (2.4−2.66 GHz)
- faster graphics (NVIDIA GeForce 320M)
- HDMI and Mini DisplayPort ports
- includes SD Card slot
- Apple Remote is optional
|
- July 20, 2011 – Mac mini
- faster processors (Core i5 and i7)
- faster graphics
- larger hard drives (up to 500 GB)
- drops the internal optical drive
- Thunderbolt port replaced Mini DisplayPort
- Bluetooth 4.0
|
|
Summer — Fall |
| Mac Pro |
Don’t buy |
- January 28, 2002 – Power Macintosh G4
- faster processors (800 MHz − 1.0 GHz)
- faster optical drives
- support for hard drives larger than 128 GB
- support for dual displays
- August 13, 2002 – Power Macintosh G4
- dual processors (867 MHz − 1.25 GHz)
- faster graphics
- larger standard hard drives (up to 120 GB)
- optional AirPort (802.11b)
- adds mirrored drive bay doors
- adds analog audio input jack
|
- January 28, 2003 – Power Macintosh G4
- faster processors (1.0−1.42 GHz)
- faster optical drives
- optional AirPort Extreme (802.11g)
- optional Bluetooth 1.1
- Firewire 800
- can’t boot into MacOS 9
- June 23, 2003 – Power Macintosh G5
- completely new aluminum design
- new processor and architecture (G5)
- faster video system
- larger standard hard drives (up to 160 GB)
- USB 2.0 ports
- PCI-X slots
- optical digital audio in/out
- November 18, 2003 – Power Macintosh G5
- adds dual processors to low-end model
|
- June 9, 2004 – Power Macintosh G5
- new lower-power processors (1.8−2.5 GHz)
- faster optical drives
- liquid cooling system in top model
- October 19, 2004 – Power Macintosh G5
- low-end model with slower architecture and CPU
|
- April 27, 2005 – Power Macintosh G5
- dual processors (2.0−2.7 GHz)
- faster video system
- larger standard hard drives (up to 250 GB)
- two DVI ports instead of ADC
- October 19, 2005 – Power Macintosh G5
- new dual-core processors (2.0−2.5 GHz)
- new quad-core model (2 processors)
- faster video system
- dual Gigabit Ethernet
- optional Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
|
- August 7, 2006 – Mac Pro
- new CPU and architecture (two Intel Xeon)
- increased standard RAM (1 GB)
- faster video system
- larger standard hard drives (up to 500 GB)
|
- April 4, 2007 – Mac Pro
- custom Eight Core model (2 × 3 GHz Quad Core Xeon)
|
- January 8, 2008 – Mac Pro
- faster architecture
- faster processors (2.8−3.2 GHz Quad Core Xeon)
- increased standard RAM (2 GB)
- pre-installed Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
- support for Serial Attached SCSI drives
- two PCIe 2.0 slots
|
- March 3, 2009 – Mac Pro
- faster architecture (Nehalem)
- increased standard RAM (3 GB)
- DVI and Mini DisplayPort
- Firewire 400 port removed
- Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
- replaces the frontside bus with a QPI
- four PCIe 2.0 slots
- redesigned interior case
- December 4, 2009 – Mac Pro
- custom Quad Core model (3.33 GHz Quad Core Xeon)
|
- July 27, 2010 – Mac Pro
- up to 12 core
- faster architecture (Westmere)
- faster graphics (ATI Radeon HD 5770)
- larger standard hard drives (1 TB)
- DVI and two Mini DisplayPorts
- pre-installed AirPort Extreme (802.11n)
- November 5, 2010 – Mac Pro Server
- introduced server version
- 8 GB of RAM
- 2 × 1 TB hard drives
|
|
|
Spring – Summer |
| Mac OS |
− |
- August 23, 2002 – Jaguar (10.2)
- over 150 enhancements
- Address Book
- iChat
|
- October 24, 2003 – Panther (10.3)
- brushed-metal interface
- fast user switching
- Exposé
- FileVault
- Safari
- videoconferencing in iChat
|
|
- April 29, 2005 – Tiger (10.4)
- Spotlight
- Dashboard
- Smart Folders
- Automator
- VoiceOver
- support for Intel-based Macs
|
|
- October 26, 2007 – Leopard (10.5)
- more than 300 new features
- revamped interface
- Time Machine
- Spaces
- pre-installed Boot Camp
|
|
- August 28, 2009 – Snow Leopard (10.6)
- clean up and performance improvements
- doesn’t support PowerPC architecture
|
|
- July 20, 2011 – Lion (10.7)
- brings ideas from iOS
- Mac App Store
- Launchpad
- Mission Control
- full-screen applications
- improved Mail
- can’t run PowerPC applications
|
|
Late summer |