Imac update: Good Value?

Apple has today updated the spec of it’s iMac range of all in one computers. As usual, UK buyers are not getting as good a deal as our US neighbours. Here’s the updated specifications with US prices, US Prices in pounds using the current exchange rate and UK prices.

• 20 inch screen, 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 1GB memory, 250GB hard drive, 8x double-layer SuperDrive, ATI Radeon HD2400XT 128MB $1199 £602.53 £799
• 20 inch screen, 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB memory, 320GB hard drive, 8x double-layer SuperDrive, ATI Radeon HD2600PRO 256MB $1499 £753.29 £949
• 24 inch screen, 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB memory, 320GB hard drive, 8x double-layer SuperDrive, ATI Radeon HD2600PRO 256MB $1799 £904.05 £1149
• 4 inch screen, 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB memory, 500GB hard drive, 8x double-layer SuperDrive, NVIDIA GeForce 8800GS 512MB $2199 £1,105.06 £1389

As you can see from the price comparison, the difference in US and UK pricing ranges from just under £200 at the bottom of the range to £280 at the top. Even in these days of economic uncertainty that seems like a lot, especially on the lowest model. Since Apple give a worldwide warranty with all their products, the best advice for anyone visiting the States is to buy your Apple products there, or get a travelling friend to buy for you. As long as the voltage difference isn’t a problem (I know it isn’t on the laptops, you just need a UK plug adapter) you’re saving a nice wedge.

10.5.2 first impressions

341Mb of update later (followed by 48.6Mb of Leopard Graphics Update) and the trusty Macbook is running 10.5.2. Nothing immediately different on startup except one puzzling problem that I will detail later. Here’s the most immediate visible changes.

10.5.2 is finally here

I know it’s only a software update, but this one has enough bug fixes and tweaks to justify a service pack 1 title. 10.5.2 is now available in software update as a substantial 341Mb download. Good job software update supports resuming as I would hate to get 99% of this and have to start again. I’ve stopped all other internet traffic on my network so I can get this asap, but it’s still a relatively slow download. More news on the changes once it’s installed, and don’t forget to back up all your valuable data before updating. I ran Superduper this morning so I have a bootable backup waiting if there are any problems.

16Gb iPhone and 32Gb iPod Touch Announced

Apple has today announced memory upgraded versions of the iPhone and iPod Touch in the US. These do not appear to be available in the UK yet, and no details yet on when they will be. The 16Gb iPhone and 32Gb iPod Touch both cost $499, so following Apple’s recent conversion rate this should mean a UK pricing of around £349.

10.5.2 due this year

I can understand wanting to get the next Mac OS update right but how long do we have to wait? I’ve delayed starting on my hackintosh until 10.5.2 is out to make sure I buy hardware that will work with the minimum of patching. There are so many reputed fixes in the update that it’s going to be a must for all Leopard users, finally giving us the quality we were originally promised.
Mac news sites and forums were happily predicting 10.5.2 would accompany the Macbook Air, but it wasn’t so. They’ve now moved onto new multi touch Macbook Pro’s due in February and 10.5.2 will launch with them. MacRumors has news that build 9C27 was made available to developers on Thursday, so even if that becomes the final version we won’t see it until late next week.
I’ve got money burning a hole in my pocket Apple. Please get the update out before another gadget tempts me.

Apple Keynote 2008 opinions

Lets get the big rant out of the way first.

20 DOLLARS TO UPGRADE THE IPOD TOUCH WITH FIVE APPS ALREADY AVAILABLE ON THE IPHONE AND EVERY JAILBROKEN TOUCH IS A JOKE.

Normal non-shouty blog resumes. I can understand the Mail, Maps, Stocks, Notes and Weather apps not being on the original iPod touch. It was an iPod, so did what the previous iPod did when it came to PIM. Not being able to add calendar events was a mistake that was rectified. But this is just taking the piss. All the early adopters that helped make the Christmas quarter such a huge success get shafted. Buy an iPod touch today and get the software for free. How can the company which styles itself as the cool guy fighting Microsoft’s corporation crap on its users like this? Leaves an unpleasant taste after all the other good things that were announced.