Buyer's Guide
From Mac Guides
Welcome to the MacRumors Buyer's Guide.
- See also: Buyer's Guide (time-ordered)
This page provides a product summary for each Apple model. The intent is to provide our best recommendations regarding current product cycles, and to provide a summary of currently available rumors for each model.
Extra information and recommendations are available for each product on their individual Buyer's Guide pages, which are linked to at the top of that product's section on this page.
Disclaimer: This page is based on rumors and speculation and we provide no guarantee to its accuracy. We take no responsibility for purchase decisions made based on this information.
Contents |
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iPod
- Main article: iPod Buyer's Guide
The iPod is Apple's highly successful MP3 player range, which includes:
- iPod classic (high end, hard disk, screen)
- iPod touch (flash memory, touch screen)
- iPod nano (mid-range, flash memory, screen) - this replaced the hard disk based iPod mini
- iPod shuffle (low end, flash memory, no screen)
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iPod classic
The iPod classic is the hard drive based iPod; it was previously simply known as the iPod.
Recent Releases  ??? 9/2007 9/2006 10/2005 6/2005 7/2004 9/2003 4/2003 7/2002 3/2002 |
05/08: Early Canadian iPod Owners Get $45 Credit from Apple
05/07: Apple Refused to Build Copyright Filters for iPod [Updated] 05/02: Apple Losing Money on New Movie Sales? 05/02: iPod Classic Firmware 1.1.2 Released 04/28: Silhouette iPod Ad: 'Shut Up and Let Me Go' 04/17: Apple Researching Laser-Based Head Mounted Display 04/11: Nike+ Coming To iPhone, iPod Touch 03/27: Apple Digital Fitness Companion System? 03/27: iPod Nano, iPod Touch Revisions in 3rd Quarter 2008? ...more... |
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iPod touch
Recent Releases ??? 2/2008 |
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iPod nano
The iPod nano is Apple's midrange iPod; it was previously known as the iPod mini
Recent Releases ??? 9/2007 9/2006 2/2006 9/2005 2/2005 |
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iPod shuffle
Recent Releases ??? 2/2008 9/2007 1/2007 9/2006 2/2006 |
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Desktop Macs
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Mac mini
- Main article: Mac mini Buyer's Guide
The Mac mini is Apple's low end desktop.
Recent Releases ??? 8/2007 9/2006 2/2006 9/2005 7/2005 |
03/21: Mac Mini Not Dead Yet?
03/07: Penryn iMac and Mac Mini Updates Soon? 12/17: Apple Store Shipping Dates and Buyers Guide Recommendations 10/15: Mac Mini End Of Life? 08/14: iMac and Mac mini Benchmarks [Updated] 08/07: Apple Quietly Updates Mac Minis 05/24: Mac Mini To Be Discontinued? 04/17: Intel's Penryn Chip Performance Boosts 03/07: iPod Nano, Mac Mini Announcements This Month? 02/25: Next Generation Intel Platform (Santa Rosa) Tracking For May ...more... |
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iMac
- Main article: iMac Buyer's Guide
The iMac is Apple's all-in-one form factor desktop.
Recent Releases ??? 4/2008 8/2007 9/2006 1/2006 10/2005 5/2005 8/2004 11/2003 9/2003 2/2003 |
05/01: 1066MHz Front Side iMacs Benchmarked
04/28: Apple Releases iMac Graphics Firmware Update 04/28: Intel Provides early 'Montevina'-Like Technology to iMac 04/28: Apple Releases New iMacs with Faster (1066Mhz) Front-Side Bus [Updated] 04/26: Retail Sources Confirm iMac Refresh 04/24: New iMacs Next Week? 04/08: Apple Releases Firmware Updates for Notebooks, Keyboard, and iMac 03/21: Mac Mini Not Dead Yet? 03/17: Intel To Launch Quad-Core "Mobile" Processor In Q3 2008 03/07: Penryn iMac and Mac Mini Updates Soon? 02/27: Penryn iMacs Next Tuesday? ...more... |
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Mac Pro
- Main article: Mac Pro Buyer's Guide
The Mac Pro is Apple's high end desktop; it was formerly known as the Power Mac.
Recent Releases ??? 1/2008 4/2007 8/2006 10/2005 4/2005 6/2004 11/2003 6/2003 1/2003 8/2002 |
04/29: ATI Radeon HD 3870 Video Card for the Mac Pro in May?
04/15: NVIDIA 8800GT for Older Mac Pros Now Available 04/07: Mac Pro Owners Still Waiting for NVIDIA 8800GT Option... Due Next Month? 03/27: Apple Updates Mac Pro (Early 2008) EFI Firmware (1.3) 03/10: ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT Firmware Update 01/24: NVIDIA Working on GPGPUs for Macs? 01/19: NVIDIA 8800GT Option for Older Mac Pros Soon? 01/10: Mac Pro (Early 2008) Geekbench Benchmarks 01/08: Mac Pro (Early 2008) Notes and Options 01/08: Apple Announces Penryn Mac Pros and Xserves ...more... |
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Portable Macs
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MacBook
- Main article: MacBook Buyer's Guide
The MacBook is Apple's consumer laptop; it was formerly known as the iBook.
Recent Releases ??? 2/2008 11/2007 5/2007 11/2006 5/2006 7/2005 10/2004 4/2004 10/2003 4/2003 11/2002 |
05/11: Leak or Typo: 2.6GHz MacBooks? [Updated]
05/05: New MacBooks and MacBook Pros Tomorrow? 04/08: Apple Releases Firmware Updates for Notebooks, Keyboard, and iMac 04/07: Apple Notebooks to See Major Design Changes? 03/17: Dual-Sided Touch Panels for iPhones, MacBooks, Tablets? 02/29: Power Hungry Blu-ray Drives Delaying Apple Notebook Adoption? 02/27: Next MacBook and MacBook Pro Updates in June? 02/26: MacBook and MacBook Pro: Penryn, Battery Life, Updates Sooner than Later? ...more... |
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MacBook Pro
- Main article: MacBook Pro Buyer's Guide
The MacBook Pro is Apple's professional laptop; it was formerly known as the PowerBook.
Recent Releases ??? 2/2008 6/2007 10/2006 4/2006 1/2006 10/2005 1/2005 4/2004 9/2003 1/2003 11/2002 |
05/05: New MacBooks and MacBook Pros Tomorrow?
04/21: MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.5.1 04/08: Apple Releases Firmware Updates for Notebooks, Keyboard, and iMac 04/07: Apple Notebooks to See Major Design Changes? 03/17: Intel To Launch Quad-Core "Mobile" Processor In Q3 2008 03/17: Dual-Sided Touch Panels for iPhones, MacBooks, Tablets? 03/03: Penryn MacBook Pros: Performance Comparable, Battery Life Greater 02/29: Power Hungry Blu-ray Drives Delaying Apple Notebook Adoption? 02/27: Next MacBook and MacBook Pro Updates in June? 02/26: MacBook and MacBook Pro: Penryn, Battery Life, Updates Sooner than Later? ...more... |
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MacBook Air
- Main article: MacBook Air Buyer's Guide
The MacBook Air is Apple's ultrathin portable. It was originally introduced at Macworld San Francisco 2008.
Recent Releases ??? |
05/11: Leak or Typo: 2.6GHz MacBooks? [Updated]
05/05: New MacBooks and MacBook Pros Tomorrow? 04/08: Apple Releases Firmware Updates for Notebooks, Keyboard, and iMac 04/07: Apple Notebooks to See Major Design Changes? 03/17: Dual-Sided Touch Panels for iPhones, MacBooks, Tablets? 02/29: Power Hungry Blu-ray Drives Delaying Apple Notebook Adoption? 02/27: Next MacBook and MacBook Pro Updates in June? 02/26: MacBook and MacBook Pro: Penryn, Battery Life, Updates Sooner than Later? 02/26: Apple Releases New Penryn Based MacBooks 02/25: MacBooks AND MacBook Pros? ...more... |
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iPhone
- Main article: iPhone Buyer's Guide
The iPhone is Apple's new mobile phone.
Recent Releases ??? 2/2008 9/2007 |
05/12: AT&T Webpage Leaks Black iPhone? [Update: iPhone Announcement Soon?]
05/12: 3G iPhone to be Sold in Italy in June 2008 05/11: 3G iPhone in May, Another Device at WWDC? 05/10: Latest iPhone 2.0 Firmware Has 3G On/Off Option 05/10: Online Apple Store is Out of iPhones 05/09: .Mac Enhancements At WWDC? 05/08: iPhone No Longer Available in UK [Updated] 05/07: AT&T Officially Lists Wi-Fi Hotspot Access with iPhone Plans [Updated] 05/07: Apple Refused to Build Copyright Filters for iPod [Updated] ...more... |
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Other Apple Products
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Apple Cinema Displays
- Main article: LCD Buyer's Guide
The Apple Cinema Displays are Apple's range of LCD monitors.
Recent Releases ??? 4/2007 8/2006 3/2006 10/2005 4/2005 1/2005 6/2004 1/2003 |
12/17: Apple Store Shipping Dates and Buyers Guide Recommendations
12/13: Apple Removes Cinema Displays From Store Front Page 07/31: Hybrid (Touch) Displays from Apple? 05/21: iMac Update Slated For Late June 05/02: A Greener Apple - New LED Displays Coming 04/13: Apple NAB Special Event This Weekend 04/04: Apple Discounts Cinema Displays [Updated] 01/29: Apple Product Update Tomorrow? [Updated - 4 New Shuffles?] 01/01: Macworld San Francisco 2007 Rumor Roundup 12/29: 8-Core Mac Pro In January? Displays Too? ...more... |
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Xserve
- Main article: Xserve Buyer's Guide
The Xserve is Apple's server line.
Recent Releases ??? 1/2008 8/2006 9/2005 1/2005 1/2004 2/2003 |
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| Buyer's Guide | |
|---|---|
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iPhone | iPod | Mac mini | iMac | Mac Pro | MacBook | MacBook Pro | MacBook Air| Apple Cinema Displays | Xserve
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