Apple announces new notebooks

Apple has announced several new notebook computers.

The new 13in and 15in Macbook notebooks have a case made largely from aluminium and use a new Nvidia Geforce 9400M graphics chip, which Apple claims is five times more powerful than the graphics in earlier models.

They also use a new, larger touchpad with no buttons. This supports multi-touch, so two finger gestures can be used to control the computer. The new Macbook models cost £959 and £1,149 respectively.

Two new Macbook Pro models, costing £1,399 and £1,749, include two graphics processors so the user can switch between them at will.

The Macbook Air range has been updated, with a new graphics chip and more storage. The Air range starts at £1,299.

Contrary to speculation, however, Apple did not announce a new notebook with a low price of around $800. Instead, it will continue to sell one Macbook with the older white plastic case – this costs £719.

In addition to the new notebooks, the company has also announced a new 24in monitor. However, this is designed especially for Apple's revamped Macbook and Macbook Pro lines, which use a Mini Displayport connector, and cannot connect to other computers without an extra adapter. It costs £649.

Apple also claimed it had taken into consideration the environmental impact of its products. It has equipped each notebook and the cinema display with a mercury-free LED-backlit LCD panel, which is said to use up to 30 per cent less energy than older Apple displays.

The new products comply with Energy Star 4.0 requirements and do not contain toxic chemicals such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) or PVC.

These green changes were welcomed by Greenpeace, which called the move a “step in the right direction”.

Zeina Alhajj, a representative for the organisation, said: “Not all of Apple’s products are completely PVR and BFR free, but by moving to eliminate these products Apple is setting a good example to the rest of the industry."