Macs harness Intel server power

Apple’s move to using Intel processors in all its Mac computers seems to have paid off, as new models such as the consumer-oriented MacBook laptop have been selling very well.

However, Apple’s professional-level Powermac range has been lagging behind, waiting for the release of Intel’s new Core 2 Duo processors. Now, though, Apple has put the Powermac range out of its misery and replaced it with the Mac Pro, based on Intel’s Xeon processor.

Many of the Mac rumour sites had been expecting Apple to opt for the desktop Core 2 processor, codenamed Conroe, but Apple chose the server-oriented Xeon, as the Mac Pro is aimed at professional users who need maximum power for demanding tasks such as video editing and animation.

It has also opted for a dual-processor configuration in all Mac Pro models to provide even more power, and Apple claims that the Mac Pro will be 1.4 to 1.8 times faster than the old Powermacs when running real-world applications such as its Final Cut video-editing software.

Mac Pro pricers start at £1,499 for a 2GHz dual-processor system, with 1GB of Ram, 250GB hard disk and Geforce 7300 graphics card, going up to £2,239 for the 3GHz dual-processor version.

Apple emphasised that it wants to 'bust the myth' that its products are more expensive than comparable PC products. It compared the Mac Pro to a similar Xeon system from Dell, arguing that the Mac Pro was almost $1,000 cheaper than the Dell.

Apple also announced that it would be using the Xeon in its XServe range of server products, although these would not be available until later this year.

Some Mac fans were disappointed that Apple didn’t take the opportunity to update existing products such as the iMac and Mac Mini with the Core 2 processor, however it is expected that these products will be updated before the Christmas buying season starts in December.