The rumours that Apple would launch Intel-based Mac computers many months earlier than originally stated turned out to be true.

At this week's Macworld Conference and Expo, Steve Jobs unveiled two families of Intel-powered Macs - a pair of 15in laptops available February at £1,429 and £1,779, and a pair of all-in-one iMac desktop models available now and priced at £929 (17in) and £1,229 (20in). All prices are VAT-inclusive.

1/ Apple today unveiled its new MacBook Pro notebook computer featuring the new Intel Core Duo processor which delivers up to four times the performance of the PowerBook G4.

The new MacBook Pro, the first Mac notebook based on an Intel processor, features a stunning aluminium enclosure just one inch thin, weighs only 5.6 pounds, includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go, and the Apple Remote and Front Row software for a simple, intuitive and powerful way for users to enjoy their content wherever they go. The new MacBook Pro, available in February, also features Apple’s new patent-pending MagSafe magnetic power connector, designed especially for mobile users.

2/ Apple today unveiled the new iMac featuring Mac OS X running on the new Intel Core Duo processor, delivering performance that is up to twice that of its predecessor.

The widely praised iMac design now features dual-core processors, a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing out-of-the-box, and the breakthrough media experience of Front Row with the Apple Remote for a simple, intuitive and powerful way for consumers to enjoy their content from across the room.

Every new iMac comes with iLife ’06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring major new versions of iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand and introducing iWeb, a new iLife application that makes it super-easy to create amazing websites with photos, blogs and Podcasts and publish them on .Mac for viewing by anyone on the Internet with just a single click. The new iMac is shipping today, and is the first of a new generation of Macs featuring Intel processors that Apple will roll out during 2006.
Check out the releases and read our take in this HEXUS.headline.