Apple rolls out beefed-up, wallet-conscious desktops

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Apple on Tuesday unveiled beefed-up Macintosh desktop computers in a revamped line it touts as offering more muscle for buyers’ money.

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The “flagship” of the iMac line is a new 24-inch model with enhanced graphics and memory capabilities. It has the same $1,499 price tag as the previous generation’s 20-inch iMac.

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Apple said that the latest version of its Mac mini is the world’s most energy-efficient desktop computer and employs NVIDIA GeForce chips that make its graphics five times better than its predecessor.

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A basic Mac mini is priced at $599 while one with more memory and a larger hard drive sells for $799.

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“The Mac mini is not only our most affordable Mac, it’s also the world’s most energy efficient desktop computer,” said Apple chief operating officer Tim Cook.

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The new iMacs and Mac minis are being shipped and should be available in Apple stores.

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Apple also rolled out a new Mac Pro model built with powerful Intel and NVIDIA chips and a design that it says delivers twice the performance as the previous generation of desktop.

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New Mac Pro models will be available beginning next week in Apple stores and have starting prices of $2,499.

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“The new Mac Pro is a significant upgrade and starts at $300 less than before,” said Apple senior vice president of worldwide product marketing Philip Schiller.

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“The Mac Pro features an advanced system architecture, new faster processors and our best-ever graphics options to deliver a faster, more powerful system that our professional customers are going to love.”

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Macintosh desktop computers come loaded with Apple’s latest software, including a “Time Machine” program that automatically backs up all files and programs.

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