Everything Apple and Microsoft Unveiled This Week

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Published: Friday, 26 Oct 2012 | 4:52 PM ET
thompson_cadie_2010_100.jpg By: | Technology Reporter, CNBC.com
Source: Apple

Along with the new MacBook Pro, Apple also introduced a redesigned iMac that is much thinner than its predecessor and has more processing power.

The new display screen reduces reflection by 75 percent while maintaining high-quality resolution. As for what's inside the machine, the iMac has a third generation quad-core Intel Core i5 processors, which can be upgraded to Core i7, providing up to 60 percent faster performance.

It also features a new storage option called a Fusion Drive which allows the machine to have the speed of a flash drive and storage capacity of hard drive.

It is available in two screen sizes, a 21.5-inch model and a 27-inch model.

Pricing for the computer begins at $1,299 for a 21.5-inch iMac and goes up to $1,999 for a 27-inch iMac. Apple will begin to sell the new desktop computer in November.


—Windows 8

Timothy A. Clary | AFP | Getty Images

Microsoft executives showed off the company's upgraded operating system Windows 8 at an event in New York City Thursday. (Read More: Microsoft Officially Unveils Windows 8)

The new OS is unlike any other upgrade because it was designed for a touch-interface, however, a version of it works on non-touch computing devices as well.

The Windows 8 became available Friday and it costs $39.99 (until Jan. 31) to upgrade an existing Windows PC to the latest Windows 8 OS. the computer, however, must currently run on one of the following versions of Windows: Windows 8 Preview, Windows 7, Windows Vista or Windows XP.

Getty Images

—Surface Tablet

Microsoft also showed off its tablet device Thursday. The new tablet runs on a version of Windows 8 OS and comes installed with Windows Office software suite. (Read More: Here's Why Surface Beats Apple's iPad: Ballmer)

The Surface has a display screen that is 10.6-inches and comes in a 32GB model and a 64GB model.

The tablet became available Friday and costs $499 for a 32GB model and $599 for a 32GB model with a black touch cover.

It features HD cameras on the back and the front, two microphones, stereo speakers and eight hours of battery life.

email: tech@cnbc.com

Apple and Google rolled out new devices this week in their latest push to promote their products before the holiday season swings into full gear.


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