At the 2006 Apple Worldwide Developer Conference today, Steve Jobs took the wraps off Apple's PowerMac G5's replacement. Dubbed Mac Pro, the new machine completes Apple's transition to Intel processors: all configurations include a pair of dual-core Xeon "Woodcrest" processors running between 2GHz and 3GHz. With dual 2GHz Xeons, 1GB of RAM, 160GB of storage, and an NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics card, the base configuration can be had for $2,199. If money is no object, Apple lets you crank the specs up to dual 3GHz Xeons with 16GB of RAM, 2TB of storage, and an NVIDIA Quadro FX 4500. At that point, though, you'll owe Apple just over $12,000, and that's without a display. Apple showcases the Mac Pro's features here, and the machine is up for sale right now at the Apple Store. Apple quotes a lead time of one to three business days for shipping.
Aside from the Mac Pro's introduction, Jobs' keynote also played host to a sneak peek of MacOS X 10.5 "Leopard," Apple's next operating system. When it comes out next spring, Leopard will include full 64-bit support, a built-in version of Boot Camp for dual-booting with Windows, a "Time Machine" system backup feature, and "Spaces," a virtual desktops implementation. For more details, MacWorld has a complete summary of the keynote. Engadget also has coverage with pictures.
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