The Windows 10 (previously known as Windows 9) Technical Preview has now been released for laptop and desktop users, with the server version due to follow shortly.

This technical preview is very much aimed at developers to experience before the OS's general release, and is heavily geared towards enterprise customers in terms of its various new and updated features.

Earlier this week, Beta News flagged a page on the Microsoft website with download links to both the 32-bit and 64-bit Windows Technical Preview for Enterprise, so one presumes this will be the place to go to get hold of a copy tomorrow. At the time of writing, the links included on the page were not live.

A statement on the page reads: "The next version of the Windows client operating system will enable IT professionals to provide users with a familiar experience across multiple devices while enhancing security and manageability. It will also offer new and improved features that enable businesses to: Defend against modern security threats, Elevate employee productivity, Embrace the mobile and cloud era, Enable upgrade without upheaval."

Some additional details were revealed, however, and we now know that the next iterations of Windows will be 3.16GB and 4.10GB respectively.

It has also been rumoured that Windows 10 may be available for free to existing Windows 8.1 users in an effort to coax people into upgrading and avoid the ongoing problems Microsoft has had with getting people to move off Windows XP.

However, Microsoft refused to be drawn on how it plans to encourage users to upgrade to Windows 10 during a Q&A at the launch event in San Francisco on 30 September, and kept schtum about how much it could potentially cost.

Windows 8 has had plenty of detractors since it arrived back in 2012, with the unpopular disappearance of the start button and Metro menu view confusing users at best and alienating them at worst.

Microsoft shared some details about the enterprise-friendly features Windows 10 will sport, as it strives to distance itself from the previous OS, which is widely considered to have been a disaster.

At the time of writing, Microsoft was offering a "later in 2015" release date for the operating system, and has promised to shed more light on how consumers will benefit from the new-look Windows at next year's Build conference in April.

On the new Preview programme also launching today, Terry Myerson said: "We have never done this before. We'll be using a variety of tools: like survey tools on features. There'll be forums for insiders and engineering will take part in these. We're going to learn too how to run a programme like this. We're jumping off before we have all the answers."

In light of the new features Microsoft showcased at the event, here's our list of features we were hoping the software giant would include, and what we're most looking forward to in Windows 10.

1. Lower price

Microsoft needs a carrot to dangle in front of consumers and businesses to convince them to invest in Windows 10 machines. The firm might even have to go so far as to offer users the chance to upgrade to the next-iteration of Windows for free.

Reducing the cost of upgrading will help people finally part with Windows XP - the aged operating system that entered end of life in April 2014.

Microsoft's updates have long been priced higher than Apple's, and this is yet another factor deterring consumers from upgrading.

If the rumours that Windows 10 will be offered to Windows 8.1 users for free turn out to be true, then this should encourage many people to upgrade more quickly. Windows 8 users could also be offering the new OS at a discounted price, and those still using XP may be offered additional incentives to switch.

2. Better Battery Life

Intel's 2013 Haswell chips provided a big jump in battery life, which can be seen in the latest crop of Ultrabooks. Windows machines have long been known to burn through battery power quicker than their Mac OS X counterparts.

Ars Technica gave a detailed breakdown of how OS X Mavericks saves power. The system schedules tasks to run in clumps to maximise processor idle time and minimise power consumption. The latest version of Apple's OS was so efficient, it even added an extra 60 minutes of battery life to older hardware which upgraded to this operating system.

Microsoft needs to better implement power-saving features into Windows 10 or risk being left further behind next-gen Mac products.

3. Universal apps

Microsoft has been vocal about wanting to create a more unified experience across PCs, phones, tablets and its other platforms, and Windows 10 indeed looks set to take this concept a step further.

For example, it was announced that Windows apps will run in a traditional-style desktop window on the new OS, rather than taking over the entire screen as had been the case with Windows 8. This gives the apps more of a place for users who wish only to use the desktop.

The idea of universal apps will indeed unify Windows 10 across all of Microsoft's devices, which could in turn make the OS more inviting to developers who had previously opted for iOS and Android instead.

The move could even put Microsoft ahead of Apple, as iOS and Mac OS still requires developers to build separate apps for both.

This was first reported along with Microsoft's fourth quarter 2014 results, when the firm's CEO Satya Nadella announced a renewed focus on devices in general.

He said: "We will streamline the next version of Windows from three operating systems into one single converged operating system for screens of all sizes. We will unify our stores, commerce and developer platforms to drive a more coherent user experience and a broader developer opportunity.

"In the past we had multiple teams working on difference versions of Windows," he added. "Now we have one team with a common architecture. This allows us to scale, create universal Windows Apps."

4. Downplayed Metro UI

The Metro UI has alienated many loyal Windows users and the firm is going to have to work hard to appease them. Windows 8.1 went some way towards making things better with the option to boot straight to desktop.

The option to switch Metro off entirely, for example, would be very welcome for many users. This would mean that when you turn on the desktop-only mode, images should open in Windows Gallery instead of the Metro Preview app.

With Windows 10 mobile devices, it had previously been reported that Microsoft was planning to ditch the desktop entirely, and additional rumours suggested that PCs running the OS may be sold with the Metro view disabled as a default.

Desktop-only mode would let users work in peace and placate some of Microsoft's critics, while allowing the company to keep experimenting with Metro for consumers.

The Charms bar - another unpopular element of Windows 8's redesign - was also rumoured to have been dropped, with the search, share, devices and settings options previously housed there moving to new title bars on modern Windows 10 apps, but that appears not to be the case.

Instead, a different version of the Charms bar will appear as part of the new operating system, though specific details are thin on the ground.

At Microsoft's event, Joe Belfiore said: "The way we're going to evolve this touch UI, I expect the Charms bar to change."

5. Virtual desktops and Task View

OS X and Linux have had virtual desktops for years. They allow you to keep multiple sets of windows open on one computer, to improve productivity when juggling multiple projects.

Microsoft has announced that virtual desktops will indeed be part of Windows 10, allowing users to enjoy multiple desktop displays with individual settings, making it easier to separate work and home activities on the same device.

Another feature aimed at improving productivity is Task View, which has been introduced to show the user which apps are currently running on their system, thus allowing them to more easily organise activity and multi-task more efficiently.

6. The return of the real Start button

It's amazing how so many people can miss such a small feature. Microsoft gave into popular demand when it put a Start button in Windows 8.1, but this just brings you back to the Start screen.

As demonstrated at Microsoft's event, we will indeed see the real start button return with Windows 10, and it is described by Microsoft as an "expanded" version of the Windows 7 start menu "experience" with no necessary learning curve.

Previous reports that the new-look Start Menu would include both the classic layout of previous iterations and a new Metro panel with live tiles for Windows Store apps turned out to be more or less correct. Users can also drag programs between the two columns, depending on whether they want it to display as a live tile or a traditional shortcut.

The search function of the Start menu will now also search the web for results in addition to the contents of the PC or device, and the menu will sport a power button (which had been very confusingly relocated on Windows 8.)

It had been rumoured for some time the Start Button would return with Windows 8.1 Update 2, but it then emerged that the feature would likely be delayed until the full release of Windows 9 (now revealed to be called Windows 10) the following year.

7. Over-the-air system recovery

Microsoft could also make it easier to restore Windows in the event of a malfunction. Mac devices can reinstall OS X by simply downloading files from the internet.

A similar system would make it easier to recover Windows computers, as it is much simpler than digging through BIOS boot settings and trying to find your recovery USB.

Keeping so many system-specific files would be difficult, but it's possible. Microsoft could convince hardware manufacturers to contribute the necessary files so users could recover their systems over-the-air.

8. Better display scaling

Windows has not been able to cope with the high-resolution devices manufacturers have started pumping out. As screen resolutions climb north of 1920 x 1080, programs such as Adobe Premiere and Vegas Pro can be rendered unusable in some cases as icons can appear tiny and pixellated.

Howtogeek put up a useful guide explaining how to change the compatibility settings for troublesome Windows apps in order to make the text readable again, but this shouldn't even be necessary.

Microsoft needs to add better support for Retina-quality displays to make sure the new version of its OS still looks good on devices like the Surface Pro 3.

9. Improved security

Windows is a primary target for viruses, if only by virtue of its dominant market share. Redmond's OS attracts the lion's share of malware, while OS X and Linux aren't as vulnerable.

Microsoft releases regular security patches and has built Microsoft Security Essentials into Windows 8 - but this has been critically panned. In Dennis Publishing tests, it missed 39 per cent of malware thrown at it.

In a blog post detailing the improvements in Windows 10 for business users, Microsoft has highlighted security advancements, claiming that the OS has beefed up "resistance to breach, theft or phishing."

Windows 10 promises to provide additional protection through the use of containers and data separation for application and files. This means that sensitive data inherent to many businesses' use of Windows will be protected even after it is transferred away from the device (such as a tablet, USB drive or the cloud).

We might see things improve with Windows 10 as Intel has rebranded the McAfee software suite and could provide comprehensive protection. But Microsoft has to up its game too.

10. Fixed Windows Update

Updating Windows software has driven many people to the brink of insanity. If ignored for too long, Windows may reboot your PC at the worst moment possible and then you can be trapped in what seems like a never-ending cycle of updating and rebooting.

Refreshing drivers is the same. PC users shouldn't have to dig through a manufacturer's website in 2014, looking for the latest version of a driver for their laptop's graphics card.

Windows 10 thankfully looks to be making moves to rectify these problems with Windows 10, with single click updates rumoured to be introduced. The feature is a part of the Windows 10 Technical Preview, which makes its inclusion in the final operating system likely though not confirmed.

This would finally make Windows updates more efficient and less annoying to apply, thus encouraging users to keep their operating system up to date.

This article was first published on 29/01/14 and has been updated multiple times (most recently on 01/10/14) to reflect new information that has become available since its original publication.

Apple has moved to fix the Bash security flaw that affected many of the company's OS X-running computers.

Also known as Shellshock, the bug could allow hackers to take over a victim's computer. The vulnerability involves the execution of malicilous code within the Bash command shell, which is used in many Linux- and Unix-based operating systems, such as OS X.

Apple said it has now patched the flaw in its OS X Lion, Mountain Lion and Mavericks software. The company also set up a site for users to download the Bash update.

Following news of the vulnerability, Apple quickly moved to deny there was a problem and said the vast majority of users shouldn't be affected by the problem and that it was working to provide a software update for its advanced Unix users.

"Bash, a UNIX command shell and language included in OS X, has a weakness that could allow unauthorised users to remotely gain control of vulnerable systems," Apple said last week.

"With OS X, systems are safe by default and not exposed to remote exploits of bash unless users configure advanced UNIX services."

However, while the patch fixes two vulnerabilities, security researchers have discovered a third. According to Greg Wiseman of IT security firm Rapid7, another flaw.

"Amidst the flurry of activity and interest around Shellshock over the last week, several additional bash vulnerabilities have come to light. The initial fix for CVE-2014-6271 was incomplete, leading to CVE-2014-7169 being found," said Wiseman.

He claims to have found the extra vulnerability with a tool called bashcheck, which tests for vulnerabilities in an installed version of Bash, and that he found it to still be vulnerable to CVE-2014-7186. This could result in a denial of service attack preventing a computer from connecting to other networks, it is feared.

Whether you're new to the Mac platform or have been using it for a number of years there are always tricks and tips you may be unaware of, which can boost productivity.

Below we list 14 tips and tricks to help you get the best out of Apple's desktop operating system.

1. Useful shortcuts

If you're coming across from a Windows machine you'll need to adapt to the new shortcuts on Mac. There are bucketloads of features so we've included ten useful ones to get you started.

Command + Tab Cycles through apps

Command + ` Switches between application windows

Command + , Opens up application preferences (may not work with everything)

Command + H Hides current window

Command + Option + Esc See running apps and force quit if necessary

Shift + Command + 3 Screenshots entire screen and saves as a picture

Shift + Command + Control + 3 Screenshots entire screen and is copied to clipboard

Shift + Command + 4 Screenshot a designated area with the mouse

Option + Shift + Command + V Pastes text with no formatting

Option + Shift + Command + Space - Opens a windows with spotlight so you can search for files on the Mac.

2. Make sure TrackPad gestures are activated

If you're using a MacBook then chances are you've got the gestures sorted. If you're using a desktop it's a good idea to invest in the Magic TrackPad accessory so you can also benefit from smooth transitions between apps, desktops and windows.

We prefer unticking the natural scroll direction - but it's worth experimenting to see what you find comfortable.

3. Screencast recording

OS X has a built-in screen recording facility allowing users to capture everything on the display. This is handy for making instructional videos and can even be useful in compliance situations. To record a video open up QuickTime Player and from the file menu, click on "New Screen Recording". Then choose the audio source such as the internal mic and whether you want to include mouse clicks.

When ready, hit record and make your video. It's possible to record the whole screen or a selection. Afterwards, you can edit it and upload it to YouTube.

4. Resize, crop, fine-tune images & add a signature

The Preview app is more than just an image viewer.It can crop, edit andadjust the colours of an image/

From OS X 10.7 onwards, the Preview app allows you to add your signature to documents and mail them digitally.

In Preview preferences, navigate to the Signature tab and click on the "+" button. Write your name in black ink on a blank sheet of white paper and hold it to the Mac's webcam, and watch as it magically appears onscreen.

To put your signature to a document, bring up the Edit toolbar and click on the signature icon. Draw a box and add your signature to the form. You printing, signing and faxing days will be a thing of the past.

5. Dictation

Voice dictation was built into Mountain Lion and has now been improved within Mavericks.

To enable dictation, go the System Preferences and choose "Dictation and Speech" and make sure the radio button for Dictation is "On". Then to use dictation, just press the Fn key twice in succession and start talking. You can also change this shortcut to whatever combination of keystrokes works best for you.

In Mavericks, there is an "Enhanced Dictation" tool. Clicking on the check box downloads a 700MB language file so all speech processing is done on the Mac locally instead of through Apple's cloud servers. This also means the thirty-second limit on speech you dictate is no longer applicable and you can chat to your heart's content.

6. Add website clips to Dashboard

Dashboard is the half-forgotten feature of OS X and only ever pops up when you accidently swipe too far left.

You can add web pages as widgets and put them on the dashboard for future reference. To do this, open up Safari and make a clip of a website, open it in Safari, then choose "Open in Dashboard". Use your mouse to select the area of the webpage you want on the dashboard and then click add (on the top right of the window).

This then puts the clipping onto the dashboard (there's an "I" in the bottom right of the clip that allows you to change the frame appearance). The clip should automatically update, but if it doesn't appear to Command + R will refresh the clip.

7. Kill the Dashboard

Perhaps having web clips isn't your thing. You can get rid of the Dashboard by opening up the Terminal app and typing "defaults write com.apple.dashboard mcx-disabled -boolean true", then hitting enter. Relaunch the dock by typing in "killall Dock" and you'll never see this feature again.

8. Remote control a Mac

OS X has a built remote sharing feature called Back To My Mac.

You need to ensure the Mac you want to remotely connect to is on and synced with your iCloud account (this is done via the Systems Preferences app). You should also make sure that Back To My Mac is enabled by ticking the box. In the sharing preferences part of system preferences, make sure the remote management is enabled on the Mac you need to connect to as well. On the router the remote Mac is connected to ensure that UPnP is enabled. All of this should then allow your remote Mac to check in with Apple's server to let them know its internet location.

From the Mac you are working on make sure that iCloud is turned on and you are logged in with your account to that service, turn on Back To My Mac as well as sharing. It's important to make sure you are using the same Apple ID on both computers. Then it is just a case of clicking on the remote Mac on the sidebar in a Finder window and clicking on Share Screen. A window will open and display the remote Mac's screen.

9. Copy Files to and from a remote Mac

Back To My Mac not only lets you share the screen but lets you copy files to and from a remote Mac. If you have followed the previous process to share the screen, to access files, you need to enable File Sharing under the Sharing icon in System Preferences.

In the Finder window go to the remote Mac you wish to share files with and you click on "Connect As". Type in your Apple ID and password and now you have access to the hard drive. You can move files between the two systems as you would with a remote server.

10. Merge all finder windows

This is one for Mavericks users. Finder now supports tabs so you can consolidate multiple panes into one window. Instead of dragging them all together one-by-one, in the Finder menu choose Window the click on Merge All Windows and you're done.

11. Share a DVD drive with others

The latest Mac desktops and laptops don't have optical drives but it you need to use physical media it's still possible. If you have an old Mac with a Superdrive you can set it up to share this with your driveless devices.

To do this, open up System Preferences on the Mac with a DVD drive, click on Sharing and in that window tick the box marked "DVDor CD sharing". Then insert the disc you want to share. Go the driveless Mac (making sure it is on the same network) and open the Finder window. Look at the sidebar for "Remote Disc" in the Devices section. Click on it and then double-click the computer you want to connect to.

12. Find another printer

Working in a large department you may find a printer to be busy churning out a large document. You can set up your Mac to print to the next available printer if there is more than one on the network. To do this, go into System Preferences and click on Printers and Scanners.

Select the printers from the list that you want to be in the pool (To select multiple printer, hold down the Command button and click on additional printers. Click on Create Printer Pool and give it a name. Click OK.

Then next time you print a document, you can choose the printer pool from the pop-up menu.

13. Give your guests safe access to a Mac

Guest accounts are great if you want to let someone borrow your Mac to check email or browse the web.

This can be enabled by going into System Preferences and clicking on Users and Groups. This then puts the Guest User account on the login screen. Guests can use this account and once finished it wipes that session.

14. Find out what your Mac is up to

Sometimes you may find the Mac is running slow and you have no idea why. There is a handy little app that lets you see what exactly is going on under the hood.

Activity Monitor can be found in the Utilities Folder. This has columns showing CPU usage of individual apps and processes and how much memory it is using. If you find a problematic app hogging resources, you can click on Quit Process to shut the offending app down. You can also use this utility to look at usage graphs as well.

Around a fifth of all Macs could be at risk from hacking and malware following the withdrawal of updates for the Snow Leopard operating system. Recent updates to OS X patched flaws in the three latest versions of the desktop operating system: Lion, Mountain Lion and Mavericks, but neglected to include updates for Snow Leopard, which was launched in 2009. The withdrawal of support after four-and-a-half years makes the OS the second-longest supported Apple OS after Tiger. The OS is estimated to running on almost a fifth (19 per cent) of Macs, which mean these computers could now run the risk of being exploited by hackers and malware. Apple's last security update for Snow Leopard was in September last year. Apple's normal patching policy is to put out updates for the present OS and the previous one. Support for the "n-2" OS normally finishes on the launch day of the latest OS version. However, with Snow Leopard, this lasted a lot longer for.

The latest update means that Lion (the n-2 OS) also got a patch, signifying the OS's continued popularity and the seriousness of the flaw itself. Apple may have a hard time getting people off Snow Leopard, though. The OS was the last to support applications written for the PowerPC chip using the Rosetta translation utility and users are showing no signs of wanting to give these up and upgrade their software.

As reported by IT Pro, Apple was forced into an update of OS X to patch a flaw with its encryption. The OS X Mavericks v10.9.2 patch fixes a vulnerability that alters the way Mac devices handle encrypted communications, and means critical checks on the validity of a site's SSL certificate are overlooked when users try to establish a secure connection.

Apple has hit back at critics who accused the firm of abandoning the enterprise with its latest Mac Pro.

The late-2013 model crams unprecedented levels of power into a gorgeous and portable 5kg frame. The 10in tall chassis is powered by an Intel Xeon processor and 2 x AMD FirePro graphics cards as standard. It's also capable of housing up to 64GB of RAM and an SSD up to 1TB in size.

The redesigned chassis is eye-catching but don't let the black colour fool you into thinking it's made from plastic. Apple's cylindrical box is crafted using premium Aluminium - which is anodised and coated to give it a gloss finish. It's so shiny, you'll be able to see your face it in.

This isn't the first cylindrical computer case - but when the internal layout is examined you'll see the implementation is unique.

Place the Mac Pro on your desk and you're guaranteed to get colleagues coming over to catch a glimpse. Members of the IT Pro team were imaginative with descriptions of the Mac Pro, comparing it with everything from wine coolers and ice-buckets, to biscuit tins and space-age dustbins. But they loved it really.

The heart of the beast

The single piece of machine Aluminium slides off without the need to detach any screws to reveal the innards.

Our review unit was made up of a single quad-core Intel Xeon E5 processor and 2 x AMD FirePro D300 graphics cards.

The processor was flanked by user accessible slots for RAM. We had 16GB of memory, and the Mac Pro is capable of housing up to 64GB of memory.

In typical Apple fashion, components have been customised to slot together neatly with rounded corners. The bespoke SSD (256GB in our case) was affixed onto the graphics card with a single screw.

The internal design of the Mac Pro is where the engineering team earned its money. Apple's "unified thermal core" is triangular. This shape acts as a funnel and allows all components to be cooled using a solitary fan on top of the device. In comparison, the previous generation Mac Pro had eight fans.

You may think a single large fan would make the Mac Pro loud, but this isn't the case. You'll struggle to hear the device even when it is being taxed to the maximum. If you're sitting in an air conditioned environment, the chances are you won't hear it at all.

Ports

A workstation needs to be kitted out with plenty of ports and the Mac Pro has a great selection. There are 4 x USB 3 connections, 2 x Ethernet jacks, 1 x HDMI and 6 x Thunderbolt 2.0 ports.

Thunderbolt 2 does bring advantages. The interface supports channel aggregation so two separate 10 Gbit/s channels can be combined into a single logical 20 Gbit/s channel. Each Thunderbolt port on the Mac Pro can support up to 6 storage devices - and a maximum of 36 devices can be daisy chained together.

Thunderbolt 2 is also able to transfer 4K video whilst displaying the ultra-high resolution content on a monitor at the same time.

You can connect up to three 4K displays to the machine - ideal for those carrying out complex tasks like editing video or 3D modelling. If you're not using 4K resolution, it's possible to hook up 6 cinema displays (2560 x 1400).

There's one disadvantage about having all the connections packed together. Once you start plugging in multiple cables, they can get tangled in a web and look messy. But this isn't going to affect the performance of the device.

Performance

When you're forking out over 2,000 for the unit, performance is expected to be top notch and the Mac Pro does not disappoint.

There's a choice between a 4,6,8 and 12-core Xeon processor and the graphics start with the AMD FirePro D300 series, upgradeable to the D700 range.

Apple claims its PCIe SSD provides read speeds of up to 1.2GB/s and write speeds top out at 1GB/s. We achieved maximum sequential read and write rates of 950MB/s and 780MB/s using the Blackmagic disk speed test for Mac. The speed is blistering - and it's noticeable when you're using VMs, and transcoding large files directly to the SSD.

When loading up the FurMark stress test - we were able to get a maximum of 80 FPS with our AMD FirePro D300 graphics cards (2GB vRAM each). This was 6x faster than the last 2013 MacBook Pro, which has Intel's integrated Iris graphics (1GB RAM).

The ability to render effects in real-time is where the Mac Pro stands out too. There's no waiting around for hours. Videos can be edited and processed quickly - especially if you're still using HD and haven't made the jump to 4K.

When using the Mac Pro for heavy workloads we saw temperatures top out at 71 degrees - with the outer shell becoming warm to the touch. However, even when under load for extensive periods of time - the fan remained whisper quiet. Most HD TVs and laptops are louder.

Bootcamp & Parallels

Despite attempts to benchmark the device using our standard set of tests - we were unable to install Windows on our Mac Pro using the BootCamp tool. During every Windows installation we were greeted with the error "Windows could not update the computer's boot configuration" and even a Windows recovery USB was unable to fix this problem.

This issue doesn't seem to be plaguing other devices as our sister site PC Pro was able to get Bootcamp to work on a 12-core model - and there aren't any reports in the Apple forums.

We didn't have any problems using Windows 8 via Parallels - so this is a workaround if you're in urgent need of Microsoft's OS.

Anyone buying this machine will be using OS X Mavericks - and we had no problems with Apple's defacto software. Besides, if you want to use Windows as your primary OS, the Mac Pro isn't for you.

Upgradeability

One of the core areas where the Mac Pro differs from other Apple products is upgradeability. This is the most end-user accessible product Apple has made, and we're sure Steve Wozniak would be proud to have his name attached to this machine.

Apple hasn't used any proprietary screws or glue. Core components like the fan, RAM and SSD are replaceable with minimum effort. Even the CPU is user-replaceable, although more fiddly.

Teardown website iFixit has given the late-2013 Mac Pro model a score of 8/10 - unheard of for Apple products especially when compared to the firm's other products. The MacBook Pro (late 2013) scored 1/10 and iPad Air was awarded 2/10 - making them a nightmare to repair.

Use cases

The Mac Pro will excel at video editing because it's dual-GPUs are setup to run with Final Cut Pro X. It's ability to handle 4K streams also gives it a degree of future proofing.

However, the Xeon CPU, AMD graphics cards and lightening quick SSD can also be used in a variety of other business sectors where large chunks of data need to be processed. We wouldn't be surprised to see this pop up in oil and gas industries or financial sectors.

Pricing

The Mac Pro isn't going to be for everyone - and this is reflected in the price point.

The base configuration starts off at 2,500 inc VAT. This buys you an Intel Xeon E5 quad-core chip running at 3.7GHz and with 10MB of L3 cache, 12GB of DDR3 ECC RAM and a 256GB PCIe flash storage drive. Graphics come in the form of two AMD Dual AMD FirePro D300 GPUs with 2GB of GDDR5 VRAM each.

Our review unit started at 2579 - and was equipped with the baseline quad-core Xeon E5 3.7GHz processor, 2 x AMD FirePro D300s with 2GB of vRAM, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD.

The maximum spec will set you back an eye-watering 7779 - and this doesn't even include accessories.

Then you've got to factor in the cost of displays. Apple is selling a Sharp 31.5in 4K (3840 x 2160) display for 3,500. The firm also offers 27in Thunderbolt cinema displays for 900. Of course cheaper alternatives are available.

The Mac Pro might be expensive when when compared to Windows counterparts but it's not extortionate. A rival Dell Precision T5610 workstation packing a Xeon E5 six-core processor (2.1Ghz), Windows 7 Pro, 8GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive and 3GB Nvidia Quadro K4000 graphics card costs 2,284.29. It might be cheaper, but it doesn't have SSDs or expandability via Thunderbolt.

Warranty options

Apple's after-sales support might not be as comprehensive as other vendors, but you still get online and 90-day phone support within the first year of the Apple warranty.

If you fork out another 199, you get three years of Applecare coverage - this includes onsite-repair requests and technical support over the phone. The Mac Pro, it's accessories such as SuperDrive and the power adaptor as well as RAM and Airport functionality are all covered under this.

Overall

Yes it's expensive - but after testing we feel the Mac Pro is worth it if you will utilise it to its full potential. Workstations have never looked so good and you get performance, upgradeability and portability as well.

The Mac Pro will work best for those in the video editing and 3D modelling fields but it is a versatile machine. If your business is using OS X products to process heavy duty workloads, then it will serve you well.

Verdict

If the Mac Pro was a sentient being, it would live by the mantra: Eat. Sleep. Conquer. Repeat. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re in the business of creating high-def multimedia or analysing large volumes of data you’ll struggle to find a better designed, portable, and powerful machine.

Processor: Intel Xeon E5 (3.7GHz) configurable up to 12-core processor (2.7GHz)

RAM: 12GB up to 64GB supported

Graphics: Dual AMD FirePro D300 graphics processors with 2GB of GDDR5 VRAM each. Customisable up to D700 with 6GB vRAM each

OS: OS X Mavericks 10.9.1

Storage: 256GB SDD up to 1TB SSD supported

Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi-Fi wireless networking; IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible, Bluetooth 4

Ports: 4 x USB 3, 6 x Thunderbolt 2, Dual Gigabit Ethernet, 1 x HDMI 1.4

Weight: 5kg

Dimensions: 251mm height, 167mm diameter

Apple's MacBook Pro laptop range combines high performance with long-lasting battery life, and the latest model continues this trend.

The late-2013 refresh introduces Intel's 4th generation (Haswell) chipset and 4-channel PCIe-based flash storage on the hardware side. The 15in MacBook also ships with Mavericks OS X and a host of bundled apps including iWork, Maps and iBooks. Our entry-level unit featured Intel's Core i7 (2GHz) processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD, priced at 1699.

Pleased to see you

No flagship Apple device is complete without the firm's trademarked Retina Display technology. The MacBook Pro ships with a crisp 2880 x 1800 resolution. With 220 pixels-per-inch, the MacBook provides outstanding clarity, colour replication and viewing angles.

High-res photos and videos get the best out of the panel, but not all websites and programs are optimised to take advantage of the Retina Display just yet. You may need to access the display settings and scale the resolution depending on the apps you use.

We measured a maximum brightness of 350cd/m2, which means you can use this at 75 per cent in home and office environments. The glossy panel does catch the reflections from overhead lighting, but this is common with most laptops and remedied by adjusting the panel.

If it ain't broke...

The 15in MacBook weighs in at a portly 2kg, but considering the size of the display, power and all-day battery life, this is a reasonable trade-off. Little has changed when it comes to the design, with Apple shaving off a couple of millimetres from the beautifully crafted Aluminum design.

The metallic chassis is tough with no flex in the shell and a sturdy hinge connects the display to the body. There also two stereo speakers located either side of the keyboard, great for when you want to watch a movie or listen to music at home.

The number of ports remain unchanged. You'll find an SD card reader, 2 x USB 3 connections and HDMI output. The two Thunderbolt ports use second generation interface (2.0) and the left hand edge also houses the headphone and magnetic charging ports.

Apple's familiar chiclet-styled keyboard is identical to the previous generation. Whilst the keys on the MacBook Pro are well spaced and have a good amount of travel, they don't have as much bounce as Lenovo's ThinkPad keyboard, which is still the input to beat.

The metallic design means the sharp edges on the MacBook can dig into your wrist, so you may need to adjust your typing position when using the device for long periods. We also found the 'enter' key a tad on the small side, but this was a minor issue.

When it comes to trackpads, Apple leads the market. The two and three finger gestures are consistent and responsive and make up for the lack of touch screen. Users migrating from Windows will also be pleased to know that to activate a right-click on the Mac you simply push down on the trackpad with two-fingers.

All-day battery

MacBooks have the edge over Windows devices when it comes to battery life despite both using Intel's latest Haswell chipset range. The difference lies in the software, with OS X Mavericks draining less power than its Windows counterpart.

Apple touts eight hours of Wi-Fi usage or video playback from the 15in MacBook Pro at 75 per cent brightness. And it's one of the few devices on the market able can hit these targets.

As part of our revamped battery test for laptops, we carried out three tests with brightness set to 75 per cent and backlighting turned off.

In our 'Iron Man' challenge, we switched Wi-Fi off and looped an HD copy of the Marvel film until the device ran out of battery. The Mixed usage test consisted of us using the device as our regular work machine. The final test was carried out using the PeaceKeeper benchmark test. This simulated heavy duty Wi-Fi browsing - and provided a worst case scenario.

The MacBook surpassed the eight hour mark with ease in the video playback test, and came close with our real-world test. The heavy duty Wi-Fi result generated from the PeaceKeeper mark isn't too much of a surprise as all devices have struggled with this and close to five hours with heavy duty usage is nothing to be ashamed off

We wouldn't be surprised to see the MacBook surpass the 10 hour mark with moderate usage and with brightness reduced steadily throughout the day.

Core i7 power

All 15in MacBooks ship with Intel's fourth generation Core i7 processors - with users able to customise the clock speed. Each machine also has a minimum of 8GB of RAM, configurable up to 16GB.

Our review unit packed the quad-core Core i7 CPU (2GHz) with 8GB of RAM. This was enough to cope with word processing apps, light editing, web browsing and multitasking.

Intel's integrated graphics capabilities to-date haven't been able to handle the graphical demands placed on it by the Retina Display. The previous generation of Macs had a noticeable judder when switching between home screens. This is an area the chip maker has worked hard to address.

The 15in models include Iris Pro integrated graphics - the best Intel has to offer - as standard. And whilst this is able to provide quick transitions between desktops, play multimedia content and multitask, if you want to use this device for any heavy duty video/photography/design apps, you'll need discrete graphics. Apple offers users the Nvidia GeForce GT 750M card, which has 2GB of dedicated GDDR5 RAM. Coupled with the 16GB of RAM, this will enable you to run demanding apps such as AutoCAD.

Need for SSD Speed

The biggest internal improvement aside from the graphics card is the storage. Apple is now using 4-channel PCle-based flash storage in the 15in range - and the result is phenomenal performance. In our tests, the 256GB SSD clocked up sequential read speeds of well over 700MBps, living up to Apple's claim of read speeds of "up to 775MBps".

In the real world this means the MacBook Pro is one of the most responsive laptops on the market. Flick the lid open and the device will spring into life in an instant. Cold boot times are snappy too, with a password protected machine usable in 15 seconds.

Mavericks

All MacBooks ship with the latest version of OS X - dubbed Mavericks. It's Apple's most comprehensive version of the desktop operating system to date.

Mavericks has dedicated iBooks and Maps apps and these integrate with their iOS counterparts. So, for example, users can search for directions on the Mac when in the office, and choose to send these to an iPhone or iPad for use on the move. iBooks can be set to download direct to the MacBook when purchased on an iPad too.

You can connect the 15in MacBook to two external displays and a useful feature included in Mavericks is the ability to customise how the operating system appears across these screens. Users can choose to have the dock present on every monitor, dedicate individual apps to each screen and have multiple display Mission Control.

Apple has also thrown in its iWorks and iLife suite of apps for free - these can be accessed through the Mac App Store. The Pages software is useful if you want to write a report and give it some graphical flair, whereas Keynote and Numbers mimic the functionality of Excel and PowerPoint.

MacBooks also support Windows either by using the default Boot Camp tool or virtual machine software such as Parallels.

Price and serviceability

The Macbook Pro is not cheap with the entry-level MacBook Pro starting at 1699. This includes Intel's Core i7 (2GHz) processor, 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD as standard.

Doubling the RAM to 16GB adds 160 to the price and if you want the maximum 1TB flash drive, you'll have to fork out 640. Models with the Nvidia GeForce discrete graphics chips included start at 2199, but the RAM and storage are boosted up to 16GB and 512GB respectively.

Windows 8 machines with more generous specifications are available at cheaper prices. The Dell XPS 15 which packs a quad-core Core i7 Haswell processor, 16GB of RAM, 1TB HDD with 32GB mSATA, and also includes the GeForce GT 750M graphics part. At 1499, it's 200 cheaper than the MacBook Pro.

The serviceability of the MacBook Pro is poor when contrasted with competing products. The late-2013 model was given the lowest repairability score of 1/10 on teardown site iFixit.

The RAM is soldered onto the motherboard - so the decision to upgrade at the time of purchase is critical as you cannot do so at a later date. Apple does warn users about this - during the configuration process. However, there is nothing you can do about the built-in battery, which is glued to the inside, and if anything fails inside the display after the warranty expires, you could face a hefty repair bill as the entire assembly will need replacing.

Overall

The price and lack of serviceability means this machine is too expensive for most IT admins to justify mass deployment. However, if you've got a BYOD policy at your workplace and want a machine capable of doubling as a desktop replacement, this is worth consideration.

Verdict

This is one of the best large-screen laptops on the market. Battery life, responsiveness, display quality and versatility are unmatched. However, the high-price and limited serviceability prevent this from getting a wholehearted recommendation.

OS: OS X Mavericks (10.9) Processor: 2GHz quad-core Core i7 (Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz) RAM: 8GB DDR3 (configurable up ot 16GB) Storage: 256/512GB or 1TB PCIe Flash storage Screen: 15.4in, (2880 x 1800) 220ppi Connectivity: 802.11ac Wi‑Fi wireless networking IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n compatible, Bluetooth 4.0 Ports: 2 x USB 3, 2 x Thunderbolt 2.0, SD card reader, HDMI Dimensions: 359 x 247 x 18mm (WxDxH) Weight: 2.02kg Warranty: 2yr minimum via EU Consumer laws

OS X 10.9 Mavericks is the best Mac upgrade Apple has offered. The desktop software introduces a raft of productivity and security features, provides a noticeable bump in battery life and supports models going back to 2007.

Mavericks also marks the first time Apple has offered an extensive Mac update for free.

OS X Mavericks works with

• iMac (Mid 2007+)
• MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007+)
• MacBook Air (Late 2008+)
• MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminium, or Early 2009+)
• Mac Pro (Early 2008+)
• Mac mini (Early 2009+)

Upgrading is simple. Consumers can update from the Mac App Store. Mass deployment for enterprise users may require the use of Apple's OS X Server, whilst SMBs can use Apple Remote Desktop to manage network installations.

You can install Mavericks onto Macs running older versions of OS X going back to Snow Leopard (OS X 10.6).

Unbeatable Battery

During the launch of Mavericks, Craig Federighi, Apple's VP for software engineering, talked up the battery life improvements the software brings to existing devices.

Battery life increases will vary from model to model, but Federighi stated you should be able to get an extra 60 mins of Wi-Fi browsing and 90 mins of video playback from the 2013 13in MacBook Air.

We found the update added a shade over an hour to the MacBook Air's already impressive 12-hour battery life.

To facilitate this battery improvements on MacBooks, Mavericks introduces two features. The first is timer coalescing', allows the CPU to perform low-level operations together and then return to a low-power resting state as quickly as possible.

At a higher level, there's a feature called app nap'. This suspends apps which may be open but are not being used, reducing the drain on CPU resources.

Thanks For The Memory

When apps are running in the background, Mavericks uses a feature called compressed memory' to free up resources for other tasks by compressing the data.

Apple has also improved memory management for Macs using Intel's integrated graphics. Mavericks can assign a maximum of 1GB of system memory to the GPU when required, so remaining memory can be used elsewhere.

It's too early to judge the effectiveness of these memory-saving techniques but Apple has never been generous with RAM, so anything helping to increase efficiency is welcomed.

Finder Features

Apple has also updated its Safari web browser and introduced Mac versions of the Maps and iBooks apps from iOS.

Few of the features are core to business users the web notifications', which pop messages onto the screen from your favourite web sites could even hinder productivity.

However, there are a couple of useful changes to the Finder the Mac's equivalent of the Windows File Browser.

Guest editor's thoughts

"Free" is good. Everyone likes "Free".

Kudos to Apple for releasing an update which promises better battery life and better file-handling, whilst not disenfranchising users with older equipment.

As most other service packs/hotfixes/system updates for other operating systems are almost entirely "bug fixes" (undocumented feature enhancements?!) it is refreshing to see enhanced functionality and practical usefulness as part of an upgrade.

Adding power handling to extend battery life by over an hour is something which is nigh on miraculous and, presumably, extremely welcome for the average road warrior or coffee house dweller.

Mark Evans, head of IT, RLB

As well as searching and sorting files by using criteria such as name, date or size, you can now add tags to folders and files. Users can create tags, such as IT Pro' or Urgent Deadline' and assign them to files or folders by Control-clicking with a mouse, or using a two-finger tap on a laptop's trackpad.

You can also add tags to files when you use the Save dialog box within an application such as Microsoft Word. Those tags will then appear in the sidebar of Finder windows, and you can just click on any tag to instantly locate the files or folders you need.

If your Mac desktop is always cluttered with multiple open windows you can now use tabs to group multiple windows together.

The tags feature is useful for anyone needing to organise files for multiple projects they're working on. It's a shame you can't save tabs permanently as you can do within the Safari browser. This is something which should be added in the next update.

Security Sandbox

To enhance security, Apple has extended sandboxing' to its Messages, Calendar and Contacts apps. Vulnerable plug-ins such as Java and the Adobe Flash Player are also sandboxed.

Each individual web page within Safari runs as a separate process in order to restrict the spread of harmful code, which phishing web sites might introduce.

Mavericks and iOS 7 share a feature called iCloud Keychain, which stores information such as passwords and credit card details, and share them across multiple devices. This feature is convenient, and is protected by 256-bit AES encryption but IT admins are advised to disable it in-case employee devices are compromised.

Overall

It's not every week you come across a free software update which provides improved battery life, security and file-management features. We noticed the improved battery life on our MacBook Air the first time we used it with Mavericks and features such as tags will be useful for anyone juggling multiple projects at work.

IT admins might want to wait a few weeks while the early adopters do a bit of bug-testing, and barring any major Mavericks is a must-have update for any Apple user.

Verdict

IT managers should pencil in time for this upgrade ASAP thanks to the security and battery life improvements.

Min system requirements: OS X v10.6.8 or later 2GB of memory 8GB of available space iMac (Mid 2007 or later) MacBook Pro (Mid/Late 2007 or later) MacBook Air (Late 2008 or later) MacBook (Late 2008 Aluminum, or Early 2009 or later) Mac Pro (Early 2008 or later) Mac mini (Early 2009 or later)

Apple refreshed its high-performance MacBook Pro laptops, with the latest devices packing Intel Haswell chipsets and the Retina Display.

The 13in Retina Pro model starts at $1299 and includes a2.4GHz Core i5 chipset, 4GB RAM and a 128GB SSD. It offers up to nine hours of battery life.

A larger 15in Retina Pro has a starting price of $1999 and packs a 2GHz Core i7 processor with Iris graphics, 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. It offers up to eight hours of battery life.

Both laptops start shipping today (22 October 2013).

Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide marketing also talked up the inclusion of Thunderbolt ports and claimed Wi-Fi is three times as fast as previous generation thanks to 802.11ac support.

Mavericks

Both devices will come equipped with Apple's latest Maverick's operating system, which the Californian company claims has more than 200 new features, including a refreshed version of Safari, it's custom web browser, enhanced multi-display support and increased power efficiency.

Also on board is Finder Tags, which helps organise your files on iCloud (read our sister site CloudPro's iCloud review), and Finder Tabs, which consolidates multiple Finder windows into a single window with multiple tabs.

"Mavericks is an incredible release, which introduces significant new apps and features, while also improving the performance and battery life of your Mac," said Craig Federighi, Apple'ssenior vice president of Software Engineering.

"We want every Mac user to experience the latest features, the most advanced technologies, and the strongest security. We believe the bestway to do this is to begin a new era of personal computing software where OS upgrades are free."