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Apple updates MacBook Pro with industry's first LED-backlit displays, faster processors, more
Mac Daily News ^ | 06/05/2007

Posted on 06/05/2007 7:24:37 AM PDT by Swordmaker

Apple today updated its MacBook Pro line of notebooks with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, memory up to 4GB, and high-speed graphics in a lightweight, aluminum enclosure that is just one-inch thin. The new MacBook Pro is available in 15-inch models with a new mercury-free, power-efficient LED-backlit display and a 17-inch model with an optional high-resolution display. All models include a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go, Apple's MagSafe Power Adapter that safely disconnects when under strain, and built-in 802.11n wireless networking for up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g.

"With Intel Core 2 Duo performance, more memory and state-of-the-art graphics, this MacBook Pro is a portable powerhouse for creative and professional users," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in the press release. "Apple's notebooks have always led the industry in innovation with features like built-in 802.11 and the MagSafe Power Adapter, and now the industry's first 15-inch LED-backlit display is another step toward completely eliminating mercury from our displays."

Every MacBook Pro model includes an Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB of shared L2 cache, an 800 MHz frontside bus and 2GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory, running professional applications like Final Cut Pro 6 and Logic Pro 7 more than 50 percent faster than the original MacBook Pro with Core Duo. Delivering more realistic graphics for animation and gaming, every MacBook Pro now includes the state-of-the art NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT and is more than 50 percent faster than the original MacBook Pro with Core Duo.

The MacBook Pro's lightweight, aluminum enclosure is just one-inch thin and is available in three models: 2.2 GHz and 2.4 GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro models, and a 2.4 GHz 17-inch MacBook Pro model. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro models feature a brand-new, power-efficient LED-backlit display and are the first of Apple's notebooks to transition to LED backlighting as part of the company's effort to eliminate the use of mercury in its products. The 17-inch model now offers a new optional 1920-by-1200 high-resolution display, providing over 30 percent more screen real estate than the standard 1680-by-1050 display.

Designed for mobile professionals, the MacBook Pro includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go, Apple's MagSafe Power Adapter that magnetically connects the power cord to the MacBook Pro and safely disconnects when under strain, and the latest generation of 802.11n wireless networking for up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g. Every new MacBook Pro also includes built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), a FireWire 800 and a FireWire 400 port, a backlit illuminated keyboard, an ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot for expansion solutions such as 3G wireless networking, and a DVI video output to connect up to a 30-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.

The MacBook Pro comes with iLife '06, the next generation of Apple's award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand and iWeb. The MacBook Pro also comes with the latest release of the world's most advanced operating system, Mac OS X version 10.4.9 Tiger, including Safari, Mail, iCal, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth.

The new MacBook Pro models are now shipping and will be available through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The 2.2 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of US$1,999 , includes:

• 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440-by-900 LCD display
• 2.2 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
• 120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive(R) with double-layer support (DVD+/-RDL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive
• NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 128MB GDDR3 memory
• DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included, Composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately)
• built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30-inch Cinema HD Display
• built-in iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot
• two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, and one FireWire 400 port
• one audio line in and one headphone out port, each supporting optical digital audio
• Scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard
• the infrared Apple Remote
• 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter

The 2.4 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,499, includes:

• 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440-by-900 LCD display
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive
• NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB GDDR3 memory
• DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included, Composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately)
• built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30-inch Cinema HD Display
• built-in iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot
• two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, and one FireWire 400 port
• one audio line in and one headphone out port, each supporting optical digital audi
• Scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard
• the infrared Apple Remote
• 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter

The 2.4 GHz, 17-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,799, includes:

• 17-inch widescreen 1680-by-1050 LCD display
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• a slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive
• NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 256MB GDDR3 memory
• DVI-out port for external display (VGA-out adapter included, Composite/S-Video out adapter sold separately)
• built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30-inch Cinema HD Display
• built-in iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot
• three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, and one FireWire 400 port
• one audio line in and one headphone out port, each supporting optical digital audio
• Scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard
• the infrared Apple Remote
• 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter

Additional build-to-order options for the MacBook Pro include the ability to upgrade to a 160GB (5400 rpm), 160GB (7200 rpm), 200GB (4200 rpm) or a 250GB (4200 rpm) hard drive, up to 4GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter, Apple USB Modem, glossy widescreen display, 17-inch 1920-by-1200 high-resolution display and the AppleCare Protection Plan. Additional build-to-order options also include pre-installed copies of iWork '06, Logic Express 7, Final Cut(R) Express HD 3.5 and Aperture 1.5.

See the newly updated Apple MacBook Pro models here.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: books; ibook; mac; newmedia
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1 posted on 06/05/2007 7:24:39 AM PDT by Swordmaker
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To: 1234; 50mm; 6SJ7; Abundy; Action-America; af_vet_rr; afnamvet; akatel; Alexander Rubin; Amadeo; ...
New MacBook Pros announced... LED backlit displays... PING!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

2 posted on 06/05/2007 7:25:41 AM PDT by Swordmaker (Remember, the proper pronunciation of IE is "AAAAIIIIIEEEEEEE)
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To: Swordmaker
Nice.. May be time to update the wife’s iBook.
3 posted on 06/05/2007 7:30:23 AM PDT by mnehring (Ron Paul- The man for our time (if our time was 1901)..)
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Comment #4 Removed by Moderator

To: Swordmaker

FYI - LED backlight is only on the 15.4” not the 17”


5 posted on 06/05/2007 7:35:16 AM PDT by Wyatt's Torch (I can explain it to you. I can't understand it for you.)
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To: Swordmaker

Nice that the base RAM is 2Gb


6 posted on 06/05/2007 7:38:22 AM PDT by Wyatt's Torch (I can explain it to you. I can't understand it for you.)
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To: reaganatriot
more overprice macbooks that no one will by PING.

I just bought one.

7 posted on 06/05/2007 7:41:54 AM PDT by johniegrad
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To: Swordmaker

Nice that the RAM is expandable to 4 GB. It wasn’t so long ago that that was the size of the hard drive....


8 posted on 06/05/2007 7:51:56 AM PDT by CheneyChick
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To: reaganatriot
more overprice macbooks that no one will by PING.

If you had been here longer than two days you would have seen all of the data debunking the myth that macs are overpriced. Oh, and even "overpriced" macs have spell check available.

9 posted on 06/05/2007 7:54:01 AM PDT by SlowBoat407 (A living insult to islam since 1959.)
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To: Swordmaker
Keewwwwweelllll!

This will be my new machine. Thanks.

10 posted on 06/05/2007 8:05:30 AM PDT by vox_freedom (John 16:2 yea, the hour come, that whosoever killeth you, will think that he doth a service to God)
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To: reaganatriot
more overprice macbooks that no one will by PING.

Poor Apple. It's the end for those foolish Mac guys for sure!
11 posted on 06/05/2007 8:08:55 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: reaganatriot
more overprice macbooks that no one will by PING.

Mac OS X comes with a built-in system-wide spell checker and dictionary, but not a grammar checker - so I'm afraid it wouldn't help you out.

Oh, one other thing: I'm going to order one next week!

12 posted on 06/05/2007 8:11:40 AM PDT by Yossarian (Everyday, somewhere on the globe, somebody is pushing the frontier of stupidity...)
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Comment #13 Removed by Moderator

To: Swordmaker
I think we all expected the expanded RAM and LED backlighting. But a lot of media professionals are going to be very happy at the high-res option on the 17" models. About time.

Did you notice that OpenOffice for the Mac appeared today (alpha release)?

Slashdot | OpenOffice.org for Mac OS X Alpha Released!

And we have the KDE upcoming release (all the major KDE apps running on Linux will also run on Mac and Windows). And Leopard to follow. It's a great year for Mac.
14 posted on 06/05/2007 8:15:35 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: CheneyChick
Nice that the RAM is expandable to 4 GB. It wasn’t so long ago that that was the size of the hard drive....

Good to see you! And regarding the RAM, well, my job as a chip designer depends on people buying the latest and greatest, so let me say that: "YES, you need a 2.4 GHz dual core processor & 4 GB RAM to browse the latest websites, run Office, and keep track of your recipes!"

15 posted on 06/05/2007 8:18:36 AM PDT by Yossarian (Everyday, somewhere on the globe, somebody is pushing the frontier of stupidity...)
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To: reaganatriot

Go to school so you can get a good job and then you can afford to BUY one. You will also learn the correct usage of by, bye and buy.

Oh, and another thing, I bought a 17 inch Mac Pro.


16 posted on 06/05/2007 8:18:42 AM PDT by coon2000
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To: coon2000

Lucky dog. Hi-res screen or standard?


17 posted on 06/05/2007 8:21:54 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: reaganatriot

Millions of people can buy an Apple computer and not significantly affect MS’s market share. Doesn’t mean those people are don’t exist or have made the wrong choice in computer.


18 posted on 06/05/2007 8:28:06 AM PDT by Mr. Blonde (You remember my guitar? That is where it gently weeps.)
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To: Yossarian
And regarding the RAM, well, my job as a chip designer depends on people buying the latest and greatest, so let me say that: "YES, you need a 2.4 GHz dual core processor & 4 GB RAM to browse the latest websites, run Office, and keep track of your recipes!"

I'm trying to squeak by with only 3GB on my Mac Pro (2x512MB + 2x1GB modules). And all I'm running right now is Firefox (18 tabs open), Vienna newsreader, M$ Excel, Adobe Acrobat, EyeTV PVR running live capture from satellite, Photoshop CS3, iTunes, and VMWare with a 512MB RAM configuration and running Red Alert 2 (a DirectX 7 game).

The database engine in the newsreader can actually seem a little slow with these programs all open at once. It's enough to make me stamp my feet in a fit of pique!

If I trade in (or sell) my 2 512MB modules, should I get two more 1GB modules ($200 at OWC less $65 trade-in on my 2x512MB modules)?

Or should I pony for two 2GB modules, keeping in mind the unique Mac Pro architecture which favors using only four dual-rank DIMMs for Xeon serial-memory bus? (For quality 2x2GB, $470 less my 2x512MB trade-ins or only $135 net to get to 4GB. And OWC just managed to install 32GB of RAM in a Mac Pro, serious server territory there.)

I keep thinking 4GB just isn't enough for a workstation I expect to own for 2-3 more years before selling and upgrading.

Maybe I should just wait and see if the RAM glut caused by Vista's short sales brings the price down sharply. Mid-summer might be very good to buy RAM.
19 posted on 06/05/2007 8:41:08 AM PDT by George W. Bush
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To: George W. Bush

I am not sure, it is at home right now. Since I purchased it in December it is probably the standard display. I did get the glossy finish display which is great for photos.


20 posted on 06/05/2007 8:42:06 AM PDT by coon2000
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