Apple updates MacBook Pro with industry's first LED-backlit displays, faster processors, more

Mac Daily News ^ | 06/05/2007

[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.

[George W. Bush]

They are sweet little laptops. I was so disgusted with my Dell 17" that I just sold it and used the money to defray my Mac Pro and 24" display. And, yet, having sold a Dell laptop because I just didn't like using it, I find myself so-o-o-o-o tempted to buy a Mac lappie now.

Apple has a remarkably insidious product line, dangerous to the wallet. It's hard to remain a jaded user that's owned computers since the old Apple II days, then done Amiga, then done Windows PC for ten years and now, finally, go to Mac with OS X (OS 9 was repellent). And yet Apple keeps me wanting more. That's some great marketing and product design.

[PA Engineer]

more overprice macbooks that no one will by PING.

I am going to buy one next week (newbie troll).

[SunkenCiv]

Of course, Greenpeace will now claim that Apple succumbed to their pressure regarding the displays...

[SunkenCiv]

I’ve never done Amiga, and am using 9.2.2 right now and have no trouble, but otherwise, I wholeheartedly agree. I won’t be getting a new computer for at least a couple more years (I popped in a ghz Sonnet accelerator into the old PM 7600, and will migrate over there, then probably pull this one apart for a while), and will likely time that to match up with the end of the analog TV signal.

[Rev DMV]

I’m looking at getting a Mac Book for the kids laptop. Anyone here have kids using them. My main concern is the ability to run windows software.

I’m a windows developer myself, haven’t had any Mac experience since the Apple II days.

[George W. Bush]

aaaah, no, not a newbie troll, just a windows fan, under an assumed identity...

In his own words.

A heads up, for your info.

[George W. Bush]

I’m looking at getting a Mac Book for the kids laptop. Anyone here have kids using them. My main concern is the ability to run windows software.

VMWare, currently in free beta, can run some DirectX 7 and 8 game titles. Parallels will start testing their full DirectX 9 virtualization in about two weeks.

If possible, I'd wait to see how they report the compatibility. Your kids will want games. And some of the educational titles require DirectX too.

If you're talking about just productivity software or simple educational software for young kids or encyclopedia software, those will nearly all run already. Pretty flawless too.

Using Coherence mode in Parallels, it mixes the Windows and Mac apps on the same screen, unified clipboard, etc. Using the upcoming SmartSelect feature in Parallels, you can set filetypes so that launching a .DOC or a .HTML file on either machine will invoke the appropriate app on either Mac or PC, system-wide. Very cool.

A lot of us thought we had to have Windows when we switched. What you find is that you need it a lot less than you think. But it's nice to keep your current software investment and then, as you please, upgrade to Mac versions of Office or to stay with your Windows versions.

It's software nirvana basically. Toss in running Sun's Solaris and Linux just for fun. And Boot Camp for any of the Windows DirectX games for free. With enough RAM, it's a do-anything kind of machine.

I feel sorry for your kids though. Once you buy it and try it out, they might never get another chance to use it.

["Honey, we bought that Mac for the kids. Now you just let them use it for once!"]

[dighton]

more overprice macbooks that no one will by

Come on, let’s not be hard on this all-American atriot.

[martin_fierro]

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

** sniff **

[js1138]

I’m looking at getting a Mac Book for the kids laptop. Anyone here have kids using them. My main concern is the ability to run windows software.

My boss got a powerbook for his kid about eight months ago. So far he's on his third DVD drive and second hard drive. But if it's an Intel Mac it should run Windows fine. Just get an OEM version of XP Pro (about $140) and you're set.

[George W. Bush]

BTW, as usual, when Apple updates it's lines, there are good purchases on older models in a lot of places.

And the refurbs can be very good.

Also, Apple just started a Back To School promotion with a $200 coupon to apply to an iPod for every new Mac sold. You have to qualify for the education discount (helps with buying the computer too.) Have to be a currently enrolled college student. Maybe you or the wife are taking classes or have a current student ID?

[ears_to_hear]

I’m looking at getting a Mac Book for the kids laptop. Anyone here have kids using them. My main concern is the ability to run windows software.

Would you adopt me ? :)

[dighton]

Selfishly coddle your wallet, with callous disregard for my stock.

[George W. Bush]

Hey, someone makes remarks that indicate they're a retread or using a second FReeper ID, I call the mods.

I don't care what, if anything, they do about it but I always report it.

[George W. Bush]

Would you adopt me ?

You might be a little too old to be successfully adopted. Very few agencies have ever succeeded in such placements. LOL.

You're just waiting for Leopard, credit card in hand.

[Rev DMV]

Thanks for the feedback and information.

No student ID’s here, but I’ll fish around and see what I can dig up on the rebates.

I had heard of Bootcamp, but the ability to run windows applications from the MAC side would be great. I’ll check into the product you mentioned, and confirm the DirectX support.

Fortunately for the kids, I have my development laptop, and the wife has her system. So they’ll not have to fight us to use their new toy.

[aculeus]

You want backlit?

How about Saturn backlit by the Sun?