Apple MacBook Pro - the Intel Core Duo notebook from Apple

Posted on Tuesday, January 10 2006 @ 21:05 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
The rumours were true, Apple today unveiled it's x86 Intel-based notebook. The Intel Core Duo based Apple MacBook Pro is the successor to the Apple PowerBook G4 and according to Apple it's four times faster.

The MacBook Pro has an aluminum enclosure just one inch thin and weighs only 5.6 pounds (approx. 2.55kg). The performance looks great but unfortunately Apple doesn't mention the battery life of the new MacBook Pro. This is kinda strange because a high battery life would certainly be something to brag about..

Every new MacBook Pro comes with a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go using Apple’s award-winning iChat AV, or recording a video Podcast or iMovie using iLife '06. MacBook Pro also includes Photo Booth, Apple’s fun-to-use application that lets users take quick snapshots with the built-in iSight video camera, add entertaining visual effects and share their pictures with the touch of a button.

The new MacBook Pro is the first notebook to feature Apple’s breakthrough Front Row media experience and the Apple Remote, turning MacBook Pro into a portable theatre. Front Row gives customers a simple way to enjoy their content wherever they go—including songs from their iTunes music library, photo slideshows from iPhoto, videos including TV shows, Podcasts, iMovies and DVDs, and popular movie trailers streamed from apple.com—all from up to 30 feet away.

The new MacBook Pro also debuts Apple’s patent-pending MagSafe magnetic power connector, designed especially for mobile users. The MagSafe power connector makes charging the notebook’s battery easier than ever by magnetically coupling the power cord to the MacBook Pro. The MagSafe power connector safely disconnects from the notebook when there is strain on the power cord, helping to prevent the notebook from falling off its work surface when the power cord is inadvertently yanked.

The new MacBook Pro features a 67-percent brighter 15-inch display, which is now as bright as Apple’s Cinema Displays, and offers a completely new system architecture for faster performance, including a 667 MHz front-side bus that is four times as fast as the PowerBook G4 and 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2GB that is twice as fast as the PowerBook G4. Each MacBook Pro comes standard with ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 PCI Express graphics, with either 128MB or 256MB of dedicated GDDR3 graphics memory. Each MacBook Pro includes built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), integrated AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking, a scrolling TrackPad and Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor that is designed to protect the hard drive in case of a fall.

Unfortunately it won't be immediately available, according to Apple the MacBook Pro will ship in February.

Here's a look at the specifications:

The 1.67 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:
  • 15.4-inch widescreen 1440 x 900 LCD display with 300 cd/m2 brightness;
  • 1.67 GHz Intel Core Duo processor;
  • 512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
  • 80GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
  • a slot-load SuperDrive™ (DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
  • PCI Express-based ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 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 wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
  • ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;
  • two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port;
  • one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
  • scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard;
  • the infrared Apple Remote;
  • 60 Watt hour lithium polymer battery; and
  • 85W AC power adapter with MagSafe magnetic power connector.
  • The 1.83 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,499 (US), includes:
  • 15.4-inch widescreen 1440 x 900 LCD display with 300 cd/m2 brightness;
  • 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor;
  • 1GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
  • 100GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
  • a slot-load SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
  • PCI Express-based ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 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 wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;
  • ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot; t
  • wo USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port;
  • one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
  • scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard;
  • the infrared Apple Remote;
  • 60 Watt hour lithium polymer battery; and
  • 85W AC power adapter with MagSafe magnetic power connector.
  • Additional build-to-order options for the 15-inch MacBook Pro include the ability to upgrade to 120GB (5400 rpm) or 100GB (7200 rpm) hard drive, up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple USB Modem, and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

    By the way, since these machines run on Intel x86 based processors so technically it should be possible to install Microsoft Windows. Apple said last year they won't support this but they won't restrict it either. So you're free to install Windows XP on your MacBook Pro.


    About the Author

    Thomas De Maesschalck

    Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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