MacWorld Update: Apple today unveiled its new MacBook Pro notebook computer line. The MacBookPro features a new Intel Core Duo processor which delivers up to four times the performance of the PowerBook G4. The new MacBook Pro features a aluminum enclosure just one inch thick, weighs just 5.6 pounds, includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go, and the Apple Remote and Front Row software.
“MacBook Pro delivers dual-processor desktop performance in a thin, sleek notebook,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “The new MacBook Pro, with its Intel Core Duo dual-core processor, delivers the performance of not just one, but two G5 processors in the world’s most stunning one inch thin design.”
The MacBook Pro is up to four times faster than the product it replaces, the PowerBook G4, running industry standard benchmarks.
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.
The MacBook Pro includes iLife ’06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring major new versions of iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand and introducing iWeb, a new iLife application that makes it super-easy to create amazing websites with photos, blogs and Podcasts and publish them on .Mac for viewing by anyone on the Internet with just a single click. All the iLife ’06 applications are Universal applications that run natively on the new Intel-based MacBook Pros for maximum performance.
Every new MacBook Pro comes with the latest release of the world’s most advanced operating system, Mac OS X version 10.4.4 “Tiger” including Safari™, Mail, iCal, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth, running natively on Apple’s first Intel-based notebook. Mac OS X Tiger includes an innovative software translation technology called Rosetta that lets customers run most Mac OS X PowerPC applications seamlessly.***
Pricing & Availability
The new 15-inch MacBook Pro will be available in February through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.
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;
- 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;
- 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.
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.
