Apple today updated its popular MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook lines with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, larger hard drives and 2GB of memory standard in most models. In addition, MacBook Pro includes the latest NVIDIA graphics processors, now with up to 512MB of video memory, and Apple’s innovative Multi-Touch trackpad, first introduced in MacBook Air.
All Mac notebooks 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.
The new MacBook Pro features the latest Intel Core 2 Duo technology with up to a 2.6 GHz processor with 6MB of shared L2 cache; up to 4GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory and up to a 300GB hard drive, plus NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with up to 512MB of video memory. Every MacBook Pro now includes a trackpad with Multi-Touch gesture support for pinch, rotate and swipe, making it more intuitive than ever to zoom and rotate photos in iPhoto or Aperture 2 or browse web pages in Safari; an illuminated keyboard that makes it ideal for dimly lit environments such as airplanes, studios or conference halls and a built-in ambient light sensor, which automatically adjusts the brightness of the keys as well as the brightness of the display for optimal visibility.
Featuring a 13-inch glossy widescreen display, and with prices still starting at just $1,099, the new MacBook lineup comes in three models and includes faster processors and larger hard drives across the line; sleek white 2.1 GHz and 2.4 GHz models with 120GB or 160GB 5400 rpm hard drives and a stunning black 2.4 GHz model with a massive 250GB 5400 rpm hard drive, previously only available as an option. The 2.4 GHz MacBook models ship with 2GB of memory standard, expandable up to 4GB across the line.
Every MacBook and 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 and safely disconnects when under strain; the latest generation of 802.11n wireless networking for up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g; built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking; Bluetooth; analog and digital audio inputs and outputs; USB 2.0; FireWire and a built-in SuperDrive.
Every Mac in the Apple lineup comes with iLife ’08, the most significant update ever to Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications, featuring a major new version of iPhoto and a completely reinvented iMovie, both seamlessly integrated with the new .Mac Web Gallery for online photo and video sharing. Every Mac also includes Leopard, the sixth major release of the world’s most advanced operating system which introduces Time Machine, an effortless way to automatically back up everything on a Mac; a redesigned Finder that lets users quickly browse and share files between multiple Macs; Quick Look, a new way to instantly see files without opening an application; Spaces, an intuitive new feature used to create groups of applications and instantly switch between them; a brand new desktop with Stacks, a new way to easily access files from the Dock and major enhancements to Mail and iChat. .Mac members can use the new Back to My Mac feature to browse and access files on their home computer from a Mac over the Internet while out on the road.
The new MacBook and MacBook Pro models are now shipping and will be available through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.
The 2.1 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of US$1,099, includes:
• 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display
• 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache
• 800 MHz front-side bus
• 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
• 120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• Slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
• Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately)
• built-in iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• 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
• 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter
The 2.4 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,299, includes:
• 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache
• 800 MHz front-side bus
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
• 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• Slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL / DVD+/-RW / CD-RW) optical drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
• Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately)
• built-in iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• 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
• 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter
The 2.4 GHz, 13-inch black MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,499, includes:
• 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache
• 800 MHz front-side bus
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
• 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• Slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL / DVD+/-RW / CD-RW) optical drive
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
• Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately)
• built-in iSight video camera
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• 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
• 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter
Build-to-order options for the MacBook include the ability to upgrade to up to 4GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, a 160GB or 250GB hard drive, Apple USB Modem, Apple Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, Apple Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
The 2.4 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,999, includes:
• 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 LCD display
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3MB shared L2 cache
• 800 MHz front-side bus
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
• 200GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• 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 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 2.1+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 audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog
• Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard
• 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter
The 2.5 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,499, includes:
• 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 LCD display
• 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6MB shared L2 cache
• 800 MHz front-side bus
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
• 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• Slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL / DVD+/-RW / CD-RW) optical drive
• NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with 512MB 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 2.1+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 audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog
• Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard
• 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter
The 2.5 GHz, 17-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,799, includes:
• 17-inch widescreen 1680 x 1050 LCD display
• 2.5 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 6MB shared L2 cache
• 800 MHz front-side bus
• 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB
• 250GB 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 512MB 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 2.1+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 audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog
• Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard
• 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter
Build-to-order options for the MacBook Pro include the ability to upgrade to up to 4GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, a 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 200GB (7200 rpm), 250GB (5400 rpm) or a 300GB (4200 rpm) hard drive, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter, Apple USB Modem, glossy widescreen display, 17- inch LED-backlit 1920 x 1200 high-resolution display and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
Additional build-to-order options for both MacBook and MacBook Pro include pre-installed copies of iWork ’08, Logic Express 8, Final Cut Express 4 and Aperture 2.
great – now for the AirTablet
crap. I thought I was safe buying my macbook a month ago.
oh well. my last ibook lasted 5 years. that is a good value.
glossy or anti-glare
I am surprised they did so little to the new MBPros. Not compelling enough to upgrade my 8 month old one.
Is it just me or is this kind of a yawn inducing product release?… err update. Nothing too significant/revolutionary really in my opinion. The weight is still essentially the same, same body style (other than the track pad with smaller more annoying button). processor speed is nominally different. And I dont have to pay extra for a few of the upgrades I would have done. Nothing that makes me say “DAAAAAMN!”
I was hoping for somethign more revolutionary to the notebook lines (like the iBook G4 to Mac Book update)
sorry to bring negative vibes 🙁
Hoping to buy a Macbook Pro before September for Uni. Have a Macbook now, but would prefer a Macbook Pro for Uni.
Modest improvements. Thanks Apple.
One wish… is it too much top hope for 3 USB ports on the 15″? There appears to be enough room to support another.
Time to login and upgrade from my G4 that has held up rather well.
One thing I noticed about these, in case any one cares, is that, like the Mac Book Air, the Apple Remote is now a BTO option for $19 rather than being included as it has been for the last couple years.
I guess some focus group or something figured people didn’t use them enough…or they want to squeeze another $20 out of you.
I don’t really give keynote preso’s or anything and really only use the apple remote for our (set top) Mac Mini.
I was praying they would change the keyboard to the MB or Apple Keyboard style but, alas, they did not and it still has the same crappy keyboard on it. I guess I’ll be waiting for the full redesign before I get one.
Why no multi-touch trackpad on MacBook?
i think this is a good move, apple tries to stay competitive featurewise. (they should make these minor updates more often) i think there will be a new macbook pro formfactor/ more innovative update at wwdc. and a new macbook for the back-to-school season in july/august.
Yay–now I can finally get one. I’ve been waiting for months!
Did anybody notice that there is a no cost choice between the standard, matte screen and an optional glossy?
All those who’ve been griping about glossy screens can now shut up…
No R/W Blu-Ray disk option?
YAWN…
@Matt
I LOATHE the Macbook/iMac style keyboard.
Guess I’ll not be waiting for that full redesign!
why no 300gb hd in the 15″? maybe I missed something
Tom V, get your head out of your a$$,
Apple did not say this was going to be a ‘revolutionary’ product release, hence them just doing it as a quiet ‘Store update’.
Rather than revolutionary, this is an evolutionary update, to bring all the MB’s and MBP’s inline with the current processor range, and to add the multi-gesture trackpad to the MBP (Which conversely is actually a revolutionary addition)
I remember not too long ago people moaning because the processor road map was too slow and updates to speed not often enough, now your moaning because they ‘only’ made it faster and added a genuinely revolutionary trackpad!!
Apple’s product road map extends a little beyond what Tom V wants I’m afraid. If they changed the industrial design every time they ramped the processor speed, you’d be waiting a lot lot longer between updates, and be paying way more.
J
What’s with the pricing on the MBP?
2.4 MBP = $1999
2.5 MBP = $2499
For $500 all you get is an extra 100 mhz processor and 50gb more HDD space?
Notice the 4 GB RAM upgrade price is half of what it used to be? It was almost $800, now it’s only $3XX. Still more than if I upgrade myself but that is a hell of a lot closer to real prices.
Anyone else notice that the base MBP now includes only 3 MB L2 cache, while its predescessor included 4 MB of Smart Cache. That can’t be good. Unless we’re getting a more efficient processor, the 2.4 will take more juice than the earlier 2.2, while we take a performance hit from the smaller cache. What am I missing?
@Raymond
The new 2.4 processor is part of the 45nm series, the old 2.2 was a 65nm series. So yes, the new ones are much more energy efficient.
Wow. My MBP feels snappier already.
I’ve been waiting for this to come out!
My iBook suddenly feels snappier! Probably its survival instincts kicking in…
@Mike
Besides the extra 50GB – $10
The 2.5 has 6mb cache vs 3mb – $165
The Video Card has 512MB vs 256MB – $85
MacHead dues – $250