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.
“HEAR THAT APPLE? GLOSSY SCREENS SUCK.”
——————–
I’m with you on that one…. But since the MBP DOES offer an option, there is no need to hijack this thread to another matte vs. glossy debate..
Hadn’t we heard not long ago that combo drives were being discontinued in favor of superdrives in all models?
Where is the iMac update ? It’s overdue a refresh.
HOW have they not gotten rid of the stupid button latch on the MBP? They’ve SEEN the magnetic latch, they KNOW about the magnetic latch… Hell, they INVENTED the magnetic latch. WHY is it not on ALL they’re notebooks?
“Research shows that people want a tiny button that they have to use their finger nail to open…”
with you on the cinema displays tommy boy…
@k_shaw
LOL
@mayday
Um… No.
For all of you whiners–anti-glare screen.
Can anyone explain: How is it beneficial on the 15″ MBP 2.5 GHz model to have 512MB of VRAM, instead of 256MB?
Will this extra VRAM result in a higher maximum screen resolution?
The specs are confusing: both the 2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz MBPs are listed as having 1440 x 900 pixels.
So how does having 512MB of VRAM actually help? What benefit does it bring to the 2.5 GHz MBP?
(Please don’t all shoot me at once for asking a dumb question!
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Can anyone explain: How is it beneficial on the 15″ MBP 2.5 GHz model to have 512MB of VRAM, instead of 256MB?
Video programs have more ‘elbow room’. Aperture also. Probably most pro apps.
Will this extra VRAM result in a higher maximum screen resolution?
Not at all. A little faster overall, perhaps. Especially with TWO monitors, a common need for pros.
The specs are confusing: both the 2.4 GHz and 2.5 GHz MBPs are listed as having 1440 x 900 pixels.
Thats all the pixels there are. Tain’t no mo.
So how does having 512MB of VRAM actually help? What benefit does it bring to the 2.5 GHz MBP?
See above.
(Please don’t all shoot me at once for asking a dumb question!
Stupid folks don’t ask questions.
More VRAM means more texture space directly available for sophisticated videogames (not that many on MacOSX) and 3D packages like Maya… I guess it’s also potentially used as well in photo editing softwares too if they’re written to take advantage of it.
This said, I agree with you: 256MB sounds already like a lot of memory to me for most normal screen usage (1440x900x32bits double buffer is only slightly under 10MB!).
>Dumb Q wrote: So how does having 512MB of VRAM actually help? What benefit does it bring to the 2.5 GHz MBP?
The benefit is that Apple can point that out as a selling point when trying to upsell potential buyers of the “good” configuration ($1999) to the “better” ($2499) configuration.
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Generally, the faster the better. Some operations do benefit from the added memory… namely those that rely on the video card to render video frames. That would be apps like Aperture, Motion, After Effects and Premiere Pro (to some degree), and video games that require some video processing muscle for screen redraws and video frame rendering. Some other functions are also offloaded to the video card as well.
But in daily use, you won’t notice a thing. Both are plenty fast enough. I’d even venture to say the built-in video engine on the standard MacBooks are pretty zippy.
Here’s hoping the iMac refresh is waiting on the Blu-ray disc being adopted.
If Sony can fit them in PS3 then Apple can fit them in all iMacs
RE: Macbook. Can anyone give me an idea how much of an upgrade is represented by the X3100 integrated graphics w/144mb shared memory in the Macbook? I’m not a gamer but I do run Photoshop and would like to run FCExpress. Does this change represent a significant upgrade and does it, in any way, close the graphics performance gap between MB and MBP?
Any insight would be appreciated. Thanks.
@Madmax
There is not even a remote chance that the iMac will get Blu-Ray before the MacPro.
And before the MacPro gets Blu-Ray, Apple applications need to be able to support Blu-Ray authoring which is still very buggy and prone with problems.
And before any Mac owner ever gets a Blu-Ray drive they will need to purchase a new display, because NONE of the shipping Apple displays (Cinema or other) are HDCP compliant, which means Blu-Ray titles can not be played.
PS3 is a whole different game.. It is designed to be connected to HD televsions (which are HDCP compliant,) and is read only.
Dell is shipping Blu-Ray drives in some of it’s computers and they are having a support nightmare.. The technology for Blu-Ray authoring is still in the infant stages. Apple would be wise to wait awhile yet..
The MacBook and MacBook Pro is a much better value than the MacBook Air.
“The MacBook and MacBook Pro is a much better value than the MacBook Air.”
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If performance = value to you, then yes, you are correct.
However, if portability size and weight = value to you, then you are wrong..
Take the iPod classic vs. iPod nano for example..
iPod classic 80gig = $249
iPod nano 8gig = $199
Which is the better value? Obviously, the iPod classic. Yet, the iPod nano has always been Apple’s best seller. Form factor holds significant value for some people.
@ mayday
“Any chance the rest of us MBP owners will get a software update that will enable the multi-touch trackpad?”
I believe not. The multi-touch pad is enabled by an additional chip similar to what’s found in an iPhone.
The ONLY claim to fame that the MacBook Air has is that is thin.
Nothing else.
Buy what you will, I don’t really care.
Sometimes value is in the eyes of the behold Air.
The MacBook Pro is a great design but considering it goes back to PowerBook days, I really think Apple is letting it become dated.
Even if you like the design, the bottom line is that it now doesn’t match the rest of the portable and desktop line in a lot of ways. Just to keep it in line it needs:
-Magnetic latch
-Built-in rubber feet
-New keyboard (in live with every other Mac)
-Tapered edges (like the MBA and iPod nano/Classic, but that is more aesthetic and the MacBook doesn’t have that yet)
Without those, the MBP stands out as being the grandpa of the range.
‘The ONLY claim to fame that the MacBook Air has is that is thin.”
————————–
Exactly, and that is the only “claim to fame” it needs.
It is made to compete in the ultra-portable market where size and weight are everything..
Even though the performance doesn’t match Apple’s full size offerings, with the Core 2 duo processor, the MBA outperforms EVERY other ultra-portable currently in the market.. Add to that, the MBA is THE ONLY ultra-portable that also offers, full-size keyboard, backlit keyboard, built in iSight, magnetic latch, and mag-safe adapter and dual-boot OSX/Windows abilities.
Bottom line, it is the sexiest, thinnest and lightest ultra-portable made by any PC manufacturer period.
@ Bogus Jimmy
Agreed, and that supports what I was talking about on the previous page.
Yup, modest improvements. A nice regular update to keep Apple’s notebooks competitive. I still say the macbook air is the best laptop apple has out there atm. The macbook pro strikes me as overkill.
glad someone brought up WWDC; i may wait w/ 1st gen MBP. then, either way will pull trigger.
g/f just got a MPB (couple weeks ago, but she doesn’t care about modest update and she needed this for work; her pb/g4 was LONG in the tooth) and it runs SOOOOOOOO much cooler. i’ve a laptop cooler to keep mine from constantly running its own fan.
somewhere was mentioned gen of processors past penryn will be soooo much faster, but that means waiting another year at least. <http://www.macrumors.com/2008/02/25/intel-nehalem-processor-details-leaked>
Anyone else notice the price of the RAM dropped considerably on the laptop, they should have dropped it on the Tower too!