Apple today updated the industry-leading MacBook Pro family with next generation processors and graphics, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology and a new FaceTime HD camera. Featuring the very latest dual-core and quad-core Intel Core processors, the entire MacBook Pro line is up to twice as fast as the previous generation.
“The new MacBook Pro brings next generation dual and quad Core processors, high performance graphics, Thunderbolt technology and FaceTime HD to the great design loved by our pro customers,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in the press release. “Thunderbolt is a revolutionary new I/O technology that delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second and can support every important I/O standard which is ideal for the new MacBook Pro.”
Starting at $1,199 the new 13-inch MacBook Pro offers amazing value and performance in a compact design. The highly portable 13-inch MacBook Pro features Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors up to 2.7 GHz and Intel HD Graphics 3000. The powerful 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature quad-core Core i7 processors up to 2.3 GHz and AMD Radeon HD graphics processors with up to 1GB of video memory for high performance gaming, pro video editing and graphics intensive applications.
MacBook Pro is the first computer on the market to include the groundbreaking Thunderbolt I/O technology. Developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, Thunderbolt enables expandability never before possible on a notebook computer. Featuring two bi-directional channels with transfer speeds up to an amazing 10Gbps each, Thunderbolt delivers PCI Express directly to external high performance peripherals such as RAID arrays, and can support FireWire and USB consumer devices and Gigabit Ethernet networks via adapters. Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays. Freely available for implementation on systems, cables and devices, Thunderbolt technology is expected to be widely adopted as a new standard for high performance I/O.
Advertisement: New Apple MacBook Pro. Now faster than ever. Starting at $1199, plus free shipping. Buy Now at the Apple Online Store.
The MacBook Pro now includes a built-in FaceTime HD camera with triple the resolution of the previous generation for crisp, widescreen video calls. With Apple’s innovative FaceTime video calling software, the new camera allows high definition video calls between all new MacBook Pro models and supports standard resolution calls with other Intel-based Macs, iPhone 4 and the current generation iPod touch. FaceTime is included with all new MacBook Pro models and is available for other Intel-based Macs from the Mac App Store for 99 cents. The MacBook Pro lineup continues to feature its gorgeous aluminum unibody enclosure, glass Multi-Touch™ trackpad, LED-backlit widescreen display, illuminated full-size keyboard and 7-hour battery.
As the industry’s greenest notebook lineup, every Mac notebook achieves EPEAT Gold status and meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements, setting the standard for environmentally friendly notebook design. Each unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. Mac notebooks contain no brominated flame retardants, are PVC-free and are constructed with recyclable materials.
Every Mac comes with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for creating and sharing great photos, movies and music. Snow Leopard builds on more than a decade of innovation and includes multiple features for portable computing such as Multi-Touch navigation, advanced wireless networking, easy file sharing, automated data backup and intelligent power management. The new iLife ’11 features iPhoto with stunning full screen views for browsing, editing and sharing photos; iMovie with powerful easy-to-use tools to transform home videos into fun theatrical trailers; and GarageBand with new ways to improve your playing and create great sounding songs.
Pricing and availability
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro and 17-inch MacBook Pro are available through the online Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 320GB hard drive starting at $1,199; and one with a 2.7 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,499. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.0 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6490M and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,799 and one with a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive and is priced at $2,499.
Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core processors up to 2.3 GHz, additional hard drive capacity up to 750GB, solid state storage up to 512GB, more memory up to 8GB DDR3, antiglare and high-resolution display options and AppleCare® Protection Plan. Additional technical specifications and configure-to-order options and accessories are available online here.
Source: Apple Inc.
and i bought my MBP 3 months ago…. 🙁
And that means…what?
that i would love to have the new MBP!!!
eBay your current one and buy the new one. I’m guessing the ∂ price will only be a couple of hundred dollars.
It means you’re an idiot for asking what it means.
ouch – priced out of 17″
Universal FaceTime across all devices and in HD !
Boom!!!
Nice update – not sure what TB technology adds for the average user.
apple store down now!!
maybe something else today?
Dammit, still stuck with crappy graphics on the 13″ “Pro” model. Does a discrete graphics really take up that much more room or generate that much more heat?
Yes, it does:
http://arstechnica.com/apple/news/2010/04/why-the-13-macbook-pro-didnt-get-a-core-i5-upgrade.ars
Vampire Video with shiteous Intel Graphics. I’ll pass.
Analyst still are trying to figure out why people aren’t buying those HP Windows laptops.
Oh clueless. Open your eyes and see the Apple Tsunami.
Cobwebs
My company just bought 1,500 HP laptops.
they’re a lot cheaper to maintain than Apple dung.
Oh the smell of the fanboy is akin to that of
a Westboro Baptist picketing in August.
tell me that in 6 months when they don’t because windows (or any other application) screwed up it’s registry
now now, stephen… Slipknut is probably an IT dork who’s job would be made obsolete if his company used MacBook Pros. Let him hate, He(or she) is just another clueless Windows drone, spewing inaccurate information, hoping people will believe it if he(or she) keeps repeating it.
Definitely took my breath away
but it still uses a C.I.S.C processor 🙁
kind of disappointing.
thunderbolt does sound /realy/ cool. maybe we can finally get rid of usb 🙂
As usual!!!!!!
Apple innovates and delivers innovation in ready to buy products, while the others, still trying to copy and catch up with last years stuff, are thinking… WTF just happened?
I’m sorry but that’s a big fail for Apple. The most unexciting refresh ever. Boring even. Hardware specs are depressing.
Sorry not interested.
Good.
Best update ever.
That’s what you said last time. In fact, every time Apple updates machines–people bitch.
Whats wrong Ballmy, still waiting for that 3ghz G5?
Thunderbolt alone is going to be awesome. Now we have a clue why Apple held back the FinalCut Pro update.
BLN, go ahead and use your Dell M6500. See if we care.
And…you only spent about $4500 for it so it has to be better, right? Top end equivalent 17″ MBPro today is only about $3200.
Gorgeous birthday gift for the beloved founder from the employees at Apple. Sadly though, I fear ordinarily SJ might never have allowed this to coincide with his personal milestone. This feels like a special occasion, and that’s a bit worrisome news to me.
I sincerely hope I’m wrong (idle speculations like these aid no one, and I apologise). Here’s to the crazy one, and his many, many more returns to the day with us.
So, 1) no OS-dedicated SSD, and 2) still has SuperDrive. Makes me glad I bought my 15″ back in November, despite Thunderbolt being might impressive.
The U.S. Apple Store is still down at just after 10 a.m. Eastern? Weird.
Updating cutoff confit pricing I think…
Updating custom configuration pricing Probably…
One of the bigger external changes was the Thunderbolt I/O, BUT since it replaces the MiniDisplay Port, and retains the same shape, that means that they should probably have no retooling on the unibody construction. Brilliant!
Probably we’ll see a complete makeover next year, but kudos for updating the current one, enhancing the ports, video and camera, and cutting costs to maintain price!
I’m confused – and would appreciate someone chiming in… I thought lightpeak was the next big connectivity thing? Where does it come into play with Thunderbolt?
My understanding is that “thunderbolt” is apple branded lightpeak.
Light Peak was the project’s name during development. Thunderbolt is now the official name.
Thunderbolt is the new name for light peak
Thunderbolt is apparently Macs iteration of Light Peak. It’s the same tech.
It is, Lightpeak was the code name. Use the link to the Intel site. A lot more information on Thunderbolt there. I like the Thunderbolt name.
Intel rebranded LightPeak as Thunderbolt presumably because it uses electricity as the medium rather than light.
That’s right. This is not the optical data transmission technology that Intel is eventually promising. Supposedly, this is the bridge to eventual implementation of LightPeak.
Intel’s lawyers probably advocated for the name change in order to avoid lawsuits that customers were mislead into believing that this is an optical, light-using technology.
It allows voltage to bus-power externals whereas the glass version couldn’t.
I am looking forward to an AirPort Extreme and the EyeTV HD with these ports. Should allow much better streaming!
Thanks everyone. I guess I missed the name change press release! :^)
I do have tech-envy, but I won’t worry until this port becomes more mainstream. I try to hold onto my stuff for at least 4 years before upgrading.
Soooo…
Are the sealed pallets at the Apple stores this, or are they still sealed?
I imaging still sealed or we would have heard something by now.
Whether or not we ever see an OS-dedicated SSD will depend on how long it takes for the price of SSD units to get closer to the per-GB price of standard HD units. As long as the price difference remains significant, there is a chance that the next update could include a hybrid solution (more likely with the 15″ and 17″ models). Space management issues make it more challenging and thus less likely with the 13″ model.
To differentiate it from the MBA, the pro is likely to retain a SuperDrive, at least 1 USB connector and Gigabit Ethernet. FW800 is likely to be the first I/O port to disappear (replaced by an optional Thunderbolt daisy-chain adapter). When economics allow Apple to replace the standard HD with SSD’s across the board we are likely to see improvements in form factor, weight and battery life.
Meanwhile, the inclusion of Thunderbolt will allow the MBA team to rethink the physical architecture of the machines so that there will only be mag-safe and Thunderbolt ports on the machine. Adapters will work for USB, FireWire, SD cards and displays, while WiFi and BT will continue to take care of everything else.
Other main upgrade is dual core to a quad core.
Processor speed dropped some. The i7 was 2.8 GHz, now 2.0, 2.2 or 2.3 GHz.
Any feedback on users of the past current MacBook with dual i7 and how hot does it get?
Hot.
Just a thought,
“The MacBook Pro now includes a built-in FaceTime HD camera with triple the resolution of the previous generation for crisp, widescreen video calls.”
But my and most internet connections, while allowing 3-5 meg download,,, only allow a very small upload. so if both connections can only upload at 500K MAX, then facetime is limited to 500K MAX.
Am I missing something here.??
Just a question.
en
500kbps is not much for HD, but that HD capability seems to be there to attract those who need HD communication for work, and for them, 5Mbps is commonplace.
And by the way, Verizon’s FiOS home package (around $45, if bundled with ‘cable’ TV) delivers 25Mbps down / 15Mbps up. Some very smooth, crisp HD video!
A thought,
PCIe running through Thunderbolt. I’m wondering about the possibilities for external graphics cards. With the speed of TB and PCIe it seems that it should be much easier to implement or even adapt current PC graphics cards.
This is a very exciting possibility.
Last I checked there were a few small and expensive projects running external gpu’s through USB.
This could bring it mainstream and affordable.
No more worrying about the internal or non-discrete gpu in laptops.
Buy and external graphics card and plug it into Thunderbolt and you have the best of both worlds.
I hope to see someone jump on this asap. Wonder what the licensing fee situation would be or if Apple would even allow it?
Either way, very exciting possibility here for laptops in general I think.
Solid upgrades. Especially the i7 quad-cores and fast video w 1GB VRAM in the 15″ and 17″ models.
Maybe next year.
Why can’t a 7200 rpm hard drive go into a 13-incher?
Asking the same question about 7200 rpm, must be becase of possible exceeding the optimum heat spec…
” Featuring the very latest dual-core and quad-core Intel Core processors ”
I recall reports that intel chipsets going with those processors were bad, no? And that shipment of a fix will start March and that possible Mac refresh is May-June. So the new Macs have the bad chips? How is that even possible?
What am I missing here?
Here is the follow-up story on that:
Because the problem only affected the SATA 2 ports. If the Superdrive and HDD use the SATA 3 ports then there won’t be a problem.
seems pretty cool but i’ll stick to my ipad thank you very much
5400 rpm sweet!!
When Time Capsule will get Thunderbolt. 🙂
That’s the final question… Before the end of the world…??? ( 2012 )