Apple Releases New MacBook Pros with "3 Very Big Leaps Forward"

[Paul Daniel Ash]

Apple released a refreshed MacBook Pro model range today, featuring updated "Sandy Bridge" Intel Core processors, AMD Radeon graphics, and Thunderbolt I/O, as well as optional solid state drives. The new model was fairly extensively leaked prior to its release, and specifications are mostly in line with predictions.

The new high-end notebooks can be ordered with next-generation quad-core and dual-core Core i5 and Core i7 processors from Intel, with clockspeeds from 2 to 2.7 GHz supporting Turbo Boost up to 3.4 GHz. The 13-inch MacBook Pro now features a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5 processor or the fastest dual-core processor available - the 2.7GHz Intel Core i7 - using onboard integrated Intel HD graphics on its Core i5 chip. The 15-inch and 17-inch models also received speed bumps and automatically switch over to new AMD discrete graphics coprocessors for graphics-intensive operations.

As was widely expected, all models in the range have Apple's new Thunderbolt technology, which is based on Intel's "Copper Peak" implementation of Light Peak without optical fiber. The high-speed I/O interface supports PCI Express transfer rates of up to 10 Gb/s on two data channels and HD graphics to compatible monitors. Thunderbolt is also backwards-compatible with Mini DisplayPort.

Following the introduction of SSDs into the Mac lineup with last year's refreshed MacBook Air, 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB solid-state drives are available as a build-to-order option. The notebooks come standard with 500GB or 750GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive or with optional 750GB 5400-rpm or 500GB 7200-rpm hard drives. The new model also comes with a high definition iSight camera offering 720p HD resolution for use with FaceTime (now available on the Mac App Store), a larger glass trackpad, and support for the SDXC secure digital flash card standard.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro has two default configurations: a 2.3 GHz Core i5 model with mechanical 320GB hard drive for $1,199 and a 2.7 GHz Core i5 with 500GB for $1,499. The 15-inch is available with a quad-core 2.0 GHz Core i7, plus AMD Radeon HD 6490M and a 500GB hard drive for $1,799 and a quad 2.2 GHz i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB for $2,199. The default config on the 17-inch model is a quad-core 2.2 GHz i7, with AMD Radeon HD 6750M graphics and a 750GB hard drive for $2,499. Build-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, and more memory up to 8GB DDR3. The Apple Store is down as of this writing, and it's not clear but early reports have indicated Apple is waiting for Intel to make its own Light Peak announcement at 10am PST.

[R0nst0pable]

When will apple wake up and offer a laptop under $1,000!!! If they come out with a smaller iPad/iPhone I'm going to be very upset.

[brian5s]

Tried to get into the Apple store this morning around 9:15 set and the Apple store was temporarily closed. Must be the new MacBook refresh website update?

[feidhlim1986]

When will apple wake up and offer a laptop under $1,000!!! If they come out with a smaller iPad/iPhone I'm going to be very upset.

Macbook Air and Plastic Macbook are both $999

Extremely disappointed in the graphics cards...Apple knows they're no good cos they used a 3 year old game and a 6 year old game as the "benchmark"

[I'm fae fife]

Mmmn interesting!

(&bull

[feidhlim1986]

OH and Apple have released a Developer Build of Lion too

Charging for the final build of FaceTime for Mac OS X....nice one Appl€

[moon#pie]

less batter life. Must be the quad-core processors.

EDIT: Looks like they are using real-world testing now. Thank God someone is.

[Aleckloss]

Selling mine now! I need the extra processing for sure!

[chberain]

what about the regular MacBook, it's due for a refresh already! I want a white one that is not outdated.

[athleticswimmer]

These specs are nice, not to sure about the battery life though. But if you really think about it it's definitely worth sacrificing like what 1-2 hrs of battery life for BETTER PERFORMANCE.

[moon#pie]

Read my post. They are testing them more rigorously.

what about the regular MacBook, it's due for a refresh already! I want a white one that is not outdated.

The white one will be updated in a couple months. That's how it always goes.

[jdm.accord]

No SSD for the OS means no upgrade for me. I have the 2.26 MBP running 500GB HD and 8GB RAM. I don't see these as a big improvement at all. i5 would be nice but its not worth the hassle. Disappointing

[Bluemoldycheeze88]

Is it just me or did that 13-inch macbook pro just become super tasty.

[feidhlim1986]

No SSD for the OS means no upgrade for me. I have the 2.26 MBP running 500GB HD and 8GB RAM. I don't see these as a big improvement at all. i5 would be nice but its not worth the hassle. Disappointing

Yeah same here. No option to replace the SuperDrive with an SSD either is crap. I'll look to the next refresh for upgrading I think, once Lion is well and truly out too

[jdm.accord]

[

Following the introduction of SSDs into the Mac lineup with last year's refreshed MacBook Air, 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB solid-state drives are available as a build-to-order option. The notebooks come standard with 500GB or 750GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive or with optional 750GB 5400-rpm or 500GB 7200-rpm hard drives.

Seriously? It has been an option for 2+ years now. WTF

[Cowboy]

15 i7 please

[frail1]

whew, I actually was a little worried that I was going to regret buying my MBP a few weeks ago. After seeing this I feel pretty good about getting my new 17" MBP for $2,000.00 instead of $2,500.00.

[lsills81]

When will apple wake up and offer a laptop under $1,000!!! If they come out with a smaller iPad/iPhone I'm going to be very upset.

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm have you seen the MacBook Air oh say 11" or maybe even the 13"? I run Xcode and it's supporting programs along with CS4 for smaller projects. Pretty stupid for you to write that.

[cpotoso]

These upgrades are quite lame. The 13" still looks awful. Why the heck can't they have 2 audio connectors like everyone else? (so you can have input and output at the same time) This is ridiculous, doesn't save much space (~ 5 mm) and connectors are cheap. No SSD for the OS (would really have been a great advancement).

[infm5]

I was thinking about getting a macbook pro for a while now. My question is this. Now that the 2011 models are out the price of the 2010's will drop, is it worth the extra money to get a new one or should I get a 2010 thats a few months old for cheaper.