Apple Releases Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro

[admin]

Apple Releases Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro
Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Apple today announced that its entire MacBook Pro line of notebooks now includes the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor and delivers performance that is up to 39 percent faster than the previous generation. All MacBook Pro models now offer double the memory and greater storage capacity than the previous generation, as well as a FireWire 800 port for connecting to high-speed peripherals.

"With an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, greater storage capacity and FireWire 800 connectivity, the new MacBook Pro delivers unprecedented performance and mobility in an incredibly thin and light design," said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "We are thrilled that our notebook sales are growing twice as fast as the overall notebook market, and we hope these new MacBook Pro models continue that success."

Every MacBook Pro features the new Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB of shared L2 cache, which is up to 39 percent faster than the previous 2.16 GHz MacBook Pro and more than seven times faster than the 1.67 GHz PowerBook G4 running industry standard benchmarks. Apple has enhanced Mac OS X to take advantage of the technology advances from Intel's Core 2 Duo processors, resulting in increased performance in professional applications like Aperture 1.5, Final Cut Pro 5 and Logic Pro 7.

The 2.16 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;
- 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
- 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 3GB;
- 120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
- a slot-load 6x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
- PCI Express-based ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 128MB 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 wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+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 headphone out port, each supporting optical digital audio;
- Scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard;
- the infrared Apple Remote;
- and 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.33 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;
- 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2Duo processor;
- 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 3GB;
- 120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
- a slot-load 6x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
- PCI Express-based ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB 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 wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+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 headphone out port, each supporting optical digital audio;
- Scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard;
- the infrared Apple Remote;
- and 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.33 GHz, 17-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,799 (US), includes:
- 17-inch widescreen 1680 x 1050 LCD display with 300 cd/m2 brightness;
- 2.33 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
- 2GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 3GB;
- 160GB 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;
- PCI Express-based ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB 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 wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+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 headphone out port, each supporting optical digital audio;
- Scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard with ambient light sensor;
- the infrared Apple Remote;
- and 85 Watt Apple MagSafe Power Adapter.



http://www.123macmini.com/news/story/547.html

[g5g5]

I wanted a G5 PowerBook = Apple never made them.

Apple comes out with Intel MacBook Pro = I decided to wait for revision B.

Apple releases Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro = I'm not sure what internal changes have been. Might be better off waiting a few weeks.

When am I ever going to jump on the Intel train here!
_________________
1.25GHz Mac Mini / 1.8GHz iMac G5 / 2.0GHz C2D Mac mini (2009)
4GB iPod mini / 2G iPod shuffle / 16GB iPhone 3G
Apple TV 2
iLife's a Bitch!

[Bandit Bill]

[heulenwolf]

I'm no expert but, given the number of heat and build quality issues that cropped up with the MB and MBPs after launch, I definitely recommend waiting a few weeks and checking posts from early adopters. The Core 2 should generate at least the same amount of heat as the Core and possibly more. When not properly handled, that heat puts extra stress on every other component in the system as well as makes Apple use the term "Notebook" instead of "Laptop." I'd like to see Apple prove that their OEMs' manufacturing and QC processes have improved before I drop upwards of 2 grand.

[Sparkstack]

[SOCOMRAIDER]

About time.
_________________

[dentalfloss]

Will they be putting the Core 2 Duo in the Mac Mini's soon?
_________________
new mac mini/old dell desktop

[Tenex]

I wish they'd put a fw800 port in the iMac range, preferably before I buy my next one.
_________________
iMac intel CoreDuo 17" 1Gb
WD My Book Premium fw320Gb x2
Logitech S530, iPod Nano 2Gb

& a PPC Mini bought for my Mother

[Yvan256]

I just hope that by the time Leopard comes out, the Mac mini will also be using the Core 2 Duo.

[SOCOMRAIDER]

[Weee]

The best news about this is the MacBook and Mac mini should be next on the list to get upgraded to the Core 2 Duo. I would totally love to have a MacBook Pro, but I'm just a poor college student.

[SOCOMRAIDER]

I'm very glad to see that the 2.33GHz models (both 15" & 17") ship with a 2GB standard.

And even though it is slow... it is still nice to have that 200GB hard drive option.

FW800 isn't such a bad plus either.
++++++++++++++++++++++
Expect these bad boys to be updated again (with the iMacs) when the Santa Rosa platform comes out.
_________________

[Jeffy]

I'm going to order the entry-level MBP as soon as I can sell my MacBook. The new specs aren't overwhelmingly better, but they are enough to make me want to upgrade. I've also become very frustrated with numerous aspects of my MacBook.

[Tenex]

[SOCOMRAIDER]