Apple introduces MacBook Pro

[AppleInsider]

Capping his keynote speech at Macworld Expo on Tuesday, Apple chief executive Steve Jobs unveiled "one more thing" -- Apple's new MacBook Pro notebook computer featuring the new Intel Core Duo processor, which delivers up to four times the performance of the PowerBook G4.

The new MacBook Pro, the first Mac notebook based on an Intel processor, features a stunning aluminum enclosure just one inch thin, weighs only 5.6 pounds, includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go, and the Apple Remote and Front Row software for a simple, intuitive and powerful way for users to enjoy their content wherever they go. The new MacBook Pro, available in February, also features Apple’s new patent-pending MagSafe magnetic power connector, designed especially for mobile users.

“MacBook Pro delivers dual-processor desktop performance in a thin, sleek notebook,” said Jobs. “The new MacBook Pro, with its Intel Core Duo dual-core processor, delivers the performance of not just one, but two G5 processors in the world’s most stunning one inch thin design.”

MacBook Pro features the new Intel Core Duo processor which delivers dual-core performance in a breakthrough power-efficient design, making it ideal for use in MacBook Pro’s thin and lightweight design. MacBook Pro is up to four times faster than the product it replaces, the PowerBook G4, running industry standard benchmarks.

Every new MacBook Pro comes with a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go using Apple’s award-winning iChat AV, or recording a video Podcast or iMovie using iLife '06. MacBook Pro also includes Photo Booth, Apple’s fun-to-use application that lets users take quick snapshots with the built-in iSight video camera, add entertaining visual effects and share their pictures with the touch of a button.

The new MacBook Pro is the first notebook to feature Apple’s breakthrough Front Row media experience and the Apple Remote, turning MacBook Pro into a portable theatre. Front Row gives customers a simple way to enjoy their content wherever they go—including songs from their iTunes music library, photo slideshows from iPhoto, videos including TV shows, Podcasts, iMovies and DVDs, and popular movie trailers streamed from apple.com—all from up to 30 feet away.

The new laptop also debuts Apple’s patent-pending MagSafe magnetic power connector, designed especially for mobile users. The MagSafe power connector makes charging the notebook’s battery easier than ever by magnetically coupling the power cord to the MacBook Pro. The MagSafe power connector safely disconnects from the notebook when there is strain on the power cord, helping to prevent the notebook from falling off its work surface when the power cord is inadvertently yanked.

The new MacBook Pro features a 67-percent brighter 15-inch display, which is now as bright as Apple’s Cinema Displays, and offers a completely new system architecture for faster performance, including a 667 MHz front-side bus that is four times as fast as the PowerBook G4 and 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2GB that is twice as fast as the PowerBook G4. Each MacBook Pro comes standard with ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 PCI Express graphics, with either 128MB or 256MB of dedicated GDDR3 graphics memory. Each MacBook Pro also includes built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), integrated AirPort Extreme 54 Mbps 802.11g WiFi wireless networking,** a scrolling TrackPad and Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor that is designed to protect the hard drive in case of a fall.

Shipping with MacBook Pro is iLife '06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring major new versions of iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand and introducing iWeb, a new iLife application that makes it super-easy to create amazing websites with photos, blogs and Podcasts and publish them on .Mac for viewing by anyone on the Internet with just a single click. All the iLife '06 applications are Universal applications that run natively on the new Intel-based MacBook Pros for maximum performance.

Every new MacBook Pro comes with the latest release of the world’s most advanced operating system, Mac OS X version 10.4.4 “Tiger” including Safari, Mail, iCal, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth, running natively on Apple’s first Intel-based notebook. Mac OS X Tiger includes an innovative software translation technology called Rosetta that lets customers run most Mac OS X PowerPC applications seamlessly.

Pricing & Availability

The new 15-inch MacBook Pro will be available in February through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Visitors to the Apple Store (www.apple.com) can pre-order MacBook Pro beginning today.

The 1.67 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;
1.67 GHz Intel Core Duo processor;
512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
80GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
a slot-load SuperDrive (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 and one FireWire 400 port;
one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard;
the infrared Apple Remote;
60 Watt hour lithium polymer battery; and
85W AC power adapter with MagSafe magnetic power connector.

The 1.83 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;
1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor;
1GB of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
100GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
a slot-load SuperDrive (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 and one FireWire 400 port;
one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard;
the infrared Apple Remote;
60 Watt hour lithium polymer battery; and
85W AC power adapter with MagSafe magnetic power connector.


Additional build-to-order options for the 15-inch MacBook Pro include the ability to upgrade to 120GB (5400 rpm) or 100GB (7200 rpm) hard drive, up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple USB Modem, and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[scotty321]

Interesting -- no FireWire 800 on these new laptops!

[Lupa]

I don't see an option to remove the isight....

[Edit] Apple.com's gone widescreen on me, zoinkers! Oh, and does anybody see a battery life rating for the powerbook, or were the prototypes not suitable for testing that?

[CrazyWingman]

Slightly OT, but go check out the scrolling trackpad animation on the design page. Don't know about the rest of you, but that image shows the content in a window scrolling the opposite direction that mine would for the same finger-movement direction.

Is there finally a way to change that setting? There are times when I think that mapping of scrolling is more intuitive (maybe because I'm used to Adobe Acrobat).

[Lupa]

Originally posted by CrazyWingman
Slightly OT, but go check out the scrolling trackpad animation on the design page. Don't know about the rest of you, but that image shows the content in a window scrolling the opposite direction that mine would for the same finger-movement direction.

Is there finally a way to change that setting? There are times when I think that mapping of scrolling is more intuitive (maybe because I'm used to Adobe Acrobat).

I've got a 15" 1.5 ghz powerbook and it scrolls the same as in the graphic, don't know how to change it though.

[FritzW]

Wireless antennas: gone from the display, moved to the hinge.

NOOOO -- not another laptop with Titanium-level (non-)reception!

[PB]

Originally posted by scotty321
Interesting -- no FireWire 800 on these new laptops!

I wonder if the lack of FW800 has to do with the issues that showed up with the advent of Panther. You know, nasty data loss after reboot in a connected external FW drive. There were some firmware updates, but the whole thing was so obscure that I think the issue was never addressed properly. Perhaps Apple waited for the first major hardware change to get rid of it.

[pbaker05]

Is it thinner and lighter than the current 15"PB?

[blackbird_1.0]

Originally posted by pbaker05
Is it thinner and lighter than the current 15"PB?

It's slightly thinner, but weighs the same.

[Telomar]

Originally posted by pbaker05
Is it thinner and lighter than the current 15"PB?

Same weight. A fraction wider, 14.1" vs 13.7", and deeper, 9.6" vs 9.5", but it is thinner, 1" vs 1.1".

Size increase is probably just due to the new screens.

[michaelb]

Fantastic laptop!

So, the logic went that since they were no longer PowerPC computers, "Power" had to go.

But, PowerBooks were called PowerBooks some years before the PowerPC even came out (when the Motorola 68020 was the chip inside them) so they didn't REALLY need to do that.

"MacBook" is growing on me: it's a Mac, in a Book. Wonder what the intel-based iBooks will be called? "iMacBook" maybe!

The performance is growing on me even more. Fantastic laptops!

[mynamehere]

Originally posted by blackbird_1.0
It's slightly thinner, but weighs the same.

Ahh...is it One Inch Thick or 1 Inch Thin...Hmm

[michaelb]

Originally posted by FritzW
NOOOO -- not another laptop with Titanium-level (non-)reception!

The PowerBooks improved since Titanium: they moved the antenna from the base where it was in the Ti-book to the sides of the screen.

The aluminum still shields it a bit, but it depends on your orientation to the transmitter.

[trtam]

I wish there was still Firewire 800. If I get this, I won't be able to work with Final Cut as well...hmmm. Also, something looks like it's missing from this whole thing....AND THE NAME?!?!? WHO THOUGHT OF IT?!?! UGH...I like Powerbook way more than "MacBook Pro." This means that the new Intel version of the iBook is gonna be a "MacBook."

[kwsanders]

The new Macbook Pro is nice and exciting. The only issue that I have with it is the Superdrive has dropped to 4x and it is dual layer read only.

[Merovingian]

Originally posted by trtam
I wish there was still Firewire 800. If I get this, I won't be able to work with Final Cut as well...hmmm. Also, something looks like it's missing from this whole thing....AND THE NAME?!?!? WHO THOUGHT OF IT?!?! UGH...I like Powerbook way more than "MacBook Pro." This means that the new Intel version of the iBook is gonna be a "MacBook."

I wonder what they'll call the new Power Macs..

Introducing the new "Mac Pro".

[jade]

Originally posted by kwsanders
The new Macbook Pro is nice and exciting. The only issue that I have with it is the Superdrive has dropped to 4x and it is dual layer read only.

Hmm no dual layer burning.

No mention of battery life?

Was the MacBook a bit rushed?

[jimhill]

And the iSight onslaught continues...

As I feared when the iMac was revamped last fall, the built-in iSight was a portent of an overall product line revision. And as I feared, our security personnel at work have flatly ruled out the purchase of iMacs and now MacBook Pros.

So much for the several million dollars a year we spend on Macs...

Note to Apple: make the fargin' iSight a BTO option! There are about a zillion schools, businesses, and government installations that will not accept a camera-equipped machine on the grounds. Can the loss of those markets really be offset by sales from home-users thinking "I'd buy wunnathem Apples if they had a cambruh built in" ?

[CNUco2007]

are we to assume these processors are 64bit? it would seem stupid for them not to be but it doesnt seem to mention it newhere.

[blackbird_1.0]

Originally posted by CNUco2007
are we to assume these processors are 64bit? it would seem stupid for them not to be but it doesnt seem to mention it newhere.

I think they're 32-bit.

[PB]

Originally posted by michaelb

"MacBook" is growing on me: it's a Mac, in a Book. Wonder what the intel-based iBooks will be called? "iMacBook" maybe!

The Powerbook became MacBook Pro. You can bet that the iBook will be just MacBook.

[debenm]

Looks pretty cool... I'm buying one tonight...! Sold my powerbook g4 17 on Christmas eve, guess I've got some extra $$

[John_Christos@hotmail.com]

Its pretty good, seeing thats its the only thing out there. 256 mb Graphics looks great. Right now it looks a bit pricey. I also thought there might be faster clock speeds. But overall fantastic laptop and i can't see it being over-outdated in 6 months like usuall.

I wonder how much faster dual core processors will be (in reality not theoretically). Finally apple got up to scratch with the bus and ram speeds.

People are complaining about the crapper superdrive, and no fw800. Its not as if many devices used fw 800, and buy a 16x lacie dual-layer lightscribe burner for US$100.

[Gee4orce]

Originally posted by jimhill
And the iSight onslaught continues...

As I feared when the iMac was revamped last fall, the built-in iSight was a portent of an overall product line revision. And as I feared, our security personnel at work have flatly ruled out the purchase of iMacs and now MacBook Pros.

So much for the several million dollars a year we spend on Macs...

Note to Apple: make the fargin' iSight a BTO option! There are about a zillion schools, businesses, and government installations that will not accept a camera-equipped machine on the grounds. Can the loss of those markets really be offset by sales from home-users thinking "I'd buy wunnathem Apples if they had a cambruh built in" ?

The iSight is there for video-conferencing - it's not going to be very effective as a spy tool unless you enjoy carting your laptop around with the screen open and facing away from you. You security people need a reality check. I'll happily videoconference with them to explain...oh.

Having ubiquitous iSights is a great move, as it pushed video-conferencing from 'nice to do, if only I had the hardware' to 'why not'

[niplij]

Apple seems to be streamlining there naming convention, which isn't a bad thing IMHO.

Final Cut Pro / Logic Pro - MacBook Pro

Final Cut Express / Logic Express - MacBook Express

maybe? hmmmm... maybe not.

[Blackcat]

My only question is if I order today will my card be charged now (bad) or in Febuary (good).

But I *am* ordering!

[kotatsu]

Originally posted by Merovingian
I wonder what they'll call the new Power Macs..

Introducing the new "Mac Pro".

They could just call them Macintoshs.

Works for me. Just like the full size iPod is just called iPod, no extra words needed.

[a_greer]

Originally posted by PB
The Powerbook became MacBook Pro. You can bet that the iBook will be just MacBook.

Not a chance...the MacBook is the next powerbook, they just cant kill the pro end PPC portables untill:

a: Photoshop is ready for Intel.
b: their own Pro apps are officialy ready
c: the hardware quality and OS stability has been vetted in the wild.

Look for the Macbook to become the next iBook, after getting plastic cases and single core CPUs. the powerbooks will not have cameras built in, they will have slightly bigger displays and faster specs than the Macbook (maybe 7200RPM HDDs).

The Macbook is a temporary, Powerbooks and Powermacs with intel at WWDC, iBooks,and Mac Minis will go intel in Paris, or maybe alongside some iTunes/iPod event. (the PPC PMs will be availible for a little while in the same way that OS9 PMs were availible for an extra cost after the OSX only ones came out)

Xserve could see an intel model at WWDC, but the PPC models probably won't be phased out for a few years.

[PB]

Originally posted by a_greer
Not a chance...the MacBook is the next powerbook...
.
.
.
Look for the Macbook to become the next iBook...

I am really confused here.

[Blackcat]

Originally posted by a_greer

Look for the Macbook to become the next iBook, after getting plastic cases and single core CPUs. the powerbooks will not have cameras built in, they will have slightly bigger displays and faster specs than the Macbook (maybe 7200RPM HDDs).

Erm...

Had you said that on Monday we'd all agree it was a good guess, but now it's a bit odd predicting new 'Powerbooks' when we have them. It's the MacBook Pro.

The iBook (MacBook) will likely be single core, no card slot, no DVI, in plastic, but not just a recased MacBook Pro.

I expect all Macs and displays to get iSight in 2006.

[PB]

Ooops. Double post.

[jimhill]

Originally posted by Gee4orce
The iSight is there for video-conferencing - it's not going to be very effective as a spy tool unless you enjoy carting your laptop around with the screen open and facing away from you. You security people need a reality check. I'll happily videoconference with them to explain...oh.

Having ubiquitous iSights is a great move, as it pushed video-conferencing from 'nice to do, if only I had the hardware' to 'why not'

I'm not going to go into detail about our security but rest assured there's a darn sight more to be seen in offices than you seem to think. And you are ignoring the key question of my post which was whether or not the company really believes that giving a subset of the population built-in videoconferencing outweighs the loss of sales that will ensue. Yes, Virginia, there are lots of places that will not permit computers with cameras built in and telling them they need a "reality check" ain't gonna change that.

Of course, telling Apple not to build in iSights to every machine ain't gonna change that, either. Sigh.

[lhvide]

Originally posted by a_greer

The Macbook is a temporary, Powerbooks and Powermacs with intel at WWDC, iBooks,and Mac Minis will go intel in Paris, or maybe alongside some iTunes/iPod event.

Perhaps you missed Steve saying "The MacBook Pro.. it's a new name cause we're kinda done with Power and we want the name Mac in front..."

The PowerBook is done, dead, and buried.

MacBook Pro is not temporary, it is the future.

Live with it.

iBooks will IMHO, stay as iBooks, in keeping with iMac, iPod, and all other things consumer.

[Baron von Smiley]

Originally posted by Blackcat


The iBook (MacBook) will likely be single core, no card slot, no DVI, in plastic, but not just a recased MacBook Pro.

I expect all Macs and displays to get iSight in 2006.

Was I dreaming or did Jobs say something in his presentation about having all macs have dual processors? I would interpret that then that the new iBook would also have the dual core processor.

[tubgirl]

Originally posted by Baron von Smiley
Was I dreaming or did Jobs say something in his presentation about having all macs have dual processors? I would interpret that then that the new iBook would also have the dual core processor.

i think he said something like '2 processors in every Macbook pro', but im not sure.

[appleman76]

In the keynote steve said that they are putting the word MAC in all of the models, Mac Mini PowerMac, iMac, Where does this put the iBook Hmmm...interesting.

[appleman76]

ok now im confused, after posting this I was reading and seen that the MacBook is the iBook is this true, or is it going to be the next Powerbook, Or neither. Somebody help me out here thanks.

[Bergermeister]

MacBook PRO --- means there will be a plain MacBook at some point. Will they go to a MacBook mini???

Nobody mentioned the power cord yet (I didn't see if you did; next time put it is bold!).

I think it is a very nice feature. Actually attended a conference where a major company's presentation was blown when a guy in the front row needed to go to the toilet, stood up, turned left, took two steps, got the fully-extended (i.e. no room to spare) extension cord stuck on his foot, and sent three laptops flying to their premature deaths. This baby won't have that problem.

Many kitchen appliances use cords with magnetic holders. It was about time someone applied basic home tech to high tech.

About the iSight: I am vvery happy to have it. Paranoid companies should worry more about the cameras that come in cel phones, PDAs, pens, buttons and lapels than the ones built into a computer screen that will only be opened inn secure areas. Can you image some clown walking around and trying to take spy photos using a laptop? Not very inconspicuous if you ask me. Powerbooks (possibly under a new name) will come out later this year and they will not have the iSight, which was first built into a consumer machine, the iMac (though many pros use it).

[Blackcat]

Why do some of you think we'll still see Powerbooks? Steve made it quite clear the Power naming is over. MacBook Pro is the new name for Apples pro laptop.

[emig647]

Originally posted by michaelb
Fantastic laptop!

So, the logic went that since they were no longer PowerPC computers, "Power" had to go.

But, PowerBooks were called PowerBooks some years before the PowerPC even came out (when the Motorola 68020 was the chip inside them) so they didn't REALLY need to do that.

"MacBook" is growing on me: it's a Mac, in a Book. Wonder what the intel-based iBooks will be called? "iMacBook" maybe!

The performance is growing on me even more. Fantastic laptops!

I can picture the Extreme PC gamers saying... Hey what laptop do you have? Uhhh errr its mah um...... MacBook... pro. And watching them laugh their way out of the store. I think its the lamest name in the world.