Apple introduces 13-inch MacBook Pro, cheaper MacBook Airs

[AppleInsider]

Apple at its developers conference Monday unveiled plans to transition its 13-inch unibody MacBooks into a more premium offering by announcing plans to rebrand them as 13-inch MacBook Pros alongside more affordable pricing. MacBook Airs were also updated with cheaper pricing.

Apple said it will retain the "MacBook" moniker for its white $999 MacBook which ships in a polycarbonate enclosure. The new unibody models include a 2.26GHz model for $1199 and a 2.53GHz model for $1499, down from $1299 and $1599.

13-inch MacBook Pros

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro is a significant upgrade at a lower price than the original aluminum MacBook it replaces. With the same unibody design popular with consumers, students and professionals, all 13-inch MacBook Pro models now include a seven hour built-in battery, an SD card slot, a FireWire 800 port, an illuminated keyboard and an improved LED-backlit display with 60 percent greater color gamut.

Also featuring NVIDIA's GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive priced at $1,199, and another with a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive priced at $1,499.

"Across the line, all of our new MacBook Pro models now include Apple's innovative built-in battery for up to seven hours of battery life, while staying just as thin and light as before," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "Starting at just $1,199, the aluminum unibody MacBook Pro is more affordable than ever and sets a new standard for environmentally friendly notebook design."



The 2.26 GHz, 13-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,199 (US), includes:

*-- *13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;
*-- *2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;
*-- *1066 MHz front-side bus;
*-- *2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
*-- *NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
*-- *160GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
*-- *a slot-load 8X SuperDrive(R) with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
*-- *Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
*-- *built-in AirPort Extreme(R) 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
*-- *Gigabit Ethernet port;
*-- *built-in iSight(R) video camera;
*-- *two USB 2.0 ports;
*-- *one FireWire 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);
*-- *SD card slot;
*-- *one audio line in/out port, supporting both optical digital and analog;
*-- *glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
*-- *built-in, 58WHr lithium polymer battery; and
*-- *60 Watt MagSafe(R) Power Adapter.



The 2.53 GHz, 13-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:

*-- *13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;
*-- *2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;
*-- *1066 MHz front-side bus;
*-- *4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
*-- *NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
*-- *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;
*-- *Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
*-- *built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
*-- *Gigabit Ethernet port;
*-- *built-in iSight video camera;
*-- *two USB 2.0 ports;
*-- *one FireWire 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);
*-- *SD card slot;
*-- *one audio line in/out port, supporting both optical digital and analog;
*-- *glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
*-- *built-in, 58WHr lithium polymer battery; and
*-- *60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the 13-inch MacBook Pro include the ability to upgrade to 8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, a 250GB 5400 rpm, 320GB 5400 rpm or 500GB 5400 rpm hard drive, a 128GB or 256GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.



MacBook Air

Apple today also updated its thin and light MacBook Air, making it more powerful and more affordable. Measuring just 0.16 to 0.76-inches thin and weighing just three pounds, the MacBook Air is available in two models starting with the new entry price of $1,499 for a 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 120GB hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, and a 2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 128GB solid state drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics for $1,799.



Every Mac notebook achieves EPEAT Gold status and meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements, setting a new 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. All MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models contain no brominated flame retardants and use internal cables and components that are PVC-free. The built-in battery design results in less waste and depleted batteries can be replaced for $129 or $179, which includes installation and disposal of your old battery in an environmentally responsible manner.



Availability and upgrading to Snow Leopard

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are available immediately through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

Mac OS X Snow Leopard will be shipping in September 2009, and any new Mac system purchased without Snow Leopard from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller between June 8, 2009 and the end of the program on December 26, 2009, is eligible for the Mac OS X Snow Leopard Up-To-Date upgrade package available for a product plus shipping and handling fee of $9.95 (US). Users must request their Up-To-Date upgrade within 90 days of purchase or by December 26, 2009, or whichever comes first.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[saarek]

What a brilliant update, now if the iMacs this year had had such a good upgrade I'd have bought one, I love my current 2.0ghz 13" Aluminium Macbook but am so tempted by one of these, well done Apple!

[NasserAE]

Looks like the white MacBook is here to stay. Trying to decide when to list my Unibody MBP and MB on ebay while it still under warranty
Nice update.

[Smiles77]

The upgrades here are way better than I would have thought they would have been today! This is fantastic. I can't wait to get one of these in September with Snow Leopard on it. It will be my first Mac, and I can hardly wait.
Bravo, as well, Apple, on adding the backlit keyboard to the low-end model.
Wow!!!

[hillstones]

Originally Posted by tschunde

Oh common apple! Pro = fast graphic card...
I won't buy a 13inch model because of the slow 9400M...

So don't buy it. Are you aware that the 15" Pro model can also run with the 9400M? Not everyone plays games that are heavily dependent on 3-D graphics.

[dreamraj]

The price drops across the range are cool, rather hot, whatever

[teckstud]

Haha. Firewire is back - just as I asked for and predicted.
Finally I can buy one.

[DHKOsta]

It's funny - the distinction that I really drew with the Pro line was that there were TWO graphics cards. Even if you don't run graphics-intensive software, having the discrete card would have tremendous implications for OpenCL, right? Or am I missing something?

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by hillstones

So don't buy it. Are you aware that the 15" Pro model can also run with the 9400M? Not everyone plays games that are heavily dependent on 3-D graphics.

And "pro" users buy a machine to work, not to play games.

[macxpress]

Originally Posted by tschunde

Oh common apple! Pro = fast graphic card...
I won't buy a 13inch model because of the slow 9400M...

Slow? What world are you living in?

The 9400M is no slouch....

As a side note...Firewire is back...now people can stop bitching! Oh wait...still a glossy display, well it was a thought!

[mcarling]

My only disappointment is that the high-end MacBook Air still comes with only 2GB of ram.

[hiimamac]

Originally Posted by tschunde

Oh common apple! Pro = fast graphic card...
I won't buy a 13inch model because of the slow 9400M...

that's why they are nit pro. Bad grapics means no motion I'd final cut.
By the way, where are the fanboys who said apple would not cheapen the price. I said this would happen as they have to into a tablet even cheaper. Great news fir audio pros though. Very great news.

Blessings eveyone.

[jpellino]

Just like I said.
And some of you (you know who you are) had a dozen reasons FW was on its way out never to return.
Would you like that crow steamed, country-fried or fricasseed?

[hiimamac]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Haha. Firewire is back - just as I asked for and predicted.
Finally I can buy one.

When they came out with better you I said that's why they dumped FireWire and fanboys bashed me. Looks like it's back and fanbitz were wrong. It was never about space and I said that many times

Great news

[minderbinder]

Great to see the price drop, but it makes even more obvious how overpriced the desktop offerings are. So when does the mini get an update or price drop? Or some new model that is more competitive and fills the gaping chasm between the mini and the Mac Pro?

[Smiles77]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Haha. Firewire is back - just as I asked for and predicted.
Finally I can buy one.

And Firewire 800 at that! Looks like Apple has even garnered praise from an iHater!
Nice job, Apple.

[Rokken]

Originally Posted by jpellino

Just like I said.
And some of you (you know who you are) had a dozen reasons FW was on its way out never to return.
Would you like that crow steamed, country-fried or fricasseed?

Wasn't it stated before that FW was technically impossible in previous version because the internal space was too jammed, and it could be added by adopting the non-user removable battery? By the way, all FW have been eliminated in all Macs so far are FW400 and previous MacBook did not have FW800 so adding FW800 doesn't seem like a return but an upgrade to me.

I am really tempted by the new MacBook (Pro) because of the longer battery life, backlit keyboard in base model and lower price point. Guess I'll have to get on with it..

[brlawyer]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Haha. Firewire is back - just as I asked for and predicted.
Finally I can buy one.

Absolutely unexpected, and a brilliant update for much lower prices; I will finally replace my good ol' iBook G3 with a new MBP! Apple rules once more with the best notebook lineup in the world! GO APPLE!

MS IS DEAD.

p.s.: ANOTHER CLEAR confirmation that Apple is the one company that listens to its customers...FW IS BACK!

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by NasserAE

Looks like the white MacBook is here to stay. Trying to decide when to list my Unibody MBP and MB on ebay while it still under warranty
Nice update.

Now that they have officially announced the better display in the MB (which Beetlejuice was adamant cold have been added without a lot of hoopla) I am not sure if I want to go the 15” anymore. Especially now that they upped the battery time.

Originally Posted by teckstud

Haha. Firewire is back - just as I asked for and predicted.
Finally I can buy one.

You predicted it? I recall you complaining about it, after I predicted FW800 would be added once they removed the user-accessible battery/HDD cover. BTW, FW400 is not back, as we’ve been saying since last year Apple has obsolesced FW400 in favour of FW800.

PS: You can’t get a MB because it still has a glossy display. Waah!

Originally Posted by jpellino

Just like I said.
And some of you (you know who you are) had a dozen reasons FW was on its way out never to return.
Would you like that crow steamed, country-fried or fricasseed?

With FW800 not going anywhere and the Mac Mini also getting Mac Mini it seemed obvious that only FW400 was going away.

[cycomiko]

what a brilliant idea, wait until Microsoft has had its fun poking at apple about its prices, then cut the prices...

[Ensign Pulver]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

MacBook Air's were also updated with cheaper pricing.

MacBook Air's what?

Seriously, it's bad enough when the retarded teenagers on these boards do it, but now the AI staff is randomly inserting apostrophes into words?

[rain]

Firewire may be back, but so are glossy screens.

Apple stock tanked $5 on the news of the Macbook Pro's (which is warranted), and crept back 80 cents on the news of these.
Lets see if they can tell us something today to recover.

[brlawyer]

Originally Posted by rain

Firewire may be back, but so are glossy screens.

Apple stock tanked $5 on the news of the Macbook Pro's (which is warranted), and crept back 80 cents on the news of these.
Lets see if they can tell us something today to recover.

Warranted by what? Glossy is here to stay, just get over it; these updates are FANTASTIC across the board, and settle once and for all the whining from 99% of Mac users.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Rokken

Wasn't it stated before that FW was technically impossible in previous version because the internal space was too jammed, and it could be added by adopting the non-user removable battery? By the way, all FW have been eliminated in all Macs so far are FW400 and previous MacBook did not have FW800 so adding FW800 doesn't seem like a return but an upgrade to me.

I am really tempted by the new MacBook (Pro) because of the longer battery life, backlit keyboard in base model and lower price point. Guess I'll have to get on with it..

Yes, that is exactly what many of us have been saying, but it was more of the side of the machine’s real estate space while keeping Apple’s aesthetics intact. They could have reduced the battery size a little, then moved the HDD over a little which would have allowed for the ports and circuits, but then they’d have to cover than up to make it look "Apple presentable”.

Originally Posted by brlawyer

MS IS DEAD.

Far from it. MS is a juggernaut that will die quickly or easily. They still most of their money in areas where Apple doesn’t compete. I’m not saying buy their stock, but they aren’t going anyway anytime soon.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by hiimamac

When they came out with better you I said that's why they dumped FireWire and fanboys bashed me. Looks like it's back and fanbitz were wrong. It was never about space and I said that many times

Great news

That's right -you did. We've been bashed over and over for this. Finally we can buy. So glad we waited. Now I'll pass on the white. Congrats.

[brlawyer]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Far from it. MS is a juggernaut that will die quickly or easily. They still most of their money in areas where Apple doesn’t compete. I’m not saying buy their stock, but they aren’t going anyway anytime soon.

I have been saying this for at least 3 years...it's my trademark, so don't worry...and yes, I believe they are dying a slow death.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Yes, that is exactly what many of us have been saying, but it was more of the side of the machine’s real estate space while keeping Apple’s aesthetics intact. They could have reduced the battery size a little, then moved the HDD over a little which would have allowed for the ports and circuits, but then they’d have to cover than up to .

Pleez- you kept saying it wasn't needed and not for the future. Don't re-write history now.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by brlawyer

Glossy is here to stay, just get over it; these updates are FANTASTIC across the board, and settle once and for all the whining from 99% of Mac users.

Then why does the17" get matte? Why go backwards? You'll see - the screen will eventually become less glossy.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Pleez- you kept saying it wasn't needed and not for the future. Don't re-write history now.

FW400 is obsolescing, i did say.

FW800 will come to MB when they make the battery non-user removable, I also said.

I won’t by a Mac with a glossy screen, you said. Good luck with your unibody MB.

Funny how history keeps biting you in the ass...

• http://forums.appleinsider.com/showt...79#post1408779

• http://forums.appleinsider.com/showt...94#post1357394

[brucep]

I feel like I am in love all over again. WOW.

The 13 in MB looks exactly like a low end pro. Or is it?

So please let me know, is in fact the 13 in MB exactly the same in all ways as the 15 in MBP?

Except for the second chip?
Apple has hit a couple of grand slams today and they even lowered the prices, while giving us working slobs a bigger gaming bang for our buck.

I see a merging of the fanboy group with the geek head group.


Peace


9

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by cycomiko

what a brilliant idea, wait until Microsoft has had its fun poking at apple about its prices, then cut the prices...

Sounds like they may have been overpriced to begin with then?

[NasserAE]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Now that they have officially announced the better display in the MB (which Beetlejuice was adamant cold have been added without a lot of hoopla) I am not sure if I want to go the 15” anymore. Especially now that they upped the battery time.

The only reason I bought the MBP was because I wanted a bigger display. However, I will wait for the reviews before buying this time since my current MBP is less than 8 months old.

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by rain

Firewire may be back, but so are glossy screens.

Apple stock tanked $5 on the news of the Macbook Pro's (which is warranted), and crept back 80 cents on the news of these.
Lets see if they can tell us something today to recover.

Delusional.

[zanshin]

Originally Posted by Ensign Pulver

MacBook Air's what?

Seriously, it's bad enough when the retarded teenagers on these boards do it, but now the AI staff is randomly inserting apostrophes into words?

Oh, blow it out your ar'se...

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by solipsism

FW400 is obsolescing, i did say.

FW800 will come to MB when they make the battery non-user removable, I also said.

I won’t by a Mac with a glossy screen, you said. Good luck with your unibody MB.

You kept saying USB was all that was needed repeatedly when people said firewire was needed for target disk mode. USB, you said , was only needed and SOny Vaio TTs were behind offering firewire. We were called, to use your favorite phrase, "a complainer" or "whiner".

[zanshin]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Sounds like they may have been overpriced to begin with then?

In a capitalism-based society, nothing is over-priced if an acceptable percentage of the market will pay that price.

[Hattig]

Originally Posted by cycomiko

what a brilliant idea, wait until Microsoft has had its fun poking at apple about its prices, then cut the prices...

Pretty means that Microsoft needs to refilm the adverts because they're now factually incorrect.

But maybe they helped in pushing Apple to make the decision to cut back on margins (or maybe they sorted out how to make the unibodies cheaper now they have a lot of experience).

Overall, I think the new range is far better. There's a 15" MacBook (in Pro clothing) for those that wanted a 15" MacBook, and there's a 13" MacBook Pro with FW. Apple needed a cheaper 15", and while I think that $1699 is still a lot of money, it's better than $1999.

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by Hattig

There's a 15" MacBook (in Pro clothing)...

You really think that not having an expresscard slot singlehandedly makes a machine not "pro"?

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by minderbinder

You really think that not having an expresscard slot singlehandedly makes a machine not "pro"?

PCMCIA seemed popular and people had issue with Apple for going to EC/34. If the userbase is really 1% that is pretty bad.

[infinitespecter]

Originally Posted by minderbinder

You really think that not having an expresscard slot singlehandedly makes a machine not "pro"?

Pro = expansion. There is literally no way to add functionality to the Macbook Pro without buying a 17" model now. That means no internal 3G cards, no eSATA cards, no FW3200 or USB3 (whenever that comes out) cards, etc. If they really wanted to give people SD card support, they should have included a free SD Express Card adapter like Sony does.