Apple quietly updates MacBook Pro lineup with faster CPUs, graphics
With no mention of the update, Apple on Monday improved its MacBook Pro lineup with slightly faster Intel processors, as well as new graphics processors and larger hard drives in some models.
The new entry-level MacBook Pro now sports a 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 CPU. It also features a larger 500GB 5400-rpm hard drive at the same cost of $1,199.
The faster 13-inch MacBook Pro now boasts a 2.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i7, and its hard drive has also been upgraded to 750GB. It sells for $1,499.
For the 15-inch models, both feature quad-core Intel Core i7 processors. The low-end 15-inch has a clock speed of 2.2GHz and a 500GB hard drive, plus a faster AMD Radeon HD 6750M discrete graphics card with 512MB of GDDR5. The faster 15-inch runs at 2.4GHz with a 750GB hard drive and features the AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 1GB of GDDR5.
And the updated 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 with a 750GB hard drive, along with the AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 1GB of GDDR5. All MacBook Pro models come with 4GB of RAM clocked at 1333MHz standard.
Apple's top-of-the-line build-to-order 17-inch MacBook Pro offers a 2.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 for an additional $250, while the RAM can be upgraded to 8GB for another $200. All MacBook Pro models can also have their hard drives upgraded to solid state capacities up to 512GB for as much as $1,200.
All of the new MacBook Pros are listed as in stock, and come with free shipping. Monday's upgrade was done silently by Apple, as the company didn't even list the updated notebooks as being "new" to the store. As of Monday morning, the iPhone 4S was still listed as Apple's newest product.
AppleInsider first reported in September that Apple was set to surprise with a late 2011 MacBook Pro refresh. The relatively minor upgrades are expected to allow the professional line of notebooks to remain competitive until Intel's next-generation Ivy Bridge chips launch in the Spring of 2012.
The new entry-level MacBook Pro now sports a 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 CPU. It also features a larger 500GB 5400-rpm hard drive at the same cost of $1,199.
The faster 13-inch MacBook Pro now boasts a 2.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i7, and its hard drive has also been upgraded to 750GB. It sells for $1,499.
For the 15-inch models, both feature quad-core Intel Core i7 processors. The low-end 15-inch has a clock speed of 2.2GHz and a 500GB hard drive, plus a faster AMD Radeon HD 6750M discrete graphics card with 512MB of GDDR5. The faster 15-inch runs at 2.4GHz with a 750GB hard drive and features the AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 1GB of GDDR5.
And the updated 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.4GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 with a 750GB hard drive, along with the AMD Radeon HD 6770M with 1GB of GDDR5. All MacBook Pro models come with 4GB of RAM clocked at 1333MHz standard.
Apple's top-of-the-line build-to-order 17-inch MacBook Pro offers a 2.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 for an additional $250, while the RAM can be upgraded to 8GB for another $200. All MacBook Pro models can also have their hard drives upgraded to solid state capacities up to 512GB for as much as $1,200.
All of the new MacBook Pros are listed as in stock, and come with free shipping. Monday's upgrade was done silently by Apple, as the company didn't even list the updated notebooks as being "new" to the store. As of Monday morning, the iPhone 4S was still listed as Apple's newest product.
AppleInsider first reported in September that Apple was set to surprise with a late 2011 MacBook Pro refresh. The relatively minor upgrades are expected to allow the professional line of notebooks to remain competitive until Intel's next-generation Ivy Bridge chips launch in the Spring of 2012.
Comments
All nice upgrades.
Yep...just in time for the holidays. Expect another sales breaking season from Apple!
What I forgot to mention was there is also a drop in the price of the Hi-Res Anti Glare screen - on the 15" its down from AUD240.00 (from memory) to AUD165.00
Cheers,
Chris
With no mention of the update, Apple on Monday improved its MacBook Pro lineup with slightly faster Intel processors, as well as new graphics processors and larger hard drives in some models.
Why not have a major event like they did with the iPhone? The changes to the MacBooks are comparable to the changes made to the i4.
Why not have a major event like they did with the iPhone? The changes to the MacBooks are comparable to the changes made to the i4.
Its not that big a spec bump to warrant a huge release party....c'mon...does every vendor have that for all of their upgrades? No they don't.......
Its not that big a spec bump to warrant a huge release party....c'mon...does every vendor have that for all of their upgrades? No they don't.......
You might go as far to say that these upgrades would not even be noticeable to casual users. The quad i5 and i7 chips are already so fracking fast at running OSX that the limiting factor is RAM throughput and hard drive speed. The speed will show up in gaming and benchmarks, but not be a big deal for anyone else.
Still, nice upgrades. I'd be interested if the chips are cooler and lower powered as well. Does anyone know?
Why not have a major event like they did with the iPhone?p
Because the updates don't really mean anything.
The changes to the MacBooks are comparable to the changes made to the i4.
Not at all?
What I forgot to mention was there is also a drop in the price of the Hi-Res Anti Glare screen - on the 15" its down from AUD240.00 (from memory) to AUD165.00
The price difference in the US was $150 before and after. In the EU, the price difference was 150 euro before and after. Memory and SSD upgrade prices are also unchanged.
I had been hoping that Apple would make 1680x1050 the new standard for the 15" models, so I'm disappointed. A decrease from 200 to 150 (dollars or euro) for the 4GB to 8GB upgrade would have suggested that we might hope for 8GB base memory some time next year. As is, I think 2013 is the earliest we can hope for 8GB minimum RAM (Mac Pro possibly excepted).
Why not have a major event like they did with the iPhone? The changes to the MacBooks are comparable to the changes made to the i4.
Computer says no. Seriously, you should be able to see why Apple would do a special event to announce the iPhone, but not a nudgary Intel CPU spec bump. The CPU is twice as fast? The GPU is 7x faster? There is Siri in the new Macs that needs to be demoed? There are lines for MBPs this morning? There has been worldwide anticipation for new MBPs that will sell a reported 40 million units before the year's end?
Why not have a major event like they did with the iPhone? The changes to the MacBooks are comparable to the changes made to the i4.
Not. Leave, troll.
Just in time. I will be ordering the 15 inch with 2.4GHz. I will upgrade to 8GB RAM but will do the upgrade myself. Just waiting for MacMall offers on AI!
Yep - I upgraded my early-2011 rev to 8gb for about $45 via NewEgg. Apple's memory upgrades are no longer the ludicrous prices they used to be, but they are still unreasonable for anyone who feels comfortable turning a couple of screws on the bottom of their machines!
Well, there ends my 9 months of being king of the geeks with my previously top of the line 17" MBP.....!
LOL - that's exactly what I was thinking of when I read these upgrades were coming (although mine is the top-of-the-line 15", which I didn't really want but it was the only way to get the matte, high-res display in-store).
Happy camper.
Thanks