Apple MacBook Pro

2007-02-02T12:53:00.000-05:00

The MacBook Pro is a line of Macintosh notebook laptop computers for the professional market.

First announced on 10 January 2006 at the Macworld Expo by Apple CEO Steve Jobs [1], the MacBook Pro began to ship in mid-February 2006[2].

The MacBook Pro was the first Macintosh laptop to be powered by the Intel Core Duo and Core 2 Duo processors.

The MacBook Pro is currently available in two size configurations: a 15.4-inch model first introduced on 10 January 2006 and last revised on 24 October 2006, and a 17" model first introduced on 24 April 2006 and also last revised on 24 October 2006.[3]

Alongside the iMac Core Duo, the MacBook Pro represents Apple's first computers to feature Intel processors instead of PowerPC processors, a transition that completed on August 7, 2006.

The MacBook Pro is available in three standard configurations, last revised on October 24, 2006 to include an Intel Core 2 Duo processor and the addition of a FireWire 800 port for the 15.4-inch model: The 15.4-inch model comes in 2.16 GHz (US$1999) and 2.33 GHz ($2499) configurations while the 17-inch model comes with a 2.33 GHz ($2799) processor.

The latest Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro appears outwardly similar to its predecessor, and though Apple claims a 39% performance increase, real-world results, as always, have varied.

All three configurations feature an Intel Core 2 Duo processor; a 120 GB, 160 GB (5400 RPM), or 200 GB hard drive (4200 RPM); an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics card (128 or 256 MiB GDDR3); a glossy or matte widescreen LCD (16:10 aspect ratio); up to 3 GiB of RAM; and a built-in iSight camera.

The 15.4-inch MacBook Pro comes standard with two USB ports, one FireWire 400 port, one FireWire 800 port, an ExpressCard/34 expansion slot, DVI and VGA connectivity (VGA via included adaptor), optical S/PDIF and analog sound output and inputs, gigabit ethernet plus AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.0 wireless capabilities. The basic model comes with 1 GiB of DDR2 SDRAM at 667 MHz. The other two models come with 2 GiB. The 17" model also adds a third USB port.

Running Mac OS 10.4, bundled with the machine is an Apple Remote with Front Row, Photo Booth, and iLife '06.

The MacBook Pro also features MagSafe, a magnetic power connector designed to detach easily when yanked to prevent the laptop from being pulled off a surface. The MacBook Pro features a backlit keyboard and a scrolling trackpad standard across the line.

Accessories available for the MacBook Pro include a MagSafe airline power adapter, an external Apple USB modem (the MacBook Pro no longer includes an internal modem) and a DVI to S-Video/composite TV-out adapter (the same one used for the Mac mini and Power Mac G5).[4]