Apple Overhauls MacBook Pro Line -- THE Journal

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Apple Overhauls MacBook Pro Line

By David Nagel
04/13/10

Apple MacBook Pro, MacBook pro i5, MacBook pro i7, school technology, campus technology, educational technology, technology in k-12 education

Apple has updated its entire line of MacBook Pro notebooks, making Intel Core i5 and Core i7 chips standard for 15- and 17-inch models and beefing up graphics capabilities on all models.

The MacBook Pro line continues to consist of 13-, 15-, and 17-inch models.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro models, which start at $1,199, are now available in two configurations, one with a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo chip and one with a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. Both now sport Nvidia GeForce 320M integrated graphics. The 15-inch models, meanwhile, consist entirely of Core i5 or Core i7 processors, along with an optional high-resolution display. The 17-inch model, coming it at $2,299, is built around a Core i5 chip. All of the new models offer the glass Multi-Touch trackpad, which supports two-, three-, and four-finger gestures, along with inertial scrolling.

The new lineup includes the following configurations.

The $1,199 13-inch MacBook Pro:

CPU: 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3 MB shared level-2 cache and 1,066 MHz frontside bus;
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 320M integrated graphics;
Memory: 4 GB 1,066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8 GB;
Display: 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1,280 x 800 glossy display;
Storage: 250 GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5,400 rpm;
Removable media: Slot-load 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive with double-layer support, SD card slot;
Wireless connectivity: AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Wired communications: Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 port;
Audio: Single combined analog and digital (mini-Toslink) line in and out, integrated speakers, integrated microphone.

The $1,499 GHz 13-inch MacBook Pro:

CPU: 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3 MB shared level-2 cache and 1,066 MHz front-side bus;
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 320M integrated graphics;
Memory: 4 GB 1,066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8 GB;
Display: 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1,280 x 800 glossy display;
Storage: 320 GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5,400 rpm;
Removable media: Slot-load 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive with double-layer support, SD card slot;
Wireless connectivity: AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Wired communications: Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 port;
Audio: Single combined analog and digital (mini-Toslink) line in and out, integrated speakers, integrated microphone.

Both 13-inch MacBook pros also offer a mini-DVI port for connecting to external displays, integrated iSight video camera, 60 watt "MagSafe" power adapter, glass Multi-Touch trackpad, and illuminated keyboard.

The $1,799 15-inch MacBook Pro:

CPU: 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 with 3 MB shared level-3 cache;
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 256 MB of VRAM and integrated Intel HD Graphics;
Memory: 4 GB 1,066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8 GB;
Display: 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1,440 x 900 glossy display;
Storage: 320 GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5,400 rpm;
Removable media: Slot-load 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive with double-layer support, SD card slot;
Wireless connectivity: AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Wired communications: Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 port;
Audio: Separate combined analog and digital (mini-Toslink) line in and out, integrated speakers, integrated microphone.

The $1,999 15-inch MacBook Pro:

CPU: 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5 with 3 MB shared level-3 cache;
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 256 MB of VRAM and integrated Intel HD Graphics;
Memory: 4 GB 1,066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8 GB;
Display: 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1,440 x 900 glossy display;
Storage: 500 GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5,400 rpm;
Removable media: Slot-load 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive with double-layer support, SD card slot;
Wireless connectivity: AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Wired communications: Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 port;
Audio: Separate combined analog and digital (mini-Toslink) line in and out, integrated speakers, integrated microphone.

The $2,199 15-inch MacBook Pro:

CPU: 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7 with 4 MB shared level-3 cache;
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 512 MB of VRAM and integrated Intel HD Graphics;
Memory: 4 GB 1,066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8 GB;
Display: 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1,440 x 900 glossy display;
Storage: 500 GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5,400 rpm;
Removable media: Slot-load 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive with double-layer support, SD card slot;
Wireless connectivity: AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Wired communications: Gigabit Ethernet port, two USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 port;
Audio: Separate combined analog and digital (mini-Toslink) line in and out, integrated speakers, integrated microphone.

All 15-inch MacBook Pros also offer a mini-DVI port for connecting to external displays, integrated iSight video camera, 85 watt "MagSafe" power adapter, glass Multi-Touch trackpad, and illuminated keyboard.

With the new lineup, the 15-inch models can also be ordered with an optional higher-resolution display (1,680 x 1,050) in glossy and anti-glare finishes. Solid-state drives, 7,200 RPM drives are also optional.

The $2,299 17-inch MacBook Pro:

CPU: 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5 with 3 MB shared level-3 cache;
Graphics: Nvidia GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 512 MB of VRAM and integrated Intel HD Graphics;
Memory: 4 GB 1,066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8 GB;
Display: 17-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1,920 x 1,200 glossy display;
Storage: 500 GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5,400 rpm;
Removable media: Slot-load 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive with double-layer support, SD card slot;
Wireless connectivity: AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Wired communications: Gigabit Ethernet port, three USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800 port;
Audio: Separate combined analog and digital (mini-Toslink) line in and out, integrated speakers, integrated microphone.

The 17-inch model also includes a mini-DVI port for connecting to external displays, integrated iSight video camera, 85 watt "MagSafe" power adapter, glass Multi-Touch trackpad, and illuminated keyboard.

All of the new models are available now. Further information about the new MacBook pro lineup can be found on Apple's site here.