Just as expected, Apple has announced a major refresh for the MacBook Pro line today. The big changes include major upgrades to the processors on the whole MacBook Pro range (from 13 – 17 inch models), a new high-performance graphics chip, and a blazing fast new I/O technology called Thunderbolt (based on Intel’s new ‘Light Peak’).
Here’s a slice of Apple’s press release this morning on this, with details on specs for the entire new line:
Apple® today updated the industry-leading MacBook® Pro family with next generation processors and graphics, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology and a new FaceTime® HD camera. Featuring the very latest dual-core and quad-core Intel Core processors, the entire MacBook Pro line is up to twice as fast as the previous generation.*
“The new MacBook Pro brings next generation dual and quad Core processors, high performance graphics, Thunderbolt technology and FaceTime HD to the great design loved by our pro customers,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Thunderbolt is a revolutionary new I/O technology that delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second and can support every important I/O standard which is ideal for the new MacBook Pro.”
Starting at $1,199 the new 13-inch MacBook Pro offers amazing value and performance in a compact design. The highly portable 13-inch MacBook Pro features Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors up to 2.7 GHz and Intel HD Graphics 3000. The powerful 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature quad-core Core i7 processors up to 2.3 GHz and AMD Radeon HD graphics processors with up to 1GB of video memory for high performance gaming, pro video editing and graphics intensive applications.
MacBook Pro is the first computer on the market to include the groundbreaking Thunderbolt I/O technology. Developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, Thunderbolt enables expandability never before possible on a notebook computer. Featuring two bi-directional channels with transfer speeds up to an amazing 10Gbps each, Thunderbolt delivers PCI Express directly to external high performance peripherals such as RAID arrays, and can support FireWire and USB consumer devices and Gigabit Ethernet networks via adapters. Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays. Freely available for implementation on systems, cables and devices, Thunderbolt technology is expected to be widely adopted as a new standard for high performance I/O.
The MacBook Pro now includes a built-in FaceTime HD camera with triple the resolution of the previous generation for crisp, widescreen video calls. With Apple’s innovative FaceTime video calling software, the new camera allows high definition video calls between all new MacBook Pro models and supports standard resolution calls with other Intel-based Macs, iPhone® 4 and the current generation iPod touch®. FaceTime is included with all new MacBook Pro models and is available for other Intel-based Macs from the Mac® App Store℠ for 99 cents. The MacBook Pro lineup continues to feature its gorgeous aluminum unibody enclosure, glass Multi-Touch™ trackpad, LED-backlit widescreen display, illuminated full-size keyboard and 7-hour battery.**
The new Thunderbolt connector tech sounds particularly impressive (though I’m not sure how many peripheral devices support it just now). It is said to be 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and capable of transferring data at up to 10Gbps.
The new line of MacBook Pros are lighter than the previous generation and feature a larger trackpad and a new FaceTime HD camera.
One rumored addition to the MacBook Pro that has not materialized is an SSD drive for the OS / applications. Pity that, as that sounded quite a promising concept.
All in all, this sounds like a pretty major bump-up for the MacBook Pro line. If you’ve been holding off on getting a new MBP and awaiting the refresh, now you know what’s on offer.
Are any of you planning to grab a new MacBook Pro soon?
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TAGS: Apple, MacBook Pro
