Inside Apple's New MacBook Pro

[MacRumors]

Apple today introduced a refreshed line of MacBook Pro notebooks, bringing several new features to the the company's popular aluminum-clad offerings. Here is a look at some of the changes included in the update:

Processors

Apple stuck with Intel Core 2 Duo processors for the 13" MacBook Pros, bumping the two standard configuration models from 2.26 GHz and 2.53 GHz to 2.4 GHz and 2.66 GHz. The 15" and 17" models, however, saw a bump from the Core 2 Duo line to Core i5 and i7 processors offering Intel's Hyper-Threading technology that allows for four virtual cores on the dual-core processor. While the processors run at slightly lower clock speeds than the Core 2 Duo in the previous generation, the smaller 32-nanometer process, Hyper-Threading, and other enhancements yield performance improvements of up to 50% according to Apple. The Core i5 and i7 processors also support Turbo Boost, pushing clock speeds for the i7 models as high as 3.33 GHz for single-threaded tasks.

Graphics

On the new 13" MacBook Pro, Apple debuted the NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics processor that offers 48 processing cores, three times that of the previous generation. Apple claims a performance boost of up to 80% with the new graphics capabilities while also being able to deliver up to 40% less power usage. The GeForce 320M is reportedly a custom production for Apple, offering greater performance than NVIDIA's standard integrated graphics without building in discrete graphics capabilities.

The 15" and 17" MacBook Pro models utilize the NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M with either 256 or 512 MB of dedicated memory, offering more horsepower while also delivering up 30% greater energy efficiency. The 15" and 17" MacBook Pro models also offer automatic graphics switching, allowing system to seamlessly switch between the dedicated NVIDIA graphics processor and the included integrated Intel HD graphics processor for optimal balance of power and efficiency. Previous MacBook Pro models have required users to manually switch between integrated and discrete graphics and log out of their account for each switch.

Battery

All three MacBook Pro models offer greater battery life than their predecessors, a feat achieved through a combination of larger battery capacity and greater energy efficiency. The 13" MacBook Pro now offers up to 10 hours of power, while the 15" and 17" models boast battery life of 8-9 hours. The previous generation of the MacBook Pro offered 7 hours on the 13" and 15" models and 8 hours on the 17" model. The batteries in all three machine sizes are non-user-replaceable and are designed for up to 1000 full charge and discharge cycles. While designed to last five years for typical users, Apple offers a battery replacement service priced at $129 (13" and 15" models) or $179 (17" model).

Display
The 15" MacBook Pro has gained a new option for a high-resolution display, offering users the opportunity to bump the standard 1440x900 screen to 1680X1050. The high-resolution display is available in both glossy ($100 extra) and anti-glare ($150 extra) versions. Notably, an anti-glare option for the lower-resolution display does not appear to be available. The 17" MacBook Pro continues to sport a 1900x1200 screen in either glossy (standard) or anti-glare ($50 extra). Apple also continues to offer a single standard glossy display running at 1280x800 for the 13" model.

Hard Drive
Apple is offering up to 500 GB, 5400-rpm SATA hard drives across all three sizes, with the 15" and 17" models also offering the option of up to 500 GB, 7200-rpm drives. Solid-state drive capacities have increased with the addition of a 512 GB option, although it carries a hefty price premium of $1300-$1450 depending on which base hard drive the customer is upgrading from.

Inertial Scrolling
The new MacBook Pro offers an enhanced multi-touch trackpad supporting inertial scrolling. The feature, already present in similar forms on Apple's iPhone OS devices and the Magic Mouse, allows users to "flick" while scrolling as the trackpad senses the momentum of the gesture and smoothly scrolls through long documents and libraries.

In the U.S. and Canada, Apple's new MacBook Pro line is currently showing 2-4 business day shipping windows for standard-configuration 13" models, while base 15" and 17" models are showing availability within 24 hours. Apple's international online stores are showing shipping windows ranging from 24 hours to 5 business days for various standard-configuration models, with the 13" models and the mid-range 15" model most frequently seeing the longer delays.

Article Link: Inside Apple's New MacBook Pro

 

[Mintin8]

The new scrolling seems nice. I might actually get a 13inch for the extended battery.

 

[TuffLuffJimmy]

I'm jealous of the processors and the on-the-fly graphics switching.

 

[katakis1]

Just ordered the 13"

 

[houdinize]

Anyway the inertia scrolling could be added with a soft/firmware update to the previous gen 13"?

 

[ScottishDuck]

Anyway the inertia scrolling could be added with a soft/firmware update to the previous gen 13"?

It could, but apple will claim otherwise and never do it.

 

[FrozenDarkness]

I'd like to think that I'm a very objective person.

But the fact of the matter is, Apple sticking with the Core 2 Duo is indefensible. It's your money, please waste it as how you like, but not upgrading the processor for the 13" is a slap in the face. It'll probably sell like hotcakes and i don't think anybody cares about the extra power, but it's still a slap in the face. an upgraded graphics card, more RAM? That's just part of technology, they're merely "moving with it" instead of offering you something more. I think Apple fanboys are truly blind and I have never felt so bad for a group of fanboys in my life.

Oh also, It's sad that there's no resolution bump, but I realize that is probably very very farfetchd so that's fine. this is why anybody who gives a **** about computers don't buy mac. not because of how expensive it is. i'd spend the money if i felt like apple cared enough to not slap me around whenever there's a refresh.


that said, 15" seems to be the good buy. My only guess is that the i3 is backordered so maybe if we wait a couple of months, it'd be upgraded.

 

[applesupergeek]

Stellar updates all around.

And the choice to stick with the c2d (instead of going for a 10% cpu gain and the atrocious intel graphics) is a gutsy and wise one. The small macbook pros now get the superb nvidia ig at 2x performance and better econonomy, open cl enabled (whilst the crappy intel ones aren't) to assist the cpu too.

The only bothersome bit, is that damn insistence on no anti glare for the 13", I would buy it in a breath if it had that...

..ah and let's hope the mba get the updates soon too.

 

[aa521490]

Hope there are no problems adding your own HD or SSD like the previous macbook/pro.

 

[PandaOnslaught]

Its A Great Upgrade !!

im SO excited right now, im at work and i can barely pay attention i never have bought a macbook before and i just bought a 15" with the x1050 hd screen, also the 330m has higher benchmarks than my 8800m gts and that thing ran crysis, SO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!

 

[ashjamben]

is there a reason apple favoured keeping the core 2 duo on the 13 inch, as oppose to say using a lower clock speed i5 or possibly the i3?

 

[AriX]

Wow. We sure had to wait long enough for this update, but Apple really seems to have delivered. 15", here I come... I love the idea of the inertial scrolling, the awesome battery (I currently get around 2 hours on a good day ), and the dual graphics cards, plus I can't wait to have 4GB of RAM

Plus, once I have it, I'll have TWO MacBook Pros... I can't wait to figure out what I'm going to use this one for, since it's basically still chugging along fine (albeit almost 3 years old and a little beat up).

ProTip: Wait about a day until MacMall gets the new MBPs, and then order it from them. Their prices are better than Apple's, PLUS no tax which is a biggie. Even if you are qualified for an educational discount at the Apple online store, it will still be cheaper to buy it from MacMall...

is there a reason apple favoured keeping the core 2 duo on the 13 inch, as oppose to say using a lower clock speed i5 or possibly the i3?

I think if they had done that they would have been forced to use the Intel HD graphics or whatever because of the NVidia v. Intel lawsuit... The new NVidia chip has much better power consumption, but as a non-Intel integrated graphics chip, it must be used with the Core 2 Duo.

 

[applesupergeek]

I'd like to think that I'm a very objective person.

But the fact of the matter is, Apple sticking with the Core 2 Duo is indefensible. It's your money, please waste it as how you like, but not upgrading the processor for the 13" is a slap in the face. It'll probably sell like hotcakes and i don't think anybody cares about the extra power, but it's still a slap in the face. an upgraded graphics card, more RAM? That's just part of technology, they're merely "moving with it" instead of offering you something more. I think Apple fanboys are truly blind and I have never felt so bad for a group of fanboys in my life.

Oh also, It's sad that there's no resolution bump, but I realize that is probably very very farfetchd so that's fine. this is why anybody who gives a **** about computers don't buy mac. not because of how expensive it is. i'd spend the money if i felt like apple cared enough to not slap me around whenever there's a refresh.


that said, 15" seems to be the good buy. My only guess is that the i3 is backordered so maybe if we wait a couple of months, it'd be upgraded.

This is a bunch of garbage, utter garbage, and it's insulting to say that any giving a *** about computers doesn't buy apple, I guess we all here don't give a damn about computers....

Plus your technical understanding of the issues involved is (as per most people who delude themselves that they are techies) ridiculous.

 

[smileyborg]

is there a reason apple favoured keeping the core 2 duo on the 13 inch, as oppose to say using a lower clock speed i5 or possibly the i3?

The graphics. They clearly didn't want to use a discrete option, and they didn't want to use Intel's integrated, so they had to keep the C2D in order to continue using nVidia's integrated graphics.

 

[alexk82]

finally

i've been waiting for a while. i can finally remove the g4 tag line in my profile =)

 

[kolax]

Planning to buy a 15" 2.66GHz Core i7 MacBook Pro with high resolution anti-glare display.

Hopefully this time next week I'll be typing on it - really depends if the Apple Store stocks it or I have to BTO online.

 

[crackbookpro]

The $1200 13" MacBook Pro is a deal!

Definitely wish they had an option for the matte finish on the 13", but nonetheless, there are great updates across the board today...

How is the 320M GPU compared to the previous model?

 

[koobcamuk]

Hope there are no problems adding your own HD or SSD like the previous macbook/pro.

True, although I would actually be tempted to add it as an option.

 

[tarproductions]

Looks like a great update all around but my 3 year-old MBP will have to hold out another year or two (or about 1 or 2 updates)

 

[macrumorsMaster]

is there a reason apple favoured keeping the core 2 duo on the 13 inch, as oppose to say using a lower clock speed i5 or possibly the i3?

Yup...so you'd have to spend more $$$ to buy the 15" with an i5

You also notice, that Apple notebooks are becoming to look more like windows' pc's more now spec wise(intel hd graphics---should lead to more windows' pc's being hackintoshable then?)

 

[opera57]

Excellent, time to save up for a 15" i7!

 

[applesupergeek]

is there a reason apple favoured keeping the core 2 duo on the 13 inch, as oppose to say using a lower clock speed i5 or possibly the i3?

yes, see above, intel prohibited nvidia igfx and saddled their cpus with anachronistic intel hd, that don't support open cl which is one of the cornerstones of snow leopard. Apple elected to offer a great igfx by invidia and take the 10% hit of the c2ds against the i series. Wise choice. Even if it is an interim choice.

 

[riveting]

I'd take core i5+ intel HD graphics over C2d+ nvidia integrated graphics any day. The new intel HD graphics is not really that bad, it has all the features for HD decoding and playback.

Wow. We sure had to wait long enough for this update, but Apple really seems to have delivered. 15", here I come... I love the idea of the inertial scrolling, the awesome battery (I currently get around 2 hours on a good day ), and the dual graphics cards, plus I can't wait to have 4GB of RAM

Plus, once I have it, I'll have TWO MacBook Pros... I can't wait to figure out what I'm going to use this one for, since it's basically still chugging along fine (albeit almost 3 years old and a little beat up).



I think if they had done that they would have been forced to use the Intel HD graphics or whatever because of the NVidia v. Intel lawsuit... The new NVidia chip has much better power consumption, but as a non-Intel integrated graphics chip, it must be used with the Core 2 Duo.

 

[Noiseboy]

Ah, sadly my previously unbeatable extra speedy MBP is now not the fastest, it is the way of things and I couldn't wait last year but I'm comfortable in the knowledge that it is still monumentally quick and will continue to work perfectly well for me for years to come.

 

[Eidorian]

It's not surprising that the GeForce 320M is a custom solution for Apple. The 13" Macbook Pro and Macbooks are now backed into a 2 chip (processor + platform controller/IGP) PCB. There's no room for another chip or for mounting VRAM.

This means Core 2 Duo is making another round on the 13" models but to be honest you're better off than you would be with a Core i3. I just wonder what Apple will do when all Core 2 processors are EOL. It's just a stopgap solution on the 13" models.