New MacBook Pros have 2100A USB2 ports for charging
http://www.macnn.com/articles/11/03/25/equals.capacity.of.ipad.wall.charger/
updated 11:05 pm EDT, Fri March 25, 2011
Equals capacity of iPad wall charger
Unannounced by Apple but verified by its own System Profiler, the new 2011 MacBook Pros feature a combined 2100mA of current available for peripherals charging through the USB2 ports -- seemingly made possible specifically for charging the iPad at the same rate as a wall charger would provide. The change is a significant bump from the previous models, which could only address a maximum of 1100mA and output no more than 500mA across multiple ports.
Although some Apple devices have been able to support up to 1100mA to USB devices for years (starting with the mid-2007 20- and 24-inch iMacs), this level of output was limited to one external device until the early-2009 Mac minis, which offered a total of five USB ports and could supply 1100mA to three of them simultaneously. The mid-2010 MacBook Pros could also supply 1100mA to up to two devices. Most iPhones and iPods only require 500mA to charge, but the iPad needs at least two amps.
Although an iPad can be charged from existing USB ports, it cannot be used and charge at the same time when connected by USB port on any Mac other than the 2011 MacBook Pros, and takes a great deal of time to charge (around 10 hours for a full charge at 500mA).
While Apple continues to recommend the wall charger as the fastest way to recharge an iPad or iPad 2, it appears that new MacBook Pro owners have a second option. [via 9to5Mac]
http://www.macnn.com/articles/11/03/25/equals.capacity.of.ipad.wall.charger/
updated 11:05 pm EDT, Fri March 25, 2011
Equals capacity of iPad wall charger
Unannounced by Apple but verified by its own System Profiler, the new 2011 MacBook Pros feature a combined 2100mA of current available for peripherals charging through the USB2 ports -- seemingly made possible specifically for charging the iPad at the same rate as a wall charger would provide. The change is a significant bump from the previous models, which could only address a maximum of 1100mA and output no more than 500mA across multiple ports.
Although some Apple devices have been able to support up to 1100mA to USB devices for years (starting with the mid-2007 20- and 24-inch iMacs), this level of output was limited to one external device until the early-2009 Mac minis, which offered a total of five USB ports and could supply 1100mA to three of them simultaneously. The mid-2010 MacBook Pros could also supply 1100mA to up to two devices. Most iPhones and iPods only require 500mA to charge, but the iPad needs at least two amps.
Although an iPad can be charged from existing USB ports, it cannot be used and charge at the same time when connected by USB port on any Mac other than the 2011 MacBook Pros, and takes a great deal of time to charge (around 10 hours for a full charge at 500mA).
While Apple continues to recommend the wall charger as the fastest way to recharge an iPad or iPad 2, it appears that new MacBook Pro owners have a second option. [via 9to5Mac]
