New MacBook Pro featuring Core i5/i7 processors
Apple rolled out the much anticipated MacBook Pro update this morning, and there are a lot of great new features in this refresh. 
The 15 and 17 inch models have the expected Intel Core i5 and i7 processors standard, and the 13 inch model has been kept at the same price and left with a slightly faster Core 2 Duo chip. All models now come with 4GB RAM standard, upgradable to a maximum of 8GB.
The 13 inch models now come with a custom made NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics chip, while the 15 and 17 inch models now come with a GeForce GT 330M graphics card. This is interesting - as these two models use a system that switches between discrete and integrated graphics depending on the programs running, similar to a recently announced system by NVIDIA. This helps keep the battery life high when switching to the less powerful graphics chip.
Also, the 15 inch MBP has the option to upgrade from a 1440x900 to a high resolution 1680x1050 display for $100. The option for a high resolution 'anti-glare' matte screen is still available, and the 17 inch model gets the upgraded display as standard. An anti-glare option is also available for $50.
Interestingly, hard drive options continue to 500GB, although Apple are now offering 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB SSD drives. This means that the largest storage option in the new MacBook Pro is SSD based! This is quite a milestone, and gives customers a much wider range of SSD based storage to optimise speed and life.
Recent benchmarks of the i7 processors show up to 50% better performance, a similar figure to that of the performance boost given to the update iMac line. These new MacBook Pro's are extremely fast compared to the previous generation.
Pricing (baseline models):
___ US UK
13" $1,199 ---- £999
15" $1,799 ---- £1,499
17" $2,299 ---- £1,899
Dan Latham Apr 13, 2010 at 2:05 PM
Reader Comments (3)
I wish the standard resolution display was still available in Antiglare. $150 is steep! And still no Antiglare on the 13-inch. It's not just pros that want Antiglare, most people I come across in general prefer it.
Also, I'm having a hard time understanding why the high-res display isn't standard.
I'm happy with my White Unibody Macbook, it might have lower specs but I still love it :D