Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
We need to mention the 17in version of the MacBook Pro. This model is listed as ‘new’ on the Apple website, alongside the two 15.4in models, but it’s only a minor update of the last-generation model. It doesn’t have the curvier aluminium casing of the new model, or the more-important twin graphics processors. It’s believed that the 17in model will be properly upgraded in a month or so, so anyone thinking of buying this version should wait to see when the full upgrade arrives.
Slim
The price of the MacBook Pro obviously means that it’s more of a niche model than the mass-market MacBook. However, the larger screen and the versatility of the twin graphics processors will certainly appeal to Apple converts in fields like design and video editing.
Interestingly, we looked at the Alienware website and configured one of its Area 51 gaming laptops with a specification similar to that of the 2.4GHz MacBook Pro, and the Alienware machine came to just over £1500, compared to £1399 for the MacBook Pro. So Apple really has put together a competitive package with the new MacBook Pro and isn’t simply relying on fancy design to justify its high prices as it has done in the past.
Two graphics cores for the price of one
In fact, the real threat to the MacBook Pro comes not from its PC rivals but from its baby brother, the recently upgraded MacBook. The improved performance of the new MacBook will make many Mac users think twice about coughing up the extra cash for the MacBook Pro. However, the MacBook Pro does still have two features that will probably seal the deal for professional users: the larger screen and the Firewire 800 port.
Verdict
The new MacBook Pro may not fly off the shelves in the same numbers as the new MacBook – or tempt many PC ‘switchers’ into the Mac fold – its twin graphics processors, larger screen and Firewire should be enough to ensure that existing MacBook Pro users will be more than happy to upgrade to this new model.
Apple MacBook Pro
COMMENTS
@ Pierre
"Now if it could switch seemlessly, it could be interesting. I must go, I just tried to think of a way to switch graphic cards without closing the applications using them and got a major headache."
It's easy in theory: clone the whole session -but with the new graphic settings- in a virtual console, then close the original session. Now you go and implement that.
Social status
That looks like a typical Mac to me. Social status accessory. Nice piece of design that can also be used as a computer. There is one major problem with this one though. That's the dual video card thing. It's so-oh-very-badly implemented. Let's see what you wrote about that...
"You don’t even need to shut the machine down to do this – although you do need to log out of your user account, and then log back in again. Alas, it's not an automatic process.
Still, logging out and in again only takes about ten seconds, but it does mean that you’ll need to shut down any open applications and save your work before switching between the two graphics processors. However, that’s a very minor inconvenience when set against the power-saving advantages of this dual graphics processor approach."
I beg your pardon? If I have to plug (or unplug) the thing, save all my stuff, close all applications, log off and log on again, shurely I could spare two more minutes for a reboot. If I can't spare two more minutes, I probably don't want to save and close everything, log off and log on either. Unless the darn thing needs 10 min to shutdown and 10 more minutes to boot up. But Leopard isn't like Vista, is it?
This feature is a major FAIL. Now if it could switch seemlessly, it could be interesting. I must go, I just tried to think of a way to switch graphic cards without closing the applications using them and got a major headache.
@Kenny Millar, Sena Gbeckor-Kove
If I understood it correctly, the dual GPU was a bit of an accident which happened because the chipset they used already includes the 9400 GPU They wanted something a little more professional for the MacBook Pro however, so they added the other. Since they now had both GPUs in the machine anyway, the design team figured they could just as well find a use for both and decided to put in the power-saving option.
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