Apple's MacBook Pros chucked out ahead of iPad 2
5-4-3-2-1 – Thunderbolts are go
Apple parked its most diehard fans on the horns of a dilemma this afternoon, as it launched a range of new Macbook Pros, just a week before it unveils the latest iPad.
The updated 13-inch MacBook Pros are kitted out with Core i5 or Core i7 dual-core Intel chips running at up to 2.7GHz. They feature Intel HD Graphics 3000.
The 15-inch and 17-inch models come with quad core processors at up to 2.3GHz and AMD's Radeon HD graphics.
The new family is kitted out with Intel's Thunderbolt I/O technology, which features bi-directional channels running at what Apple calls "an amazing 10Gbps each". What does it take to be magical or revolutionary, we wonder?
The I/O technology will deliver PCI Express to peripherals, as well as supporting FireWire and USB devices, and Gigabit Ethernet – though you're going to need adapters for the latter, as well as for DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI or VGA displays.
Apple says the new MacBook Pro's FaceTime HD camera offers three times the resolution of its previous offering. While the top-level resolution will work when making calls between new MacBook Pros, you'll have to settle for the standard res if you're calling those saddled with other Macs, or the iPhone4.
There was no mention of what happens if you call an iPad though – surely Apple wouldn't want its richest fans to be talking to themselves one another at standard resolution?
UK prices for the new MacBook Pros start at £999, with the 15-inch priced from £1,549 and the 17 inch at £2,099. We can't give you any more information on prices for specific configurations as the Apple store is having a little rest while the new prices are marked up. ®
COMMENTS
Good
Honestly, there are too few advantages to Blu-Ray over DVD for me to want to have one in a laptop. Much higher price for very little reason.
Of course, Apple could give you the CHOICE of having a Blu-Ray or a DVD, but that would assume that Apple likes to give choices to its customers...
Still no blu-ray!
Even though Apple are listed as a contributor to the Blu-ray Disc Association.
Think I'll stick with my Sony Vaio.
Bad Apple!
Screen resolutions
The new 13 inch Macbook Pro only has a 1280x800 screen, while the 13 inch Macbook Air has 1440x900, so the supposed "Pro" machine is clearly inferior. That's funny.
Of course, the 13 inch Macbook Pro is really the same machine as the Macbook but in an aluminium case instead of plastic, or at least it will be when the Macbook gets the same Sandy Bridge update. There is usually a delay of a month or two. The 15 and 17 inch Pros are genuinely high spec machines, but the 13 is more for people who want to sit in Starbucks with a machine that looks nice while they browse the web and run office apps and relatively lightweight stuff. Nothing wrong with that, but notwithstanding the "Pro" in the name, its closer to being in the same family as the Macbook rather than the other Macbook Pros.
That said, once Apple gets some LV and ULV Sandy Bridge chips from Intel and upgrades the Macbook Air, I can't see much reason to buy the 13 inch Pro. At that point the Air will be superior in just about every way, and not much more expensive.
According to Apple
they are using more rigorous standards now in estimating run time. The new basis is explicitly drawn from video over WiFi, perhaps previously it was a combination of web surfing and video or whatever. Guess they maybe had a few complaints, anyway it will be interesting to see the maximum up times on the new models.
