Thursday, February 24th 2011
Apple Intros 2011 Macbook Pro, First Taker for Intel Thunderbolt
Apple today introduced its 2011 Macbook Pro, the company's premium line portable computers. Available in 13.3-inch, 15-inch, and 17-inch sizes, the Macbook Pro binds the latest notebook hardware with the Apple Mac platform. The 2011 version makes use of Intel's second-generation Core "Sandy Bridge" processors, AMD Radeon HD 6000 series graphics, a minimum of 4 GB of DDR3 memory, and Intel's newly introduced Thunderbolt 10 Gb/s "Light Peak" interface. The new Macbook Pro also features a new Facetime HD camera that allows Facetime conversations with three times the video resolution, and a revamped glass-based multi-touch surface trackpad that gives pointing with the precision of an iPhone 4. Mac OSX "Snow Leopard" is the OS of choice.
The lineup, with available hardware configurations is split according to screen size. The 13.3-inch are the entry-level, starting at US $1,199. The base model features dual-core 2.3 GHz Core i5 with 320 GB HDD, topped by a dual-core 2.7 GHz Core i7 driven model with 500 GB HDD at $1,499. The 15-inch pair includes a quad-core 2.0 GHz Core i7 powered model with AMD Radeon HD 6490M graphics and 500 GB HDD priced at $1,799, followed by a quad-core 2.2 GHz Core i7 model with Radeon HD 6750M graphics, and 750 GB HDD at $2,199. The series is topped by a 17-inch model with quad-core 2.2 GHz Core i7 processor, Radeon HD 6750M graphics, and 750 GB HDD, priced at $2,499. They are available right away from the Apple Store.
The lineup, with available hardware configurations is split according to screen size. The 13.3-inch are the entry-level, starting at US $1,199. The base model features dual-core 2.3 GHz Core i5 with 320 GB HDD, topped by a dual-core 2.7 GHz Core i7 driven model with 500 GB HDD at $1,499. The 15-inch pair includes a quad-core 2.0 GHz Core i7 powered model with AMD Radeon HD 6490M graphics and 500 GB HDD priced at $1,799, followed by a quad-core 2.2 GHz Core i7 model with Radeon HD 6750M graphics, and 750 GB HDD at $2,199. The series is topped by a 17-inch model with quad-core 2.2 GHz Core i7 processor, Radeon HD 6750M graphics, and 750 GB HDD, priced at $2,499. They are available right away from the Apple Store.
49 Comments on Apple Intros 2011 Macbook Pro, First Taker for Intel Thunderbolt
What happened to the 8GB/16GB SSDs that were going to house the OS so load time were cut and everything launched instantly?
Such a shame, i thought that a really good idea.
Well, the Macbooks will probably be all Sandybridge so, might be better. I dunno. I guess I'm the only one not impressed by that tech, specially after seeing the performance of it. But on another Mac forum I check its like Sandybridge is the holy grail. Their fanaticism always makes me feel like hitting them over the head with a blunt object.
Also, poor Munki. His grandpappy bought him a brand new 15" MBP not even 3 days ago. Hopefully he can return it for a newer version :rolleyes: The 15" and 17" models have the Intel 3000 graphics chipset as well as an AMD 6XXX chipset. I suppose it switches to the Intel when GPU use is low, in order to save power. So that puts it at what resolution now? It's about time we see some improvements in the integrated webcams of laptops.
Course Apple's OpenGL drivers are so ancient that only true Apple fanatics would even attempt to game on one. Even then, performance and features are horrid. Thank Steve for insisting to do everything in house and merging it with OSX.
I wouldn't get all excited about GPU switching. Haven't seen a Mac yet actually do it the way its advertised. The original NV models with the 9400M and 9600M were real problematic on this. I heard the next gens fixed it some but then people still seemed to have issues. Plus the user doesn't need switching. Just throttle the main GPU and your fine. The only reason Apple is using the gimmick is to get battery life longer. Its not like Mac people can brag about their laptop having 2 GPUs...the proper response to that would be "yeah well can you SLI/Crossfire them?" "Ah ha! Can't do it can you!!"
I'm a Mac turned PC. And I agree with you Mailman...*hugs Quicksilver tower*...gotta love those days! If I gotta be trolled with you, so be it!!
Overall apple yet still highly overpriced, but their build quality and design unmatched. Which give you high quality assembly, metallic thin case, with large optic pad, high res screen, and nice specs overall. The only notebook I know that come close to them is hp envy series, which also in addition have a numpad for the 17" models.
And seriously the 6490 in the 15" comes with only 256MB ram? Are we back to 2005 standards? Even on a low level model I' expect at least 512mb ram.
Either way, the 13" is less than an inch thick. Its friggin tiny. It is in the thin and light category, where a) a sandy bridge, b) 7+ hrs of battery life with that size and weight and c) an optical drive, never mind a slot-load.
The only makers that come close are lenovo, HP, toshiba and sony, and when you match the performance of their same sized model to the macbook pro (HP envy is bigger) you're looking at the same price, more in the case of sony, and cheaper build quality.
its quite funny how obvious pc fanboys are ha! altho most of them are missing the point its not all about just spec even though apple isnt that poor speced and comparable to dell price/speed! and probably a little better but the one thing pc fanboys are missing is OS X! and everything else apple bring like, best build quality the fact that everything just works! if you have the money go mac and you wont go back :)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4THyVOyGJL4
fraudo.com/2009/03/21/browser-hacking-competition-results/
news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10444561-245.html
As for being better built I hate to break it to you but Foxcon mobos are not what you call top of the line. You do understand Apple doesn't make anything don't you? Macs last great piece of hardware was the Quicksilver. Ever since then they have been evolving into a PC. I remember them spitting the megahertz myth and then the very next year jumping to Intel. Or the fact they abandoned PowerPC users within a few years. They EOL perfectly capable hardware just so they could push the lasted service pack.......um OS. What they do well is marketing. I'm not going to turn this into an Apple bashing thread so I wont post anymore in here but I REALLY SUGGEST you stick around the forums.
They are using the same hardware as Windows now but yet they think they can still charge you 3 times as much for their product.Plus its all built in China using border line slave labor just like the rest....
At least when they were using their own hardware they could argue their point but now thats out the window.
I have issues with their DRM too but im not going there.