Apple Updates MacBook Air and Current Generation MacBook Pro with Latest Processors and New Graphics
Apple today updated MacBook Air with the latest Intel Core processors, faster graphics and flash storage that is clained to be up to twice as fast as the previous generation.* MacBook Air is offered at new lower prices, while the current generation 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro have also been updated with the latest Intel Core processors and discrete graphics from NVIDIA. Apple’s AirPort Express has been redesigned to include features previously available only in AirPort Extreme.
“Today we’ve updated the entire MacBook line with faster processors, graphics, memory, flash storage and USB 3 connectivity,” said Philip Schiller, Apples senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. “We’ve made the worlds best portable family even better and we think users are going to love the performance advances in both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro.”
MacBook Air
Photo Courtesy Apple
Available in 11-inch and 13-inch models, the new MacBook Air features Intel’s latest “Ivy Bridge” Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors and new integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000 claimed to be up to 60 percent faster.** MacBook Air also features flash storage Appple says is up to four times faster than traditional hard drives for instant-on performance and fast access to apps and data. More bog news is that the MacBook Air now comes with a more reasonable 4GB of faster memory, and is configurable up to 8GB, also also featuring a new FaceTime HD camera that delivers high-definition 720p
MacBook Pro
Photo Courtesy Apple
The 13-inch MacBook Pro features the Intel Core i5 or Core i7 Ivy Bridge dual-core processors up to 2.9 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6 GHz. The 15-inch MacBook Pro features Core i7 quad-core processors up to 2.7 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.7 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M discrete graphics. Both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro can be configured with a 1TB hard drive or SSDs up to 512GB that Apple says are up to twice as fast as the previous generation.
MacBook Air and MacBook Pro both now feature a high-speed Thunderbolt port and two USB 3.0 ports to easily connect to external displays and high performance peripherals. Apple says the 13-inch MacBook Air, and 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro can deliver up to 7 hours of wireless battery life, and the 11-inch MacBook Air up to 5 hours and are engineered to provide up to 1,000 recharges.***
The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro ship with OS X 10.7 Lion. Starting today, customers who purchase a Mac are eligible for a free copy of OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion when it becomes available. Mountain Lion introduces innovative features including the all new Messages app, Notification Center, system-wide Sharing, AirPlay Mirroring, Game Center and the enhanced security of Gatekeeper, plus iCloud built into the foundation of OS X.
Priced at $99, the new AirPort Express features a completely redesigned compact enclosure and new wireless and connectivity capabilities. Simultaneous dual-band 802.11n Wi-Fi allows users to easily create a network that delivers optimal performance and range. The AirPort Express also features an audio-out port to connect external powered speakers or an A/V receiver and use AirPlay to wirelessly stream from iTunes on your Mac or iOS device. A USB 2.0 port allows you to share a printer wirelessly over your network, and an additional ethernet port lets you connect to other computers and network devices. Setup is built right into OS X and iOS and can be done in just a few simple steps, and with AirPort Utility 6.0 for OS X Lion and iOS you can access a visual map of your network for viewing and reconfiguring devices.
The 11-inch MacBook Air comes with a 1.7 GHz processor, 4GB of memory and is available with 64GB of flash storage starting at $999 (US), and 128GB of flash storage starting at $1,099 (US). The 13-inch MacBook Air comes with a 1.8 GHz processor, 4GB of memory and is available with 128GB of flash storage starting at $1199 (US), and 256GB of flash storage starting at $1,499 (US). Configure-to-order options include a 2.0 GHz Intel Core i7 processor, up to 8GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 onboard memory and up to 512GB flash storage.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available with a 2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of memory and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,199 (US), and with a 2.9 GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of memory and 750GB hard drive starting at $1,499 (US).
The 15-inch MacBook Pro is available with a 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, 4GB of memory, Intel HD Graphics 4000 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,799 (US); and with a 2.6 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of memory, Intel HD Graphics 4000 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, and 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199 (US). Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core processors up to 2.7 GHz, additional hard drive capacity up to 1TB, up to 8GB of memory and solid state storage up to 512GB.
Additional technical specifications, configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at:
http://apple.com/macbookair
and:
http://www.apple.com/macbook-pro/features/13-and-15-inch/
Notes:
Testing conducted by Apple in June 2012 using preproduction MacBook Air configurations. For more information visit apple.com/macbookair/features.html.
**Testing conducted by Apple in June 2012 using preproduction MacBook Air configurations. For more information visit apple.com/macbookair/features.html.
***The Wireless Web protocol testing was conducted by Apple in June 2012 using preproduction MacBook Pro and MacBook Air configurations. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings.
For more information visit:
http://apple.com/macbook-pro/features/