Apple Refreshes MacBook Pro with Core “i” Processors, Graphics & Thunderbolt I/O Technology

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CUPERTINO, California February 24, 2011 – Apple today updated its MacBook Pro family with next generation dual-core and quad-core Intel Core “i” “Sandy Bridge” processors and HD integrated graphics, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology (aka “Light Peak”) and a new FaceTime HD camera. Apple claims the entire MacBook Pro line is up to twice as fast as the previous generation.


Photo Courtesy Apple

“The new MacBook Pro brings next generation dual and quad Core processors, high performance graphics, Thunderbolt technology and FaceTime HD to the great design loved by our pro customers,” commented Apple senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing Philip Schiller, “Thunderbolt is a revolutionary new I/O technology that delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second and can support every important I/O standard which is ideal for the new MacBook Pro.”


Photo Courtesy Apple

Faster Silicon

Starting at $1,199, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro now features Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors up to 2.7 GHz and Intel HD Graphics 3000. The powerful 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature quad-core Core i7 processors up to 2.3 GHz and along with the Intel HD Graphics 3000 IGPUs, discrete AMD Radeon HD graphics processors with up to 1GB of video memory for high performance gaming, pro video editing and graphics intensive applications.

MacBook Pro is the first computer on the market to include the groundbreaking Thunderbolt I/O technology. Developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, Thunderbolt enables expandability never before possible on a notebook computer. Featuring two bi-directional channels with transfer speeds up to an 10Gbps each far exclipsing USB 3 and FireWire 800, Thunderbolt delivers PCI Express directly to external high performance peripherals such as RAID arrays, and can support FireWire and USB consumer devices and Gigabit Ethernet networks via adapters. Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays. Freely available for implementation on systems, cables and devices, Thunderbolt technology is expected to be widely adopted as a new standard for high performance I/O.

The MacBook Pro now includes a built-in FaceTime HD camera with triple the resolution of the previous generation moedels’ camera, for crisp, widescreen video calls. With Apple’s FaceTime video calling software, the new camera allows high definition video calls between all new MacBook Pro models and supports standard resolution calls with other Intel-based Macs, iPhone 4 and the current generation iPod touch. FaceTime is included with all new MacBook Pro models and is available for other Intel-based Macs from the Mac App Store for 99 cents. The MacBook Pro lineup continues to feature the aluminum unibody enclosure used since late 2008 (early 2009 for the 17-incher), glass Multi-Touch trackpad, LED-backlit widescreen display, illuminated full-size keyboard and up to 7-hour battery.


Photo Courtesy Apple >

13” MacBook Pro

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 320GB hard drive starting at $1,199; and one with a 2.7 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,499.

13-inch: 2.3 GHz
* 2.3GHz dual-core
Intel Core i5
* 4GB 1333MHz
* 320GB 5400-rpm
* Intel HD Graphics 3000
* Built-in battery (7 hours)
* $1,199.00

13-inch: 2.7 GHz
* 2.7GHz dual-core
Intel Core i7
* 4GB 1333MHz
* 500GB 5400-rpm
* Intel HD Graphics 3000
* Built-in battery (7 hours)
* $1,499.00

15” MacBook Pro

The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.0 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6490M GPU and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,799 and one with a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M GPU and a 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199.

15-inch: 2.0 GHz
* 2.0GHz quad-core
Intel Core i7
* 4GB 1333MHz
* 500GB 5400-rpm
* Intel HD Graphics 3000
* AMD Radeon HD 6490M with 256MB GDDR5
* Built-in battery (7 hours)
* $1,799.00

15-inch: 2.2 GHz
* 2.2GHz quad-core
Intel Core i7
* 4GB 1333MHz
* 750GB 5400-rpm
* Intel HD Graphics 3000
* AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1GB GDDR5
* Built-in battery (7 hours)
* $2,199.00

17” MacBook Pro

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive and is priced at $2,499.

17-inch: 2.2 GHz
* 2.2GHz quad-core
Intel Core i7
* 4GB 1333MHz
* 750GB 5400-rpm
* Intel HD Graphics 3000
* AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1GB GDDR5
* Built-in battery (7 hours)
* $2,499.00
* financing available

Build-to-order options include faster quad-core processors up to 2.3 GHz, additional hard drive capacity up to 750GB, solid state storage up to 512GB, more memory up to 8GB DDR3, antiglare and high-resolution display options and AppleCare Protection Plan.

* Quad-core processor up to 2.3GHz, with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.4GHz5
* Memory up to 8GB
* Hard drive up to 750GB
* 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB solid-state drive

Additional technical specifications and configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at:
http:// www.apple.com/macbookpro

Apple claims that the new MacBook Pros are the industry’s greenest notebook lineup, with every Mac notebook achieving EPEAT Gold status and meeting Energy Star 5.0 requirements, setting the standard for environmentally friendly notebook design. Each unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. Mac notebooks contain no brominated flame retardants, are PVC-free and are constructed with recyclable materials. For more information visit:
http://www.epeat.net

New Features In Summary:

State-Of-The-Art Intel Processors

• The 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro now feature quad-core Intel Core i7 processors and the 13-inch models make a massive jump from Core 2 Duo to dual-core Intel Core i5 and i7 processors.

Thunderbolt: The Next Generation of I/O

• New Thunderbolt technology lets you connect high-performance peripherals and high-resolution displays to one port with data transfer rates up to 10 Gbps.

Game-Changing Graphics

• AMD Radeon graphics on the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro are up to 3x faster than those in previous models to handle everything from games to CAD to HD video projects anywhere.

FaceTime Goes HD

• Make full-screen HD video calls that are astonishingly crisp. And thanks to the new widescreen format, you can get your friends in the picture, too.

Bundled Software

Every Mac comes with Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard as well as iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD so you can do more with your photos, movies, and music.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro and 17-inch MacBook Pro are available now through the Apple Store ( http://www.apple.com ), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

For more information visit http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/features.html

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