Apple MacBook Pro: a first look
Published: 16 Oct 2008
Of Apple's MacBook Pro lineup, only the two 15in. models have received the complete workup. The design changes include a new 'unibody' chassis, a new buttonless multi-touch trackpad, the addition of a mini DisplayPort and the subtraction of the FireWire 400 port. Let's take a closer look at the changes under the surface.
Pricing remains the same, with £1,399 (inc. VAT) and £1,749 (inc. VAT) default configurations. The biggest change is the move away from Intel and to the Nvidia GeForce 9400M chipset and the introduction of a dual-graphics setup that lets you switch between integrated 9400M graphics and discrete GeForce 9600M GT graphics (either a 256MB or a 512MB card). The higher-end model now ships with 4GB of RAM by default, and doubling the RAM on the lower-end model costs £100. The CPUs remain largely unchanged, but now operate on a faster 1,066MHz frontside bus. The £1,749 MacBook Pro lets you upgrade to a 2.8GHz Core 2 Duo for £210; previously, the fastest chip offered was a 2.6GHz processor. Larger 320GB hard drives are now offered, including a 7,200rpm unit, as is a 128GB solid-state drive.
The 15in. MacBook Pro now comes in 2.4GHz (CPU)/2GB (RAM)/250GB (HD) and 2.53GHz/4GB/320GB configurations for £1,399 (inc. VAT; 1,190.64 ex. VAT) and £1,749 (inc. VAT; £1,488.51 ex. VAT) respectively. Both models include dual integrated/discrete graphics from Nvidia.
The 17in. model is still available at the same £1,949 (inc. VAT) price in the old all-silver chassis, and with the same 2.5GHz Core 2 Duo processor and 512MB GeForce 8600M GT graphics card. The RAM has been doubled to 4GB and the hard drive goes from 250GB to 320GB. It's strange that the new design is available in the 13in. MacBook and 15in. MacBook Pro, but not the 17in. MacBook Pro. The 17in. model gives you the choice of a glossy or matte finish on the display, while the new 15in. MacBook Pros are glossy only. This might be a problem for those whose first priority isn't watching movies on a £1,400 notebook.
Given there's less of a design difference between the MacBook and the MacBook Pro now, what will get people to make the £450 (or more) leap in price? Better graphics? Two more inches of screen space? FireWire 800? We see the new MacBooks taking up a larger piece of the Mac pie at the expense of MacBook Pro sales.
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Apple MacBook: a first look
Preview Apple's new MacBook ditches its plastic shell and Intel chipset for a solid aluminium chassis with an Nvidia chipset, and serves up a multi-touch glass trackpad, LED-backlit display and mini DisplayPort. [16 Oct 2008]
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