Apple launches unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro
updated 01:30 pm EST, Tue January 6, 2009
Unibody 17in MacBook Pro
Apple at Macworld introduced a new version of the 17-inch MacBook Pro. The new model uses the same unibody aluminum construction of the 15-inch version and is just 0.98 inches thick -- enough to make it the thinnest 17-inch notebook ever, the company boasts. It now revolves around a 17-inch, LED-backlit 1920x1200 standard display that is much more accurate than in the previous generation: it claims a 60 percent larger color gamut, a clearer 700:1 contrast ratio and wider 140-degree horizontal and 120-degree vertical viewing angles.
The extra space is also used to ramp up performance and gives the system up to a 2.93GHz Core 2 Duo as well as room for up to 8GB of DDR3 memory. Battery life has also been dramatically improved, Apple claims: the stock model now lasts for up to eight hours of wireless use on a charge and has a lifecycle of up to 1,000 charges, making it more environmentally friendly than past notebook batteries. The feat is accomplished through a new intelligent system that adjusts the current to each battery cell on the fly to maximize the charge.
Expansion ports include a single FireWire 800 port, three USB ports, Ethernet, ExpressCard/34 and a Mini DisplayPort connector.
A single stock configuration at $2,799 is available and comes with a 2.66GHz Core 2 Duo, 4GB of memory, 320GB of hard drive space and a 512MB GeForce 9600M GT for video. Users can custom-order the system to swap the hard disk for a new 256GB solid-state drive and to pick a new, $50 anti-glare display option for professionals who need to stress absolute accuracy. The system should be available today from the online Apple Store.
It's the Battery
01/06, 01:34pm reply
The battery the battery. We can power a GEO car with this thing. If is worth Billions and Billions.
starwarrior
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Mar 2006
Well
01/06, 01:37pm reply
I think the one thing they could've done better at the expo is talk about the battery some more. They just didn't spend enough time on that...
testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2001
If it's for real
01/06, 01:42pm reply
That magical 8 hour battery life is AWESOME. Wish they would set that as a standard minimum battery life on all of their laptop designs.
Now, I wonder how they calculate that? Is it doing processor intensive activities, or just having the machine sit idle.?
bjojade
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jun 2007
Where
01/06, 01:46pm (1 reply) reply
Where are the effing desktop Macs?
Monstermind
Junior Member
Joined: May 2000
My Macbook Pro...
01/06, 01:47pm (2 replies) reply
If my Macbook Pro had a non-removable battery I'd have been pretty unimpressed, the way the thing swelled up and popped out of its case... that would have totally destroyed my laptop if it had been sealed in.
I smell class action lawsuit in a year or two...
resuna
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jan 2005
Kinda Lame
01/06, 01:54pm reply
Well, I was hoping for more. I was sure the iMac would have been updated and the mac-mini rumors seemed pretty solid. I wondering if Apple is just holding these for a little bit longer, ie intro it later this week as a kind of this-is-how-we-are-going-to-do-it kinda thing. But the iMac, seriously, it just had a superficial update last summer (and I waited forever for it so I got it) so I figured a major updated iMac was due today. I guess we'll see.
slider
Mac Elite
Joined: Oct 1999
Y A W N !!!!
01/06, 01:55pm (1 reply) reply
Phil spends an HOUR talking about iLife to fill in the time since there was really NOTHING groundbreaking to report. New 17" MBP? Big deal, that was a no-brainer.
NO new iMacs, NO NEW Mac Mini (that is a complete insult), no new displays.
Yet ANOTHER u n d e r w h e l m i n g MacWorld. Instead of going out with a BANG for their last MacWorld, they go out with a WHIMPER.
At least it was funny to see the MacRumors liveblog get HACKED by Windows folks. That was the ONLY highlight of the keynote.
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
very green
01/06, 01:56pm reply
another advantage to having a non removable battery is its not on the consumer to responsibly dispose of the battery. I hope they expand the battery idea across the macbook line. i do still want to service my own ram and hard drive though.
Haroscarfel
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2007
Good Show
01/06, 02:00pm reply
Now after the most boring MacWorld expo ever the Apple stock is falling again. :( and continuing to fall more
Guest
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 1999
RAM & power...
01/06, 02:01pm reply
8G is very welcome - so what happened to the liquid cooled quad core 18.4" beauty... :-)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938105-10129566-1.html
http://www.engadget.com/2008/09/22/dell-teases-with-17-inch-quad-core-laptop-with-16gb-of-memory/
http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/149697/lenovoaddsquadcorelaptoptothinkpad_line.html
bobolicious
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Joined: Aug 2002