MacBook Pro: Difference between revisions

{{Infobox computer

| releasedate = January 10, 2006 (original release)<br />February 24, 2011 (current release)

}}

There have been two designs for the MacBook Pro, both using [[aluminum]]. The first design was largely a carry-over from the PowerBook G4 and used the [[Intel Core]] [[central processing unit]]s as opposed to the [[PowerPC G4]] chips used in the model it replaced. It was first released as a 15-inch model in January 2006, followed by a 17-inch model in April of the same year. These original models received several updates and were upgraded with [[Intel Core 2|Core 2 Duo]] processors in late 2006.

[[File:MacBook Pro situated on a wooden table.jpg|thumb|left|Discrete 15-inch MacBook Pro, displaying [[Mac OS X Leopard]].]]

Both the original 15- and 17-inch discrete model MacBook Pros come with [[ExpressCard/34]] slots, which replace the [[PC Card]] slots found in the [[PowerBook G4]]. All discrete 15-inch models have two [[USB 2.0]] ports and one [[FireWire 400]] port,<ref name="Early 2006" /> while the 17-inch models have three USB 2.0 ports as well as one FireWire 400 port.<ref name="Early 2006 17in" /> When first introduced, the MacBook Pro did not come with [[FireWire 800]] or [[S-Video]] ports,<ref name="ars early 2006" /><ref name="Early 2006" /> although FireWire 800 was added in the next 15-inch model revision<ref name="late 2006 release">{{cite web | url = http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/oct/24macbookpro.html | title = Apple MacBook Pro Notebooks Now with Intel Core 2 Duo Processors | date = October 24, 2006 | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | accessdate = April 22, 2010}}</ref> and was present in every version of the 17-inch design.<ref name="Early 2006 17in" /> S-Video capability can be attained through the use of a DVI to S-Video adapter.<ref name="ars early 2006" /> External displays with up to a [[WQXGA|2,560&nbsp;×&nbsp;1,600]] pixel resolution are supported through a dual-link [[DVI]] port.<ref name="Early 2008" /> All models include a built-in [[Gigabit Ethernet]] port, [[Bluetooth#Bluetooth v2.0 + EDR|Bluetooth 2.0]], and [[IEEE 802.11#802.11g|802.11a/b/g]].<ref name="Early 2006" /><ref name="Early 2006 17in" /> Later models include support for the draft 2.0 specification of [[IEEE 802.11#802.11n|802.11n]]<ref name="Late 2006" /> and [[Bluetooth#Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR|Bluetooth 2.1]].

Apple refreshed the entire MacBook Pro line on October 24, 2006, to include [[Intel Core 2]] Duo processors.<ref name="late 2006 release" /> Memory capacity was doubled for each model, to 1&nbsp;GB on the low-end 15-inch and 2&nbsp;GB for the high-end 15- and 17-inch models.<ref name="late 2006 release" /> [[FireWire 800]] was added to the 15-inch models. Hard drive capacity was increased, although video card options stayed the same.<ref name="late 2006 release" /> The MacBook Pro line received a second update on June 5, 2007 with new [[Nvidia]] [[Geforce]] [[Geforce 8#GeForce 8600M Series|8600M GT]] video cards and faster processor options.<ref name="mid 2007 release">{{cite web | url = http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/06/05mbp.html | title = Apple Updates MacBook Pro | date = June 5, 2007 | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | accessdate = April 23, 2010}}</ref><ref name="everymac 2007" /> [[LED]] backlighting was added to the 15-inch model's screen, and its weight was reduced from {{convert|5.6|lb|kg}} to {{convert|5.4|lb|kg}}.<ref name="everymac 2007" /> Furthermore, the speed of the [[front-side bus]] was increased from 667&nbsp;MHz to 800&nbsp;MHz. On November 1, 2007, Apple added the option of a 2.6&nbsp;GHz [[Santa Rosa platform]] Core 2 Duo CPU as well as reconfigured hard drive options.<ref name="everymac 2007" />

On February 26, 2008, the MacBook Pro line was again updated.<ref name="everymac early 2008" /><ref name="early 2008 release">{{cite web | url = http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2008/02/26mbp.html | title = Apple Introduces New MacBook and MacBook Pro Models | date = February 26, 2008 | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | accessdate = April 25, 2010}}</ref> [[LED]] backlighting was added as an option for the 17-inch model.<ref name="everymac early 2008" /> Processors were updated to "[[Penryn (microprocessor)|Penryn]]" cores, which are built on the [[45 nanometer]] process ([[65 nanometer]] "[[Merom (microprocessor)|Merom]]" cores were previously used), and hard drive and memory capacities were increased.<ref name="everymac early 2008" /> Multi-touch capabilities, first introduced with the [[MacBook Air]] earlier that year, were brought over to the MacBook Pro's [[touchpad|trackpad]].<ref name="everymac early 2008" /> At the time of the introduction of the 15-inch unibody MacBook Pro on October 14, 2008, the discrete model with the same screen size was discontinued, while the 17-inch discrete model continued to be sold.<ref name="apple dev">{{cite web | url = http://developer.apple.com/labs/pdf/Labs_Equipment_Project_X.pdf | title = Compatibility Labs Equipment List: Project X | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | accessdate = April 24, 2010}}</ref> The discrete model was discontinued on January 6, 2009, when the 17-inch MacBook Pro was also updated with unibody construction.<ref name="everymac early 2009">{{cite web | url = http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/stats/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2.66-aluminum-17-early-2009-unibody-specs.html | title = Apple MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.66 17" (Unibody) Specs | publisher = EveryMac | accessdate = April 24, 2010}}</ref>

=== Technical specifications ===

{| class="wikitable collapsible" style="width: 100%;"

|-

|January 6, 2006 (15"),<ref name="mbprelease" /> April 24, 2006 (17")<ref name="mbp17release" />

|October 24, 2006<ref name="late 2006 release" />

| November 1, 2007<ref>{{cite web | url = http://switchtoamac.com/site/macbook-macbook-pro-updates-soon-release-dates-analyzed.html | title = A note about MacBook Pro updates | publisher = Switch To A Mac | accessdate = April 26, 2010}}</ref>

|February 26, 2008<ref name="everymac early 2008">{{cite web | url = http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/stats/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2.4-15-early-2008-penryn-specs.html | title = Apple MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 15" (08) Specs | publisher = EveryMac | accessdate = April 24, 2010}}</ref>

|512&nbsp;MB (two 256&nbsp;MB) or 1&nbsp;GB (two 512&nbsp;MB)<br /><span style="color: #969696">''Expandable to 2&nbsp;GB<ref group="note" name="c">Existing memory modules may need to be replaced.</ref>''</span>

|1&nbsp;GB (two 512&nbsp;MB) or 2&nbsp;GB (two 1&nbsp;GB)<br /><span style="color: #969696">''Expandable<ref group="note" name="c" /> to 4&nbsp;GB, but only 3&nbsp;GB addressable<ref>{{cite web | last = Morgenstern | first = David | coauthors = O'Grady, Jason | date = October 30, 2006 | url = http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=321 | title = Inside the MacBook Pro’s 3 GB RAM limitation | work = [[ZDNet]] | publisher = [[CBS Interactive]] | accessdate = June 9, 2009}}</ref>''</span>

|4&nbsp;GB (two 2&nbsp;GB)<br /><span style="color: #969696">''Expandable<ref group="note" name="c" /> to 8&nbsp;GB, but only 6&nbsp;GB addressable.''</span>

|-

'''SuperDrive''': 4× DVD+R writes, '''8×''' DVD+/-R read, 4× DVD+/-RW writes, 24× CD-R, and 10× CD-RW recording<span style="color: #969696">'' (17-inch)''</span>

|'''SuperDrive''': 2.4× DVD+R DL writes, '''6×''' DVD+/-R read, 4× DVD+/-RW writes, 24× CD-R, and 10× CD-RW recording or 4× DVD+R DL writes, '''8×''' DVD+/-R read/write, 4× DVD+/-RW writes, 24× CD-R, and 10× CD-RW recording

|'''SuperDrive''': 4× DVD+R DL writes, 8× DVD+/-R read/write, '''8×''' DVD+RW writes, '''6×''' DVD-RW writes, 24× CD-R, and '''16×''' CD-RW recording

|-

|}

[[File:Apple MacBookPros 13-15-17 stacked 08-2009.jpg|thumb|A size comparison of the unibody line of MacBook Pro laptops.]]

On October 14, 2008, at a notebook-oriented event at [[Infinite Loop (street)|Apple's headquarters]], a new 15-inch MacBook Pro was announced featuring an aluminum unibody construction and tapered sides similar to those of the [[MacBook Air]].<ref name="everymac late 2008">{{cite web | url = http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/stats/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2.53-aluminum-15-late-2008-unibody-specs.html | title = Apple MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.53 15" (Unibody) Specs | publisher = EveryMac | year = 2008 | accessdate = April 24, 2010}}</ref> This method of construction has been dubbed "precision aluminum unibody enclosure" by Apple, usually shortened to "unibody".<ref name = "Apple WWDC Keynote Address">{{cite web | url = http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/wwdc09/ | title = Apple WWDC Keynote Address | format = [[QuickTime|QuickTime Movie]] | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | accessdate = June 10, 2009}}</ref> All of the MacBook Pro's ports were shifted to the left side of the case. The [[optical disc drive]] slot was moved from the front of the unit to the right side, similar to the [[MacBook]]. The video cards saw a major update; Apple decided to place two new video cards in the MacBook Pro, the [[Nvidia]] [[GeForce]] [[GeForce 9#9600M GT|9600M GT]] with either 256 or 512&nbsp;MB of dedicated memory and a GeForce [[GeForce 9#9400M G|9400M]] with 256&nbsp;MB of shared system memory.<ref name="everymac late 2008" /> The FireWire 400 port was removed but the FireWire 800 port was retained, and the [[Digital Visual Interface|DVI]] port was replaced with a [[Mini DisplayPort]] receptacle.<ref name="everymac late 2008" /> The original release unibody MacBook Pro came fitted with a user-removable battery, with a claimed five hours of charge.<ref name="everymac late 2008" /> During normal use, a battery life of just under four hours was reported.<ref name="notebook review late 2008" /> Apple has said that the battery will hold 80&nbsp;percent of its charge after 300 recharges.<ref name="battery life">{{cite web | url = http://www.apple.com/batteries/notebooks.html | title = Apple Notebooks | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | accessdate = April 21, 2010}}</ref><ref name="macworld battery life">{{cite web | last = Breen | first = Christopher | date = December 10, 2008 | url = http://www.macworld.com/article/137450/2008/12/macbookbatteryanalysis.html | title = Monitoring your MacBook's battery | work = [[MacWorld]] | publisher = [[Mac Publishing]] | accessdate = April 21, 2010}}</ref>

At the [[MacWorld Expo]] keynote on January 6, 2009, [[Phil Schiller]] announced a 17-inch MacBook Pro with unibody construction. This version diverged from its 15-inch sibling with an anti-glare "matte" screen option and a non user-removable [[lithium polymer]] battery.<ref name="17unirelease">{{cite web | url = http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/01/06mbp.html | title = Apple Introduces 17-inch MacBook Pro With Revolutionary New Built-in Battery That Delivers Eight Hours of Use & 1,000 Recharges | date = January 6, 2009 | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | accessdate = April 11, 2010}}</ref> Apple affirmed the battery's design was unlike any existing notebook battery. Instead of traditional round cells inside the casing, the lithium-ion polymer batteries are shaped and fitted into each laptop without wasting space. Adaptive charging extends battery life, which uses a chip to optimize the charge flow to reduce wear and tear.<ref name="17unirelease" /> Compared to the previous iteration, battery life for the 17" version is quoted at eight hours, with 80&nbsp;percent of this charge remaining after 1,000 charges cycles. This battery is not intended to be user-removable; doing so voids the warranty.<ref name="17unirelease" />

On April 13, 2010, the MacBook Pro saw another update.<ref name="april2010update">{{cite web | url = http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/04/13mbp.html | title = Apple Updates MacBook Pro Line | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | date = April 13, 2010 | accessdate = April 13, 2010}}</ref> [[Intel Core i5]] and [[Intel Core i7|Core i7]] [[CPU]]s were introduced in the 15- and 17-inch models, while the 13-inch retained the [[Intel Core 2|Core 2 Duo]] with a speed increase.<ref name="april2010update"/> The power brick was redesigned<ref name="computershopper2010">{{cite web | last = Rougeot | first = Jonathan | date = April 2010 | url = http://computershopper.com/laptops/reviews/apple-macbook-pro-13-inch-2010-version | title = Apple MacBook Pro (13-Inch, 2010 Version) | work = [[Computer Shopper (US magazine)|Computer Shopper]] | publisher = [[SX2 Media Labs]] | accessdate = April 17, 2010}}</ref> and a high-resolution display (of [[WSXGA+|1,680&nbsp;×&nbsp;1,050]]) was announced as an option for the 15-inch models.<ref name="laptopmag2010">{{cite web | last = Prospero | first = Michael | date = April 14, 2010 | url = http://www.laptopmag.com/review/laptops/apple-macbook-pro-15-inch-core-i7.aspx | title = Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Core i7) | publisher = Laptop Magazine | accessdate = April 17, 2010}}</ref> For [[video card]]s, the 13-inch gained an integrated [[Nvidia]] [[GeForce 300 Series|GeForce]] [[Comparison of Nvidia graphics processing units#GeForce 300 Series|320M]] [[graphics processing unit]] (GPU) with 256&nbsp;MB of shared memory, while the 15- and 17-inch models were upgraded to the [[GeForce 300 Series|GeForce]] GT [[Comparison_of_Nvidia_graphics_processing_units#GeForce_300M_.283xxM.29_series|330M]], with either 256 or 512&nbsp;MB of dedicated memory.<ref name="april2010update"/> The 15" and 17" models also have an integrated Intel GPU that is built into the Core i5 and i7 processors.<ref name="april2010update"/> The 15-inch model also gained {{convert|0.1|lb|kg}}.<ref name="laptopmag2010"/> Save for a third USB 2.0 slot, all the ports on the 17-inch MacBook Pro are the same in type and number as on the 15-inch version.<ref>{{cite web | last = Sevilla | first = Gadjo Cardenas | date = May 19, 2010 | url = http://whatsyourtech.ca/2010/05/19/new-17-inch-macbook-pro-at-the-cutting-edge-of-performance/ | title = New 17-inch MacBook Pro at the cutting edge of performance | publisher = WhatsYourTech.ca | accessdate = May 25, 2010}}</ref> All models come with 4&nbsp;GB of system memory that is upgradeable to 8&nbsp;GB across the board.<ref name="april2010update"/> Battery life was also extended further in this update, to an estimated ten hours for the 13-inch and 8–9 hours on the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros.<ref name="april2010update"/> This was achieved through greater power efficiency and adding more battery capacity.<ref name="april2010update"/> Through actual use, reviewers reported anywhere from six (in the 15-inch)<ref name="CNET 2010"/> to eight (in the 13-inch) hours of battery life.<ref name="computershopper2010"/>

=== Reception ===

When first released, reviewers praised the quality of the screen and sturdy unibody build.<ref name="notebook review late 2008">{{cite web | last = Spitalieri | first = Mike | date = November 4, 2008 | url = http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4684 | title = Apple MacBook Pro Review (Late 2008 Model) | work = NotebookReview | publisher = TechTarget | accessdate = April 24, 2010}}</ref> With the new unibody design came easier upgrading of internal components as compared to the discrete models.<ref name="notebook review late 2008" /> Reviewers lauded the improved quietness and heat management of the unibody MacBook Pro as compared to the discrete models, which tended to run hotter than its successor.<ref name="notebook review late 2008" /> The MacBook Pro's compact size for its performance range was also complimented.<ref name="notebook review late 2008" />

''Laptop Magazine''{{'}}s Michael Prospero praised the 2010 15-inch model's display, calling it "bright and crisp". He further commented, "While reflections from the glossy display weren’t overwhelming, it’s also nice to know there’s an antiglare option—though only for the higher resolution display. Still, colors were bright, blacks were deep and dark, and viewing angles were excellent both vertically and horizontally." He also lauded the quality of the [[iSight]] webcam, the responsiveness of the touchpad, the microphone and speakers, as well as the performance of the new CPUs for the 15" and the long battery life. Complaints included the price of the laptop, the low number of [[USB]] ports, and the lack of [[HDMI]].<ref name="laptopmag2010" />

Of the 2010 models, [[CNET Networks|CNET]] praised the automatic graphics switching features of the 15- and 17-inch models as well as the graphics cards themselves. Acclaim was also given to the Core i5 and i7 CPUs, the multi-touch trackpad, and the addition of audio capabilities to the [[Mini DisplayPort]] video output.<ref name="CNET 2010" /> They also called for the addition of HDMI and the [[Blu-ray]] [[optical disc]] format, saying that most other computers in the MacBook Pro's price range possessed these features.<ref name="CNET 2010" /> CNET also criticized the option of a higher resolution screen in the 15-inch model, saying "the higher-resolution screen should be included by default."<ref name="CNET 2010" />

=== Technical specifications ===

! style="background: #ffdead; width: 18%;" | Early 2009<ref name="Early 2009">{{cite web | url = http://support.apple.com/kb/SP503 | title = MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009)&nbsp;– Technical Specifications | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | accessdate = October 26, 2009}}</ref>

! style="background: #ffdead; width: 18%;" | Mid 2009<ref name="Mid 2009 13in">{{cite web | url = http://support.apple.com/kb/SP541 |title=MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009)&nbsp;– Technical Specifications | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | accessdate = October 22, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Mid 2009 15in">{{cite web | url = http://support.apple.com/kb/SP544 | title = MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009) and (15-inch, 2.53 GHz, Mid 2009)&nbsp;– Technical Specifications | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | accessdate = October 22, 2009}}</ref><ref name="Mid 2009 17in">{{cite web | url = http://support.apple.com/kb/SP546 | title = MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009)&nbsp;– Technical Specifications | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | accessdate = October 22, 2009}}</ref>

! style="background: #3d4; width: 18%;" | Early 2011

|-

2.53&nbsp;GHz (T9400) <span style="color: #969696">''(15" only)''</span>, or 2.66&nbsp;GHz (T9550) Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn with 6&nbsp;MB on-chip L2 cache <span style="color: #969696">''(15" and 17")''</span><br /><span style="color: #969696">''Optional 2.8&nbsp;GHz (T9600) (15" only), or 2.93&nbsp;GHz (T9800) (17" only) with 6&nbsp;MB on-chip L2 cache''

| 2.66&nbsp;GHz (P8800) <span style="color: #969696">''(15" only)''</span> with 3&nbsp;MB on-chip L2 cache or<br />

| 2.4&nbsp;GHz (520M) <span style="color: #969696">''(15" only)''</span> or 2.53&nbsp;GHz (540M) Intel Core i5 [[Arrandale]] with 3&nbsp;MB on-chip L3 cache <span style="color: #969696">''(15" and 17" only)''</span>, or<br /> 2.66&nbsp;GHz (620M) Intel Core i7 Arrandale with 4&nbsp;MB on-chip L3 cache <span style="color: #969696">''(15" and 17" only)''</span><br /><span style="color: #969696">''Optional 2.8&nbsp;GHz (640M) with 4&nbsp;MB on-chip L3 cache, after October 20, 2010 (15" and 17" only)''</span><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/10/20/200.upgrade.from.266ghz.chip | title = Apple adds 2.8GHz Core i7 option for 15/17-inch MacBook Pros | work = Electronista | publisher = MNM Media | date = 2010-10-20 | accessdate = 2010-10-21}}</ref>

|-

| rowspan=2| '''[[Random access memory|Memory]]'''<br>''Two slots''

| [[Nvidia]] [[GeForce]] 9400M with 256&nbsp;MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory <span style="color: #969696">''(13" and some 15" models)''</span>

| Nvidia GeForce 320M with 256&nbsp;MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory <span style="color: #969696">''(13" models only)''</span>

|-

| colspan="2" | [[Nvidia]] [[GeForce]] 9400M with 256&nbsp;MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory ''and'' [[Nvidia]] [[GeForce]] [[GeForce 9#9600M GT|9600M GT]] with 256&nbsp;MB or 512&nbsp;MB of GDDR3 SDRAM<br />''Can switch between the two (but cannot use both)''

|Nvidia GeForce 9400M with 256&nbsp;MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory ''and'' Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT with 256&nbsp;MB or 512&nbsp;MB of GDDR3 SDRAM <span style="color: #969696">''(some 15" or 17" models)''</span><br />''Can switch between the two (but cannot use both)''

|-

| '''[[Secondary storage]]'''<ref group="note" name="b" />

* '''PowerPC emulation''': As the MacBook Pro uses a different hardware platform than earlier [[PowerPC]] (PPC)-based Macintoshes, it is incapable of running PPC applications natively. It instead uses the [[Rosetta (software)|Rosetta]] emulator to seamlessly run PPC applications, though at some performance penalty. Due to the manner in which Apple chose to implement it, Rosetta is incapable of emulating some lower level PPC code, and does not support 64-bit ([[PowerPC 970|G5]] specific) PPC features.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://developer.apple.com/legacy/mac/library/documentation/MacOSX/Conceptual/universal_binary/universal_binary_intro/universal_binary_intro.html | title = Universal Binary Programming Guidelines, Second Edition | publisher = [[Apple Inc.]] | accessdate = July 4, 2007}}</ref>

{{Timeline of MacBook family models}}