Apple's MacBook Pros Catch Up with Core i7 CPUs

New MacBook Pros get refreshed with Nehalem and new Nvidia GPUs.

After most of the entire PC industry already moved to Intel's new 32nm Nehalem-based CPUs, Apple today caught up by refreshing its line of MacBook Pros – but only in the 15- and 17-inch categories, as the 13-inch model still uses Core 2 Duo processors.

The 13-inch does have a leg up on its bigger brothers by boasting an amazing 10-hour battery life, though the 15- and 17-inchers fly by with respectable eight to nine hour ratings with their Core i5 and Core i7 CPUs. Batteries, like the previous generation MacBooks are sealed inside the casing and not hot-swappable. Sadly, still no Blu-ray Disc support.

The GPUs have also been updated, with the 13-inch running the Nvidia GeForce 320M as its only option for up to 80 percent faster graphics over the outgoing GeForce 9400M. The new 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature Intel Core i5 and i7 processors and Apple-designed technology that switches between the GeForce GT 330M and on-chip Intel HD Graphics (Nvidia says Apple isn't using Optimus).

"The new MacBook Pro is as advanced on the inside as it is stunning on the outside," said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "With faster processors, amazing graphics and up to three more hours of battery life, the new MacBook Pro delivers both performance and efficiency."

_{The 2.4 GHz, 13-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,199 (US), includes:}

    _{* 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;}

    _{* 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;}

    _{* 1066 MHz front-side bus;}

    _{* 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;}

    _{* NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics;}

    _{* 250GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;}

    _{* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive® with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;}

    _{* Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI and HDMI adapters sold separately);}

    _{* AirPort Extreme® 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;}

    _{* Gigabit Ethernet port;}

    _{* iSight® video camera;}

    _{* two USB 2.0 ports;}

    _{* one FireWire® 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);}

    _{* SD card slot;}

    _{* combined headphone/line in (analog/digital);}

    _{* glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;}

    _{* built-in, 63.5WHr lithium polymer battery; and}

    _{* 60 Watt MagSafe® Power Adapter.}

 

_{The 2.66 GHz, 13-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:}

    _{* 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;}

    _{* 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;}

    _{* 1066 MHz front-side bus;}

    _{* 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;}

    _{* NVIDIA GeForce 320M integrated graphics;}

    _{* 320GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;}

    _{* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;}

    _{* Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI and HDMI adapters sold separately);}

    _{* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;}

    _{* Gigabit Ethernet port;}

    _{* iSight video camera;}

    _{* two USB 2.0 ports;}

    _{* one FireWire 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);}

    _{* SD card slot;}

    _{* combined headphone/line in (analog/digital);}

    _{* glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;}

    _{* built-in, 63.5WHr lithium polymer battery; and}

    _{* 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.}

_{Build-to-order options for the 13-inch MacBook Pro include the ability to upgrade to 8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, a 320GB 5400 rpm or a 500GB 5400 rpm hard drive, a 128GB, 256GB or 512GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare® Protection Plan.}

_{The 2.4 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,799 (US), includes:}

    _{* 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;}

    _{* 2.4 GHz Intel Core i5 with 3MB shared L3 cache;}

    _{* 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;}

    _{* integrated Intel HD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 256MB of VRAM;}

    _{* 320GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;}

    _{* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;}

    _{* Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI and HDMI adapters sold separately);}

    _{* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;}

    _{* Gigabit Ethernet port;}

    _{* iSight video camera;}

    _{* two USB 2.0 ports;}

    _{* one FireWire 800 port;}

    _{* SD card slot;}

    _{* audio line in (analog/digital);}

    _{* audio line out/headphone (analog/digital);}

    _{* glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;}

    _{* built-in, 77.5WHr lithium polymer battery; and}

    _{* 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.}

 

_{The 2.53 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:}

    _{* 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;}

    _{* 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5 with 3MB shared L3 cache;}

    _{* 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;}

    _{* integrated Intel HD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 256MB of VRAM;}

    _{* 500GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;}

    _{* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;}

    _{* Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI and HDMI adapters sold separately);}

    _{* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;}

    _{* Gigabit Ethernet port;}

    _{* iSight video camera;}

    _{* two USB 2.0 ports;}

    _{* one FireWire 800 port;}

    _{* SD card slot;}

    _{* audio line in (analog/digital);}

    _{* audio line out/headphone (analog/digital);}

    _{* glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;}

    _{* built-in, 77.5WHr lithium polymer battery; and}

    _{* 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.}

 

_{The 2.66 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,199 (US), includes:}

    _{* 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;}

    _{* 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7 with 4MB shared L3 cache;}

    _{* 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;}

    _{* integrated Intel HD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 512MB of VRAM;}

    _{* 500GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;}

    _{* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;}

    _{* Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI and HDMI adapters sold separately);}

    _{* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;}

    _{* Gigabit Ethernet port;}

    _{* iSight video camera;}

    _{* two USB 2.0 ports;}

    _{* one FireWire 800 port;}

    _{* SD card slot;}

    _{* audio line in (analog/digital);}

    _{* audio line out/headphone (analog/digital);}

    _{* glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;}

    _{* built-in, 77.5WHr lithium polymer battery; and}

    _{* 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.}

 

_{Build-to-order options for the 15-inch MacBook Pro include the ability to upgrade to 8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, a high resolution 15-inch 1680 x 1050 display in glossy and antiglare, a 500GB 5400 rpm or 500GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB, 256GB or 512GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.}

 

_{The 2.53 GHz, 17-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,299 (US), includes:}

    _{* 17-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1920 x 1200, glossy display;}

    _{* 2.53 GHz Intel Core i5 with 3MB shared L3 cache;}

    _{* 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;}

    _{* integrated Intel HD Graphics + NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M discrete graphics with 512MB of VRAM;}

    _{* 500GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;}

    _{* a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;}

    _{* Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI and HDMI adapters sold separately);}

    _{* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;}

    _{* Gigabit Ethernet port;}

    _{* iSight video camera;}

    _{* three USB 2.0 ports;}

    _{* one FireWire 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);}

    _{* ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;}

    _{* audio line in (analog/digital);}

    _{* audio line out/headphone (analog/digital);}

    _{* glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;}

    _{* built-in, 95WHr lithium polymer battery; and}

    _{* 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.}

_{Build-to-order options for the 17-inch MacBook Pro include a 2.66 GHz Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 memory, a 500GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB, 256GB or 512GB solid state drive, antiglare display, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.}