Apple announces new MacBook Pros with LEDs, Santa Rosa chips (Update 8)
The new MacBook Pros feature:
- Faster 2.2 and 2.4GHz processors based on Intel's new Santa Rosa chip architecture
- 4MB of Smart Cache, L2 cache that can be shared between the cores as needed
- 800MHz Front Side Bus.
- New mercury-free, power-efficient LED-backlit display
- NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with 128 or 256MB SDRAM
- A Configured To Order (CTO) option on the 17-inch model for a 1920-by-1200 pixel display.
The MacBook Pro page has been updated to include the new models and the Apple store is now listing them as well.
Specs are as follows:
- 15-inch
- 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
- 1440 x 900 resolution
- 2GB memory
- 120GB hard drive
- 8x double-layer SuperDrive
- NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with 128MB SDRAM
- Ships: 1-3 business days
- US$1,999.00
- 15-inch
- 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
- 1440 x 900 resolution
- 2GB memory
- 160GB hard drive
- 8x double-layer SuperDrive
- NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with 256MB SDRAM
- Ships: 1-3 business days
- US$2,499.00
- 17-inch
- 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
- 1680 x 1050 pixels
- 2GB memory
- 160GB hard drive
- 8x double-layer SuperDrive
- NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with 256MB SDRAM
- Ships: 1-3 business days
- US$2,799.00
Apple just posted the press release for the new MacBook Pros:
Apple today updated its MacBook Pro line of notebooks with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, memory up to 4GB, and high-speed graphics in a stunning, lightweight, aluminum enclosure that is just one-inch thin. The new MacBook Pro is available in 15-inch models with a new mercury-free, power-efficient LED-backlit display and a 17-inch model with an optional high-resolution display. All models include a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go, Apple’s MagSafe Power Adapter that safely disconnects when under strain, and built-in 802.11n wireless networking for up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g.
In my post on 10 May I outlined some of the new features of the Intel Santa Rosa processor:
The new chips promise a host of upgrades that will get mobile technologists blood pumping, including improved graphics, better wireless (with support for the draft version of 802.11n wireless networking), better battery life and a Turbo Memory feature that supplements the standard hard drive with NAND flash for faster booting.
Another interesting feature of the new Centrino Pro (the marketing name for Santa Rosa) chips is pointed out by IDG's Ben Ames:
In an appeal to corporate buyers, Intel also launched a business version of Santa Rosa called Centrino Pro, which borrows many of the automated security and IT management features from Intel's vPro business desktop platform. That will allow corporate system administrators to repair and protect employees' notebooks remotely, inspecting faulty PCs or adding software patches over wireless links.
Could "automated security and IT management features" be another Leopard trick up Steve's sleeve?
Update: it appears that only the 15-inch MBP features LED backlighting which is probably why the 15-inch model now gets longer battery life than the 17-inch despite having a smaller battery.
Apple now quotes the 15-inch MacBook Pro's 60-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery as "providing up to 6 hours of battery life" (compared to 5 hours previously) and the 17-inch MBP's 68-watt-hour battery as "providing up to 5.75 hours" (compared to 5.5) of battery life.