MacBook Pro Index

15″ MacBook Pro (Early 2011)

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15-inch MacBook Pro

Overview

As happened last year, the new 15" and 17" MacBook Pro models have lower clock speeds than the models they replace. However, the new models have moved from dual-core CPUs to quad-core ones, which makes them a lot more powerful. As with last year's models, these CPUs support TurboBoost, which lets individual cores run beyond their rated speed, and hyperthreading, which lets the each core appear to the operating system as two cores. Base CPU speeds are 2.0 and 2.2 GHz, and there's a 2.3 GHz build-to-order option for those who demand the most power.

Apple has improved AirPort performance by building three WiFi antennas into the Early 2011 MacBook Pros, allowing three channels with 150 Mbps bandwidth for a maxmimum bandwidth of 450 Mbps.

The new models are rated at only 7 hours of battery power, down from 8-9 for last year's models, due to changes in the way Apple measures battery life. In testing, the Early 2011 models generally match or outperform the 2010 models.

These are the first Macs to use Intel HD 3000 Graphics, and for the first time it's coupled with AMD Radeon HD graphics. As before, it automatically switches between GPUs on the fly. The Intel GPU uses 384 MB of system memory, while the Radeon GPU has its own dedicated video memory (256 MB on the 2.0 GHz model, 1 GB on the 2.2 GHz one).

The hot new technology this time is Thunderbolt, a 10 Gbps data connection that uses the Mac's Mini DisplayPort. Thunderbolt is 12 times as fast as FireWire 800, over 20 times as fast as USB 2.0, and twice as fast as USB 3.0, which Apple may never adopt if Thunderbolt takes off. Thunderbolt can be used for video, hard drives, and networking, and adapters let you connect FireWire and USB devices.

The entry-level 2.0 GHz model has the same $1,799 price as the previous entry-level model, and the "better" 2.2 GHz model retails for $2,199, the same price as last year's top-end configuration.

For those who need more pixels than the standard 1440 x 900 display provides, Apple has a $100 build-to-order option for a 1680 x 1050 screen. You can get that in an antiglare finish for an additional $50. (Apple does not have an antiglare option for the standard display.)

The 15" MBP design puts all the ports (and a battery indicator) on the left side, leaving the right side for the SATA SuperDrive.

The glass trackpad is the same one found in the previous generation of MacBook Pro models. It supports 1-, 2-, 3-, and 4-finger gestures. The entire trackpad functions as the mouse button.

The new MBP uses the same keyboard as before, complete with backlighting. The black keys look sharp with the aluminum enclosure.

The new model comes in 2.0 and 2.7 GHz versions. 500 and 750 GB hard drives are standard, with 128, 256, and 512 GB solid state drive (SSD) options. 4 GB of RAM is standard, and 16 GB is the maximum.

Editor's note: The next two paragraphs are from the profile of the previous version of the MacBook Pro. At this time we do not know if they apply to the new model.

Note that the built-in display is only capable of 18-bit color, not the full 24-bit color you might expect.

Unlike early MacBooks, where every USB port could provide 500 mA of power, only one USB port provides full power - the port closer to the front.

The Apple Remote is a US$20 option.

Closed Lid Mode: All Intel 'Books support "lid closed" (or clamshell) mode, which leaves the built-in display off and dedicates all video RAM to an external display. To used closed lid mode, your 'Book must be plugged into the AC adapter and connected to an external display and a USB or Bluetooth mouse and keyboard (you might also want to consider external speakers). Power up your 'Book until the desktop appears on the external display and then close the lid. Your 'Book will go to sleep, but you can wake it by moving the mouse or using the keyboard. The built-in display will remain off, and the external monitor will become your only display. Since all video RAM is now dedicated to the external monitor, you may have more colors available at higher resolutions.

To resume use of the internal display, you need to disconnect the external display, put the computer to sleep, and then open the lid. This will wake up your 'Book and restore use of the built-in display.

Intel-based Macs use a partitioning scheme known as GPT. Only Macintel models can boot from GPT hard drives. Both PowerPC and Intel Macs can boot from APM (Apple's old partitioning scheme) hard drives, which is the format you must use to create a universal boot drive in Leopard. Power PC Macs running any version of the Mac OS prior to 10.4.2 cannot mount GPT volumes. PowerPC Macs won't let you install OS X to a USB drive or choose it as your startup volume, although there is a work around for that.

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