17" MacBook Pro (Core Duo)
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In an unusual Monday product announcement (Apple usually reveals new products on Tuesday), Apple introduced the 17" MacBook Pro (MBP) with a 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo CPU. It's the first MacBook to support FireWire 800, and it also has a dual-layer SuperDrive (vs. single-layer in the 15" MacBook Pro).
The 17" MBP looks a lot like the old 17" PowerBook G4, and its 1680 x 1050 display matches its predecessor's. It is a bit deeper (10.4" vs. 10.2") than the 17" PowerBook G4.
There are two visual clues that this 'Book is different. There's a black square above the display - that's the iSight webcam. And there's a round spot on the front, a receiver that works with Apple's remote control, which works with Apple's Front Row software.
The 17" MacBook Pro uses the same MagSafe power connector as the 15" model. It's designed to detach itself when someone trips over the cord - preventing your 'Book from crashing to the floor.
This model includes built-in dual-DVI support for Apple's 30" Cinema Display, ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics, and an ExpressCard/34 slot (replacing the older PC Card). It has 3 USB 2.0 ports, one more than the 15" MBP offers.
Note that the built-in display is only capable of 18-bit color, not the full 24-bit color you might expect.
Intel-based Macs us a new partitioning scheme known as GPT. Macintel models can only boot from GPT hard drives; APM (Apple's old partitioning scheme) hard drives cannot be used to boot them. Further, Power PC Macs running any version of the Mac OS prior to 10.4.2 cannot mount GPT volumes.
On the plus side, Macintel models are the only Macs that can boot OS X from a USB hard drive. That should make a lot of Mac users happy, although it may be the beginning of the end for external drives with dual FireWire 400/USB 2.0 support.
The MacBook Pro ships with Mac OS X 10.4.6. It also includes iLife '06.
Battery life is comparable to the 17" PowerBook G4.
Details
- introduced 2006.04.24 at US$2,799, glossy finish screen a CTO option beginning 2006.05.15.
- replace 2006.10.24 by Core2 model.
- requires Mac OS X 10.4.6 or later
- CPU: 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo (Yonah), soldered in place, no upgrade options
- bus: 667 MHz
- performance:
- Geekbench 2 (Leopard): 2588
- Geekbench 2 (Tiger): 2645
- RAM: 1 GB, expandable to 2 GB using PC2-5300 DDR2 RAM
- Level 2 cache: 2 MB shared cache on CPU
- Video: ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 on PCI Express with dual-link DVI support
- VRAM: 256 MB
- Video out: DVI connector (VGA supported with included adapter; S-video and composite video supported with optional adapters)
- display: 17" (43 cm) 18-bit 1680 x 1050 color active matrix
- supports 1280 x 800, 1152 x 720, 1024 x 768, 1024 x 640, 800 x 600, 720 x 480, and 640 x 480 pixels at 5:4 aspect ratio; 1024 x 768, 800 x 600, and 640 x 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 720 x 480 at 3:2 aspect ratio
- allows mirroring to external display or extended desktop mode
- hard drive: 120 GB 5400 rpm Serial ATA; optional 100 GB 7200 rpm drive
- optical drive: 8x dual-layer SuperDrive writes DVD+R at up to 8x, DVD±RW reads DVDs at 4x, double-layer DVD+R at 2.4x), writes CD-R at 24x, writes CD-RW at 16x, reads DVDs at 8x (single-layer) or 6x (double-layer) and CDs at 24x
- floppy drive: external USB only
- expansions bays: none
- USB: 3 USB 2.0 ports
- FireWire: 1 FW400 port, 1 FW800 port
- IR port: one
- ethernet: 10/100/gigabit
- modem: optional v.92 56k external USB modem
- WiFi: 802.11g AirPort Extreme built in
- Bluetooth: BT 2.0 built in
- ExpressCard/34: 1 slot
- size: 10.4 x 15.4 x 1.0" (265 x 392 x 25.9 mm)
- weight: 6.8 pounds (3.1 kg)
- Part no.: MA092
Online Resources
- Best online 17" MacBook Pro deals, updated biweekly.
- Best Mac OS X 10.4 'Tiger' deals. Best online prices for Mac OS X 10.4.
- Best Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' deals. Best online prices for Mac OS X 10.5.
- Firmware 1.5 screen blanking, air travel notebook stand, battery calibration, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.04.25. Also aluminum MacBook rumored, PowerBook converted to desktop, Apple IIgs converted to notebook, new battery tech may end explosions, bargain 'Books from $150 to $2,699, and more.
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- Millions vs. thousands of colors: What's the difference?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2008.04.07. Once again Apple is being sued over a Mac that can display 'only' 262,144 colors per pixel, not the millions it claims. Does it realy matter?
- MacBook Air tossed out with newspapers, Penryn MacBook and MBP reviews, MacBook Periscope, and more, The 'Book Review, 2008.03.14. Also Intel shows 160 GB SSD, Microsoft losing ground, fix for MacBook Air overheating, mini surge protector with USB power, multiple monitors with MBP, bargain 'Books from $260 to $2,699, and more.
- Maximum MacBook RAM, booting PowerPC Macs from USB, Eudora 8 'different', and more, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2008.03.12. Also possibly replacing a 1.33 GHz PowerBook with an Intel-based 'Book and recent iPod incompatibility with Panther.
- Restore stability to a troubled Mac with a clean system install, Keith Winston, Linux to Mac, 2008.01.15. If your Mac is misbehaving, the best fix just might be a fresh reinstallation of Mac OS X - don't forget to backup first.
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- MacBook nano rumored, laptop sales strong for holidays, MacBook Software Update 1.1, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.12.21. Ultralight MacBook expected at Macworld Expo, Software Update for MacBook and MacBook Pro, Sonnet's ExpressCard/34 memory card reader, and bargain 'Books from $140 to $2,599.
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- FastMac 8x SuperDrive and BurnAgain DVD: Fast and easy multisession disc burning, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2007.10.08. FastMac's 8x SuperDrive upgrade is remarkably fast compared with older PowerBook burners, and BurnAgain DVD makes it easy to append files to a previously burned CD or DVD.
- Region free DVD viewing on Macs and Windows PCs, Andrew J Fishkin, Best Tools for the Job, 2007.09.07. There are three ways to get around region restrictions on your computer's DVD player: software, hardware, and extraction.
- Apple #3 in laptops, 5 802.11 options below $100, Dell's color laptops not available, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.08.31. Also rendering of a possible MacBook Lite, Sonnet delivers FireWire/USB 2.0 and 21-in-1 memory card reader for ExpressCard/34, bargain 'Books from $130 to $2,599, and more.
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- iPhone launch a religious event, Apple's 13% market share, noise in OS X 10.4.10, and more, Mac News Review, 2007.06.29. Also Apple's 500 MB drive shortage, Seagate's first 1 TB drive, a memory optimizer for OS X, MigliaTV software, and more.
- Run over MacBook Pro keeps working, overwhelmingly positive 'Santa Rosa' MacBook reviews, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.06.15. Lots of MacBook Pro reviews and benchmarks, a digital tuner for the MBP, NewerTech's battery charger and conditioner, new cases from Brenthaven and Tom Bihn, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,299, and more.
- MacBook sales up 94%, MacBook Pro update expected at WWDC, new notebooks from Intel and Palm, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.06.01. Also upgrading the MacBook Pro's hard drive, Axiotron Modbook to begin shipping, manual fan control for G4 PowerBooks, bargain 'Books from $170 to $2,299, and more.
- Apple sued: Can 262,144 colors be considered 'millions'?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.05.16. A new class action lawsuit claims Apple is deceiving buyers when it claims to display "millions of colors" on its notebook computers. What's really going on here?
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- QuickTime vulnerability impacts Macs, Intel's handheld PC, Sony on overheating batteries, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.04.27. Also MacBook Pro battery swelling, a periscope for the MacBook, guide to upgrading MacBook Pro hard drive, bargain 'Books from $170 to $1,399, and more.
- 1 core, 2 cores, 4 cores, 8: How much difference does it make?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2007.04.10. Geekbench scores make it possible to compare the newest 3 GHz 8-core Mac Pro with the 1.5 GHz Core Solo Mac mini - and all the models in between.
- Apple among best travel notebooks, first 300 GB laptop drive, 17" MacBook Pro concerns, and more, The 'Book Review, 2007.03.23. Also getting the best battery life on long flights, cleaning the MagSafe connector, first 3 GB upgrade for MacBooks, bargain 'Books from $180 to $2,299, and more.
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- 11 ways to optimize your Mac's performance, Ed Eubanks Jr, The Efficient Mac User, 2007.03.12. If your Mac is getting sluggish, here are 11 tips that can help restore its original performance.
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- Better laptop performance: What's the best upgrade?, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.10.09. Memory, CPU, bus speed, and hard drives all impact performance and battery life. Which upgrades will give you the most up time in the field?
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- Power strategies for using your 'Book in the field: Batteries and AC adapters, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.06.05. One or two extra batteries and at least one spare AC adapter can be essential when you're traveling and need to get hours and hours of use from your 'Book.
- Matte vs. glossy screens, Charles Moore, Miscellaneous Ramblings, 2006.06.05. Also how DiskWarrior can save the day even when it 'fails', thoughts on keyboards for those with neuropathy in their hands, Norton SystemWorks for Mac, and more on OS X browsers.
- MacBook a sign of things to come to MacBook Pro line, Jake Goodridge, Fresh Picked Apples, 2006.05.26. The MacBook isn't just an incredible value compared to the MacBook Pro, it also introduces some features sure to migrate to the pro line.
- What's the best 'Book for my needs: MacBook, MacBook Pro, iBook, or PowerBook?, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.05.25. You need to balance size, weight, price, power, and processor to find just the right 'Book for your own needs.
- Picking the right laptop in 2006, Andrew J Fishkin, The Mobile Mac, 2006.05.23. You need to balance size, weight, price, power, and battery life to find just the right notebook computer for your own needs.
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- The 17" MacBook Pro value equation, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.04.25. Apple's newest MacBook Pro runs at 2.16 GHz and has a larger screen than the equally costly 15" MacBook Pro.
- Apple's original Boot Camp installation instructions, Jeff Adkins, The Lite Side, 2006.04.11. "Was it just me, or did anyone else catch those little jabs at Windows on the Boot Camp installation page? 'If your computer becomes infected, well, what did you expect?' and so on."
- Apple joins 'Win on Mac' army with Boot Camp, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2006.04.07. The hackers did it first, but Apple's Boot Camp is a much more elegant solution to putting Windows XP on Macintel hardware.
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- MagSafe up in flames, MacBook love, turn iBook into desktop, USB 2.0 faster on Macintel, and more, The 'Book Review, 2006.03.24. Lots of positive MacBook press, Apple sells 36,000 iBooks to Maine, DayStar's 1.92 GHz PowerBook G4 upgrade, 32 GB flash drive for 'books, bargain 'Books from $230 to $1,999, and more.
- Computer benchmarks and other baloney: Don't expect 2-4x performance from Intel Macs, Alan Zisman, Mac2Windows, 2006.02.06. The Intel Macs are faster than the models they replace, but only with software written for them. With older software, they're actually slower than last year's Macs.
- Booting an Intel iMac from an external drive, Jonathan Rentzsch, TidBITS, 2006.01.30. Intel Macs use a different partitioning scheme (GPT) than older Macs (APM), so you can't simply update an existing drive - your must repartition it with GPT.
- Comparing Apples to Apples: When is Macintel faster? When does PowerPC make more sense?, Dan Knight, Mac Musings, 2006.01.29. Benchmarks show the Intel Core Duo flies through native code but plods through PowerPC programs. Will PowerPC or Intel give you the more productive workflow?
- Macintel stumbling block: Sometimes you need Classic, Jeff Adkins, Mac Lab Report, 2006.01.25. As nice as the new Intel Macs seem to be, the lack of any Classic environment makes it impossible for some people to upgrade.
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