Apple MacBook Pro Updates with Intel Santa Rosa and LED Backlit screen

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Apple has today announced an update to their high-end Apple MacBook Pro notebook. The 15-inch inch version will also offer an LED backlit screen for even backlighting and lower power consumption.

Both the 15-inch and the 17-inch version will offer new versions of Intel's processor platform -- codename Santa Rosa. The Santa Rosa platform offers an 800MHz front side bus and 4MB L2 Cache in addition to faster clock speed options. The 15-inch version will offer the 2.2GHz or 2.4GHz Intel processor and the the 17-inch version will simply offer the 2.4GHz Intel processor.

The specs on the 15.4&quot; MacBook Pro are as follows:

• 15.4&quot; 1440 x 900 resolution display with LED backlighting technology
• 2.2GHz or 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processor
• Weight: 5.4lbs
• 8 x double layer-burning Super Drive
• Ports: Two USB, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, ExpressCard/34, Gigabit Ethernet
• Graphics: NVidia 8600M GT graphics (128MB or 256MB)
• Hard Drive: 160GB with 5400RPM
• Memory: 2GB, up to 4GB

The specs on the 17-inch MacBook Pro are as follows:

• 17&quot; 1680 x 1050 resolution display (not LED), 1920 x 1200 display option
• 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• Weight: 6.8lbs
• 8 x double layer-burning Super Drive
• Ports: Three USB, FireWire 400, FireWire 800, ExpressCard/34, Gigabit Ethernet
• Graphics: NVidia 8600M GT graphics 256MB
• Hard Drive: Up to 250GB
• Memory: 2GB, up to 4GB

You of course still get things such as the slot loading optical drive, 802.11n wireless and MagSafe Power Adapter. Pricing for the 15.4&quot; version of the MacBook Pro starts at $1,999.00 and is available at Apple.com now

 

Also the new 17" mac book pro has the option for a 17-inch High-Resolution Widescreen 1920x1200 Display

 

Just called the Applestore in Norway, the screen on the 15" is the same as before. NOT LED

 

Maybe they didnt read their own webpage? I dont think apple.com is wrong and it clearly says LED for the 15,4". If it was wrong then it will be a big problem for Apple, all the online sites are already reporting LED.

 

Can not give you an ansver on that one, the Norwegian page still has the info for the old model.

 

Excellent update, nothing to really complain about.

Now just waiting on the Apple Store to open here.

 

Its appeared on the Aussie mac website to, Shame its over 3 and a half thousand dollars.

 

Must... resist... temptation... to.... open wallet!

 

very impressed
the gfx card is a nice surprise too!

 

It would have all been a little nicer if Leopard had coincided with this hardware release, which I'm sure is what they were intending initially.

 

Very nice updates - 2GB as a standard is a nice surprise.

Really this again closes the price gap between the Mac Book and the other "pro" notebooks out there. Are there any other notebooks out there that sport this type of thin, under 6lbs form factor with this level of GPU?

Does anyone know if BootCamp supports the 8600M GT while running Windows?

 

Possibly, but delaying them wouldn't be a wise move either. This way they nail out new hardware, which can be in full swing and supply for the holidays and back2school, along with getting suckers like me who are going to buy now to turn around and purchase retail copies of leopard in the fall.

 

Seems that ATI was dumped on this one too...

 

Will the mac have any benefit from a directx10 card if you dont use bootcamp and vista?

 

I'm very tempted. I use my wife's Macbook all the time and while I like it, the Pro would be just right. If they tossed in a free upgrade to the new OSX I'd probably bite!

Greg.

 

Maybe more integrated GPU features in Leopard? Maybe some of the third-party compression apps out there can use the onboard GPU compression engine and keep the load off of the CPU?

I know, dreaming, but this is still good hardware.

 

The architecture is PCI-Express architecture [a.k.a. the same as a normal PC, it just has an TPM chip for the OS X thing], though there might be some trouble with the drivers at first.I see no reason why the new MBP shouldn't be able to use DX10.

 

But isnt directx a Microsoft only thing?

 

It applies to the Drivers and the GPU the story same was for DirectX 9.0C, the GPU and the drivers supported it so people could play DX9 games on their intel based Mac.So it's up to the drivers.

 

Nice update. Now lets get some benchmarks with the new GPU. Gamers will be curious to see if this will play games like BF2, HL2, Farcry, and others with XP installed under Bootcamp.

I agree that it would have been nice if Leopard came out, because that's supposed to have a better version of boot camp. My boss wants one, but he's waiting for Leopard.

 

From the benchmarks I have seen the 8600M GT isnt much faster then the last generation of cards like the x1600 in the old mac book. And considering that most people will get the $2000 version with only 128MB it will limit the differance even more. I think it will be GDDR2 also and maybe even clocked lower then a standard GT? It will be faster but the main advantige is directx10. Now with the mac book under OSX can I use directx10? Or only if I use bootcamp and Vista?
What does OSX use for graphics effects? OpenGL?

 

DirectX10 is a Windows-only thing. The Mac OS does not use DirectX for any of its graphics.

 

OS X will not support DirectX. Direct X is a proprietary standard owned by MS. OS X uses the open standard OpenGL, which by the way has been historically better supported by nVidia rather than ATI. However, DirectX should work fine in Windows under Boot Camp, and possible in that new version of Parallels that is supposed to support 3D acceleration.

As for the update, I think it is a nice move. The LED screens are nice and I like the switch to nVidia. However, they still have not added any more USB ports. Please give us more than 2!

 

I think you are talking about the GS, the GT seems to be slightly less powerful that 7900GS.

The X1600 on the last series of the Macbooks Pro's (when they decided to change the direction of their heat vents) is not underclocked.
I think the same will be correct about the 8600GT.
And it's GDDR3 not GDDR2 the GDDR2 is no longer used.

Not under OS X [my estimations were about Bootcamp].I don't think the DX10 will ever be useable on Mac's (unless you want to consider emulators)

Correct,
It's always OpenGL (and 2 newer versions of OpenGL are on the way, the latter seems to use the advantages of the Unified Architecture)

 

I want a user replaceable HD in the MBP and a 14" screen. 13.3" is too small and the 15" is too big. I may eventually change to a 14" Lenovo. Sure it can't run OSX, but I need windows for most of my work anyways. Thinkpads are pretty ugly but they are tough.

 

GDDR2 is used by Zepto and it looks like in the Compal IFL90 too. Both have the same 8600M GT. And no I was talking about the GT and not the GS. The GT with GDDR2 did not impress me, alot slower then the GDDR3 benchmarks from the Asus G1s. It was faster then the go7700 in the 512MB version but now the Macbook only has a 128MB version so I am not so sure. Have to wait for benchmarks I guess. I said that it might be clocked lower because Apple claims that the battery life improved so much. I was under the impression that the 8600M GT uses more power then the x1600 and even with the LED screen how can they achive such long battery life if they dont down clock the graphics card?

Are the new Macbooks available now? Ready to ship or is this just pro order and wait a month before they arrive?

 

Oh, I see.
Though it hasn't written GDDR2 here : (I saw the GDDR2 in XoticPC's specifications, but it might be DDR2)
http://www.nvidia.com/object/geforce_8M_techspecs.html

 

I noticed there is a 7200rpm upgrade for $150 more. Is there a noticeable improvement here, and who does it most benefit, the gamer or...? Adds another 4-6 weeks for delivery.

 

Hmm...just browsing through the Apple store and I noticed that under "Display" options you have glossy or matte screen. Selecting the glossy screeen DROPPED the base price to $1849.00!!! It doesn't say Add or Subtract from the price in the description however. I wonder if this is right or not since I would prefer the glossy screen anyway?

 

Samething happens too me in the normal store. Too bad it doesnt happen in the german educational discount section of the store

 

Mini update one: slightly faster CPU
'Mini' update two: santa rosa and LED
Mini update three: Leopard

Its great for the consumer of the now... but sucks if you were too early by a week

 

Would it be safe to assume the LED/Santa Rosa updates won't hit the Macbook until Leopard releases? I very much look forward to the battery savings both of these entail for the Macbook and its integrated graphics.

PS, selecting glossy screen does discount you in the US educational store. Base Macbook Pro for $1664

 

Nice post up from Engadget

* All 15-inch MBPs now use LED-backlit displays standard; 17-inchers still use CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent)
* Apple claims users can see a battery-life benefit of between 30 mins - 1 hour (depending on use). They did not
have stats on exact efficiencies between LED and CCFL backlit displays.
* The new LED backlight is the same brightness: 300 vs 300 nits of the previous gen's CCFL
* The viewing angle is also the same as before
* In other words, besides faster time from fully-off to full-brightness and an increase in battery life, Apple claims
users should notice absolutely no perceivable difference between last-gen displays and the new LED-backlit ones.

 

Awesome...my wife is a teacher! I knew her low pay/under appreciated position had to be good for something

If only Leopard where available now I'd take the plunge...I just don't wanna have to plunk down another $150 for Leopard when it finally comes out in a few months.

 

In regards to the GPU power I did a little more digging.

According to Notebookcheck.com, the 8600m GT that resides in the MBP should be a nice performance bump from the ATI x1600. 16pixel/16vertex shaders, about the same clock and memory speed and a 3DMark06 score of 3323 vs. the x1600's 1800.

Of course, this is paper benchmarking and the proof is in the performance.

Very tempted...

 

The GPU on the MBP is GDDR3. This is the one for the 15"; the 17" just uses the same card as on the 2.4GHz model. Read the tech specs, guys....

And $1664 for an MBP. Tempting. Hella tempting. I want one, its my brthday, my grades are good, my VAIO is dying (third motherboard replacement pending). I think I can get my parents to get this one for me

Still only one mouse button though. Which is kinda disappointing. Ick. But now its exactly the same weight as my FJ. Sadness. Why is my laptop such a piece of junk?

Free iPod nano 4GB on the education discount too. This is getting better and better.

 

Well different OS. I take it Macs accept external mice for windows emulation needs; windows programs/gaming and whatnot

 

They should. I have a Microsoft (hehe) Optical mouse plugged into my G5 tower that I am using to type this right now. The right mouse button and the scroll wheel work as you would expect, out of the box.

Also, on the previous models of MBP, the OS recognizes a two-finger click as a right mouse button (or hitting the control-key like us Mac people have had to do since OS 9)

 

The better price (for the glossy screen) doesn't show up in cart. Did anyone else notice that?

 

This is kind of minor but... I think it's a nice touch that they come with 2 GB of RAM now... for a while I had thought it was silly to get a machine this decked out and only 1 GB.

Also, I see (on apple.com) there's still a video RAM difference between the $2000 and $2500 models. I also see that they're now claiming "up to 5.5 hours batery life"... is that realistic or do they exaggerate?

 

I think its pretty unrealistic. You'll probably get 4, 4.5 hrs if you really try at it.

2GB memory is pretty nice. I remember that when they first came out, the base model had 512MB haha.

 

Just an update : The Macbook Pro has GDDR3.

 

@Vivek: I noticed it also.

Can anyone tell me if there's sales tax when purchasing from the Apple online store? It would also have been nice if I could choose the 2GB of RAM on 1 DIMM, since I have an extra 1GB lying around.

I'm so tempted, but must wait.

 

It's listed here: http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/graphics.html

It doesn't have a 54mm Expresscard slot though

What material is it made out of?

 

Aluminum ?

 

Yep, theres sales tax at the Apple store.

The MBP is made of aluminum alloy I think. Just like the PowerBook G4. This body has essentially been out since 2003; its getting pretty dated. Still as hot as ever though.

 

Hmm, why do these only have 2/3 USB ports and only 34mm Expresscard slots?

 

2 firewire ports though...one of them outdated...

 

I'm a little disappointed Apple stuck with the same chasis.

 

However, I think the backlit LED is enough to make up for deficiencies in the old build and material and lack of ports.

Ah well, I wish other laptop makers would get with the program and offer LEDs already. it's already been nearly a year since it came out right?