The new Apple MacBook Pros have slipped under the radar in recent weeks but thought we’d put the spotlight on the new model’s wealth of features and intimidating pricetag.
By Leo Stiles
Timing is a funny thing. Apple has the tech world quietly working itself into frenzy over the forthcoming iPad 2 reveal and they then quietly release a new line of MacBook Pros, as if they are almost embarrassed by them.
We took a look at the new machines and Apple really shouldn’t be coy about these monsters, as they are the most feature-packed and ludicrously powerful laptops the company has ever produced.
At first glance, the new MacBooks don’t really seem all that different from their older siblings but this time around the devil is in the details and all of the goodies included in this update are under the hood.
As you’d expect, the new MacBook is a thing of beauty
First of all, every one of them is packing Intel’s lightening fast 1-series processor. These quad CPUs run rings around Intel’s previous dual core processors, which for a time, were the mainstay of prosumer laptops. The 15 and 17-inch models come with either the i5 or i7 processor depending on your power needs and the strength of your credit card, while the 13-inch model offers the same choice, albeit in a dual core form as opposed to quad core.
All this power would be for nothing if the graphics chip wasn’t up to snuff and it appears that Apple has again risen to this challenge by kitting each and every model with the latest mobile graphics chip from AMD. This chip promises silky-smooth HD video playback as well as exceptional performance for those of you that use Photoshop and Final Cut Pro as part of your work.
Gamers also benefit with the new hardware being capable of running the latest and greatest games; something that the Mac is only just getting a taste of thanks to improved support from video games publishers
Thunderbolt power
Hardware power aside, the biggest change is the inclusion of a new I/O interface called Thunderbolt. This new tech works in the same way as your typical USB connection but with a massive, massive boost in transfer speeds.
Current industry standard, USB 2.0, can manage a top transfer rate of about 430Mbps (that’s megabits per second fact fans) but Thunderbolt is capable of an almost frightening 10Gbps. We will be taking a closer look at this new tech next week but suffice to say it looks like it will revolutionise data transfer.
The last major upgrade is the inclusion of HD Face Time, a feature that has been given a bump thanks to the HD camera that is built into every model. You can also now make video calls in glorious 720p and in full widescreen.
One upgrade that might not have you jumping for joy is the price, which starts off at €1,119 for the base 13-inch model and goes off up into the stratosphere with the 17-inch model at an arse-clenchingly expensive €2,499. Don’t even start on the optional extras.
Still, if you are all about the power then these new Macs will be hard to resist and if you take the plunge you will also benefit from Apple’s future upgrade of its operating system in the summer, which should promise a whole host of extra functionality.
We know there is a recession on but if you can afford it, you’d be hard pressed to find a more desirable and capable laptop. As for the rest of us; there is always a tiger raid on the local bank
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