Apple launches new MacBook Pro

Written by Wil Harris

January 11, 2006 | 13:27

Tags: #core-duo #imac #jobs #launch #macbook #pro #steve #yonah

Companies: #apple

Steve Jobs finally let the core duo out of the bag last night, as Apple launched its first machines with Intel processors.

Jobs was joined by Intel's CEO Paul Otellini as the pair unveiled the new iMac and the new MacBook Pro. Both are powered by Intel's Yonah chip, which is basically a dual-core Pentium M.

The iMac is exactly the same as the previous one, pretty much. It still comes in 17" and 20" models, still has the same depth, still has iSight integrated with Front Row media software.

The MacBook Pro is rather different, however. Dropping the 'Powerbook' name, Jobs said that he wanted to get the word 'Mac' into the portable line, and also lose any assocation with the PowerPC chips that power the previous G4 PowerBook line. The MacBook Pro sports a 1.83GHz Core Duo chip at the top end, as well as 1GB of RAM and an ATI X1600 graphics chip with 256MB of graphics. The new laptop is up to four times faster than the current top of the range Apple Powerbook with a 1.67GHz G4 chip (the exact laptop this writer is jealously tapping away on, as it happens). The new machine also sports an integrated iSight camera and the Front Row media software.

It was also confirmed that the machines will dual boot with Windows, with the appropriate software configuration. This should mean that users can boot into Windows to enjoy games and then reboot back into OSX for everything else.

Apple also introduced an update to its home software suite, iLife. iPhoto gets 'Photocasting' functionality, allowing for streaming broadcasts of a user's snaps. A new application, iWeb, provides for easy web page creation. Pages can be, unsurprisingly, uploaded to the .Mac web service.

The name 'MacBook Pro' rather leaves open the possibility of a vanilla 'MacBook', which we have to imagine will be a replacement for the iBook. The extra processing speed afforded by the new Intel platform looks like it could make these laptops real killers. We're going to bust a gut to get our hands on one as soon as possible. In the meantime, let us know your thoughts on the new machines over in the forums.
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