MacBook Pro

Essentials

Family: MacBook Pro

Codename: ?

Gestalt ID: 406

Minimum OS: 10.4.4

Maximum OS: 10.6.8

Introduced: January 2006

Terminated: October 2006

Processor

CPU: Intel Core Duo (T2xxx)

CPU Speed: 1.83/2.0/2.16 GHz

CPU Cores: 2

FPU: integrated

Bus Speed: 667 MHz

Data Bus Width: 32-bit

Address Bus Width: 32-bit

Level 1 Cache: 32 kB data, 32 kB instruction

Level 2 Cache: 2 MB on-processor

ROM: 1 MB ROM + 3 MB toolbox ROM loaded into RAM

RAM Type: PC2-5300 SO-DIMM

Minimum RAM Speed: 667 MHz

Onboard RAM: 0 MB

RAM slots: 2

Maximum RAM: 2 GB

Expansion Slots: 1 ExpressCard/34

Video

Screen: 15.4" active matrix TFT

GPU: ATI Mobility Radeon X1600

VRAM: 128/256 MB GDDR3

Max Resolution: 1440x900

Video Out: dual-link DVI

Camera: iSight

Storage

Hard Drive: 80/100 GB 5400 RPM (w/SMS) (120 GB 5400 rpm or 100 GB 7200 rpm BTO)

ATA Bus: Serial-ATA

Optical Drive: 24x/24x/10x/8x/4x/4x CD-RW/DVD±RW

Input/Output

USB: 2 2.0

Firewire: 1

Audio Out: stereo 24 bit mini, Optical S/PDIF

Audio In: stereo 24 bit mini, Optical S/PDIF

Speaker: stereo

Microphone: mono

Networking

Ethernet: 10/100/1000BaseT

Wi-Fi: 802.11b/g

Bluetooth: 2.0+EDR

Miscellaneous

Power: 85 Watts

Dimensions: 1.0" H x 14.1" W x 9.6" D

Weight: 5.6 lbs.

Announced in January 2006, the MacBook Pro was the first portable Mac to use Intel Processors. The name for Apple's professional portable was ostensibly changed from PowerBook because Apple felt that all Macintoshes should have "Mac" in their product names, but was probably chosen because the Mac Book Pro no longer used a PowerPC processor—Though the PowerBook name predates the use of PowerPC processors, it was used in the naming of the Power Macintosh line to differentiate it from the previous 68k Macs.

Though the MacBook Pro included a number of enhancements to the final iteration of the PowerBook G4—a thinner case, a built-in iSight camera, a remote control with Apple's Front Row home media center software, an ExpressCard/34 slot, improved wireless reception, a larger screen and the new "MagSafe" power connector designed to be less prone to damage—there were also some notable omissions. The MacBook Pro no longer included FireWire800, s-video or modem ports (a USB modem was available separately), and the slot-loading SuperDrive no longer supported dual-layer DVD+R media. Though it shipped with a Serial-ATA bus, the hard drive capacity was reduced from 120 GB to 80 or 100 GB.

The big news, however, was that the MacBook Pro included a dual-core processor, a first for an Apple portable. Though announced at 1.67 and 1.83 GHz, the MacBook Pro actually shipped with 1.83 or 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processors, with a 2.16 GHz processor available as a BTO option. The MacBook Pro shipped in two configurations: 1.83 GHz/80 GB/$1999 and 2.0 GHz/100 GB/$2499. Both configurations were speed-bumped in May 2006 to 2.0 GHz and 2.16 GHz, respectively, and were made available with a glossy screen as a BTO option. It was replaced in October 2006 by the Mac Book Pro (Late 2006).

Picture Credits:
Apple, Inc.