2/26/2015 MacBook Pro ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia MacBook Pro From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [1] The MacBook Pro (sometimes abbreviated MBP ) is a line of Macintosh MacBook Pro portable computers introduced in January 2006 by Apple Inc., and now in its third generation. Replacing the PowerBook G4, the MacBook Pro was the second model, after the iMac, to be announced in the Apple–Intel transition. It is also the high­end model of the MacBook family and is currently produced with 13­ and 15­inch screens, while a 17­inch version was also available in the past. The first generation MacBook Pro appeared externally similar to the PowerBook G4, but used the Intel Core processors instead of PowerPC G4 chips. The 15­inch model was released in January 2006, a 17­inch model in April, both of which received several updates and Core 2 Duo processors later in the year. The second model, known as the "unibody" model, has a more tapered design and a casing made from a single block of aluminum. It debuted in October 2008 as the 15­inch MacBook Pro and the 13­inch aluminum unibody MacBook. The following January brought the design to the 17­inch model, along with the built­in battery that joined the rest of the MacBook Pro line in June, including the 13­inch model which Apple absorbed into the MacBook Pro line. Subsequent updates brought upgraded Intel Core i5 and i7 processors and introduced Intel's Thunderbolt technology. A 13" MacBook Pro with Retina Display Apple released the third generation of MacBook Pro in June 2012 with a 15­inch screen. At the same time, slightly updated versions of the previous generation 13­ Developer Apple Inc. and 15­inch unibody models were announced and sold in parallel, and the 17­inch Type Laptop variant was discontinued. While dimensionally smaller than its predecessor, the Release January 10, 2006 (original release) similarly styled third generation model retained a unibody design. The most substantial differences in the third generation MacBook Pro are the fitting of a date October 14, 2008 (unibody release) significantly higher resolution Retina display, the elimination of the optical drive, June 11, 2012 (unibody with retina and replacement of hard disk drives with solid­state drives. A 13­inch third display release) generation MacBook Pro was released in October 2012. July 29, 2014 (current release) Operating OS X system Contents Predecessor PowerBook G4 Website Apple – MacBook Pro 1 1st generation (https://www.apple.com/macbook­ 1.1 Updates pro/) 1.2 Reception 1.3 Technical specifications 2 2nd generation (unibody) 2.1 Design 2.2 Updates 2.3 Reception 2.4 Technical specifications 2.5 Early and Late 2011 model GPU Issues 3 3rd generation (Retina) 3.1 Design 3.2 Reception 3.3 Technical specifications 4 Software and operating systems http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pro 1/20 2/26/2015 MacBook Pro ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 5 Timeline of the MacBook family 6 See also 7 Notes 8 References 8.1 Bibliography 9 External links 1st generation The original 15­inch MacBook Pro was announced on January 10, 2006, by Steve Jobs at the Macworld Conference & Expo.[2] The 17­inch model was unveiled on April 24, 2006.[3] The first design was largely a carryover from the PowerBook G4, but used Intel Core CPUs instead of PowerPC G4 chips.[4] The 15­inch MacBook Pro weighed the same as the 15­inch aluminum PowerBook G4, but was 0.1 inches (0.25 cm) deeper, 0.4 inches (1.0 cm) wider, and 0.1 inches (0.25 cm) thinner.[5] Other changes from the PowerBook include a built­in iSight webcam and the inclusion of MagSafe, a magnetic power connector designed to detach easily when pulled to prevent the entire laptop from being pulled off a surface. Both features were later brought over to the MacBook. In order to fit into the slimmer MacBook Pro, the optical drive was half the speed of the one in the PowerBook G4 and could not write to dual [4][6] A 1st generation 15­inch MacBook layer DVDs. Pro, displaying Mac OS X Leopard. Both the original 15­ and 17­inch model MacBook Pros come with ExpressCard/34 slots, which replace the PC Card slots found in the PowerBook G4. All pre­unibody 15­inch models have two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port,[7] while the 17­inch models have three USB 2.0 ports as well as one FireWire 400 port.[8] When first introduced, the MacBook Pro did not come with FireWire 800 or S­Video ports,[5][7] although FireWire 800 was added in the next 15­inch model revision[9] and was present in every version of the 17­inch design.[8] S­Video capability can be attained through the use of a DVI to S­Video adapter.[5] External displays with up to a 2,560 × 1,600 pixel resolution are supported through a dual­link DVI port.[10] All models include a built­in Gigabit Ethernet port, Bluetooth 2.0, and 802.11a/b/g.[7][8] Later models include support for the draft 2.0 specification of 802.11n[11] and Bluetooth 2.1. Updates Apple refreshed the entire MacBook Pro line on October 24, 2006, to include Intel Core 2 Duo processors.[9] Memory capacity was doubled for each model, to 1 GB on the low­end 15­inch and 2 GB for the high­end 15­ and 17­inch models.[9] FireWire 800 was added to the 15­inch models. Hard drive capacity was increased, although video card options stayed the same.[9] The MacBook Pro line received a second update on June 5, 2007 with new Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT video cards and faster processor options.[12][13] LED backlighting was added to the 15­inch model's screen, and its weight was reduced from 5.6 pounds (2.5 kg) to 5.4 pounds (2.4 kg).[13] Furthermore, the speed of the front­side bus was increased from 667 MHz to 800 MHz. On November 1, 2007, Apple added the option of a 2.6 GHz Santa Rosa platform Core 2 Duo CPU as well as reconfigured hard drive options.[13] On February 26, 2008, the MacBook Pro line was again updated.[14][15] LED backlighting was added as an option for the 17­inch model.[14] Processors were updated to "Penryn" cores, which are built on the 45 nanometer process (65 nanometer "Merom" cores were previously used), and hard drive and memory capacities were increased.[14] Multi­touch capabilities, first introduced with the MacBook Air earlier that year, were brought over to the MacBook Pro's trackpad.[14] At the time of the introduction of the 15­inch unibody MacBook Pro on October 14, 2008, the pre­unibody model with the same screen size was discontinued, while the 17­ inch pre­unibody model continued to be sold.[16] The original case design was discontinued First­generation 17­inch MacBook on January 6, 2009, when the 17­inch MacBook Pro was also updated with unibody Pro construction.[17] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pro 2/20 2/26/2015 MacBook Pro ­ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Reception Some reviewers applauded the MacBook Pro for its doubling or tripling the speed of the PowerBook G4 in some areas.[4] For example, the 3D rendering program Cinema 4D XL was 3.3 times as fast (2.3 times faster),[4] and its boot­up time was less than half.[5] The MacBook Pro generally outperformed the PowerBook G4 in performance analyzer utility tests, XBench and Cinebench.[5] Reviewers lauded the screen's maximum brightness, 67 percent higher than the PowerBook G4; the excellent horizontal viewing angles; the matte options; and the bright, crisp, and true colors.[6] Although the screen offered fewer vertical pixels (1,440 × 900 in the MacBook Pro instead of 1,440 × 960 in the PowerBook), one reviewer called the screen "nothing less than stellar".[5] Reviewers praised the new MagSafe power adapter,[4] although one reviewer said it disconnected too easily in some instances.[5] They also praised the backlit keyboard, large trackpad, and the virtually silent operation of the machine.[4][6] The new laptop also offered better wireless performance. One reviewer criticized the decision to underclock the ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics card by about 30 percent its original speed.[6] The notebook was also noted for running hot.[4][6] Users complained that upgrading system memory was harder than in older Apple notebooks.[5] Since the dimensions for the 15­inch MacBook Pro were tweaked slightly from the 15­inch PowerBook G4, older accessories such as notebook sleeves did not work with the new models.[5] Some users noted a slight flickering when the screen was on lower brightness settings.[5] Battery life remained about the same three­plus hours as in previous models, on par with or better than the competition.[5] Apple increased the battery capacity by 10 Wh, going from 50 in the PowerBook G4 to 60,[5] but the more powerful Core Duo CPU required more power.[5] Technical specifications Table of models Component Intel Core Duo Intel Core 2 Duo Model Early 2006[7][8][18] Late 2006[11] Mid 2007[19] Late 2007[20] Early 2008[10] Late 2008 January 10, 2006 Release November 1, February 26, October 14, (15"),[2] April 24, October 24, 2006[9] June 5, 2007[13] date(s) 2007[21] 2008[14] 2008[22] 2006 (17")[3] MA463*/A or MA464*/A; MA895*, MA895*/A, MB133*/A, Model MA609*, MA610*, MA600* or MA896*, or MA896*/A, or MB134*/A, or MB766*/A number(s) or MA611*/A MA601*; MA897* MA897*/A MB166*/A MA092*/A Model MacBookPro1,1, MacBookPro2,1, MacBookPro4,1 MacBookPro3,1 MacBookPro4,1 Identifier(s) MacBookPro1,2 MacBookPro2,2 (re­listed) 15.4", LCD, 1,440 × 900 15.4", LCD, 1,440 × 900, with LED backlighting N/A Widescreen 17", LCD, Display 1,680 × 1,050 17", LCD, 17", LCD, 1,680 × 1,050 Optional 1,920 × 1,200, (matte or 17", LCD, 1,680 × 1,050 glossy)[note 1] Optional 1,920 × 1,200 1,920 × 1,200, with