By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2011-03-01 18:09:28 | Word Count: 664
The moment you’ve all been waiting for! After weeks and weeks of speculation and rumors (and just in time for Steve Jobs’ 56th birthday) Apple has officially unveiled its new line of MacBook Pro computers. The new MacBook Pros run from $1,200 to $2,500 before optional upgrades. To no surprise at all these new MacBook Pros are equipped with Intel developed Thunderbolt (formerly known as Light Peak) which can transfer data at 10 gigabytes per second and a new HD camera for FaceTime offered at only $1 from the Mac App Store.
The new MacBook Pros are available in 13 inch, 15 inch and 17 inch models. Each model measures less than an inch thick weighing relatively 4.5 pounds, 5.6 pounds and 6.6 pounds. This base level 13 inch model is equipped with a 2.3 GHz Intel Core i5 dual-core processor, 320-gigabyte hard drive, four gigabytes of RAM and Intel graphics for $1,200 and can be upgraded to a 2.7 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 CPU and a 500 GB hard drive for $1,499.
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The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.0 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6490M and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,799 and another with a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199.
The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive and is priced at $2,499.
The great news for someone like myself who is still getting to know her “last generation” MacBook Pro is that these computers have undergone no complete overhaul. When initially hearing about the revealing of the new MacBook Pro I admittedly experienced a slight since of panic. Don’t tell me that I’ve been a victim of Apple, I thought. I’m expecting the change to come soon, for sure. I’m expecting to just be really getting to know my “last generation” MacBook Pro when a brand new and improved version will swoop in and make my Pro seem ancient. Now is not the time, though. This MacBook Pro doesn’t at all seem like the MacBook Pro that you break the bank for. This is much more like the MacBook Pro that is representing the calm before the storm.
New users are definitely encouraged to purchase the new MacBook Pro. If you’re just coming into the Mac family you might as well have the latest. If you are a seasoned MacBook Pro user, like me, just hold out. Trust that within the next year (two years tops) Apple will be revealing an edition of the MacBook Pro that will make the versions of yesterday look like the versions of last decade. This version revealed today is just a little teaser, I’m sure.
Listen, Apple, your new MacBook Pros are faster and maybe even a little lighter but what else do you have to show for it? Any new cool apps besides FaceTime? Anything that I simply can’t live without? No? Didn’t think so. Let’s try this upgrade again next year guys. I’ll be standing by.
