Apple updates MacBook Pro family with new models, including 13-inch MacBook Pro

Apple today updated the aluminum unibody MacBook Pro line to include 13-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch models featuring Apple's innovative built-in battery for up to 40 percent longer battery life. Each MacBook Pro includes an LED-backlit display with greater color intensity, the innovative glass Multi-Touch trackpad, an illuminated keyboard, an SD card or ExpressCard slot, a FireWire 800 port and state of the art NVIDIA graphics. Starting at just $1,199, the MacBook Pro line is more affordable than ever, with some models up to $300 less than the previous generation. The industry's greenest notebook lineup, every Mac notebook achieves EPEAT Gold status and meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements, setting a new standard for environmentally friendly notebook design.

"Across the line, all of our new MacBook Pro models now include Apple's innovative built-in battery for up to seven hours of battery life, while staying just as thin and light as before," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in the press release. "Starting at just $1,199, the aluminum unibody MacBook Pro is more affordable than ever and sets a new standard for environmentally friendly notebook design."

The new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models include Apple's innovative built-in notebook battery for up to seven hours of wireless productivity on a single charge without adding thickness, weight or cost. Using Adaptive Charging and advanced chemistry first introduced with the 17-inch MacBook Pro earlier this year, the built-in battery delivers up to 1,000 recharges before it reaches 80 percent of its original capacity--nearly three times the lifespan of conventional batteries. The longer battery lifespan equals fewer depleted batteries and less waste.

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro is a significant upgrade at a lower price than the original aluminum MacBook it replaces. With the same sleek and durable design popular with consumers, students and professionals, all 13-inch MacBook Pro models now include a seven hour built-in battery, an SD card slot, a FireWire 800 port, an illuminated keyboard and an improved LED-backlit display with 60 percent greater color gamut. Featuring the powerful NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive priced at $1,199, and another with a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive priced at $1,499.

The perfect balance of performance and portability, the 15-inch MacBook Pro now features a seven hour built-in battery, an SD card slot, an improved LED-backlit display with 60 percent greater color gamut and 4GB of RAM across the line at an entry price $300 less than before. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in three models: a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 250GB hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics for a new entry price of $1,699; a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 320GB hard drive, and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT graphics for $1,999; and a 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 500GB hard drive, and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT graphics for $2,299.

The 17-inch MacBook Pro, which includes an eight hour built-in battery, an ExpressCard slot, a brilliant LED-backlit display, 4GB of RAM and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT graphics, has been updated to include a faster 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a larger 500GB hard drive for $2,499, which is $300 less than before.

All MacBook Pro systems feature Apple's revolutionary aluminum unibody design and for the first time can be upgraded with up to 8GB of RAM, and up to a 500GB hard drive or up to a 256GB solid state drive. The 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models can also be upgraded to a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. All MacBook Pro systems include a next generation, industry-standard Mini DisplayPort to connect with the 24-inch Apple LED Cinema Display.

Apple today also updated the incredibly thin and light MacBook Air, making it more powerful and more affordable. Measuring just 0.16 to 0.76-inches thin and weighing just three pounds, the MacBook Air is available in two models starting with the new entry price of $1,499 for a 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 120GB hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, and a 2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 128GB solid state drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics for $1,799.

Every Mac notebook achieves EPEAT Gold status and meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements, setting a new standard for environmentally friendly notebook design. Each unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. All MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models contain no brominated flame retardants and use internal cables and components that are PVC-free. The built-in battery design results in less waste and depleted batteries can be replaced for $129 or $179, which includes installation and disposal of your old battery in an environmentally responsible manner.

Every MacBook Pro comes with Apple's innovative iLife '09 featuring iPhoto for managing photos, iMovie for making movies and GarageBand for creating and learning to play music. Every Mac also runs Leopard, the world's most advanced operating system, featuring Time Machine, an effortless way to automatically back up everything on a Mac; Spaces, an intuitive feature used to create groups of applications and instantly switch between them; Mail with easy setup and elegant, personalized stationery; and iChat, the most advanced video chat.

Pricing & Availability

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro, 17-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are now available through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Mac OS X Snow Leopard will be shipping in September 2009, and any new Mac system purchased without Snow Leopard from Apple or an Apple Authorized Reseller between June 8, 2009 and the end of the program on December 26, 2009, is eligible for the Mac OS X Snow Leopard Up-To-Date upgrade package available for a product plus shipping and handling fee of $9.95. Users must request their Up-To-Date upgrade within 90 days of purchase or by December 26, 2009, or whichever comes first. For more information please visit http://www.apple.com/macosx/uptodate.

The 2.26 GHz, 13-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,199, includes:
-- 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;
-- 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;
-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;
-- 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
-- 160GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
-- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive(R) with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
-- built-in AirPort Extreme(R) 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
-- Gigabit Ethernet port;
-- built-in iSight(R) video camera;
-- two USB 2.0 ports;
-- one FireWire 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);
-- SD card slot;
-- one audio line in/out port, supporting both optical digital and analog;
-- glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
-- built-in, 58WHr lithium polymer battery; and
-- 60 Watt MagSafe(R) Power Adapter.

The 2.53 GHz, 13-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,499, includes:
-- 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;
-- 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;
-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;
-- 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
-- 250GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
-- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
-- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
-- Gigabit Ethernet port;
-- built-in iSight video camera;
-- two USB 2.0 ports;
-- one FireWire 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);
-- SD card slot;
-- one audio line in/out port, supporting both optical digital and analog;
-- glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
-- built-in, 58WHr lithium polymer battery; and
-- 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the MacBook Pro include the ability to upgrade to 8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, a 250GB 5400 rpm, 320GB 5400 rpm or 500GB 5400 rpm hard drive, a 128GB or 256GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare(R) Protection Plan.

The 2.53 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,699, includes:
-- 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;
-- 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;
-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;
-- 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
-- 250GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
-- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
-- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
-- Gigabit Ethernet port;
-- built-in iSight video camera;
-- two USB 2.0 ports;
-- one FireWire 800 port;
-- SD card slot;
-- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
-- glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
-- built-in, 73WHr lithium polymer battery; and
-- 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.66 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,999, includes:
-- 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;
-- 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;
-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;
-- 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
-- NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics with 256MB GDDR3 video memory;
-- 320GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
-- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
-- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
-- Gigabit Ethernet port;
-- built-in iSight video camera;
-- two USB 2.0 ports;
-- one FireWire 800 port;
-- SD card slot;
-- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
-- glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
-- built-in, 73WHr lithium polymer battery; and
-- 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.8 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,299, includes:
-- 15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;
-- 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;
-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;
-- 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
-- NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3 video memory;
-- 500GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
-- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
-- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
-- Gigabit Ethernet port;
-- built-in iSight video camera;
-- two USB 2.0 ports;
-- one FireWire 800 port;
-- SD card slot;
-- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
-- glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
-- built-in, 73WHr lithium polymer battery; and
-- 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the 15-inch MacBook Pro include a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the ability to upgrade to 8GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, a 320GB 5400 rpm, 320GB 7200 rpm, 500GB 5400 rpm, or 500GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB or 256GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

The 2.8 GHz, 17-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,499, includes:
-- 17-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1920 x 1200, glossy display;
-- 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;
-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;
-- 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 8GB;
-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
-- NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3 video memory;
-- 500GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
-- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
-- built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
-- Gigabit Ethernet port;
-- built-in iSight video camera;
-- three USB 2.0 ports;
-- one FireWire 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);
-- ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;
-- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
-- glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;
-- built-in, 95WHr lithium polymer battery; and
-- 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the 17-inch MacBook Pro include a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 8GB 1066 MHz DDR 3 memory, 500GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB or 256GB solid state drive, anti-glare display for $50, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

Source: Apple Inc.

Apple refreshes MacBookPro line, adds 13" MacBook Pro, replaces all aluminum MacBooks with unibloc aluminum MacBook Pro level machines at lower prices!—some as much as $300 lower and more powerful—PING!

Mac Notebook line refresh Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

I have the late 2008 unibody MacBook, so I was a little bummed out by today’s upgrade. By putting it in the Pro line, the MB gets a better display panel, Firewire, and a speed bump. I feel like I’ve missed out.

Well, nothing to do but buy some RAM and maybe a new hard drive for this thing. Upgrading: the cure for all computer ills.

I learned a long time ago that whenever I bought something, it would be upgraded, lower priced, improved on, just afterward... usually just a day or so outside the window of opportunity to exchange it for the newer, better, cheaper, greater, spiffier model.

With Apple, I learned to appreciate that ANY Mac is a great computer that will last me for years, get faster with every OS update, and run the latest and greatest just like the new one. (Unfortunately, my G series computers can't go where my Intel series Macs can with Snow Leopard, so I guess that's the exception that proves the rule... whatever that means.)

You’re exactly right. This unibody MacBook will be a great machine, a handy device through the next presidential elections and beyond.

I just thought that Apple wouldn’t bother updating the MacBook line until Intel released their Calpella platform in Q3, and then all of these updates—FireWire, better battery, unification of the MacBook and the MB Pro line—would happen then.

I think they may be freeing up the Macbook name for a future Mac Touch Screen Tablet computer...

I’m just waiting for the next generation of SSD drives to come on the market. $400 for the smaller 128 GB version still seems a bit steep for me, even with the price cuts to the unit as a whole. I don’t know though, if it’s going to be a long wait I may just break down and buy one (a sure way provoke an upgrade).

It would be pretty odd to refer to a tablet as a MacBook, especially with the white MacBook still chugging along. I think Apple has a long-term product segmentation plan, and they’re halfway through implementing it.

I have this wacky idea of Apple shrinking the white MacBook, cutting the price in half, and calling it a netbook.

Still not sold on the non-replaceable battery. I’ve had too many times where I needed to swap charged batteries while working in inhospitable places. Cold weather kills even long-life batteries, and there is no way to put an extra battery inside your coat when it’s part of the laptop.

Iwas thinkin...with the slim form factor, how difficult would it be to make a fottprint size battery dock that could be attached to the bottom of the notebook, and dramatically increasethe battery life, without adding too much bulk to the unit? Instead of 7 hrs, what about 21 or 28 hours?

In this era of tyrannical moves by our own government there is such a thing as "concern overload." The problems are exacerbated by our own difficulty in articulating clearly to the "sheeple" and to each other, when the language is corrupted with Newspeak terms such as "liberal" meaning "opposed to liberty" while seeming to mean the opposite, "public" and "society" being used when what is actually meant is government, and on and on.
In that context discussing things like our favorite sports teams or our favorite operating system can be a welcome, even a needed, diversion. That, plus the obvious practicality that I do my FReeping on my Macintosh and am interested in the future of the computer, makes Swordmaker's Apple pings a welcome sight.
I hope that the courts will slap down the transparent efforts of clone "computer makers" to subvert the premium business model by which Apple has profited by selling good hardware whose effectiveness is multiplied by software which is bundled with the hardware which is aggressively upgraded to enhance the value proposition you perceive in the "showroom." And I hope that the merits computer hardware and operating systems will always be issues which are open to discussion, with a minimum of trolling and a maximum of good humor and toleration here on FR.

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