27.8.12

Inside Track On The MacBook Pro Winter 2011 Release

By Nikita Ray


In 2006 Apple swapped out the particular Powerbook G4 with the MacBook Pro. Made for professionals on the run, Apple continued to refine their family of high-performance notebook computers every year. Several of the new updates introduced design changes but this year is the year of the Apple MacBook Pro Winter 2011 notebook computer and while the style still looks much like last year, Apple made many refinements which are more than welcome particularly if you have not upgraded your MacBook Pro for the past several years.

What's Good About Them

The newest MacBooks boast the incredibly fast, second generation Intel Core i processors, produced under the code name Sandy Bridge. The 13-inch model obtained a substantial processor upgrade going from the old Core 2 Duo processor to a quite quick Intel Core i5 2620M. The real breakthrough however, would be the quad core processor which will drive the 15-inch and 17-inch models, popular among Final Cut Pro users. 4 GB continues to be the starting memory, yet 12 additional GBs can be added. Graphics is easily the most demanding use of these systems, and the AMD Radeon HD 6490M allows them to set new speed records. Serious gamers may opt to use a customized configuration that includes the Radeon HD 6750M. Switchable graphics remains in so life of the battery for typical usage is still lengthy as it uses the integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000. The brand new MacBook Pros essentially scream in just about every speed test.

The other significant change lies in the Mini DisplayPort which is generally used for hooking up an Apple LED Cinema Display or any other supported models. The most recent MacBook Pros are using Intel's new Thunderbolt interface to further enhance overall performance and flexibility. Finally transfer speeds, which have been enhanced by approximately 1200%, will stop being the bottleneck which has slowed down file transfers to high capacity hard drives. A single Thunderbolt channel can work with numerous devices should they be connected in a chain.

The next primary improvement is the built-in webcam which is no longer referred to as iSight camera but the FaceTime HD camera which shares its title with the iPhone 4 and iPad 2 cameras. At present video speaking can be achieved in 720p resolution between all Apple's latest devices.

Disappointments

A single major component that hasn't been improved however, is the battery, which means it's going to now last less time between charges. You shouldn't be too concerned though, because it still lasts a reputable seven hours with wireless turned on. The brand new 13-inch model MacBook Pro relies on the integrated graphics of the Intel processor, which in turn results in a small decline in speed. Nevertheless, the Intel graphics is way better as compared to previous versions, with only avid gamers likely to see the minimal decrease in speed.

Summary

Apple has once more taken a commanding lead within the coveted professional notebook category together with their newest line of MacBook Pros, the Winter 2011 edition. These brand new 2011 products are certainly ready for next generation applications in addition to next generation hardware should the new Thunderbolt interface takes off.




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