Apple released the MacBook Pro as being the successor to the PowerBook G4 in early 2006. Since that time it has advanced rapidly to satisfy the demands of professionals who have to have a powerful portable computer. A few of the new changes introduced design changes but this year is the year of the Apple MacBook Pro Winter 2011 laptop computer and while the look still looks the same as last year, Apple made many refinements which are more than welcome particularly if you have not upgraded your MacBook Pro within the past several years.
Advantages
Speed has been improved greatly utilizing the new "Sandy Bridge" generation of Intel Core i processors. The 13-inch model was given a significant processor upgrade going from the old Core 2 Duo processor to a rather speedy Intel Core i5 2620M. The real breakthrough however, would be the quad core processor which will drive the 15-inch and 17-inch models, preferred among Final Cut Pro users. Although 4 GB will be the minimum memory shipped, you can receive up to 16 GB for a further cost. If you're into gaming or other graphic intense software programs, the AMD Radeon HD 6490M can fully provide what you need. Serious gamers may opt to use a customized configuration which includes the Radeon HD 6750M. With the Intel HD Graphics 3000 your computers battery will still supply extended life between charges. By upgrading the new models Apple is again leading the laptop field in all the performance benchmarks that are worth measuring.
One other considerable change lies in the Mini DisplayPort that is generally used for hooking up an Apple LED Cinema Display or other supported models. The newest MacBook Pros are using Intel's new Thunderbolt interface to be able to additionally enhance performance and flexibility. Finally transfer speeds, that have increased by approximately 1200%, will stop being the bottleneck which has slowed down file transfers to high capacity hard drives. One Thunderbolt channel can work with numerous devices should they be connected in a chain.
The new MacBook Pros also come with a new style of built in webcam, the FaceTime HD camera. This enables video telephone calls to be made with those supported devices in decent 720p quality.
Drawbacks
One major portion that hasn't been improved however, is the battery, which suggests it will now last a shorter time between charges. You needn't be too concerned though, because it still lasts a respectable seven hours with wireless turned on. The MacBook Pro 13-inch in addition will get a minor downgrade as it utilizes the Intel integrated graphics without an AMD or NVIDIA counterpart. Gaming performance is slightly slower however the Intel HD 3000 graphics is so much better than previous generations plus, it is just as efficient.
Conclusion
The Apple company has once again taken a commanding lead in the coveted professional laptop category along with their newest line of MacBook Pros, the Winter 2011 edition. New MacBook Pro customers can be assured that they'll be able to run the most demanding software applications for the near future.
The Lowdown For The MacBook Pro Winter 2011 Launch, The Details On The MacBook Pro Winter 2011 Release
