Apple Ships Intel-based Notebook

Apple, this week, will begin shipping the new 15-inch MacBook Pro notebook computer featuring the new Intel Core Duo processor which, according to the company, delivers up to four times the performance of the PowerBook G4.

All models of the new MacBook Pro will ship with faster Intel Core Duo processors than previously announced. The $2,499 model now includes a 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from the previously announced 1.83 GHz, and will begin shipping this week. The $1,999 model that now includes a 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from the previously announced 1.67 GHz, too will begin shipping next week. In addition, customers may now upgrade to a 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo processor as a build-to-order option on the Apple Online Store.


"We are incredibly excited to start shipping the MacBook Pro, a groundbreaking new notebook with dual-processor desktop performance in a thin, sleek design," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "The new MacBook Pro includes even faster Intel Core Duo processors than originally announced, up to 2.16 GHz, and we think customers are going to love them."

The first Mac notebook using Intel's new Core Duo processor, the new MacBook Pro, features a one inch thick aluminum enclosure, weighs 5.6 pounds, includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go, the Apple Remote and Front Row software for a powerful way for users to enjoy their content wherever they go and Apple's new patent-pending MagSafe magnetic power connector, designed especially for mobile users.

Every new MacBook Pro comes with Mac OS X version 10.4 "Tiger" and iLife '06, the next generation of Apple's award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications, running natively on the new Intel-based MacBook Pro for maximum performance. Mac OS X also includes an innovative software translation technology called Rosetta that, according to Apple, lets customers run most Mac OS X PowerPC applications seamlessly.

The new MacBook Pro will begin shipping this week and will be available through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The 1.83 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,999, features a 15.4-inch widescreen 1440 x 900 LCD display with 300 cd/m2 brightness; 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor; 512 MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB; 80 GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor; a slot-load SuperDrive (DVD" RW/CD-RW) optical drive; PCI Express-based ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 128 MB GDDR3 memory; DVI-out port for external display; built-in Dual Link support for driving Apple 30-inch Cinema HD Display; built-in iSight video camera; Gigabit Ethernet port; built-in AirPort Extreme WiFi wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR; ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot; two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port; one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog; scrolling TrackPad and illuminated keyboard; the infrared Apple Remote; 60 Watt hour lithium polymer battery and 85W AC power adapter with MagSafe magnetic power connector.

The 2.0 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,499 (US), includes 15.4-inch widescreen 1440 x 900 LCD display with 300 cd/m2 brightness; 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor; 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB; 100GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor; a slot-load SuperDrive (DVD" RW/CD-RW) optical drive and PCI Express-based ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 with 256MB GDDR3 memory. The other features remain the same as the 1.83 GHz MacBook Pro.

Additional build-to-order options for the 15-inch MacBook Pro now include the ability to upgrade to a 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, as well as 120 GB (5400 rpm) or 100 GB (7200 rpm) hard drive, up to 2 GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple USB Modem, and the AppleCare Protection Plan

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