8/24/2012

Inside Track On The MacBook Pro Winter 2011 Release

By Nikita Ray


Apple released the MacBook Pro as being the successor for the PowerBook G4 way back in early 2006. Ever since then it has progressed rapidly in order to meet the requirements 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 notebook computer and while the look still looks much like last year, Apple made many improvements which are more than welcome especially if you have not upgraded your MacBook Pro within the past couple of years.

The Pros

The latest MacBooks boast the incredibly fast, second generation Intel Core i processors, created under the code name Sandy Bridge. The 13-inch model received a significant processor upgrade going from the old Core 2 Duo processor to a quite speedy Intel Core i5 2620M. However, the larger designs, at 15" and 17", now run on quad-core processors, which can power even the most strenuous video and graphics editing applications easily. The memory continues to be the same at 4 GB although that can now expand to 16 GB of RAM. For anyone who is into gaming or other graphic intense programs, the AMD Radeon HD 6490M can fully suit your needs. Die hard gamers can go for a custom made configuration which includes the Radeon HD 6750M. Switchable graphics is still in so battery life for regular usage is still lengthy as it uses the integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000. With these kinds of functionality advancements, the new 2011 models practically soar in the benchmarks.

Another significant change lies in the Mini DisplayPort that is usually 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 further enhance overall performance and flexibility. Finally transfer speeds, that have improved by approximately 1200%, will stop being the bottleneck which has slowed down file transfers to high capacity storage drives. Thunderbolt contains the additional benefit of supporting a number of devices in a daisy chain while maintaining optimum performance.

The new MacBook Pros even come with a brand new type of built in webcam, the FaceTime HD camera. Apple has specified 720p as the brand new standard resolution for video phone calls using the FaceTime HD camera.

Disappointments

A single major element that hasn't been upgraded however, is the battery, meaning it will now last a shorter period of time between charges. In wireless mode it is possible to still utilize it for up to 7 hours, which is enough for most users. One more drawback for 13-inch purchasers, will be the slight drop in graphics performance due to the lack of an AMD or NVDIA counterpart to the Intel integrated graphics. Video gaming performance is a tad slower though the Intel HD 3000 graphics is far better than previous generations and it is just as efficient.

Conclusion

Apple has again taken a commanding lead in the coveted professional laptop category along with their newest line of MacBook Pros, the Winter 2011 edition. These new 2011 models are certainly ready for next generation applications and also next generation hardware should the new Thunderbolt interface takes off.




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