Apple Ships MacBook Pros Early, Faster

Apple's Valentine's Day surprise: the company will ship its MacBook Pro Intel-based notebook computers ahead of schedule and faster than advertised.

When Apple announced its forthcoming MacBook Pro line of Intel-based notebook Macintosh computers, the processor speeds of the systems ranged from 1.67 to 1.83 GHz and would be available in late February. Apple today admitted it goofed when it announced the systems: instead, MacBook Pros will begin shipping this week with faster processor speeds ranging from 1.83 to 2.0 GHz (with a 2.16 GHz build-to-order option), but with no change in price.

“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 VP 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.”

Stock configurations of the MacBook Pro systems range from $1,999 to $2.499 and feature a 15.4-inch 1440 by 900 pixel display, 512 MB to 1 GB of RAM, 80 to 100 GB hard drives, a slot-loading DVD+/-RW and CW-RW “SuperDrive,” PCI Express-based ATI Mobility Radeon graphics controller, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth and 802.11g wireless networking, an ExpressCard expansion slot, two USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 400 port, and an innovative “MagSafe” magnetic power connector which detaches in the event of a sharp pull, preventing the notebook from (say) being dragged off a table if someone stumbles over the power cable. The machines are Apple’s second Intel-powered systems in the company’s transition of the Macintosh line away from PowerPC processors: the firstto convert were the iMacs, unveiled last month at Macworld San Francisco.