Apple unveils new Macbook Pro lineup with new high-speed Thunderbolt port

February 24, 2011 By Aemon Malone

Apple has revamped its Macbook Pro lineup, adding new chips and Thunderbolt I/O, which is said to be 12 times faster than Firewire.

As expected, Apple today updated its 13-, 15- and 17-inch Macbook Pro models with dual-core and quad core processors, making the new lineup up to twice as fast as the previous generation.

Perhaps the most important change is the debut of the Thunderbolt I/O standard. With two bi-direction channels — both capable of speeds of 10GBS — Apple claims that Thunderbolt is more than 12 times faster than FireWire and 20 times faster than USB 2.0. Thunderbolt also offers native support for Mini DisplayPort and support by way of adapters for DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, and VGA displays. Thunderbolt is also compatible with FireWire and USB devices.

Apple has also included a built-in FaceTime camera in all of the new models to support the video calling service that was introduced last year with the iPhone 4. FaceTime is included in the new generation of Macbook Pros. Users of other Intel-based Macs can now purchase the program through the App Store for $0.99.

The 13-inch Macbook Pro features Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors up to 2.7 GHz and Intel HD Graphics 3000 with 384MB of DDR3 SDRAM. The 15- and 17-inch models feature quad-core Core i7 processors up to 2.3 GHz and AMD Radeon HD graphics processors with up to 1GB of video memory.

Don’t look for a complete re-design in the new lineup: the aluminum unibody and its associated components appear to remain unchanged from the previous generation.

The 13-inch Macbook Pro starts at $1,199, the 15-inch at $1,799 and the 17-inch at $2,499. All models include the Snow Leopard OS X and iLife.

Showing 13 comments

StickMen Creation at 12:49pm 24th February 2011 It's great that Apple's coming out with a new Macbook Pro, but if Lion's to be released soon, this must meen that the shells will remain the same. It seems most people were looking forward to some new hardware... And, Face time is not all that expensive, but it is true that Skype is free (although some people prefer Face Time simply because it's an Apple brand). http://www.stick-men.webs.com/
Greg Johnson at 5:18pm 24th February 2011 http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0072288/
Aemon at 9:13am 24th February 2011 It appears that the FaceTime application will come bundled with the new lineup of Macbook Pros, meaning you won't have to fork over an extra buck for it. Only users of older generations Intel-based macs will have to pay the $0.99 to download it.
Hans Urhausen at 5:09pm 24th February 2011 Will the iPhone 5 support a Thunderbolt connection?
ioman at 9:00am 24th February 2011 Why pay for Facetime when Skype is free though!?
Dan Gaul at 8:22am 24th February 2011 $2500 for the 17-inch? wowzers.
Dan Gaul at 8:22am 24th February 2011 Enter text right here!
Misterioso Adversario at 8:22am 24th February 2011 *Spends $1,200 for a new laptop* *Won't spend $0.99 for an app* *Bitches about it on the internet*
1. ioman at 8:59am 24th February 2011 hahaha love it, sooo true!
doobersnax at 7:36am 24th February 2011 Pay for FaceTime? Or, you know, Google Video Chat for free....
1. Obscure C at 7:55am 24th February 2011 Google v chat doesn't exist maybe you mean google talk? And it doesnt do video on the iPhone or iPod touch. That's the whole point of this you idiot.
  1. doobersnax at 8:33am 24th February 2011 doesn't exist? http://www.google.com/chat/video
2. Benjamin Moore Eubank at 8:07am 24th February 2011 You stressin' over a one time fee for .99 cents big boy? And yes, to the other poster's comment - this works for more than just computer to computer chat.