Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro/2.16GHz specs

Pros

• Excellent performance with Universal software
• MagSafe power connector
• 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support
• Much improved AirPort reception
• Virtually silent operation
• 1GB of RAM now standard
• Adds a third USB 2.0 port
• Includes FireWire 800
• Big, bright, beautiful widescreen display
• Built-in iSight

Cons

• No internal modem option
• No PCMCIA or ExpressCard/54 slots
• Mediocre performance with non-native applications
• Disappointing battery life

At A Glance

The widest MacBook Pro retains a few PowerBook options missing from the 15-inch MacBook configurations -- namely, a FireWire 800 port and an 8X dual-layer SuperDrive. The 17-inch MacBook Pro runs on a 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo chip -- the same processor available as a $300 build-to-order option on the 15-inch MacBook. While slightly wider and deeper than the 15-inch model, the 17-inch configuration retains the 1-inch height of Apple's pro laptop line.

Manufacturer’s Description

You've seen improvements in notebook performance before - but never on this scale. The Intel Core Duo powering MacBook Pro is actually two processors built into a single chip. This, combined with myriad other engineering leaps, boosts performance up to four times higher than the PowerBook G4. With this awesome power, it's a breeze to render complex 3D models, enjoy smooth playback of HD video, or host a four-way video conference. Intel Core Duo is built using Intel's 65-nanometer process - resulting in transistors so small, you could fit a hundred inside a single human cell. With smaller distances for electrons to travel, and two processors designed to share resources and conserve power, Intel Core Duo achieves higher levels of performance as it uses fewer watts. Which is what makes it possible to design a super-powerful MacBook Pro that's only one inch thin. When Mac technology makes something easy, it's hardly news. So here's more non-news for MacBook Pro owners: software just works. If you see the Universal logo on a application, that means it will run on Intel- and PowerPC-based Mac computers. For most existing applications, you simply do what you've always done: double-click them. Thanks to the Rosetta technology in Mac OS X, they look and feel just like they did before.

The Specs

Performance