Words Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla
The Apple-Intel collaboration has finally yielded some very juicy fruit, and the tech industry is buzzing with excitement. During the Macworld Expo last January,
Steve Jobs announced - without any remorse - that PowerBooks were no more. In their place is the new MacBook Pro, a machine with a whopping performance boost courtesy of Intel's Core Duo processor.
The Intel Core Duo promises to deliver performance that's four to five times faster than what you'll get from Apple's PowerBook G4. Quite possibly the ultimate notebook computer today in terms of power and features, the MacBook Pro comes in two configurations: the base 1.67GHz processor with 512MB of RAM and 80GB of hard drive, and a more spirited model with a 1.83GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 100GB hard drive.
So how can an inch-thin notebook computer be so powerful, you ask? Well, thanks to Intel's groundbreaking 65-nanometer process, transistors can be made so small that you could fit a hundred of them inside a single human cell! Since there are smaller distances for electrons to travel, plus the fact that two processors share resources and conserve power, the Intel chip is able to achieve higher levels of performance while using fewer watts - which is what makes it possible to design a sexy 5.6-pound notebook with such jaw-dropping specs.
The MacBook Pro's 15.4-inch screen is 67% brighter than the previous PowerBooks, allowing you to see blacker blacks, whiter whites, and millions of brilliant, vibrant colors in between. Under the hood is the powerhouse ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics accelerator that enables you to enjoy smooth video playback as well as texture-rich 3D performance in next-generation games.
And to enjoy - and share - your photos, movies, and music, you don't even need to get up from where you are seated in the room. The MacBook Pro is the first Mac notebook to include Front Row and the Apple Remote. Front Row is the first step towards a whole new line of functionality for Apple customers. This application converts your Mac into an interactive media center. A few clicks on the remote accesses your music collections, videos, and entire photos collections; and with the Apple Remote in hand, you can navigate the Front Row media software from wherever you are in the room. If you want to see the big picture, literally speaking, you can hook up the notebook to a large screen TV or a projector and watch your favorite flicks in larger-than-life sizes.
A built-in iSight video camera is artfully placed in the bezel of the MacBook Pro display for video conferencing on-the-go using Apple's award-winning iChat AV, or recording a video Podcast or iMovie using iLife '06. The Photo Booth application lets users take quick snapshots with the iSight video camera, add entertaining visual effects, and share their pictures with the touch of a button.
The new laptop also debuts Apple's MagSafe magnetic power connector, designed especially for mobile users. The MagSafe power connector makes charging the notebook's battery easier than ever by magnetically coupling the power cord to the MacBook Pro. Yes, it's a magnetic connection instead of a physical one, so even if you trip over the power cord, it will prevent the notebook from sliding off its work surface; the cord simply breaks cleanly away, without damage to either the cord or the system.
Each MacBook Pro also includes built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), integrated AirPort Extreme, 54 Mbps 802.11g Wi-Fi wireless networking (so you can surf and sip coffee at Seattle's Best at the same time), a scrolling
TrackPad, and Apple's Sudden Motion Sensor that is designed to protect the hard drive in case of a fall.
