Due to Apple's OS upgrade, the preinstalled OS may be Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard or OS X 10.7 Lion.
All Apple computers purchased on or after July 21, 2011 can be upgraded to Lion via free download from the Mac App Store within 30 days of purchase.
The 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer from Apple is a powerful notebook computer with an innovative aluminum unibody design. It is loaded with advanced power management features and an integrated battery -- they work together to provide up to 7 hours of wireless web browsing.
You may notice an unfamiliar logo next to one of the ports on the left side of the system. This is Thunderbolt, a high-speed interface that can move data at an amazing 10Gbps -- double that of USB 3.0. The Thunderbolt port doubles as a display output -- it shares the same physical form factor as a Mini DisplayPort. You can daisy-chain up to six devices, so you'll be able to connect high-speed external storage and an external LCD display via the same port!
The computer's 15.4" display features a LED backlight and a glossy finish. Its 1440 x 900 native resolution gives you ample screen real estate with which to work. You'll be able to output to an external display at up to 2560 x 1600 via Thunderbolt. Any Mini DisplayPort LCD will plug-in without the need for an adapter. If you have a display with DVI, VGA, or HDMI input, you'll only need to purchase an adapter cable for connection.
You'll be able to communicate with friends and family thanks to built-in support for FaceTime chat. The computer's FaceTime HD camera supports 720p HD video chat via the included app. You can make video calls to other Mac users with FaceTime, as well as to anyone with an iPhone 4 or an iPod touch model with a built-in camera.
The system is powered by a quad-core 2.2GHz Intel Core i7 CPU with 3.2GHz Intel Turbo Boost 2.0 support. The computer is loaded with 4GB of memory, a 750GB 5400rpm hard drive, and a SuperDrive DVD burner. You'll be able to connect to the Internet with ease via 802.11n Wi-Fi or wired Gigabit Ethernet. The MacBook Pro also features built-in Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, making it easy to use the system with wireless headphones, keyboard, mice, and other compatible peripherals. An SDXC slot is present, making it easy to download photos and videos from memory cards.
Graphics are handled by a hybrid system that gives you the best of both worlds in regards to battery life and performance. The MacBook Pro will use an integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 GPU for light tasks -- such as web browsing and word processing. When more performance is needed -- for video games, HD video playback, or the like -- the system will switch over to the dedicated AMD Radeon HD 6750M. The Radeon features 1GB of staggeringly fast GDDR5 memory, which translates into pretty awesome performance.
The computer features a comfortable backlit chiclet-style keyboard, which features space between each key for improved accuracy and comfort when typing. It also sports a glass Multi-Touch trackpad with a clickable design. Rather than having a separate button for mouse clicks, the entire surface of the pad is clickable. This increases the active surface area, and allows you to quickly click, even if your finger is near the top of the trackpad.
What's more, the smooth surface fully supports Multi-Touch gestures -- you can tap the trackpad with one finger to click, with two fingers to right click, scroll through documents using two fingers, pinch to zoom, navigate through Safari or iPhoto with three-finger left and right swipes, or use two fingers to rotate a photo or PDF.
iLife '11 has a complete suite of digital creativity applications. Easy enough for anyone to use, iLife will help you edit your home movies, organize digital photos, and compose original music. iLife includes iPhoto, iMovie and GarageBand.
The 64-bit OS features Time Machine backup, which automatically backs up system data to an external hard drive. It also features intuitive Cover Flow navigation, the powerful Spotlight search tool, and Quick Look document preview. You'll be able to use Boot Camp to run Windows on your Mac.
Note!
Due to Apple's OS upgrade, the preinstalled OS may be Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard or OS X 10.7 Lion.
All Apple computers purchased on or after July 21, 2011 can be upgraded to Lion via free download from the Mac App Store within 30 days of purchase.
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Processor | 2.2GHz Intel Core i7-2720QM |
| Cache | L3: 6MB |
| System Bus | None |
| Memory |
Slots: 2x SO-DIMM 204-Pin Type: PC3-10600 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM Installed: 4GB (2x2GB) Capacity: 8GB |
| Graphics Card |
Type: Hybrid Graphics System Installed: AMD Radeon HD 6750M with 1GB GDDR5 SDRAM Dedicated; Intel GMA HD Graphics 3000 with up to 384MB DDR3 SDRAM Shared |
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Type | Widescreen |
| Size | 15.4" |
| Backlight | LED |
| Aspect Ratio | 16:10 |
| Finish | Glossy |
| Native Resolution | 1440 x 900 |
| Supported Resolutions |
1440 x 900 at 16:10 Aspect Ratio 1280 x 800 at 16:10 Aspect Ratio 1152 x 720 at 16:10 Aspect Ratio 1024 x 640 at 16:10 Aspect Ratio 800 x 500 at 16:10 Aspect Ratio 1024 x 768 at 4:3 Aspect Ratio 800 x 600 at 4:3 Aspect Ratio 640 x 480 at 4:3 Aspect Ratio 1024 x 768 at 4:3 Aspect Ratio Stretched 800 x 600 at 4:3 Aspect Ratio Stretched 800 x 600 at 4:3 Aspect Ratio Stretched 640 x 480 at 4:3 Aspect Ratio Stretched 720 x 480 at 3:2 Aspect Ratio 720 x 480 at 3:2 Aspect Ratio Stretched |
| External Resolution | Up to 2560 x 1600 |
| Dual Display | Yes |
| Video Mirroring | Yes |
| Storage | |
|---|---|
| Hard Drive |
Bays: 1x 2.5" (9.5mm) Installed: 750GB 5400rpm Type: SATA |
| Optical Drive |
8x-Speed Slot-Load SuperDrive Reads DVD: 8x CD: 24x Writes DVD-R: 8x DVD-RW: 4x DVD-R DL: 4x DVD+R: 8x DVD+RW: 4x DVD+R DL: 4x CD-R: 24x CD-RW: 10x |
| Input/Output Connectors | |
|---|---|
| Ports |
2x USB 2.0 (A) 1x FireWire-800 (9-Pin) 1x Thunderbolt |
| Display |
1x Mini DisplayPort via Thunderbolt port 1x DVI via Thunderbolt port using optional cable 1x VGA via Thunderbolt port using optional cable 1x Dual-Link DVI via Thunderbolt port using optional cable 1x HDMI via Thunderbolt port using optional cable |
| Audio |
Integrated Stereo Speakers with subwoofer Integrated Omnidirectional Microphone 1x 1/8" (3.5mm) Headphone Output with shared S/PDIF 1x 1/8" (3.5mm) Microphone Input with shared S/PDIF |
| Expansion Slots | None |
| Flash Media Slot | 1x SDXC |
| Communications | |
|---|---|
| Network | 10/100/1000Mbps Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) |
| Modem | None |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11a/b/g/n |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 2.1+EDR |
| Webcam | Yes |
| General | |
|---|---|
| Operating System |
Not Specified By Manufacturer
1
Please Note:Due to Apple's OS upgrade, the preinstalled OS may be Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard or OS X 10.7 Lion. close |
| Security | Kensington Lock Slot |
| Keyboard |
Keys: 78 Type: Standard Notebook Keyboard Features: Backlight, Chiclet Style |
| Pointing Device | TouchPad with Double-Tap, Drag, Four-Finger Swipe, Inertial Scrolling, Multi-Touch Control, Pinch, Precise Cursor Control, Rotate, Tap, Three-Finger Swipe, Two-Finger Scrolling |
| Battery | Built-In Lithium-Polymer Providing up to 7 Hours per Charge (77Wh) |
| Power Requirements |
AC: 100-240 V AC, 50-60Hz Consumption: 85W |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 14.35 x 0.95 x 9.82" / 36.45 x 2.41 x 24.94 cm |
| Weight | 5.6 lb / 2.54 kg |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
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Most Liked Positive Review
MacBook Pro - My Server Lab On The Go
Here are some of my impressions of the new MacbookPro15 2011.
DECISION: I have been contemplating on buying last year's high-end model of MBP-15 (2.66 Ghz Intel i7) for $325...Read complete review
Here are some of my impressions of the new MacbookPro15 2011.
DECISION: I have been contemplating on buying last year's high-end model of MBP-15 (2.66 Ghz Intel i7) for $325 less than the price of the 2011 version. I came into conclusion that it is justifiable to go for the latest one by gaining 1gb GDDR5 graphics (vs. 512mb GDDR3 of MBP-15 2010), Intel i7 Quad Core (vs. Intel i7 Dual Core), and Thunderbolt I/O port (vs. mini-Display port). Just by looking at the average price of 1gb GDDR5 ATI Radeon at $180 plus the Quad Core i7, the $325 difference is good.
UPGRADE: To meet my need, I upgraded the RAM to 8gb (Crucial DDR3 1333MHz SODIMM) by myself for just $97 compared to Apple's markup at $300. My next project for upgrade would be to replace the 750gb 5400 rpm Hard Drive with 512gb SSD; but today's SSD price of $2.25/gb sounds absurd, I'm sticking for the mechanical storage for awhile until the price drops to $1.50/gb.
PERFORMANCE: The new 2011 MacbookPro 15 with 2.2 Ghz Intel i7 Quad Core has exceeded my expectations in performance. I'm using this as my portable server lab. I use VMWare Fusion to run multiple operating systems - Windows (as my work environment + SQL Server database), UNIX Solaris 10 (Oracle database), and Linux (Weblogic App Server and Apache Web server). All these environments are running simultaneously in MacOS X. The 2nd Gen Intel i7 Quad Core truely delivers a better multi-threading process even at a lower clock speed of 2.2 Ghz. I get only 45% CPU utilization compared to my 2-yr old MacBook Pro Intel Core 2 Duo that hits at 100% during transaction simulations. What is surprising to me is the 750gb 5400 rpm hard drive has the same i/o read performance of a higher speed 500gb 7200 rpm in my previous MBP. Could it be of the new 4,096 bytes/sector size vs the traditional 512 bytes/sector is the factor of such performance?
CONS: 1) When the CPU starts to hit 40% utilization, this thing can get hot in the upper left corner of its base. You might as well consider buying a hardshell (I use Speck See-Thru Satin shell) to somehow suppress the heat from the aluminum frame when working on your lap.
2) At 45% CPU, the dual fans can be loud for someone who has sensitive ears.
3) The integrated graphics Intel HD 3000 consumes 384mb of your RAM vs. the 2010 MBP nVidia 320M using only 256mb. And, the performance of the Intel HD 3000 is only as good as the 2009 MBP nVidia 9400M. If you need to maximize the usage of your RAM for your apps, ditch the integrated graphics and use the discrete ATI Radeon graphics by unchecking the "Automatic Graphics Switching" at the Energy System Preference (but this comes with battery life penalty of -30 minutes which I don't mind at all).
CONCLUSION: I am very much satisfied with purchase as it meets all the performance I needed plus the elegant look it brings to a professional IT guy.
I give this 5 stars.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Piece of junk
After only 3 months of occasional use (& mostly sitting on a desk, not being carted about as a portable device), my screen has started flickering & is now unusable. This...Read complete review
After only 3 months of occasional use (& mostly sitting on a desk, not being carted about as a portable device), my screen has started flickering & is now unusable. This will be the first & last Apple PC that I will ever buy.
Reviewed by 42 customers
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
Hello.
Right away I can say that this laptop meets and exceeds the needs of most users out there. It is a good laptop that you use every day, and it fits every need you will have. You can customize almost every bit of it when you make the effort to do so, and the trade off is such that you don't run in to the problems and inconvenience that Windows laptops have.
You will like this laptop if you need the computer power, portability and are picky about the details. For example, when you type and accidentally touch the trackpad on a PC, it moves your mouse. When you do that on this macbook pro, it doesn't. So, this is an example of the nitty-gritty details that add to your everyday comfort and do not give you any frustrations, which makes your day even better. Apple has obviously done a great job, and the laptop is worth the money.
When you look at this laptop, think twice. If you are able to invest in this laptop, it will be more than worth it! The money will be worth it in the long run.
However, each laptop has its own downsides. For this Macbook pro there are very few of them. For example, if you are an expert with computers, you won't find such customization abilities with Apple's Mac OS X, because this laptop is made for everyday comfortable use and also those who are not experienced with computers. There may be glare from the glossy display, but you can just turn the monitor away, and the colors on the glossy display are much more vibrant than on the more expensive anti-glare display.
So, summing it up, this laptop has many abilities. You can also install Windows on it to run separately when you want, so that you can run any Windows programs if you want them. Take good care of this laptop like I do, and it will serve you reliably for a good four to five years and will always look beautiful and amazing.
P.S. The battery on it is good - takes me through most of the day, and you'll like the backlit keyboard because it helps so much when you need it!
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
Great graphics for working with publicity and marketing. Reliable and efficient. The simplicity of its hardware does not shadow the outstanding performance of this laptop. Few features made it better than my previous Macbook.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
I purchased this laptop for live video streaming. It has the guts for that and more. Just wish the battery lasted a little longer.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
After only 3 months of occasional use (& mostly sitting on a desk, not being carted about as a portable device), my screen has started flickering & is now unusable. This will be the first & last Apple PC that I will ever buy.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
This laptop is changing my life. It's quick, it can read my mind and I can have as many apps open as I need to. My only issue is that it is still heavy.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
I am generally a casual user (internet, email, etc) but occasionally do some graphics, including 3D stuff. I just upgraded from a 13" MacBook and I like the added performance of the Pro and the dedicated graphics card. Best price from B&H too.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
My Mac has replaced my other (3) laptops. I have given away two as gifts to family and friend. I see no reason to ever stop using my Mac. I got so excited about having my Mac that I went and purchased an iPad and an iPhone to compliment my iPod and my Mac Book Pro.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
i love this mac book pro computer by apple it give me room to move around
on the go. the screen is sharp was going to get the mac air at first but when
i saw the mac book pro had to have it a must have
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
This is my first time to buy macbook. It is an excellent macbook.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
Fast and clean - awesome
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
I use this product both at the office and at home for work related tasks. I down sized from a 17" version because the 15" is easier to transport. I solved the screen size issue by getting larger monitors at each location that I can plug into.
So far so good.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
-music, movies, art
-fast, light, reliable
-expensive
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
IT'S GREAT, AS PROMISED.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
I am Used with final cut pro is so great speed in render.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
Lots of power in a small enough package to carry around, although I have been spoiled by my MacBook Air. I have an older MacBook Air, which is fantastic for those who don't want a heavy computer to lug around. However, the Air has its limitations; I couldn't install Photoshop and Lightroom together because of the lack of hard drive space and the slower processor would have made it unbearable (for me anyway) to run Photoshop. I also plan to do more video and need the power the Pro offers.
I'm loving the larger screen than the Air, the track pad is a little different and took some getting used to but overall it's a fabulous laptop! I would buy another.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
This MacBook Pro is for the first time in my computer-story (10 years), beginning when I was 6, that is faster than my-self.
Everything is just as is supposed to be, and it's important to note that it has one of the most GeekBench scores of all Apple MBP and even more than most MacPro , it's about 10,990! Isn't this just lovely?
Buy this, you won't get disappointed.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
First Mac ever owned and loving it. Easy to learn and use, tremendously fast, and great to look at.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
This a very good product, specially to work on graphic design.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
I use this computer primarily for photo and video edting. I'm running the Adobe Creative Suite and Final Cut Studio. With a RAM upgrade to 8gb this computer works wonderfully. The display seems accurate but I suggest using a calibration tool for accuracy.
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Comments about Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro Notebook Computer:
I replaced my late 2007 Macbook Pro with this model. The unibody has a fantastic construction and the guts are a lot quieter than my older model. I did like the easy battery removal of the old though. The built-in battery is basically another new Apple power grab.
I opted for the 2.2gHz over the 2.0 and I'm glad I did. Final Cut 7 runs like a champ and the upgrade from 2 GB to 4GB RAM is processing FCP exports faster. An upgrade to 8 GB is probably a smart investment though.
Battery life advertised as 7 hours? Meh.. I probably get closer to 5 with a lot of apps open jumping between Spaces. I could see having the screen awake and not much else processing getting 7 but that's not realistic for basic use.
Really looking forward to Thunderbolt peripherals! Overall this is a great machine.
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