AnandTech evaluates the MacBook and MacBook Pro updates. Conclusion? Yawn

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February 27, 2008 at 8:59 pm

AnandTech has taken a close look at the new MacBooks and MacBook Pros both inside and outside.  Their conclusion?  Not much to talk about.  The internals are almost exactly the same.  Same motherboards, same hardware save for new video chips and trackpad on the MacBook Pros and Penryns and RAM/HD configurations on both.

Alltogether kind of a small update from Apple.  In fact, the MacBook Pros haven’t been touched much over the past two years.  We expect much more from Apple at the WWDC 2008.  Perhaps even a *gasp* redesign. 

Table recreated below…

 


  New Penryn MacBook Pro 15" Old Merom MacBook Pro 15" New Penryn MacBook Old Merom MacBook MacBook Air
Dimensions H: 1.0"
W: 14.1"
D: 9.6"		 H: 1.0"
W: 14.1"
D: 9.6"		 H: 1.08"
W: 12.78"
D: 8.92"		 H: 1.08"
W: 12.78"
D: 8.92"		 H: 0.16-076"
W: 12.8"
D: 8.94"
Weight 5.4 lbs 5.4 lbs 5.0 lbs 5.0 lbs 3.0 lbs
Screen Size/Resolution 15.4" / 1440 x 900 15.4" / 1440 x 900 13.3" / 1280 x 800 13.3" / 1280 x 800 13.3" / 1280 x 800
CPU Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz – 2.6GHz (45nm Penryn) Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz – 2.6GHz (65nm Merom) Intel Core 2 Duo 2.1 – 2.4GHz (45nm Penryn) Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 – 2.2GHz (65nm Merom) Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6 – 1.8GHz (65nm Merom)
GPU NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (256MB – 512MB) NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (128MB – 256MB) Intel GMA X3100
(144MB UMA)		 Intel GMA X3100
(144MB UMA)		 Intel GMA X3100 (144MB UMA)
Memory 2GB – 4GB DDR2-667 2GB – 4GB DDR2-667 1GB – 4GB DDR2-667 1GB – 4GB DDR2-667 2GB DDR2-667 (fixed)
HDD 200 – 250GB 2.5" 5400RPM SATA
200GB 7200RPM SATA		 120 – 250GB 2.5" 5400RPM SATA
200GB 7200RPM SATA		 120 – 250GB 2.5" 5400RPM SATA HDD 80 – 160GB 2.5" 5400RPM SATA HDD 80GB 1.8" HDD
or 64GB 1.8" SSD
Optical Drive Integrated SuperDrive Integrated SuperDrive Integrated Combo drive or SuperDrive Integrated Combo drive or SuperDrive Optional External USB SuperDrive
Networking 802.11a/b/g/n
10/100/1000 Ethernet		 802.11a/b/g/n
10/100/1000 Ethernet		 802.11a/b/g/n
10/100/1000 Ethernet		 802.11a/b/g/n
10/100/1000 Ethernet		 802.11a/b/g/n
Built in iSight Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Inputs 2 x USB 2.0
1 x FireWire 400
1 x FireWire 800
1 x ExpressCard/34
1 x Audio in
1 x Integrated mic		 2 x USB 2.0
1 x FireWire 400
1 x FireWire 800
1 x ExpressCard/34
1 x Audio in
1 x Integrated mic		 2 x USB 2.0
1 x FireWire 400
1 x Audio in
1 x Integrated mic		 2 x USB 2.0
1 x FireWire 400
1 x Audio in
1 x Integrated mic		 1 x USB 2.0
1 x Integrated mic
Outputs 1 x Audio
1 x dual-link DVI		 1 x Audio
1 x dual-link DVI		 1 x Audio
1 x mini-DVI		 1 x Audio
1 x mini-DVI		 1 x Audio
1 x Micro-DVI
Battery 60WHr 60WHr 55WHr 55WHr 37WHr
Price $1999 $1999 $1099 $1099 $1799