Filed under: Hardware, Macbook Pro
Apple introduces 17-inch MacBook Pro
At least the Apple Store wasn't down this time for too long: today, Apple introduced the 17" MacBook Pro with an Intel Core Duo processor. It's lost .1 lb, now weighing a mere 6.8 lb, and also features a built-in iSight, Front Row and MagSafe - just like its 15" little brother.
The new 17" MacBook Pro comes with a 2.16 Intel Core Duo processor, a 667 MHz front-side bus, a 36% brighter display, 1 GB of DDR2 RAM, a 120 GB 5400-rpm SATA drive (standard), a 256 MB ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 card and - get this: an 8x double-layer SuperDrive, one FireWire 400, one FireWire 800, and three USB 2.0 ports. I guess they had some extra room to work with in the 17" to fit in those extra features that the 15" MacBook Pro lost.
The 17" MacBook Pro sells for $2799 and will begin shipping next week.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Zach Weinberg said 8:56AM on 4-24-2006
I can't remember whether they had taken it down before, but there is also officially no more 17 inch Powerbook G4
Reply
Stefan Constantinescu said 8:58AM on 4-24-2006
Never liked huge laptops, but I see why this is popular, mobile workstation for the professional!
Makes me wonder why this 17 inch screen isn't used on iMac's and the 20 inch iMac has full HD resolution. That always bugged me.
Reply
John said 9:08AM on 4-24-2006
That's a phenomonal price point for what you get. Over the high end 15.4in MacBook Pro you get a faster processor, larger screen and resolution, bigger HD, faster dual layer superdrive and an extra USB port. And for only 300 bucks more. Awesome
Reply
Andrew said 9:08AM on 4-24-2006
This is great news, but that poor 12" PowerBook looks pretty lonely up there all by itself!
Reply
David Chartier said 9:09AM on 4-24-2006
#2: Well don't forget Stefan that the term 'huge' has different connotations when used in context with PC notebooks and Apple's notebooks.
One of Dell's 14" notebooks weighs 8.32 lb and is almost as wide as my 15", 5.6 lb MacBook Pro. Most other 17" notebooks I've seen are typicall 1.5" thick (or - *shudder* - more) and weigh upwards of 9-13 lb. Now who you callin' huge? :)
Reply
andy said 9:10AM on 4-24-2006
im still waiting for photoshop and an announcement about a universal maya (pray to god) but im still tempted haha, how will i cope when the powermac comes out.
Reply
Stefan Constantinescu said 9:15AM on 4-24-2006
David Chartier: I meant foot print wise, it can weigh 2 pounds for all i care, thing is going to have monster dimensions.
To each his own Dave, some people like small notebooks, others love huge, and some are in between. it's all about choice :)
Now why do people persist on saying those 13.3 inch lcd's are for intel iBooks, it would be great for a macnook pro i would assume.
Reply
Eric said 9:28AM on 4-24-2006
hey guys... 17" is cheaper than 15" with same spec (7200rpm 2.16ghz)
Reply
iFelix said 9:40AM on 4-24-2006
What a lovely piece of kit.
It's gorgeous and I want one now.
Reply
jason said 10:03AM on 4-24-2006
so what?
just kidding. this is great news, but i have to agree with the others, the 17inch is just too big. I could see it as a desktop replacement for someone who travels sometimes. for me the 15inch pb is the perfect computer. just gotta scape enough together to get the mbp!
Reply
Ih8bg8s said 10:10AM on 4-24-2006
Man o Man o Man o Man o MAN! have I been waiting for this day holding onto three grand for this product. My home page is Apple's and seeing that Mini pop up over and over again has gotton so disheartening. But the Day is finally here (of course I'll probably wait a little longer and go get it at the local Apple Store or do any of you KNOW that it is already there?) bah I'll just call them duh.
Now all I need is for the "Apple Mighty Mouse" (Dut-Duh-Duh-Daaa) to be wireless and I will be living in a perfect computing world.
I might even have to install Windoze just to show off to all the PeeCee morons at work how great it is to be a mac head.
Reply
Jesse said 10:26AM on 4-24-2006
What's crazy about this is that if you upgrade the 15" Book to the 2.16Ghz processor, the 17" is actually cheaper than the 15" (by about $100). Maybe that's just my configuration (max settings for everything).
Reply
lou said 10:32AM on 4-24-2006
For the mobile professional who only wants one computer, this is terrific. I will be making this my new computer later this year.
Also, as a current owner of a 12" Powerbook, I can see the need for a cheap and small Pro notebook, but I think that the new 13" Macbooks will fill that void.
Reply
Ultim8Fury said 10:40AM on 4-24-2006
Haven't the " 17" is too big " Arguments been done to death over the last X number of years. This argument comes up at every iteration of the PB and MBP. Give it a rest.
Some people have a need or desire for a larger laptop. Not everyone is on the road all the time. Some people want more screen estate. Some people survive with a desktop and a smaller laptop.
Over the last 2 years of being a mac user I've seen a laptop I bought because I wanted a well made device for running Linux become my main and then, only computer. I never did get around to installing Linux on it. My 17" PB has done me proud and paid for itself in the sale of 6 PCs I used to use. I have no hesitation in placing an order for a 17" MBP which I will primarily use at home or at work. It only ever moves between these 2 locations and so size is not an issue.
If I was a road warrior then it would cumbersome and a 12" book would be better.
The point I'm making is that whilst it may be too big for your usage it's clearly of an ideal size for me and thousands of others out there. Give the complaints a rest.
Reply
Ultim8Fury said 10:42AM on 4-24-2006
oops, It appears I posted in the wrong tab. My above post was intended for the Engadget crowd who really have problems.
Reply
Mike said 10:59AM on 4-24-2006
They better lower the prices of those 15in 2.16GHz models because they're more expensive than a better equipped 17in by about a hundred bucks.
Reply
Ed said 11:05AM on 4-24-2006
Bought the 17" G4 2 years ago so I could do one-to-one presentations on it and expected to need a larger monitor for my everyday design work. Never got around to getting the monitor as the resolution and screen area is fine for my high-end graphics.
Will hold off until Adobe updates, as for me there won't be the speed increase to justify replacing what I have.
Reply
Thayne Miller said 11:23AM on 4-24-2006
also, you forgot to mention that this new 17" macbook pro comes with double the amount of speakers as her G4 counterpart, and has larger speaker grills and more output power to them. That was taken from the specification PDF on apple's site.
Reply
Tomnibus said 11:25AM on 4-24-2006
Looks like I'm returning the 15" Macbook I bought last week!
Reply
RM said 11:39AM on 4-24-2006
Does anyone have an explanation for why the 17" managed to get the 8x DL drive while the 15" is stuck with the 4x non-DL? The explanation I heard for not having it when they released the 15" was that it was too thick, but given that the 17" is the same thickness, have they managed to get a new thin 8x DL, and if so, do you think we'll get it on the 15" ?
Reply