Filed under: Macworld, Hardware, Portables, Macbook Pro
New 17-inch MacBook Pro unveiled with integrated battery
In Phil Schiller's keynote speech this morning, Apple announced a new version of the 17-inch MacBook Pro that features a long-life, non-removable battery, thinner profile, and an optional anti-glare screen.The laptop is less than an inch thick, and weighs 6.6 pounds. It features a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo process, 6 MB of L2 cache, GeForce 9600M GT video card, and supports up to 8GB of memory. The default configuration with 4GB of memory and a 320GB hard disk ships for the same price as before: $2,799.
The 17-inch MacBook Pro now features a non-removable battery with an estimated eight-hour life. The battery will also last for 1,000 cycles, according to the presentation. The battery is 40 percent larger than its predecessor, which allows for a greater charge and better life. The trade off, of course, is the fact that it's not user-replaceable.
Apple is touting the new MacBook Pro as among its greenest line of laptops ever. The new battery for this model has three times the life of older MacBooks, lasting up to five years, which for many may be the life of the computer. It also earns an EPEAT Gold rating, and it contains no arsenic, BFR, mercury, and less PVC.
The new MacBook Pro also offers an anti-glare option for an additional $50. Many users complained that other MacBooks with glossy screens were difficult to use in bright sunlight: This sounds like a good option for them, as another $50 for a MacBook Pro is a pittance for many.
The MacBook Pro 17" was last updated on October 14th, 2008, when it received a 2.5GHz processor, 4GB RAM and 320GB HDD. At the time, it sported the same body as previous the model.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Joey said 2:06PM on 1-06-2009
Just the other day I was telling someone that Apple is more likely to make the battery in the MacBook Pro non-removable than they are to update the Mac Mini to support dual displays. Of course at the time I said that I was just exaggerating. I really had no idea it would be true...
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dan s. said 2:08PM on 1-06-2009
6.6 pounds = 3 kg
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Yazdgerd said 2:23PM on 1-06-2009
2.99 KG
mentalsticks said 3:43PM on 1-06-2009
@Yazdgerd: your name should be Yazdnerd.
Lukasz said 2:10PM on 1-06-2009
I really do not understand the point of a laptop with a non-removable battery. I guess after a 1000 cycles, your laptop transforms into a desktop.
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mentalsticks said 2:15PM on 1-06-2009
not user-replacable != non-replacable
glynor said 3:23PM on 1-06-2009
Exactly. All the leaked reports I've seen about it indicate that it will be similar in difficulty to replace as the hard drive on the old Macbook Pro. Certainly possible for a tech-savvy user (I've done it three times), but not "Mac-easy". For the feint of heart, apparently replacement batteries can be installed easily at any Apple store if needed (and they include proper recycling for free).
Dinesh said 2:11PM on 1-06-2009
Com'on Apple. We expected a lot more.. Where are the freakn new Mac mini's??? :(
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Joey said 2:14PM on 1-06-2009
Yeah although I highly doubted it would actually happen, I really was hoping Apple would have updated the Mini. I need a system that will support my dual displays on a KVM switch and right now my only choices are a freaking Expensive Mac Pro or a Hackintosh. Sigh.
Galley said 2:27PM on 1-06-2009
Perhaps they will introduced quietly later this week.
alpayerturkmen said 4:50PM on 1-06-2009
It will be ready when it is ready. No Macworld stress for Apple from now on...
ZD1 said 2:15PM on 1-06-2009
Another overprice computer! Where are the bloody new Mac minis? Come on Apple, you're losing me.
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Jon Niola said 2:19PM on 1-06-2009
THANK GOD for a matte screen. I am not a fan of those glossy screens.
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spotman said 2:20PM on 1-06-2009
Whats the deal apple? 8 hours is nice and all, but 8 hours is something that macbook and macbook air users need, not people who have 17 in laptops as desktop replacements. Have you ever tried to use a mbp 17" on an airplane?
Having said that, according to my usage patterns, I would go thru 1000 cycles in about 3 years as I am primarily mobile. So then I have to send it in? Not really a cool feature.
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Kyle Derouen said 2:23PM on 1-06-2009
Come on, it's 3 years, don't you think you'll either buy a new laptop buy then or be willing to pay the fee for an Apple replacement? You'd have to get a new battery buy then anyway.
And yeah, the 15" and 13" users probably do need it more, but they have more room in the 17" for a larger battery so it is easier to design.
Stephen Lang said 2:32PM on 1-06-2009
Your points are well taken, but...would you rather have 1) a removable battery with 6 hours of battery life, or 2) non-removable with 8 hours?
Honestly, I would take the 8 hours (as long as the replacement service charge is reasonable.)
brian said 2:39PM on 1-06-2009
Well, the main new features are the construction and the DRMed display port. Spec-wise, it's pretty comparable to what's current. So unless you love the unibody construction and glass trackpad and LED backlight, or you absolutely need a one-rev-newer video card or a higher RAM ceiling, you can get an old one before they disappear. BONUS: Since the new ones are out, the old ones will be on clearance! Go to store.apple.com and look at the 'special deals' link in the lower-left. Yesterday's 17" MBP is $1899, down from $2499. (RFB. "Clearance" still shows $2499. But just wait.) Speaking of which, they've also got refurb original Airs for $999--that's actually reasonable! If my 13" MacBook were to die tomorrow I'd probably get an Air to replace it. But it's 3 years old and still doing fine (bought it refurb) and the G3 iBook that it replaced (purchased 1/2003, also rfb) now belongs to my dad and is also doing fine.
As for the battery, 1000 charges / 365 days/year = about 2.75 years. (And it's not like it'll turn into a pumpkin on the 1,001st charge.) If you really only work 5 days/week that jumps to 4 years. And if the battery is as smart as they say it is, it'll probably be OK to leave it plugged in a lot too.
will said 3:11PM on 1-06-2009
"would you rather have 1) a removable battery with 6 hours of battery life, or 2) non-removable with 8 hours?"
????? Of course I would rather have the removable battery! Because then I can put in a second battery! And a third. Etc. I can have virtually unlimited battery life, restricted only by how many batteries I'm prepared to carry with me! With the non-removable battery, I am strictly and completely limited to 8 hours! A non-removable battery, for me, in a laptop, is complete crap.
jonathan said 3:15PM on 1-06-2009
people, a cycle is not a charge. a FULL cycle is a complete power down and power up. my last powerbook battery failed on me after 670 cycles.
my macbook battery failed after 400 or so. 1000 is freaking awesome.
Doug McIntosh said 4:02PM on 1-07-2009
Actually, the way that the battery and battery charging circuit work together, you will get over 5 years of 100% capacity before the battery degrades to about 80% capacity.
That is, unless you use your MBP for 8 hours a day, EVERY day, on batteries... Then you'll get just under 3 years at 100%, then the battery will degrade down to 80%.
It's not just the battery, it's the charging circuit, too. They have REALLY tuned-up and optimized the COMBINATION of the two.
Li-Ion and Li-Polymer batteries do NOT experience "memory". So, you do NOT get "penalized" for a full recharge cycle every time you "top off" your battery. Instead, the only thing that "counts" is the percentage you actually charge and discharge the battery each time. So, 4 cycles of 25% use and recharge only "counts" as ONE "recharge cycle" against that 1,000 recharges figure.
Got it?