Apple MacBook Pro Fall 2011 (2.4GHz Core i7, 15-inch)
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MD322LL/A
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- User reviews
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- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- A MacBook Pro is a significant investment, especially when adding in optional upgrades. Cost aside, there's not a better choice (there are, however, some close ties) for an all-around powerhouse that will work in the home, the office, and in between.
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CNET editors' review
Apple MacBook Pro Fall 2011 (2.4GHz Core i7, 15-inch) price range: $2,018.95 - $2,199.00
- Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
- Reviewed on: 10/26/2011
- Released on: 10/24/2011
The good: Incremental updates to the CPU help keep the MacBook Pro line a step above the now-mainstream MacBook Air. The trackpad and gesture controls are still the best of any current laptop.
The bad: Unless you need an optical drive, the MacBook Air may be a better fit for most, and the Pro still lacks things we'd like to see, such as HDMI, Blu-ray, and USB 3.0.
The bottom line: A MacBook Pro is a significant investment, especially when adding in optional upgrades. Cost aside, there's not a better choice (there are, however, some close ties) for an all-around powerhouse that will work in the home, the office, and in between.
Editors' note: On October 24, 2011, Apple updated the MacBook Pro line with new CPUs, larger hard drives, and new graphics options. The upgrades were very minor, and the bulk of our review of the 15-inch MacBook Pro from earlier in 2011 still stands. We've added upgrade and contextual notes below, as well as new benchmark test results.
The latest round of updates to Apple's popular MacBook Pro line were modest enough that they simply appeared on the Apple Web site with little fanfare beyond a basic press release. Rather than a generational jump as we saw in February 2011 (when the Pro moved from Intel's original Core i-series CPUs to the latest second-generation chips, formerly code-named Sandy Bridge), this is perhaps better described as minor housekeeping.
In the 15-inch MacBook Pro, we previously reviewed the more high-end of two starting configurations. That $2,199 unit had a 2.2GHz quad-core i7, whereas the $1,799 model had a 2.0GHz CPU. The biggest change is that the $1,799 model now has that 2.2GHz quad-core i7, and the $2,199 model moves up to an even faster 2.4GHz CPU. The GPU options are now a 512MB AMD Radeon HD 6750M in the lower-priced version and a 1GB AMD Radeon HD 6770M in the more expensive one. Default storage remains the same for the 15-inch models, but the 13- and 17-inch MacBook Pros have their own set of CPU, GPU, and HDD updates, the details of which are here.
Note that this time around we tested the new $1,799 15-inch MacBook Pro, whereas our previous 15-inch MacBook Pro review sample was the $2,199 version, so we're effectively looking at the same CPU in both cases.
The iconic unibody aluminum construction remains the same, as does the large glass multitouch trackpad. Thunderbolt, Intel's new high-speed powered port for data transfer and displays, remains an interesting extra, but its promise is still hypothetical, with few available Thunderbolt-compatible peripherals.
This 15-inch MacBook Pro, at $1,799, follows the usual Apple trajectory of keeping the price steady but adding faster, more powerful components. The latest round of upgrades, while not revolutionary, helps give the Pro line a boost at a time when the less-expensive MacBook Air has become such an excellent mainstream laptop that it could easily substitute for the Pro for many potential MacBook buyers who don't need an internal optical drive or bigger screen.
| Price as reviewed | $1,799 |
| Processor | 2.2GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core |
| Memory | 4GB, 1,066MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 500GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | Intel H67 |
| Graphics | AMD Radeon HD 6750M / Intel HD 3000 |
| Operating system | OS X 10.7 Lion |
| Dimensions (WD) | 14.4x9.8 inches |
| Height | 0.95 inch |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 15.4 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 5.5 pounds / 6.2 pounds |
| Category | Midsize |
By now, the shape and size of the MacBook Pro should be very familiar. Even more recent designs, such as the second-generation MacBook Air, are variations on it. The basic building block remains the same: a solid chunk of aluminum, which is carved down into a shell with support struts. This unibody chassis has the benefit of being thin (for a 15-inch laptop), but strong and flex-free at the same time.
The touch philosophy that informs the iPad/iPhone line of devices can be said to have its roots in the large multitouch clickpad-style trackpad that's been a staple of the MacBook Pro for years. The multitouch gestures, slightly revamped recently for OS X Lion, are incredibly useful. Once you get used to them, going back to a regular touch pad is difficult. Several Windows laptops have added larger clickpads over the past year or so, with somewhat similar multitouch gestures, but we can easily say that none can yet compete with the MacBook's implementation.
The 1,440x900-pixel display is still higher-resolution than many 15-inch laptops (which are 1,366x768 pixels), and two screen upgrades are available: a 1,680x1,050-pixel version for an extra $100, or a 1,680x1,050-pixel "antiglare" version for $150. Of the current MacBook lineup, only the 11-inch Air has a 16:9 display; Apple is otherwise the only major computer maker still widely using 16:10 displays.
| Apple MacBook Pro (Fall 2011, 15-inch) | Average for category [midsize] | |
|---|---|---|
| Video | DisplayPort/Thunderbolt | VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 2 USB 2.0, SD card reader | 4 USB 2.0, SD card reader, eSATA |
| Networking | Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband |
| Optical drive | DVD burner | DVD burner |
The big difference between MacBooks and other laptops in the ports and connections category is the recent port based on Intel's Thunderbolt high-speed I/O technology. If it looks a lot like the Mini DisplayPort connection on older MacBooks, that's because it is the same, except for the tiny lightning bolt logo next to it. It still functions as a DisplayPort output, and in fact, you're able to daisy-chain up to six Thunderbolt devices or displays to that single port.
Thunderbolt is technically capable of 10Gbps bidirectional transfer, and if Intel and Apple have their way, it may replace many other kinds of ports and connections in the future, but there are only a handful of peripherals that work with it currently.
Also notable on the 2011 MacBook Pro (including the version we tested earlier this year) is a 720p Webcam, which works with the new Mac version of FaceTime, the same video-conferencing app found on the iPhone and iPod Touch. With a solid Wi-Fi signal, jumping into full-screen mode was clear and mostly stutter-free. There's also an onscreen button for changing the video window from portrait mode to horizontal, and video calls can be made between MacBooks and iPhones as well. You can read more about FaceTime for Mac here.
But while Thunderbolt and FaceTime are interesting extras, the real muscle behind the new MacBook Pro is the quad-core Intel Core i7 CPU and AMD Radeon HD 6750M GPU. These parts were previously found on the higher-end 15-inch Pro, and now are the default loadout for the less-expensive base model. In our CNET Labs benchmark tests, the new MacBook Pro performed impressively, and was almost exactly matched with the Winter 2011 MacBook Pro we tested. Keep in mind that we're comparing the April 2011 high-end configuration with the October 2011 entry-level configuration.
The AMD Radeon HD 6750M in our review unit is a solid GPU, and a nice jump over the Radeon 6490M previously offered with the $1,799 15-inch Pro. As with the previous few generations of MacBook Pros, the discrete graphics swap out with the integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics as needed, saving battery life as you go.
Mac gaming, no matter what anyone says, is still a pretty fallow field, with many big games still only available for Windows systems. In our older Modern Warfare Mac gaming benchmark, we got 41.3 frames per second at 1,440x900 pixels, which was not quite as good as the 51.8 frames per second we got with the high-end $2,199 version of the 15-inch MacBook Pro earlier this year, which also had a 6750M card.
MacBooks are also known for offering long battery life, even in larger systems such as the 15-inch Pro. In this case, the system ran for 6 hours and 54 minutes in our video playback battery drain test, essentially the same result as the previous version of the 15-inch MacBook Pro we tested, which ran for 7 hours and 5 minutes. In comparison, Dell's XPS 15z, clearly aimed at the same audience, ran for only 3 hours and 30 minutes in the same test.
Service and support from Apple has always been a mixed bag. Apple includes a one-year parts-and-labor warranty, but only 90 days of telephone support. Upgrading to a full three-year plan under AppleCare will cost an extra $349 and is pretty much a must-buy, considering the proprietary nature of Apple products and their sealed bodies. Support is also accessible through a well-stocked online knowledge base, video tutorials, and e-mail with customer service, or through in-person visits to Apple's retail store Genius Bars, which, in our experience, have always been fairly frustration-free encounters.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test laptops.
System configurations:
Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Fall 2011)
OS X 10.7.2 Lion; 2.2GHz Intel Core i7; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 512MB AMD Radeon HD 6750M / 384MB (Shared) Intel HD 3000; 500GB Toshiba 5,400rpm
Apple MacBook Air 13.3-inch (Summer 2011)
OS X 10.7 Lion; 1.7GHz Intel Core i5-2557M; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 384MB (Shared) Intel HD 3000; 128GB Apple SSD
Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Winter 2011)
OS X 10.6.6 Snow Leopard; Intel Core i7 2.2GHz; 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 1GB AMD Radeon HD 6750M / 384MB (Shared) Intel HD 3000; 750GB Toshiba 5,400rpm
Alienware M14x
Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit); 2.3GHz Intel Core i7-2820M; 8GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz; 3GB Nvidia GeForce GT 555M + 64MB (Dedicated) Intel HD 3000; 720GB Seagate 7,200rpm
Dell XPS 15z
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) w/ SP1; 2.7GHz Intel Core i7-2620M; 8GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,333MHz; 2GB Nvidia GeForce GT 525M / 64MB (Shared) Intel HD 3000; 750GB Seagate 7,200rpm
User reviews
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I REALLY want to give it five stars... but
by S-Bruck on November 11, 2011
Pros: Unibody construction is solid, sleek and beautiful
Great OS
Great processor speedCons: Don't go into it expecting 7 hrs of battery life
It gets really hotSummary: Let me start with the good:
So awesome. Great OS, fabulous improvements to the existing line bumping up the processor speed and adding the thunderbolt port. This is my second ...Summary: Let me start with the good:
So awesome. Great OS, fabulous improvements to the existing line bumping up the processor speed and adding the thunderbolt port. This is my second MacBook. The first one I had was a 2006 model, not the Pro. I fell in love with it. This one has had the same effect. I had upgraded my old MacBook to Lion, so I kind of knew what I was getting, but hadn't been able to enjoy some of the awesome new multi-touch features. The improvements to the OS have been relatively gradual, but substantive. The feel of this machine compared to the old MacBook is far superior. The Unibody construction is solid, sleek and beautiful. It is everything I'd hoped it would be from a look and feel standpoint, but somehow a bit more sturdy.
For the not so good, I got the stock screen - which is VERY glossy. I mean ... REALLY glossy. It's still beautiful and has better color reproduction than I could ever expect from a notebook. The reflectiveness of the display is only a minor inconvenience if you work in a controlled-lighting environment like me (I prefer it dark) or if you can crank up the brightness.
My real problem with it? The statement of 7 hour battery life is not just mere exaggeration -- it's a lie. I challenge anyone to show proof that through anywhere near normal use can get more than 2.5 hrs out of it. I've got the brightness all the way down to just one notch above 'off' and the keyboard backlight off. The first full charge of this battery got me only about 2 full hours. Enabling the battery timer is useless. The "Time remaining" goes from 4 hours plus to less than 2 hours over the span of about 10 minutes. It's a joke. It's so bad that I'm thinking I only got half a battery or something.
I have an extended battery on a Dell notebook that gives me 7.5 hrs of regular use, and had an extra "slice" battery that attached to a Compaq elitebook that gave me 7-8 hrs. I know what 7 hrs of battery looks like. This ain't it.
My only other complaint is that it gets really hot. There's a reason they aren't called laptops.
If you buy this - don't go into it expecting 7 hrs of battery life, and you'll be perfectly satisfied (if you will buy this Laptop I suggest you have to check for best price before you decide at: Lowest-pricing.info/MacBookPro-MD322LLA )
All that being said, I think I'm done buying Windows PCs.
Good Luck!6 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Extremely overpriced for what you get.
by endernoh on December 24, 2011
Pros: This is a very beautiful machine. Apple engineers have developed a well built machine.
Cons: Besides the insane price there are some big misses. For the premium price I'd expect some premium features like Blu-ray. They don't even have some standard features like USB 3. (yes, having at least 1 USB 3 port is standard at this point).
Summary: Others have said that this is great for IT students and I have to disagree. I have to run a majority of my tools on a virtual machine which is ...
Summary: Others have said that this is great for IT students and I have to disagree. I have to run a majority of my tools on a virtual machine which is a clunky way of doing things. (even when I buy a MAC to get away from Windows I still have to install Windows to run some programs). Trust me, the beauty of the laptop fades over time and you're left realizing you spent $500 too much for a premium laptop that isn't that premium.
2 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good machine, but there are far better options.
by technerd01 on December 24, 2011
Pros: If you want to pick up a machine without researching, this is the one to pick.
Cons: There are just simply far better machines out there for around the same price, if you look. Or if you want something that is similar, you can get it for a lot less.
Summary: The MBP's are good machines, no doubt. But, I recommend if you want a MBP, look at the Samsung 7 series. You, simply are, getting a $2300 MBP for $...
Summary: The MBP's are good machines, no doubt. But, I recommend if you want a MBP, look at the Samsung 7 series. You, simply are, getting a $2300 MBP for $1300. Plus, it has a smaller overall footprint and weighs half a pound less. Hardware is (literally) identical. Same with battery life. Durability and reliability.
But, if you are wanting to pay similar price to the MBP, with some research you can find, far better computer's for the price. For example, with the proper discounts, you can pick up a Lenovo Thinkpad or HP Elitebook for the same price, that are all around better than the MBP. Durability, Reliability, Performance, security, services, etc...
MBP's are a mid-range computer with a premium pricing. If you want an equivalent laptop, there are equivalent laptops for a lot less. If you want to pay the same amount, you can pick up laptops that are far better for the same price. If you do some research, you will find them.
I would only recommend getting a MBP, if you HAVE to have OS X. Simply put, if all the software/things you do can be done on a windows powered machine, go with a windows powered machine. Because you can either get the same computer for a lot less, or you can get something similar priced that is a lot better. But, if you want to pick up a machine without having to go into the hassle of researching what's out there, this is also the one to pick. But keep in mind, with just some research, you could have a far better machine than what you picked up.3 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very nice desktop replacement
by Waam on December 24, 2011
Pros: Good performance, sleek and beautiful.
Cons: No Bluray yet? Would love to have the storage capability.
Summary: Still no USB 3.0 (forgiven), but cannot be forgiven for the lack of Blu-Ray and HDMI out support.
Summary: Still no USB 3.0 (forgiven), but cannot be forgiven for the lack of Blu-Ray and HDMI out support.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best machine I have ever owned, period. (Customized)
by TMcJilton on December 5, 2011
Pros: Solid, unbeatable construction. Lightning fast. Very attractive. Incredible screen quality. Every aspect of this machine was though out, and designed. Multi-touch trackpad is very intuitive and makes navigating simple and easy. Lion OS is very nice.
Cons: So far, I have found very little, if anything I would change.
Summary: First of all, I have owned quite a variety of PC's from various manufacturers as well as custom made, including workstation class desktops, and laptops. This is my first ...
Summary: First of all, I have owned quite a variety of PC's from various manufacturers as well as custom made, including workstation class desktops, and laptops. This is my first Macintosh. I have long been known to bash Apple products, and have been a silly micro$oft sheep for far too long.
My first inclination to switch sides was after seeing how well most of Apples products are built. The fact that they're not made of cheap plastics and are actually designed was key. My intentions were to give them a try and run windows on a MBP. After a lifetime of countless headaches with micro$oft and various PC manufacturers, I decided to give Apple a shot, and planned to evaluate OS X Lion. After a few short hours, I was forever changed.
One great thing about Apple is that they design both the hardware and software. The key word here is design. They actually took the time to engineer things to work together. There aren't 20 million companies throwing together 20 million different machines, in 20 million different ways to work with an operating system. This is, in my opinion, one of the most crucial factors in Apples success with getting it right.
On to the MacBook Pro. I wanted the anti-glare screen, and opted for a few other upgrades. I bought this machine at my local Apple Retail Store, and ended up with a pre-customized 2.5GHZ, Hi-Res / Antiglare, 750GB 7200RPM HDD, 4GB, ATI 6770M 1GB. This is by far the best machine I have ever owned in many ways, which is saying quite a bit.
This computer is built incredibly well, compromising nothing. Its design and construction are far superior to anything else. Battery life is excellent (Anyone expecting to run this machine with optimal settings and achieve 7 hours of battery life, should know better). I was able to run this machine for about 4 to 5 hours while actually working on it. The machine is very responsive, and incredibly fast.
I use it for quite a few demanding tasks including graphic design, automation programming / compiling, as well as music production, and some gaming. Its performance on every one of these tasks exceeded my expectations. It runs all of my Adobe Creative Suite Software with ease, handles compiling without breaking a sweat, and gaming is smooth with maxed out settings 27 - 60 FPS.
As a first time Macintosh OS X user, I am very happy with Lion. I am more of a power user, and was a bit nervous about it being too user friendly, etc. but was impressed with the overall setup of the OS. I really can't say enough about this machine, it has really impressed me in every way possible. I really love the multi-touch trackpad, and all of its integrations into the OS.
Many people are complaining about the lack of USB 3.0, most of which don't even own this machine, but I see far more advantages to the Thunderbolt Port. I plan on using the MacBook Pro with an Apple Thunderbolt display, and also connecting a Thunderbolt HDD for large data storage and backup. Although I don't own them yet, I will update this with my findings on the Thunderbolt ports performance once I have some time invested in using them.
There are too many things that I love to list here, and I may add more as I find them, but in short, I am done with micro$oft products and am a happy and proud Macintosh owner / user.
It is somewhat funny that I keep reading reviews of this product written by people who don't even own the product in which they are reviewing. How can you write a review for something you haven't owned, or only used a handful of times? It seems a lot of people also complain about the price, again most of which don't own the product. If you feel its too expensive, buy something else and review it instead.This was an expensive investment at $2,649.00 but I feel that its well worth it, my money was well spent, and I got exactly what I paid for. I have spent just as much money on widows based machines that may have had slightly better specs, but none of them even come close when it actually comes down to performance and overall satisfaction!2 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Awesomest of em all
by Vikie36 on April 21, 2012
Pros: Best trackpad ever
Awesome Air vent
Best OS
Good Sound
Best Keyboard
Long Lasting Battery hourCons: Only two usb 2.0 ports very near which makes some pendrives/dongles impossible to use at same time
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Best Notebook
by henriwang3000 on March 20, 2012
Pros: Durable aluminum unibody
Still light and portable at 17-inch
Hi resolution
Anti-glare
Multi-touch trackpad
App store
Good battery life
Environmentally friendly
Chemical-free
Good speakers
Back-lit keyboardsCons: Lack of some ports
Heats-up a lot
Limited selection of games on the App store, but yet to come, with many mac-only games that I love
Freezes up temporarily sometimesSummary: I was a Windows user for 5 years, and switched over to OS X last October. I cannot believe I got through with Windows all my life!
With an OWC ...Summary: I was a Windows user for 5 years, and switched over to OS X last October. I cannot believe I got through with Windows all my life!
With an OWC solid state drive (not the Apple ones) and 16GB RAM (again, the Apple ones are over priced-get them from OWC), you get one of the fastest notebook in the world.
The Pros and Cons mostly says it all.
Also, get the AppleCare, it is totally worth it in case something happens within a long three years.
If you are a first-timer, read the user's manual that comes with OS X.
OS X Lion is really easy to use, I would agree with Apple that it is in fact the most advanced operating system.
The other user review complaints about battery life and heating-up. The battery life is not true, at around half the brightness and everything else turned off other than AirPort (Wi-Fi), I can browse the web while listening to iTunes for at least 6 hours. But, the heating I would agree on, it gets extremely hot.
Apps I would recommend are:
MacKeeper (the mac app that everyone should have, an all-in-one app with Internet Security, Anti-theft, data encrypting, files recovery, shredding, back-ups, online storage, advanced hard-drive cleaning, duplicate finder, disk usage scanner, uninstalling, update tracker, login items, default apps, 24/7 technical mac help for all members)
iWork and Microsoft Office (for word processing, presentations, and spread sheets)
Kindle (no iBooks like for iOS)
1Password (everyday app)
Carbon Copy Cloner (everyday app)
Mozilla Firefox and/or Google Chrome (as back-up web browsers, although Safari is my default and favorite)
Parallels (for Window users on mac, using BootCamp is a disadvantage because you cannot work with Windows and OS X side-by-side, although Apple might change it sooner or later)
Adobe Photoshop (for image editing)
Other than that, even for 17-inchers, the Apple Thunderbolt Display is a really nice docking station, AirPlay Mirroring is to come with the future OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion so get the Apple TV since it now supports 1080p full HD, and OWC is a great place for mac peripherals. -
My first Mac and ill never go back to a Windows PC
by Russ10Tide on March 2, 2012
Pros: Very Fast and Efficient Hard Drive and Processor, Very Nice design with backlit keyboard and Hi-Res screen, Large and highly Integrated Track-Pad, OS X Lion (operating system) is very easy to figure out and very detailed. EVERYTHING
Cons: It Cost me $2,200 for the 15" 2.4 GHZ processor, a little pricy but worth it in the end.
Summary: Overall this purchase was a big step for me but it payed off in the end. A Very Smooth Transition over from windows based PC's. I was a little ...
Summary: Overall this purchase was a big step for me but it payed off in the end. A Very Smooth Transition over from windows based PC's. I was a little leery of spending this much but have learned in the past (from other owners) that the life if a Mac will go as long as you take care of it. I am EXTREMELY HAPPY that i made the decision to switch and love everything about this computer. i would recommend to anyone not needing a CD/DVD Drive, Nor a Larger 15" screen to look into the MacBook Air as it is half the price and most the same features plus it has a (SSD) Solid State Drive which feature instant on and is much faster than a Serial ATA Drive. If you do not have a budget on a computer and are willing to spend anything, and your debating on a macbook or elitebook of some sort. GO WITH THIS MACBOOK PRO!! it will do everything you need and more in a very efficient manner.
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WOW I love this Laptop
by GeneralWarefare7 on December 30, 2011
Pros: It is a nice sleek design
good battery life
Good for extreme video editing
LION
8 gb ram 1333mhz
FINAL CUT PRO is amazing along with After effects and Premiere pro
Pleased with itCons: It is a little pricey
not as quite as quick as my AlienwareSummary: it is a overpriced computer but in my eyes it is worth it
you can make your own Mac for cheaper
If so I would advise TonyMacx86 for there dead ...Summary: it is a overpriced computer but in my eyes it is worth it
you can make your own Mac for cheaper
If so I would advise TonyMacx86 for there dead simple instructions and there easy installation techniques
all in all I would say make one if you are a college student but if you have some money to play with i would say go for it.
I am very pleased with this decision, but it did cost me 2k which I was not pleased with.
Thanks for reading this review.
Please rate this... -
Worth the high price tag!
by redsox2003 on December 28, 2011
Pros: Design, speed, OS, build quality
Cons: Price, not as customizable as it's Windows counterparts, design is pretty old, no full HD option on the 15"
Summary: The MacBook Pro. This computer seems to set the standards in the laptop world. Many companies such as Dell and HP have their own respective MacBook Pro copies. What sets ...
Summary: The MacBook Pro. This computer seems to set the standards in the laptop world. Many companies such as Dell and HP have their own respective MacBook Pro copies. What sets apart the MacBook Pro and why should you buy it? First would be the design. I have design as a Pro and Con. The design of this MBP has been around since 2008, almost 4 years now. I definitely think Apple should do a full redesign as soon as possible. In the mean time however, it's aged gracefully. Still one of the best looking laptops on the market even though a lot of it's competitors have been fully refreshed recently. The unibody construction feels extremely sturdy, it's not light but it's not heavy either. Definitely a laptop that can perform heavy duty tasks but still can be taken around in a backpack. Next is the speed, with the new i7 processors this laptop doesn't seem to have any hiccups. Final Cut and Photoshop or any CPU heavy programs don't lag or freeze constantly. The trackpad and multitouch gestures are awesome, once you get used to one-two-three-and four finger gestures you realize how much better the end experience is. I never realized how much I would use three finger swipe to go back in webpages but now I do all the time it makes it so much easier than going and clicking the "back" button in Safari.
Now onto the cons, no laptop can be perfect. Of course the price is a bit high, but you get what you pay for. The MBP also isn't as customizable as many of it's Windows counterparts. But, as we know Apple does like to keep things simple for the users but for some of us we would like to see more options in the BTO. I wish they would include a full 1920x1080 display on the 15" as well, but supposedly that is coming with the upcoming refresh in 2012. Finally, the 2 USB ports can be a pain but I do have a USB hub adapter which does take care of that. Still I wish they included atleast two more USB ports considering this is a $2000+ machine.
This is a great laptop and still sets the bar for design and speed.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: MD322LL/A
- Description: MacBook Pro is machined from a single piece of aluminum, an engineering breakthrough that replaced many parts with just one. It's called the unibody. And the first time you pick up a MacBook Pro you'll notice the difference it makes. The entire enclosure is thinner and lighter than other notebooks. It looks polished and refined. And it feels strong and durable - perfect for life inside (and outside) your briefcase or backpack.
General
- System Type Notebook
- OS Provided Apple Mac OS X Lion
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Notebook type Midsize
Processor / Chipset
- Processor Intel 2nd Gen Core i7 2.4 GHz
- Multi-Core Technology Quad-Core
- Cache 6 MB,
L3 cache - 64-bit Computing Yes
- Features Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0,
Integrated memory controller,
Hyper-Threading Technology Memory
- RAM 4 GB,
( 2 x 2 GB ) - Max RAM Supported 8 GB
- Technology DDR3 SDRAM
- Speed 1333 MHz
- Form Factor SO DIMM 204-pin
- Slots Qty 2
- Empty Slots 0
Storage
- Floppy Drive None
- Hard Drive 750 GB / 5400 rpm,
HDD - Interface Serial ATA-300
- Storage Removable None
- Optical Drive DVD±RW (±R DL)
- Read Speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
- Write Speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD±R DL)
- Rewrite Speed 10x (CD) / 4x (DVD±RW)
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 50 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 95 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 0 - 90% (non-condensing)
- Max Altitude Operating 10000 ft
Display
- Type 15.4 in
- LCD Backlight Technology LED backlight
- Max Resolution 1440 x 900 ( WXGA+ )
- Widescreen Yes
- Features Glossy
Audio & Video
- Multi-GPU Configuration 1 single GPU card / integrated GPU
- Graphics Processor 1 GB,
AMD Radeon HD 6770M / Intel HD Graphics 3000 GDDR5 SDRAM - Camera Yes
- Capture Resolutions 1280 x 720
- Sound Microphone
Input
- Type Backlit keyboard,
Trackpad - Keyboard Layout English
- Features Multi-touch touchpad
Communications
- Wireless 802.11n,
Bluetooth 2.1 EDR - Network Interface Gigabit Ethernet
Battery
- Technology Lithium polymer
- Installed Qty 1
- Capacity 77.5 Wh
- Run Time 7 hour(s)
AC Adapter
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
- Output 85 Watt
Connections & Expansion
- Slots Memory,
SD Memory Card - Interfaces LAN,
FireWire 800,
2 x USB 2.0,
Thunderbolt,
Microphone input,
Headphone/SPDIF combo jack - Interfaces 2 x USB 2.0 - USB 2.0,
1 x Ethernet - RJ-45,
1 x MagSafe power,
1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire),
1 x Thunderbolt port,
1 x Audio line-in,
1 x Audio line-out - Memory Card Reader Card reader ( SDHC Memory Card ),
( SDXC Memory Card ),
( SD Memory Card ) Software
- Software Included Apple iCal,
Apple QuickTime,
Apple iTunes,
Apple Spotlight,
Drivers & Utilities,
Apple Address Book,
Apple Safari,
Apple Mac App Store,
Apple Launchpad,
Apple Mission Control,
Apple FaceTime,
Apple iLife,
Apple Time Machine,
Apple Quick Look,
Photo Booth,
Apple Mac OS X Mail,
Apple Versions,
Apple AirDrop,
Apple Auto Save,
Apple Resume Miscellaneous
- Features Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately),
Aluminum enclosure - Included Accessories Cleaning cloth
- Cables Included Power cable ( 1 pcs.)
- Localization English
Dimensions & Weight
- Width 14.3 in
- Depth 9.8 in
- Height 0.9 in
- Weight 5.5 lbs
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year,
Technical support - Phone consulting - 90 days Sustainability
- ENERGY STAR Qualified Yes
- EPEAT Compliant EPEAT Gold
- Greenpeace policy rating (Nov 2011) 4.6
Product series
-
Apple MacBook Pro Fall 2011 (2.4GHz Core i5, 13-inch)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel 2nd Gen Core i5 2.4 GHz ( Dual-Core ),
4 GB,
/ 8 GB (max),
500 GB - 5400 rpm,
- Serial ATA-300,
13.3 in,
TFT active matrix,
Apple Mac OS X Lion,
DVD±RW (±R DL) - Integrated,
Intel HD Graphics 3000 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 5.0,
384 MB,
4.4 lbs,
L3 cache,
3 MB -
Apple MacBook Pro Fall 2011 (2.8GHz Core i7, 13-inch)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel 2nd Gen Core i7 2.8 Hz,
( Dual-Core ),
4 GB,
/ 8 GB (max),
750 GB - 5400 rpm,
- Serial ATA-300,
13.3 in,
TFT active matrix,
Apple Mac OS X Lion,
DVD±RW (±R DL) - Integrated,
Intel HD Graphics 3000 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 5.0,
384 MB,
4.4 lbs,
L3 cache,
4 MB -
Apple MacBook Pro Fall 2011 (2.2GHz Core i7, 15-inch)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel 2nd Gen Core i7 2.2 GHz ( Quad-Core ),
4 GB,
/ 8 GB (max),
500 GB - 5400 rpm,
- Serial ATA-300,
15.4 in,
TFT active matrix,
Apple Mac OS X Lion,
DVD±RW (±R DL) - Integrated,
AMD Radeon HD 6750M / Intel HD Graphics 3000,
512 MB GDDR5 SDRAM,
5.5 lbs,
L3 cache,
6 MB -
Apple MacBook Pro Fall 2011 (2.4GHz Core i7, 15-inch)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel 2nd Gen Core i7 2.4 GHz ( Quad-Core ),
4 GB,
/ 8 GB (max),
750 GB - 5400 rpm,
- Serial ATA-300,
15.4 in,
TFT active matrix,
Apple Mac OS X Lion,
DVD±RW (±R DL) - Integrated,
AMD Radeon HD 6770M / Intel HD Graphics 3000,
1 GB,
GDDR5 SDRAM,
5.5 lbs,
L3 cache,
6 MB -
Apple MacBook Pro Fall 2011 (2.4GHz Core i7, 17-inch)
Manufacturer: Apple
Specs: Intel 2nd Gen Core i7 2.4 GHz ( Quad-Core ),
4 GB,
/ 8 GB (max),
750 GB - 5400 rpm,
- Serial ATA-300,
17 in,
TFT active matrix,
Apple Mac OS X Lion,
DVD±RW (±R DL) - Integrated,
AMD Radeon HD 6770M / Intel HD Graphics 3000,
1 GB,
GDDR5 SDRAM,
6.6 lbs,
L3 cache,
6 MB
Accessories
- A-Data Classic Series C008 - USB flash drive - 4 GB (34637987)9.69
- A-Data Classic Series C008 - USB flash drive - 64 GB (34581520)64.99
- A-Data Classic Series C008 - USB flash drive - 64 GB (34581564)62.99
- Apple Magic Mouse (33783857)57.99 - 114.38
- Apple Mighty Mouse (wireless) (31985391)69.89
- Ergoguys mouse (34828799)
- Cisco Linksys E4200 v2 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N900 router (35098697)164.99 - 199.99
- Asus RT-N56U Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless-N Router (34200558)114.79 - 135.00
- Belkin N150 Wireless Router - wireless router - 802.11b/g/n - desktop (34859948)28.99 - 34.99
- Belkin N300 Wireless N Router - wireless router - 802.11b/g/n - desktop (35263578)39.99 - 48.99
- Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router - wireless router - 802.11 a/b/g/n - desktop (35190484)66.57 - 104.73
- Belkin N900 Dual-Band Wireless Router - wireless router - 802.11n - desktop (35262637)194.99 - 292.17
- Buffalo AirStation Nfiniti HighPower Giga WZR-HP-G450H - wireless router - none - 802.11b/g/n - desktop (34859675)82.11 - 95.99
- Cisco 881 Fast Ethernet Security Router supporting EVDO/1xRTT - router - cellular modem - 802.11b/g/n (draft 2.0) - desktop (35026157)
- Cisco 892F Gigabit Ethernet Security Router - wireless router - ISDN - 802.11 a/b/g/n (draft 2.0) - desktop (34693849)
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Apple
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
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