Apple's press release on the new 17-inch MacBook Pro.

**NOTES FROM ME: $179 to replace the battery (recycling included) and no Firewire 400 port. 800 only, but it's 400 compatible.**

Apple today unveiled the new 17-inch MacBook Pro featuring a durable and beautiful precision aluminum unibody enclosure, and a revolutionary new built-in battery that delivers up to eight hours of use and up to 1,000 recharges for more than three times the lifespan of conventional notebook batteries.

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro has a high resolution LED-backlit display and the same large glass Multi-Touch trackpad introduced with the new MacBook family in October.

In addition, the new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes state of the art NVIDIA graphics and the latest generation Intel Core 2 Duo mobile processors.

As part of the industry's greenest notebook family, the new 17-inch MacBook Pro is made of highly recyclable materials, meets stringent energy efficiency standards and is made without many of the harmful toxins found in other computers.

"We've developed new battery technology that is better for the user and better for the environment," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "Apple's advanced chemistry and innovative technology deliver up to eight hours of use on a full charge cycle and up to 1,000 recharges."

Apple uses advanced chemistry, intelligent monitoring of the system and battery, and Adaptive Charging technology to create a revolutionary new notebook battery that delivers up to eight hours of wireless productivity on a single charge and up to 1,000 recharges without adding thickness, weight or cost to the MacBook Pro's incredible design.* The longer battery lifespan equals fewer depleted batteries and less waste, which is better for the environment.

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes an ultra-thin, widescreen glossy 1920 x 1200 display with 78 percent more pixels than the 15-inch MacBook Pro and a 60 percent greater color gamut that delivers desktop-quality color in a notebook. The LED-backlit display has brilliant instant-on performance, uses up to 30 percent less energy and eliminates the mercury found in industry standard fluorescent tube backlights.

Measuring just 0.98-inches thin and weighing 6.6 pounds, the 17-inch MacBook Pro is the world's thinnest and lightest 17-inch notebook. The 17-inch MacBook Pro is the most powerful Mac notebook yet with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors available up to 2.93 GHz, up to 8GB DDR3 main memory and a graphics architecture that allows users to switch between the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor for better battery life and the powerful NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics processor for higher performance.

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a 320GB 5400 rpm hard drive standard with a 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive and 128GB and 256GB solid state drives as options. As with the rest of the new MacBook family, the 17-inch MacBook Pro includes a next generation, industry-standard Mini DisplayPort to connect with the new Apple LED Cinema Display featuring a 24-inch LED-backlit widescreen display with a built-in iSight(R) video camera, mic and speakers.

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro joins the aluminum unibody MacBook family in setting new standards for environmentally friendly notebooks with every model achieving EPEAT Gold status.

Each MacBook unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. The new MacBook family meets stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements, contains no brominated flame retardants and uses internal cables and components that are PVC-free.

The battery in the new 17-inch MacBook Pro provides additional environmental benefit because its extended lifespan means fewer depleted batteries resulting in less waste. Depleted batteries can be replaced for $179 which includes installation and disposal of your old battery in an environmentally responsible manner.

Pricing & Availability

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro will be shipping at the end of January and will be available for a suggested retail price of $2,799 (US), and includes:

-- 17-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1920 x 1200, glossy display;

-- 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;

-- 1066 MHz front-side bus;

-- 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM;

-- NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;

-- NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3 video memory;

-- 320GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;

-- a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW) optical drive;

-- Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);

-- built-in AirPort Extreme(R) 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;

-- Gigabit Ethernet port;

-- built-in iSight video camera;

-- three USB 2.0 ports;

-- one FireWire(R) 800 port (FireWire 400 compatible);

-- ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;

-- one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog

-- glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard;

-- built-in, 95WHr lithium polymer battery

-- 85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the 17-inch MacBook Pro include a 2.93 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 8GB 1066 MHz DDR 3 memory, 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB or 256GB solid state drive, anti-glare display for $50 (US), Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

*A properly maintained Apple 17-inch MacBook Pro battery is designed to retain 80 percent or more of its original capacity during a lifespan of up to 1,000 recharge cycles. Battery life and charge cycles vary by use and settings. For more information visit

http://www.apple.com/macbookpro/17inch-battery.

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I thought this was an iphone blog? What is the point of posting unrelated apple press releases?

SCOTT'S REPLY: Because there are a lot of people who were at least interested in the details of today's Macworld. It is definitely an iPhone blog.

2800, holy expensive Batman. Way overpriced in todays world of affordable decent laptops for under $1000. For fan boys

SCOTT'S REPLY: Yeah, and $2,800 is the low-end base price. I'm with you. I'm saddened, but I'm with you.

Yes, imagine the market share Apple would have if they were not so overpriced in this tough times. I went out to look at Laptops, and considering what you get for the same price point, I am going to stick with a P.C. Shame but again, they have overpriced themselves.

Its 2009 and they want close to 4000 for a top end lap top. Great for professionals whose companies may buy it or rich musicians, but for the average joe, its way way out of line. In this day, there really is no justification for such a high priced laptop.

SCOTT'S REPLY: I agree, but I think there's one thing to keep in mind here. While Apple doesn't really have a low-priced offering, they clearly are not marketing the 17-inch MacBook Pro to average joes. It's for creative professionals and businesses. So in that case, it makes sense to have a diverse line that runs the gamut. I wish the initial offering point was a little more reasonable.

Scott,

This is an iPhone blog but I support your adding articles like this. Keep up the good work.

as for the price point of the MBPro. I agree. It is too high. I will wait

N

SCOTT'S REPLY: Thanks, Neil. It will always be an iPhone blog, too ... I just had people that really wanted my spin on the overall event assuming there would be more iPhone love. And I didn't want to let folks down so I did my best to combine the best of both worlds.

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