New Apple MacBook Pros come with Thunderbolt Technology

2059 Views 6 Replies 4 Participants Last post by GrimJack, Feb 25, 2011

hugh

Discussion Starter · Feb 24, 2011

Apple today unveiled its new line of 13-, 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro notebooks which features Intel's next generation processors, Thunderbolt I/O technology and a new FaceTime HD camera.

With two bi-directional channels, Apple claims that Thunderbolt, a technology developed by Intel, can transfer files at 10 gigabits per second, about twelve times faster than FireWire and twenty times faster than USB 2.0.

Thunderbolt aslo offers native support for Mini DisplayPort and through the use of adapters connect to DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, and VGA displays. Up to seven devices can be daisy-chained off a single Thunderbolt port.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 320GB hard drive starting at $1,199 ($1,249 CDN); and one with a 2.7 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i7 and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,499 ($1,549 CDN).

The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.0 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6490M and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,799 ($1,849 CDN) and one with a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199 ($2,249).

The 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive and is priced at $2,499 in both Canada and the U.S.

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Nuje

· #2 · Feb 25, 2011

Awesome - can't wait to get one of these and plug in my Thunderbolt......ummm, oh yeah - there aren't any Thunderbolt peripherals yet.

Therefore....pass.

HD webcam? Faster processors and video chips? Meh. Not surprising they didn't include these in the big "event" next week.

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GrimJack

· #3 · Feb 25, 2011

Because obviously there were tons of USB, Sata and PCI/e devices when the first motherboards appeared with them way back when.

It will live or die based on the licensing costs for the manufacturers.
From a convenience/usability point of view it's a pretty big win. Hopefully they rev the 27 inch display to allow chaining which would be a big convenience as far as doing multi-monitor from a laptop or even a desktop.

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hugh

Discussion Starter · #4 · Feb 25, 2011

The new MacBook announcement was pretty underwhelming.

The Thunderbolt is a nice add provided you can still use all your legacy peripherals without having to invest in adaptors etc.

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GrimJack

· #5 · Feb 25, 2011

I didn't really expect much other than cpu updates.

The benchmark improvements look good:
http://www.primatelabs.ca/blog/2011/02/macbookpro-benchmarks-early-2011/

Since apple has been making some effort on easing multi-threaded programming it's possible the OS/Apps will gain more advantage from the multiple cores.

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Mach2billy

· #6 · Feb 25, 2011

GrimJack, it's not really necessary to update the 27" monitor for daisy chaining the Thunderbolt channel. You would just make the monitor the last device on the chain, so no second Thunderbolt connection is required.

Hugh, the details I've seen online say that up to 6 Thunderbolt devices can be chained, not 7. New MacBook teardown

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GrimJack

· #7 · Feb 25, 2011

I meant that a new display with an out as well as the current in.

I believe that displayport 1.3 covers this but I'd imagine with this new connector they're more likely to do it with thunderbolt connections now.

I mean I want a pair of 27 inch displays chained

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