We all know that it's but obvious...News Image
Apple's powerhorse notebook, Macbook Pro is already due for an update following recent release of Intel's penryn based mobile chipsets. Word has it that, MBP's update was delayed as Apple was getting MBA ready along with Leopard update (10.5.2).
Following are some juicy details/expected changes for upcoming Macbook Pro update:
* New Penryn based processors (2.5GHz & 2.6GHz with 6mb L2 cache). Although the "Extreme Edition" 2.8 GHz is said to be left out. Apple may or may not include this chip or keep it as exclusive option for higher end models in MBA (17" and second config of 15" model)
* 2.6GHz Penryn-based Core 2 Duo processor runs at 1.15V compared to the 1.225V of the similarly-speced Merom chip offered on existing MacBook Pros, which should translate into modest battery improvements for the new 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pros.
In a recent test run by technology publication AnandTech, a 2.6GHz Penryn-based notebook lasted an extra 55 minutes, or an increase of almost 16.5 percent in battery life over the identically configured 2.6GHz Merom-based system.
* In very much the same way that iSight video cams have become commonplace on nearly all of Apple's personal computer systems, the Mac maker will reportedly scale the gesture-based input technology across its notebook lines during the course of the year.
The next models to receive the oversized trackpads will be updated 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro models due for an introduction in the next several weeks.
Many people think that it's possible with only software update to enable multi-touch gestures on current Apple notebooks, as they already have two point recognition capabilities (two finger scrolling, panning). But it is yet to be confirmed if new MBA uses different hardware than current MB/P trackpads. So simple software update is still a remote possibility.
* MBP's video card is also likely to receive an update with new nVidia/ATi chipsets. nVidia seem to be current favorite of Apple (current MBP's uses nVidia's 8600M GT chips), as nVidia is offering extended hand to Apple in terms of software updates compared to ATi. Many (iMac) ATi users have expressed their concerns with ATi's slow driver updates for fixes and performance improvement. Current top contenders of video space in MBP are ATi's Mobility Radeon HD 3000 series (HD3400 & HD3600) and nVidia's 8800M series.
