2011 MacBook Pro's roll out

Apple has released its new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro and 17-inch MacBook Pro. 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; and one with a 2.7 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,499. 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 and one with a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199. The new 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. 

The model of interest to readers of this blog, is of course the 13-inch model. Aside from the dual Core i5, the 13-inch MacBook Pro gives up Nvidia graphics for the Intel HD Graphics 3000. It also incorporates the new Thunderbolt I/O (Light Peak), but we have to wait and see how that plays out.  They also cone with better webcams. SSD drives, in either 128MB, 256MB and 512MB are available as optional upgrades, but are not yet standard equipment.

The rumored lighter Macbook Air like body is nowhere to be seen.  The 13-inch model appears to have the same 12.8 x 8.9 x 1 inch aluminum unibody case as last years MacBook Pro, and the weight is not up slightly, at 4.5 pounds. Also the rumored dramatically longer battery life gives way to a 3-hour loss in battery life. USB 3.0 is also nowhere to be seen.

Not much has really changed. Even the screen resolution is still 1280 x 800 and not the rumored 1440 x 900. All-in-all a decent upgrade, but after all the rumors, well its a bit of a letdown, especially for the 13-inch model.

My own prediction was we would see the price of the entry level MacBook Pro come down to the same level as the entry level MacBook Air at about Php52K. I thought Apple would try to expand its market share be making it product more accessible to more consumers, like it did with it well priced iPad. That is not the case. The entry level MacBook Pro 13 is still priced at Php61,990. Same price as last years model.