by Apple
(19)Buy new:
23 used & new from $1,900.00
(Visit the Most Gifted in Notebooks list for authoritative information on this products current rank.)
Product Images
Review & Description
The new MacBook Pro notebooks have several major new features: Intel Core i5 and i7 Processors with Turbo Boost Technology, Thunderbolt the next generation of I/O, new AMD Radeon Graphics, and FaceTime HD camera. The 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro now feature quad-core Intel Core i7 processors. And the 13-inch models jump to dual-core Intel Core i5 and i7 processors. New Thunderbolt technology lets you connect high-performance peripherals and high-resolution displays to one port - with data transfer rates up to 10 Gbps. Thunderbolt is based on two fundamental technologies: PCI Express and DisplayPort. And because Thunderbolt is based on DisplayPort technology, the video standard for high-resolution displays, any Mini DisplayPort display plugs right into the Thunderbolt port. To connect a DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, or VGA display, just use an existing optional adapter. AMD Radeon graphics on the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro are up to 3x faster than those in previous models, so you can take everything from games to CAD to HD video projects anywhere. FaceTime makes full-screen HD video calls that are astonishingly crisp. And thanks to the new widescreen format, you can get your friends in the picture, too. And with Mac OS X Snow Leopard and iLife 11, youre sure to get a great Mac notebook - all in a precision aluminum unibody enclosure thats less than an inch thin. 17.0-inch (diagonal) high-resolution LED-backlit glossy display, 1920-by-1200 resolution Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor and AMD Radeon HD 6750M (1TB GDDR5 dedicated memory) with automatic graphics switching Slot-loading 8x SuperDrive (DVD+-R DL/DVD+-RW/CD-RW) AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi Wireless (based on IEEE 802.11n specification) Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR 10/100/1000 Gigabit BASE-T Ethernet FaceTime HD Camera Audio Stereo speakers with subwoofer, omnidirectional microphone ExpressCard/34 slot Expansions - 3 x USB 2
Introducing the new 17.3-inch MacBook Pro. The state-of-the-art quad-core Intel i7 processor delivers up to 2x faster performance (over the previous generation of MacBook Pro). New Thunderbolt technology lets you connect high-performance peripherals and high-resolution displays to a single port, and transfer files at lightning speeds. And with the new built-in FaceTime HD camera, you can make astonishingly crisp HD video calls.
With the revolutionary Thunderbolt technology, youll be able to achieve bi-directional channels with transfer speeds to peripherals like external hard drives and servers up to an amazing 10 Gbps--while also connecting to a DisplayPort-compatible high-resolution display.
As with previous models, the MacBook Pro features a precision unibody enclosure crafted from a single block of aluminum, creating a thin and light mobile computing workhorse (less than 1 inch thin and just 6.6 pounds) thats also highly durable. It includes a 17.3-inch, LED-backlit glass display as well as a glass trackpad that doesnt include a button (for larger tracking area) that features Apples Multi-Touch technology. And it comes standard with automatic graphics switching that provides performance when you need it and energy efficiency when you dont. Youll also get up to 7 hours of battery life while on the go.
This version of the 17.3-inch MacBook Pro (model MC725LL/A) features a 2.2 GHz Core i7 "Sandy Bridge" quad-core processor, 750 GB hard drive, and 4 GB of installed RAM. Other features include ultra-fast Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking, Bluetooth connectivity, an ExpressCard/34 slot, three USB 2.0 ports, and a FireWire 800 port (see full specifications below). It also comes with the Mac OS X Snow Leopard operating system as well as the iLife software suite, which includes the latest versions of iPhoto, iMovie, and GarageBand.
Key Features
Revolutionary Thunderbolt Technology
Developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O (input/output) technology delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second of transfer speeds in both directions. Built into the MacBook Pro, the Thunderbolt port allows you to connect to new Thunderbolt-compatible peripherals as well as existing USB and FireWire peripherals using simple adapters. Youll be able to move data up to 20 times faster than with USB 2.0 and more than 12 times faster than with FireWire 800, and you can daisy-chain multiple high-speed devices without using a hub.
And because Thunderbolt is based on DisplayPort technology, youll be able to connect to a high-resolution display from the same port. Any Mini DisplayPort display plugs right into the Thunderbolt port, and you can also connect displays that use DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI, or VGA connections with an existing adapter. Youll also be able to include your display into a daisy-chained set of peripherals.
Next-Generation Quad-Core Intel Processor
This MacBook Pro is powered by a second-generation Intel Core i7 quad-core processor (dubbed "Sandy Bridge"), which provides breakthrough digital media management, content creation, and 3D gaming capabilities. With updated Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, the latest Core i7 increases speed automatically for whatever youre doing, dynamically accelerating performance to match your workload.
Intels Hyper-Threading Technology enables each core of your processor to work on two tasks at the same time, delivering the performance you need for smart multitasking. And youll enjoy a rich set of new features for a stunning and seamless visual experience with no additional hardware. The "Sandy Bridge" Core i7 processor also provides faster access to the installed RAM, with an integrated memory controller to connect fast 1333 MHz memory directly to the processor.
With new microarchitecture, the graphics processor resides on the same chip as the central processor and has direct access to the 6 MB of shared L3 cache--helping your applications run at peak performance. And an integrated video encoder enables HD video calls with FaceTime, while an efficient decoder gives you long battery life when youre watching DVDs or iTunes movies.
Automatic Graphics Switching
The MacBook Pro offers excellent graphics flexibility with two video processors--the discrete AMD Radeon HD 6750M processor (with 1 GB of GDDR5 video memory) for heavier workloads and an integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor for better battery life on the go. When gaming or using processor-intensive applications like Aperture or Final Cut Pro, youll appreciate the power of the AMD Radeon HD 6750M, which lets you see more frames per second and experience better responsiveness. And the automatic graphics switching feature determines which graphics processor an application needs and switches instantly between the processors.
Buttonless Multi-Touch Trackpad
With no button on the glass trackpad, theres more room to track and click--left, right, center, and everywhere in between. Without a separate button, the trackpad gives your hands plenty of room to move on the large, silky glass surface. It also incorporates Multi-Touch gestures--including swipe, pinch, rotate, and four-finger swipe. And it also now supports inertial scrolling, an intuitive way to scroll through large photo libraries, lengthy documents and long web sites.
Key Specifications
- 17.3-inch LED-backlit glossy widescreen display with edge-to-edge, uninterrupted glass (1920 x 1200-pixel resolution).
- 2.2 GHz Intel Core i7 quad-core processor ("Sandy Bridge") with 6 MB shared L3 cache for excellent multitasking.
- Dual graphics processors with automatic switching between AMD Radeon HD 6750M (with 1 GB of GDDR5 video memory) for demanding applications and integrated Intel HD Graphics 3000 (with 384 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory) for power savings.
- 750 GB Serial ATA hard drive (5400 RPM)
- 4 GB installed RAM (1333 MHz DDR3; supports up to 8 GB)
- 8x slot-loading SuperDrive with double-layer DVD support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
- Built-in FaceTime HD camera for video chatting
- Wi-Fi wireless networking (based on 802.11n specification; 802.11a/b/g compatible)
- Gigabit Ethernet wired networking (10/100/1000)
- Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) for connecting with peripherals such as keyboards, mice and cell phones
- Three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port
- ExpressCard/34 slot
- Thunderbolt port with native Mini DisplayPort output plus support for DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI, and HDMI (requires adapters, sold separately)
- Multi-Touch trackpad for precise cursor control with support for inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe, four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
- Full-size backlit keyboard
- Stereo speakers with subwoofers
- Dimensions: 15.47 x 10.51 x 0.98 inches (WxDxH)
- Weight: 6.6 pounds
- Up to 7 hours of battery life
- Meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements
- Rated EPEAT Gold
Whats in the Box
17.3-inch MacBook Pro, display cleaning cloth, 85W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, power cord, software DVDs, printed and electronic documentation
Limited Warranty And Service
The MacBook Pro comes with 90 days of free telephone support and a 1-year limited warranty, which can be extended to 3 years with the AppleCare Protection Plan.
Installed software
Mac OS X Snow Leopard is an even more powerful and refined version of the worlds most advanced operating system. In ways big and small, it gets faster, more reliable, and easier to use. New core technologies unleash the power of todays advanced hardware technology and prepare Mac OS X for future innovation.
- Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard (includes iTunes, Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools, and more)
iLife helps you do more with photos, movies, and music than you ever thought possible. In iPhoto, you can browse, edit, and share your photos in stunning new full-screen views. Create epic Hollywood-style movie trailers from your home video in iMovie. And GarageBand gives you everything you need to make a great-sounding song--including tools for keeping your song in perfect rhythm and guitar and piano lessons.
- iLife (includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, and iDVD)
AppleCare Protection Plan
Because Apple makes the hardware, the operating system, and many applications, the Mac is a truly integrated system. And only the AppleCare Protection Plan gives you one-stop service and support from Apple experts, so most issues can be resolved in a single call. Extend the complimentary service and support on your Mac to 3 years from the original Mac purchase date with the AppleCare Protection Plan. You get direct telephone access to Apple experts for technical questions, and you get global repair coverage--including both parts and labor--for your Mac and select Apple peripherals.
Optional Accessories and Related Products
 | 85W MagSafe Power Adapter |
 | MagSafe Airline Adapter |
 | Apple World Travel Adapter Kit |
 | Time Capsule |
 | AirPort Extreme Base Station |
 | 27-inch Apple LED Cinema Display |
 | Apple Magic Mouse |
 | Apple Wireless Keyboard |
Find Low Prices
Friday, August 1, 2014
7 Questions You Need To Ask Before Buying A Notebook Computer
If you are planning to purchase a notebook computer, then there are seven key questions that you will need to ask yourself. Doing this will enable you to arrive at the kind of quality notebook that best suits your purposes and current budget.
1 - How portable, how powerful?
The issue of size and weight will determine how easily you will be able to carry around your notebook computer. After all, one of the reasons why you may have decided to purchase a notebook computer in the first place, is most probably based on the issue of portability. You will need to strike a balance based on your needs and requirements between ultra-portables and desktop replacements. The former offer very small-sized and light weight computers but will often sacrifice a number of items in achieving this. For instance they will tend to get rid of optical drives, among other items that may be important to you. With desktop replacements they will usually tend to be heavy and bulky making them a little difficult to carry around.
2 - What should be the processor speed and type?
The processor speed will contribute heavily to how fast you will be able to accomplish tasks on your notebook computer. If your notebook is meant to be mainly a web browser, with word processing and maybe a DVD player, then any processor that has a speed of 1 GHz or more should work. However if you have in mind a desktop replacement then you will need a high-end processor of 1.6 GHz or higher.
Secondly the type of processor is an important consideration too. Processors based on Centrino technology consume less power and yield improved battery lifetime.
3 - What Screen size, what resolution?
It is important to check the resolution of the screen on the notebook you are purchasing. Everybody would like a larger screen but some large screens have such a high resolution that it is counterproductive and makes the reading of standard fonts difficult. You will also have to remember that the larger the screen the heavier and more difficult to carry your laptop computer will be.
4 - Should the notebook have a convincing optical drive?
In laptops nowadays, the choice of optical drives is important. Laptops have these days been turned into portable DVD players with the DVD-ROM or CD-RW/DVD combo drive. They can even be plugged into a home theater system. The problem is that many ultra-portable laptops quite often lack an internal optical drive to save on space.
5 - Do you require redundant ways to access the Internet?
Ability to connect to the Internet is a key feature. You should be careful to look for systems that include a built-in 56 Kbps modem and Fast Ethernet. If you wish, you can go further and look for a computer with an integrated 802.11 b/g wireless adapter because locations with hotspots for connectivity are rapidly and constantly growing.
6 - How long would you be away from the mains on average?
A portable computer with less than two hours of computing time on a single charge is a big waste. You should look to get a system with at least 3-4 hours of battery life.
7 - What Warranty options should you be looking at?
Because laptops are moved around a lot, they are much more likely to break down. Many people make this mistake with laptops because we hardly follow up on the warranty for PCs. Remember that laptops are different because they take much more abuse on the go. So you should ensure that you get at least a one year warranty from the manufacturer.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
How to Choose a Gaming Laptop
Laptops traditionally have been a no go area for gamers. However, in recent years times have changed, from a business man play toy in the 1990s the next generation of gaming laptops have the raw power to cope with the most hungry of 3d gaming and graphic intensive software applications.
With the obvious advantage of unique portability the gaming laptop is certain to gain a big slice in the gaming hardware market in the next few years with many PC users opting for a more versatile approach to playing PC games and the booming market of online games. Technology is changing even month by month but by reading the guide you should be able to grasp the basic understanding of what you should be looking for when choosing a gaming laptop.
Processor Power
The engine of any laptop. The processor or CPU is one of the most vital components of a gaming laptop and you should be looking for a duel core processor, expensive yes but will stand you in good stead in the forthcoming months. If you cannot afford a duel core then a minimum of a 1.8mhz processor is what you should be looking at.
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Often overlooked and forgotten about, RAM combined with the processor is pivotal in a gaming laptop. The bottom line is if you have a cutting edge CPU but only 256mb of RAM or even 512mb then you are seriously limiting your gaming laptop performance. Go for at least 1mb of RAM and even better for the all important frames per second count get 2mb.
Graphics Card
This is where you have a decision to make. The big difference between a laptop and a desktop PC is the upgrade ability of your graphics card. In your desktop it is easy to upgrade your video card but inside a laptop it is difficult and often needs a pc engineer to carry out this process. Most standard laptops come with a onboard graphics card and you must expect to pay for a top end card such as a Radeon or Geforce.
Screen Clarity
Wide screen is recommended for gamers but do not compromise on screen quality. 17inch screen will help with those long gaming sessions and a good tip for when you are looking at laptops is to use the machine for a few minutes to see if your comfortable with the clarity and image quality of the laptop screen.
Battery Life
With raw graphic power busting out of your laptop you will need make sure your battery is up to the job. Lithium-ion battery that lasts up to 5 to 6 hours is ideal if your are looking to use your machine away from a wired power source.
Gaming laptop prices
Expensive. There is no point hiding this fact, if you compromise on CPU, RAM or video card then you will not have a gaming laptop at all, just a regular laptop with some costly components inside. Expect to pay nearly a third more for your gaming laptop compared to a normal spec machine.
Source: Free Articles
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Dissecting A Smart Battery – Part 1
Smart Batteries – they are used in PDAs, MP3s, MP4s, Laptops, Cell Phones, Smartphones, DVD players, and other electronic devices. When we buy new batteries we want them to work. We really don’t care how they work just as long as the do. But since PDA Batteries are a unique interest for me and since pda batteries are smart batteries I’m going to dig a little deeper to discover what lies within PDA batteries. So follow along as I disect a pda battery to learn what it is made of!
Contained within a smart battery is specialized hardware. Hardware that has a specific purpose: to deliver calculated and on demand current as well as predicted information.
This specialized hardware includes:
1. the connector
2. the fuse
3. the charge and discharge FETs
4. the cell pack
5. the sense resistor (RSENSE)
6. the primary and secondary protection ICs
7. the fuel-gauge IC
8. the thermistor
9. the pc board
10. the EEPROM
11. the SMBus
But what are each of these components and what do they do? Let’s find out?
The connector is a device that joins electric circuits together. Most battery packs require more than one connector. The main battery connector is both the mechanical and electrical part that interfaces the battery to the PDA or other electronic device. If you have ever installed a battery in your PDA then you probably have plugged your battery in by plugging/snapping in the main battery connector to the device’s PC board. Features that have to be considered when selecting a connector of a particular battery is operating temperature (range/limits) since high capacity batteries discharge excessive heat – having a connector that can withstand such temperature extremes will prevent a short circuit.
Connectors also have to proper pin assignments so that current and performance capacity can be met and short-circuit thresholds are predetermined. Pin orientation within the connector has to be designed in order to fit the device. If it doesn’t well you won’t be able to connect the battery to the PDA or other electronic device. Finally the connectors has to be handle time-varying current therefore the ratio of the phasor voltage across the element to the phasor current through the element (otherwise known as impedance) has to be preset or else expect connector to not function in the way it was supposed to!
In the next article of this series I will cover the smart battery’s fuse, charge and discharge FETs , the cell pack, and the sense resistor (RSENSE). The article after the next will cover the primary and secondary protection ICs, the fuel-gauge IC, the thermistor, the pc board, the EEPROM, and the SMBus.
© Dan Hagopian
You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as these bylines are included with link. Dan Hagopian of http://www.batteryship.com is a known electronics author that specializes in portable power gadgets. His work can be found on the BatteryShip blog at http://www.batteryeducation.com He frequently writes about pda batteries, ipod batteries, general battery technology for our mobile world, new fuel cell technology and interesting power related inventions. For further information please visit http://www.batteryship.com where you can also find PDA battery replacement kits, smartphone batteries, twoway radio batteries, barcode scanner batteries, camera batteries, and camcorder batteries.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Hagopian
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Bluebird BM150R A Powerful PDA For The Market
Its large 3.5-inch screen ensures that images, websites and software can be easily viewed and used. An integrated GPS receiver with worldwide navigation capability and mobile phone makes the PDA ideal for businesses that want to automate the processes carried out by sales and mobile staff or consumers that need added functionality.
This PDA is ideal for mobile workers and very cost effective. It can be bought for under £520 ex VAT, combining just about everything you want from a PDA without breaking the bank. You have a choice of two models for wireless communications, either GSM/GPRS or CDMA and both models have GPS, WLAN and Bluetooth.
Top features include:
* Compact and ergonomic design with large 3.5" TFT LCD screen
* Embedded GPS with the latest SiRF III Chipset
* A high capacity battery allows a maximum life of 7 hours
* Wireless communication through GSM/GPRS or CDMA and GPS, WLAN and Bluetooth
* Windows mobile 5.0 operating system
* Fully functional 1.3 mega pixel camera
Ideal for tracking electronic ticketing, product data, customer/patient information and provides efficiency and ultimate convenience to users at hospitals, shops, banks and facility inspection purposes and much more.
Short Specification:
* Operating System: Windows Mobile 5.0 Premium Phone Edition
* Wireless Options: GSM/GPRS or CDMA + GPS, WLAN, Bluetooth
* Audio: Speaker & Microphone, Headset Jack
* Battery Capacity (mAhr): 1230 or 2460 mAh
* Battery Charging: Cradle
* Drop Resistance Concrete (M): 1.2M
* Environment: Office / Retail
* Expansion Slot: Mini-SD
* Interfaces: USB, Serial, IrDA, Bluetooth, SIM Card Slot
* Keyboard: 9 keypad keys / 4 side keys
* Processor: Intel PAX270 520MHz
* Programming Language: Standard Pocket PC Tools
* Screen: Colour TFT
* Screen Resolution: 240 x 320
* Size (WxDxH): 73 x 19 x 135mm
* Touch Screen: Yes
More information:
Bluebird BM-150R PDA
Rugged PDAs
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Vanessa_Raby