Type: Media, Business, Small Business
Operating System: Mac OS X
Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo T9500
Processor Speed: 2.6 GHz
RAM: 4 GB
Weight: 5.3 lb
Screen Size: 15.1 inches
Screen Size Type: widescreen
Graphics Card: nVidia GeForce 8600M GT
Storage Capacity: 250 GB
Networking Options: 802.11n
Primary Optical Drive: Dual-Layer DVD+/-RW
Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch (Penryn) These upgrades won't be enough to tempt those who bought their MacBook Pro a year ago to move to the new model, but early adopters bought a MacBook Pro when the model first came out and those who are migrating from Windows will find the performance benefits of this new model intriguing. With this Penryn system, Apple moves from a 65-nm CPU process to a 45-nm one in this model line. In other words, the 2.6-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9500 is based on an architecture that's completely different from the one for the 2.2-GHz T7500 in the previous MacBook Pro, translating into faster speeds. Since most of my performance tests are Windows-based, I loaded Apple's Boot Camp and Windows Vista Home Premium to gauge performance scores against other Windows-based laptops.
SYSmark 2007 Preview Overall scores showed a 25 percent improvement over the previously reviewed version, the MacBook Pro 15-inch (LED). Granted, the clock speeds are a little slower on the Merom-based MacBook Pro, and the RAM count wasn't on a level playing field. The MacBook Pro (Penryn) loads 4GB RAM, producing some of the fastest Photoshop CS3 scores to date. Video-encoding tests were over 20 percent faster than those of the previous MacBook Pro. Buzz up!on Yahoo! Even so, it wouldn't be right if PC Magazine didn't conduct its own energy readings. Using a Kill A Watt meter, the MacBook Pro 15-inch (Penryn) measured 16 watts at idle state, making it more energy efficient than the Dell M1530 (23W), the HP dv6500t (19W), and the previous MacBook Pro (19W). It didn't, however, hit the 14W required by Energy Star 4.0 in my own testing.
Even so, it wouldn't be right if PC Magazine didn't conduct its own energy readings. Using a Kill A Watt meter, the MacBook Pro 15-inch (Penryn) measured 16 watts at idle state, making it more energy efficient than the Dell M1530 (23W), the HP dv6500t (19W), and the previous MacBook Pro (19W). It didn't, however, hit the 14W required by Energy Star 4.0 in my own testing. And until Apple can achieve EPEAT Gold status, it's not ready to receive the PC Magazine Green Approved seal. Apple Macbook Pro 15-inch (Penryn) Apple Macbook Pro 15-inch (Penryn), at $3,149 (direct), isn't the first laptop to undergo an Intel brain transplant in the form of a next-generation Penryn processor, but it's among the most sizzling we've seen so far. At the heart of this MacBook Pro, the 2.6-GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9500 CPU and 4GB RAM played a pivotal role in tearing up performance tests, including a compelling 15 percent increase in battery life. There are other new additions worth talking about, but performance enhancements alone should encourage first-generation MacBook Pro owners and frustrated Windows users to take the plunge. For that, it retains the Editors' Choice for mainstream laptops.
