Macbook Pro
First introduced in January 2006 at the Macworld Expo alongside the Intel-based iMac, the MacBook Pro replaced the PowerBook G4 and was the second computer to be announced in the Apple Intel transition. Positioned at the high end of the MacBook Family, the MacBook Pro is aimed at the professional and power user market.
There have been two designs for the MacBook Pro, both using aluminum.
The second design is a more tapered design with most of the casing made from a single block of aluminum.
Discrete-construction MacBook Pro
The original 15" MacBook Pro was announced on January 10, 2006 at the MacWorld Expo in San Francisco. When first introduced, the MacBook Pro was noted for being lacking in ports and slightly lacking in screen resolution in comparison to its predecessor, as FireWire 800 and S-Video were missing.
Other changes included the introduction of MagSafe, a magnetic power connector designed to detach easily when yanked to prevent the laptop from being pulled off a surface, and an ExpressCard slot replacing the PCMCIA slot.
Industrial Design
Aside from the addition of an iSight camera to the display bezel, the removal and change in connectivity options, and a relocation of the AirPort antenna, the MacBook Pro's appearance is virtually unchanged from that of the PowerBook G4. Much of the features remain the same, as well, such as the ambient light sensor, back-lit keyboard, and sudden motion sensor.
A multi-touch trackpad was made available on the Early 2008 revision.
When the MacBook was announced, a glossy screen option was added.
Quality Problems
Users have reported numerous issues with some of the MacBook Pro Core Duo and Core 2 Duo laptops. These include:
A hissing noise often described as a whine, found to be caused by an idle processor.
As of August 28, 2007, that problem has been resolved.
Some early models (serial numbers starting below W8610) had a screen hum emitting from the right side of the machine present when display brightness was set "somewhere between maximum and minimum brightness."
In some early models the supplied battery is faulty, and may eventually start swelling while losing capacity. Due to very limited clearance above the battery this can cause permanent damage to the touch pad if left unfixed. Apple eventually addressed the problem and issued a recall of the batteries that were used in certain models of the 15" MacBook Pro.
The batteries did not pose a safety risk and were recalled due to the failure to meet Apple's "high standards for battery performance."
In May 2007, Apple released Battery Update 1.2, which was designed to improve battery life. While Apple marketing claims that the display is capable of 8-bit RGB with millions (16,777,216, or 224) of colors, they are using 6-bit LCD screens that only provide 262,144 (218) colors natively with dithering to simulate millions of colors.