Apple Releases 17" MacBook Pro

As expected, Apple today released the 17" MacBook Pro at the National Association of Broadcasters Convention. The 17" MacBook Pro features the 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, comes standard with 1GB of DDR2 SDRAM, a 120 BG Serial ATA Drive @ 5400 rpm and an 8x Double-layer Superdrive. The MacBook Pro also sports one FireWire 400, one FireWire 800 and three USB 2.0 ports. The standard configuration ships in 7-10 business days for $2,799 ($2,599 for those eligible for the education discount.)

Purchasers can upgrade to 2GB RAM for an additional $300 ($270 education) or opt for a faster hard drive, 100 GB Serial ATA @7200 for no extra cost.

Of note, this is the first MacBook Pro to come with a 8x Dual Layer SuperDrive and FireWire 800, both features that were conspicuously absent on the 15" model. Apple has stated they had trouble finding 8x Dual Layer Drives that would fit in the MacBook Pro's 1" thin casing. However, according to Apple's website, both the 17" and the 15" MacBook are the same height. It's unclear whether Apple has found new, thinner drives or whether the extra width has allowed them to reconfigure components inside the unit.

The 17" MacBook Pro boasts an additional hour of run-time with a higher capacity battery, a 68-watt hour compared to the 15" 60-watt-hour. Apple claims the new 17" has 5.5 hours of battery life compared to the 15" advertised 4.5.