Making the best better: it's what Apple does

You probably already know that Apple makes innovative, hassle-free products to meet your computer needs. And the 17" MacBook pro provides lots of awesome power for even intensive graphic applications. But you may not know about a few features that make the new MacBook Pros simply some of the best laptops available. Most notably are the innovation of a precision unibody aluminum enclosure, a vastly improved battery, better graphics capabilities, and even more environmentally-friendly features than before. Absolutely no detail was overlooked in this notebook's design. Read on to find out more about the features that make MacBook Pros quite possibly the best laptops to own.

Unibody-building

MacBooks and especially MacBook Pros, like all Apple products, are known for their sleek, refined look. The aluminum body found on older MacBook Pros stands out as boldly elegant in a world of plastic PCs. With the MC226LL/A, Apple's taken design a step further. You see, most laptops are made of lots of individual pieces bolted together. This makes the electronical engineers' jobs easier, but adds size and weight, and also increases the chance something will break. So on the new MacBook Pros, Apple did away with all the tiny plastic pieces helping compose a typical notebook body and made something radically different. Using precision computer machining, the new MacBook Pro bodies are made from a single block of aluminum. After all the carving is done, a single piece is left for the computer frame. This unibody enclosure is thinner, lighter, and still more durable than other laptop models. And of course, with no seams or screws, the body of the computer looks just as streamlined and sexy as it ever has.

They're not demanding, just . . . detail-oriented

The enclosure was far from the only thing given special attention to in the re-design of the MacBook Pro. Apple accepts nothing less than perfection in its designs. While some of these touches — like drilling microscopic holes for the sleep indicator light so it can only be seen while the light is on — may seem superfluous, the end result brings you a laptop leaving nothing to be desired. Apple's attention to detail is unsurpassed. It's so great in fact, that they made numerous different models of the thumbscoop used to open the computer to find the ideal design. It might seem like their designers have too much time on their hands, but truthfully, the people at Apple are just passionate about their products. For example, the trackpad now offers full Multi-Touch functionality, and more radically, is larger since the click-button is now integrated. But the trackpad is also a silky-smooth glass surface. Speaking of glass, the screen features an edge-edge piece of glass to look great while adding structure to the display This added strength is good news since the use of LED lighting makes the screen thinner than ever, while improving picture quality. This helps give the computer a sleeker design than ever. Since Apple makes most parts of their computers themselves, they are able to design slimmer, lighter, more stylish notebooks than their bulky plastic competitors because the engineers work so closely with the design team. This all works in your favor bringing you a laptop where no detail was overlooked, and no inefficiency was tolerated. Enjoy.

Looking good . . . looking real good

We already mentioned that Apple has started using LED lighting in its displays now instead of cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs). This offers several advantages. First, since it takes up less space, the display can be thinner than those with CCFLs. Secondly, they reach maximum brightness instantly so you don't have to wait while the lamp warms up. LED displays also use about 30% less energy than older models. Since the display is free of arsenic and mercury, it's greener than ever. Of course, with a 60% greater color gamut than previous generations, it could be whatever color it wants. There are millions of colors that could be displayed, simultaneously, on the 1920 x 1200 screen. If that seems like a little better picture than you need, there are plenty of other options. If you're a videophile though, and you don't think that's enough screen for you, the MacBook Pro can display pictures on external screens up to 2560 x 1600 at millions of colors, while still keeping the native picture on your laptop screen, and mirroring is supported. All you need is to purchase a Mini DisplayPort adapter for a VGA, video, or DVI connection, whichever you will use with your screen. These work perfectly with Apple's gorgeous cinema displays.

Get the bigger picture quicker

Of course, the most stunning screen doesn't mean diddly if your graphics processing isn't up to par. Luckily, the MacBook Pro features perhaps the most innovative GPU solution available. It has an NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor. This chip delivers up to five times faster performance than Intel graphics cards found in other models. But it's also a real energy-saver, helping to bring you up to eight hours of battery life per charge. But what about when you need even more juice for your graphics when working on your Aperture project or for something truly important like playing Call of Duty? Easy. Just use the other graphics card. That's right, there is another more powerful NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT that delivers performance up to two and a half times faster than the integrated card. This ensures that everything you do on your Mac, from iLife to iWork, to Aperture or Motion, or the all-important Doom 3 looks absolutely stunning. And switching between the cards is a breeze.

Live free

We mentioned how Apple makes nearly every part of the MacBook computer from the unibody shell right down to the included software. Because of this they are able to innovate in ways that "assemble-all-the-pieces-then-put-it-in-a-branded-plastic-case" companies aren't. Take for example the battery on the new MacBook Pros. Mac laptops have always been great with battery life. Typical notebooks basically integrate cylindrical batteries into a square space. Making their own batteries, Apple has capitalized on that by using more of the dead space to give you longer life. And that was before. Now, they've upped the ante to a whole new level. On a Windows laptop you get maybe three hours of battery life with optimal settings and a bit of luck. However, with the new 17" MacBook Pro, you're looking at up to eight full hours of cordless productivity. No, that wasn't a misprint. Eight hours, as in a full day of work. It's wicked. But the coolest part is that because of the way this new battery was engineered, it doesn't add size or mass to your laptop. Another nifty tidbit is that with this revolutionary power source, you can recharge the battery up to 1000 times. A typical notebook battery shouldn't be charged more than 200 to 300 times. This lets your battery last up to five years, making it a lot easier on the earth, too. Live free without needing to plug in every couple hours. This innovative battery is just one of many examples of Apple's innovation and drive for perfection.

Forget green or greener, this is the greenest

The battery is far from the only thing the MacBook Pro does to help the environment. The bottom line is that this is the most eco-friendly computer you can find. The fact that the battery can last eight hours on a single charge is plenty of proof that the MacBook Pro is super energy-efficient, thanks to the ingenuity applied to every aspect of the computer. Since batteries last at least three times longer than typical notebooks, fewer wind up in landfills. The aluminum and glass the body and screen are composed of are both highly desired by recycling companies. Even the box it comes in was made greener by reducing the size 34% from previous models. On top of that, many harmful chemicals were removed from the MC226LL/A, including removing arsenic from the glass, all the BFR, mercury from the backlight, and PVC from internal cables. The MacBook Pro is the most eco-friendly laptop available. But you don't have to trust us for it. It earned a prestigious EPEAT gold rating for being environmentally responsible. It's also certified by ENERGY STAR 5.0. It looks really cool with stainless steel body and black screen, but don't let it fool you; at its heart it's all green.

Never forget

The features mentioned above are all great, but it's important to remember that those are just the improvements to what was already a great system. Don't forget that even without these innovations, it would still be a MacBook, and a step above other models in its class. Macs are known for being easy-to-use, reliable, and virus-free. They're high-performance, don't require complicated, time-consuming set-ups, and they work with just about everything. And because Apple puts the same kinds of innovation into their software as their hardware, they're better at your everyday tasks, and they come with some awesome programs. This MacBook Pro even has iLife '09 on it. Advanced technology is the standard on Macs. Of course, so are conveniences like wireless networking, an iSight camera, and many other features. Macs just work, and don't forget it.

Grr.

This MacBook Pro come with Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard pre-installed. This innovative OS takes the best features of previous versions and improves on them to achieve better results than ever. Numerous innovations make your computing operations faster than ever. It also features built-in support for Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, being the only computer to do so. There are numerous features included to accommodate people with motor, visual, or aural disabilities. Improvements were also made to Finder, iChat, Quicktime, and Safari, just to name a few. It's safe to say that if you use this OS for very long, you'll want to purr.

Comparison Specifications

• 17" diagonal screen size
• 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• 500GB hard drive capacity
• 4GB RAM
• Integrated CD/DVD disc drive with 8x SuperDrive 8x SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
• 3 USB ports
• Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit) Ethernet
• ExpressCard/34 slot
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512MB graphic memory)
• Ships with Mac OS X v10.6 Snow Leopard including iLife '09

Additional Specifications

• Precision aluminum unibody
• Built-in iSight camera
• Mini DisplayPort output port with support for DVI, VGA, and dual-link DVI (requires adapters, sold separately)
• MagSafe power port with included 85W MagSafe adapter
• Maximum write: 8x DVD-R, DVD+R; 4x DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, DVD+RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW
• Maximum read: 8x DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-ROM; 6x DVD-ROM (double layer DVD-9), DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, DVD+RW; 24x CD
• Dual display and video mirroring: Simultaneously supports full native resolution on the built-in display and up to 2560 by 1600 pixels on an external display, both at millions of colors
• Built in iSight camera and microphone
• Built-in Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
• Kensington lock slot

Manufacturer Specifications

• One FireWire 800 port (up to 800 Mbps)
• Audio line in and out
• Built-in stereo speakers
• Up to eight hours productivity from a single charge
• Battery can be charged up to 1000 times
• Made of highly recyclable aluminum and glass
• Mercury-free LED display, arsenic-free display glass, BFR-free, PVC-free internal cables
• ENERGY STAR 5.0 certified
• Package size reduced 34%
• EPEAT gold rating

Dimensional Specifications

• Dimensions: 14.47" W x 0.98" H x 10.51" D
• Weight: 6.6 lbs

Apple MC226LLA 17" MacBook Pro Warranty Details

1-year limited manufacturer's parts and labor warranty with 90 days complimentary phone support.

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