Next MacBook Pro could sport a retina display and an SSD

With the launch of the next MacBook Pro about 3 months away, we're pretty sure to see Intel's latest Ivy Bridge chip inside. But this chip could really open the doors for Apple. And when the doors are opened for Apple, great things happen.

First off, this processor could power a retina display, presumably a 2560 by 1600 one, which is the resolution Kirk Skaugen of Intel mentioned at a Beijing conference. He specifically used the word retina. Currently, it would be hard for Apple to use a retina display on its MacBook Pro, because a Sandy Bridge processor doesn't have enough power to support a retina display without impacting speed and battery life. But just as a quad-core A5X processor allowed the new iPad to get a retina display, an Ivy Bridge processor could allow the next MacBook Pro to have a retina display. Besides some pages on Macs, like the system preferences window, have a resolution of a retina display (though this resolution can't be displayed through current Mac displays), which means Apple is already upgrading its OS to support retina.

Second, a USB 3.0 port could be paired with a Thunderbolt port on the next MacBook Pro, which could boost upload speeds significantly.

Finally, Apple would make the MacBook Pro thinner, as the price of SSDs is dropping rapidly. A 128 GB SSD now costs less than $100, which means Apple could allow battery life and thinness to improve despite the added burden of a retina display without increasing the cost of the MacBook Pro.

This new processor will allow Apple to do much more with their line of MacBooks. And when technology improves, Apple makes good use of it. Time and time again.

Prototype of 3G MacBook Pro from 2007!

One big hole in Apple's MacBook laptop line is 3G/4G capablitlity. Well, Apple was extrememly close to making a 3G capable MacBook Pro in 2007 as this MacBook Pro on eBay shows. It looks like a normal 2007 MacBook Pro... that is, until you find the SIM card slot and the retractable antenna. Take a look at it here. The original seller thought it was just a normal broken MacBook Pro that he bought on Craigslist for parts... but he quickly realized this was something a little more special...

New MacBook Pro comes out: all of the rumors were right!

Baaang! The MacBook Pro rumors were right! 100% of the rumors you saw on Tech n' Cars were accurate, and no features were missed. Here's what's new in the latest MacBook Pro (see it here):

First off, the new MacBook Pro features faster Intel Sandy Bridge processors. The 13" model comes standard with a 2.3 GHz dual-core Core i5, and has an optional 2.7 GHz i7 dual-core. The old 13" model only had i3 processors. Meanwhile, the 15" and 17" models come standard witha quad-core Core i7 at 2.3 GHz! The graphics processor has also been upgraded to an Intel HD Graphics 3000 processor on the 13" model, while the 15" and 17" models have high-end ATI Radeons with up to 3x the performance of the old MacBook Pro.

The new Thunderbolt port that you heard about on Tech n' Cars is also present. It is 12x faster than a FireWire 800 port and 20x faster than a USB 2.0 port! The new graphics processors also help this MacBook Pro do HD FaceTime chats. You will now find a SDXC card slot on the 13" and 15" MacBook Pros, as well as a ExpressCard 34 slot on the 17" model. Despite these improvments, the MacBook Pro maintains its 7 hour battery life and price base price of $1,199 for a 13" model, $1,799 for a 15" model, and $2,199 for a 17" model.

Newest MacBook Pro: Specs and Pics!

Fscklog posted a photo of the box of the new 13" MacBook Pro that Apple will release Thursday. Here are the specs translated into English:

- Intel Core i5 dual-core processor at 2.3 GHz with 3MB cache
- 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 1333 MHz
- 320GB hard drive at 5,400 rpm
- 13.33" glossy screen, 1280x800 resoloution
- Intel Graphics GPU HD 3000 with 384MB of RAM shared with main memory
- HD FaceTime camera
- Superdrive 8x
- Thunderbolt, though compatible with the I/O devices and high speed
- MiniDisplayport
- SDXC Card Slot
- FireWire 800 port
- 2 USB 2.0 ports
- Digital Audio Out
- Integrated Ethernet
- Backlit Keyboard

Mac4Ever posted these photos:


And Mac4Ever also gave us a close-up of the Thunderbolt port:

Motorola Xoom up for Pre-Order; Release Date Feb. 24

February 24 really will be a big day! Not only will the new MacBook Pros come out, but the Motorola Xoom tablet will be released! You can pre-order it now on Best Buy. It will only be avaliable as a 3G model, and will have a rather high price tag of $800. Motorola should release a Wi-Fi only model a little bit later, and that will carry a price tag of $600. Meanwhile, I can supply you with information about this tablet:

- Runs on Android 3.0 (aka Honeycomb), the latest OS designed for tablets (will it only be for tablets?)
- 720p HD 10.1" display (even larger than the iPad's display, about the size of a netbook's)
- Verizon 3G service. Also Wi-Fi capable.
- Dual-core processor
- Supports Adobe Flash Player

3 New Apple Laptop SKUs Appear at Best Buy!

Best Buy still has those new iPad SKUs up, and now they've got new MacBook Pro SKUs up! Their labels are "new SKU", and their prices are $1,199, $1,499, $1,799, $2,199 (which are all prices of the current MacBook Pros, and a $2,499 price tag, suggesting that Apple will make another 17" option avaliable.