Tech bytes for tea?

MacBook Pro is the first computer on the market to implement the new Thunderbolt I/O technology which promises blistering data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbits/s with high performance external devices. This is 20 times faster than the ubiquitous USB2.0.

Note the single Thunderbolt port (fourth from the left) labeled with the symbol of the lightning bolt.

Developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, and previously code-named “Light Peak”, Thunderbolt allows multiple devices to be daisy-chained together, without bandwidth and power attenuation concerns.

This enhances the expandability of the notebooks as the daisy-chained devices can be connected to the single Thunderbolt port, without having to build multiple USB ports on the notebook, where space comes at a premium.

A FaceTime HD camera is now built into the MacBook Pro.

The 13-in MacBook Pro comes standard with a dual-core i5 processor and Intel’s integrated graphics chipset

The larger 15- and 17-in models runs on a quad-core i7 and comes with AMD’s Radeon HD 6490M or 6750M discrete graphics. Apple claims that these were three times faster than the Nvidia graphics chips in the older models.

It also claims that all MacBook Pros are “up to twice as fast as their predecessors.”

Pricing & Availability for Singapore

The new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro and 17-inch MacBook Pro will be available in the week of March 6 through the Apple Store and Apple Authorized Resellers.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 320GB hard drive starting at S$1,648 ; and one with a 2.7 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 500GB hard drive starting at S$2,048.

The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.0 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6490M and 500GB hard drive starting at S$2,488 and one with a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive starting at S$2,988.

The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive and is priced at S$3,398.

Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core processors up to 2.3 GHz, additional hard drive capacity up to 750GB, solid state storage up to 512GB, more memory up to 8GB DDR3, antiglare and high-resolution display options and AppleCare® Protection Plan. Additional technical specifications and configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at its website.