02.14.2025
Apple launched the original MacBook Pro 19 years ago today. Jobs announced the MacBook Pro at the Macworld Conference & Expo in 2006. It was the first Mac notebook to
Jobs announced the MacBook Pro at the Macworld Conference & Expo in 2006. It was the first Mac notebook to transition from PowerPC processors to Intel's Core Duo architecture. Designed to be an Intel-based replacement for the PowerBook line, the MacBook Pro took a similar aluminum chassis and added an Intel Core processor, a webcam, and the MagSafe power connector. Its display was 67% brighter than its predecessor, matching the luminance of Apple's standalone Cinema Displays.
Apple claimed that the Intel processors delivered "up to four times the performance of the PowerBook G4." The transition was supported by Rosetta, a software translation layer that allowed PowerPC applications to run on Intel-based Macs.
The original MacBook Pro came in two configurations, both with 15.4-inch widescreen displays offering 1440 x 900 resolution. The entry-level model featured a 1.67 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 512MB of DDR2 RAM, and an 80GB hard drive, while the higher-end model boasted a 1.83 GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 100GB hard drive. Both models included ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics cards. The 15-inch model weighed just 5.6 pounds and was only one inch thick.
It also featured two USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 400 port, a Gigabit Ethernet port, and an ExpressCard/34 slot for expandability. The exclusion of FireWire 800 in the initial 15-inch models drew criticism from some users, but this port was later restored in subsequent revisions. Initially only available with a 15-inch display, Apple introduced a 17-inch variant in April 2006.
Over the years, the MacBook Pro line evolved through various design and technological iterations, including the unibody construction in 2008, the Retina display in 2012, and the controversial Touch Bar in 2016. The transition from Intel to Apple Silicon in 2020 marked the end of the Intel-based MacBook Pro era, as Apple moved to its proprietary M1, M1 Pro, and M1 Max chips.
This article, "Apple Launched the MacBook Pro 19 Years Ago Today" first appeared on MacRumors.com
Discuss this article in our forums
You may also be interested in this
Apple wins AFI Awards for…
12.08.2023
“The Morning Show” is an Apple Original on Apple TV+ Apple’s global hit series “The Morning Show” and award-winning film “Killers of the Flower Moon” on Thursday were honored by
Apple’s App Store u…
04.01.2025
The App Store hosted a number of VPN apps with ties to a Chinese military-affiliated company sanctioned by the US, with millions of downloads between them all.An iPhone on a
You can buy ‘Ted La…
06.05.2023
After initially appearing to solely be sold at the Apple Park visitor center, new "Ted Lasso" merchandise can now be bought online from Nike.New "Ted Lasso" merchandise at Apple ParkFirst
Crime blotter: Woman char…
08.10.2025
A $15 million trailer theft includes Apple products, multiple iPhone thefts are reported in the nation's capital, and an airline is sued over a stolen iPad, in this week's Apple
Apple Wallet’s iOS 26 boa…
10.13.2025
iOS 26 gave Apple Wallet a variety of new features, including an upgraded experience for boarding passes. Recently, United was the first major airline to support the new boarding passes.
iPhone 17 Pro teardown re…
09.24.2025
The teardown of the iPhone 17 Pro has provided more answers about scratches on the model, while also giving a close-up view of the vapor chamber cooling system.Taking apart the
Apple releases tvOS 17.2 …
12.11.2023
Apple has updated its home entertainment experience with the release of tvOS 17.2, which brings features like 3D movies for the Vision Pro headset.The latest tvOS update brings 3D moviesFollowing
Today in Apple history: A…
07.16.2023
On July 16, 2014, Apple agreed to pay $450 million to resolve the Department of Justice's antitrust case regarding e-book pricing. (via Cult of Mac - Tech and culture through
