2012 Pro For Video Editing Specs Free At The

The only big change in connectivity options is the jump to USB 3.0 ports. Unlike Windows laptops, which label those ports in blue, to differentiate from USB 2.0, Apple says theyre all USB 3.0 now, across the MacBook lineup, so theres no need to label them as such.

Any real structural changes, HDMI, higher-res displays, were reserved for the Retina display version of the MacBook Pro.

Big and powerful, yet still slim and attractive, the college kids wanted MacBook Airs, while the designers and artists wanted the 15-inch MacBook Pro (or, in a few cases, the bigger 17-inch version).

That logic has shifted with the release of Apples 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display.

Despite the similar names, these are two very different beasts.

One is nearly ultrabook-thin, with solid-state storage, an HDMI port, dual Thunderbolt ports, no optical drive, and a unique 2,880x1,800-pixel display.

The other is the same 15-inch MacBook Pro weve known and loved for a couple of years, but upgraded to Intels third-generation Core i7 processors (both models have Nvidia graphics and USB 3.0 ports).

That model is clearly the new flagship MacBook, while this 15-inch Pro exists to serve those who are tied to what Apple may consider legacy features -- DVD drives, Ethernet cables, and even FireWire.

If you can afford the Retina version, and can live with its connectivity and storage limitations, go for that.

If not, the standard 15-inch MacBook Pro is still a great laptop, with excellent build quality, amazing battery life, and powerful performance.

But, despite a long-term fondness for this particular product, the overall design, unchanged for the past few cycles, is starting to feel a bi dated, especially the default 1,440x900-pixel screen resolution.

Its still one of the best overall laptop designs around, and still one of the thinnest full-power 15-inch models, but thanks in part to competition from ultrabooks (an Intel marketing program to design and promote thinner laptops across several screen sizes), Windows laptops are catching up quickly.

The basic building block should be familiar by now: a solid chunk of aluminum, which is carved down into a shell with support struts.

2012 Pro For Video Editing Specs Free At The

This unibody chassis has the benefit of being thin, but strong and flex-free at the same time.

The keyboard and trackpad are essentially the same as those seen on the last several generations of MacBook Pros.

Holding the Retina Pro side by side with this model, the only discernible differences are slightly shallower keys in the thinner Retina model, and a separate power button in the upper-right corner of the interior panel (on the Retina Pro, the optical drive eject button has been replaced by a power button).

Its still one of the best laptop keyboards, perhaps a close second to Lenovo for overall ease of use.

Many Windows laptops have added larger clickpads over the past year or so, with somewhat similar multitouch gestures, but none can yet compete with the MacBooks gesture implementation.

But, heres a quick Mac touchpad tip.

To turn it back on, look in the Universal Access settings menu, not the trackpad settings menu.) The 1,440x900-pixel display is one of the few weak spots in this system.

Its similar to the 1,366x768-pixel display youll find on less expensive midsize Windows laptops, but anything even close to this price range should start off with a much higher resolution.

A 1,680x1,050-pixel display is a 100 option, and money well spent (plus, theres also an antiglare version of that higher-res screen).

Of course, even that resolution cant compete with either the 1,920x1,080 found on many premium Windows laptops, or the 2,880x1,800-pixel resolution on the MacBook Pro with Retina display.

Interestingly, both this and the Retina version are still 16:10 aspect ratio displays -- some of the only laptops to keep that standard.

Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, June 2012) Average for category midsize Video DisplayPortThunderbolt VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort Audio Stereo speakers, headphonemicrophone jacks Stereo speakers, headphonemicrophone jacks Data 2 USB 3.0, SD card reader 2 USB 2.0, 2 USB 3.0, SD card reader, eSATA Networking Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband Optical drive DVD burner DVD burner Apple is clearly sticking with Thunderbolt, even upping the number of ports to two in the Retina Pro.

Here, you still just get the one, which doubles as a mini-DisplayPort output.

The only big change in connectivity options is the jump to USB 3.0 ports.

Unlike Windows laptops, which label those ports in blue, to differentiate from USB 2.0, Apple says theyre all USB 3.0 now, across the MacBook lineup, so theres no need to label them as such.

2012 Mac Pro For Video Editing Specs