What have we come to in 10 years?

2016 has arrived, and a whole 10 years have passed since the release of the first professional laptops from Apple! Let's remember together how it all began and where we have come to today.

It’s better not to remember how they became more expensive in terms of rubles. Especially when you can buy any in installments without additional payment. There's no better way to update your working Mac. Moreover, they have always been considered the ultimate laptop for busy people.

How it all started

On June 6, 2005, at the Worldwide Developer Conference, Steve Jobs announced the imminent arrival of a new era in the Apple world - the transition from PowerPC processors to Intel.

Steve Jobs announced two main disadvantages of the PowerPC: the processor heats up too much during operation and the banal failure to fulfill promises. Heating was a very serious disadvantage for laptops, the cooling of which requires additional energy, and the processors themselves were not at all economical (performance per 1 Watt was too low). At the same time, the company was in no hurry to provide new processor models for Apple, and the long-awaited release of the PowerBook G5 was postponed indefinitely.

It is impossible to say unambiguously whether the transition to Intel occurred only for these two reasons or whether there are other aspects. Perhaps Apple has decided to cooperate with what it considers a more promising company in the future. Or maybe the company wanted users to be able to install... Windows on its products?

But it was precisely this moment that became the starting point for Apple’s creation of new MacBook Pro laptops.

First generation MacBook Pro

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Release date: 2006
Main characteristics:

• Intel Core Duo processor 1.83 GHz to 2.16 GHz
• Hard drive from 80 to 120 GB
• LCD display from 15” (1440 x 900) to 17” (1680 x 1050)
• ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics card
• Two memory slots up to 2 GB RAM

The very first MacBook Pro was presented as a laptop for professional users by Steve Jobs at the Macworld Conference & Expo in January 2006.

The renaming of the laptop name from PowerBook to MacBook Pro occurred, as you might guess, for two reasons: firstly, Apple decided to abandon all associations with the PowerPC processor, and secondly, to add the word Mac to the name.

The MacBook Pro turned out to be similar, but not at all identical to the PowerBook G4. Externally, it became a little larger (by a centimeter in length and 3 mm in width) and a little thinner (by three millimeters). It also has a lot of new features:

• The graphics and display brightness were significantly improved due to the ATI Mobility Radeon X1600, which had 128 or 256 MB of video memory and ran on GDDR3 SDRAM.
• A built-in iSight camera has appeared, located above the display.
• An infrared sensor appeared to work with the Front Row multimedia player via the remote control that came with the kit.
• The MagSafe power connector has been replaced. The company paid special attention to it, demonstrating that if someone accidentally touches the power cable, it will be safely disconnected from the laptop, and will not drag it along with it in an unknown direction. This is achieved thanks to a special magnet and a very shallow connector.
• The adapter has become more powerful (85 W instead of the previous 65), and the battery is more energy-intensive (60 W/hour instead of 50).
• According to tests from Apple, the performance of the MacBook Pro compared to the PowerBook G4 has increased by 4 times.
• The backlit keyboard, large trackpad and almost silent operation of the computer received special praise from future users.

Despite this, several disadvantages were noted in the new product: the FireWire 800 port and the PCMCIA slot were completely removed (a smaller ExpressCard/34 appeared instead), and the SuperDrive turned out to be significantly weaker than the one installed in the PowerBook G4.

In October 2006, in addition to the new Intel Core 2 Duo processors, the entire MacBook Pro line received double the amount of RAM. Hard drive capacity has also been increased.

In June 2007, models appeared equipped with a backlit LED display, an Nvidia Geforce 8600M GT video card and support for 802.11n Wi-Fi networks.

And between mid-2007 and early 2008, models appeared with an improved Core 2 Duo processor with a frequency of up to 2.5 GHz, an FSB bus with a frequency of 667 MHz to 800 MHz (which increased the speed of communication between memory and the central processor), and an even larger amount of hard disk space. disk and RAM up to 8 GB.

These were just the first MacBook Pro models, their display was surrounded by a wide plastic frame, which is now difficult to even imagine on Apple products. The next significant step was a complete redesign of the chassis, which brought us to the second generation of MacBook Pro laptops.

Second generation MacBook Pro (Unibody)

Release date: 2008
Main characteristics:

• Intel Core 2 Duo processor 2.26 GHz to 2.53 GHz
• Hard drive from 160 to 320 GB
• LCD display from 15” (1440 x 900) to 17” (1920 x 1200) with LED backlight
• Video card NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT
• RAM 2 GB, expandable up to 4 GB

On October 14, 2008, during a press conference held at Apple head office, a new MacBook Pro model was presented, the key difference from previous versions was use of new Unibody cases.

The essence of this technology comes down to the gradual “turning” of the laptop body from a single piece of aluminum, and not to the connection of pre-created parts. This allowed the new laptops to be made smaller and more durable.

In addition to the new body, the MacBook Pro has also changed in its technical equipment:

• The new line received a choice of two video cards: Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT with 256 or 512 MB of dedicated memory and GeForce 9400M with 256 MB of shared system memory.
• The FSB bus bandwidth has increased from 800 MHz to 1066 MHz.
• Increased hard drive capacity with solid-state drive option.
• The optical drive is no longer placed in front, but on the side of the case.
• The keyboard has completely changed, and is now black with bright backlighting.
• The trackpad has become larger, providing additional space for scrolling and using multi-touch gestures.
• Magnetic gaskets have appeared on the lid instead of mechanical latches, so that when closing there is a small gap that allows you to conveniently open the laptop.
• This is not to say that performance has increased slightly, be it the performance of the processor or video card.
• The battery became removable, and access to the hard drive also appeared.

The 17-inch Unibody version of the MacBook Pro was introduced in January 2009 at the MacWorld conference by Phil Schiller. This model differed from its 15-inch brother in a matte display version and a non-removable lithium-polymer battery.

In June 2009, it was announced that all models will be equipped with a non-removable lithium polymer battery that allows up to seven hours of battery life.

In April 2010, when the line received another update, the models received Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors, a GeForce GT 330M video card with 256 or 512 MB of memory, and the amount of RAM increased to 8 GB. Inertial scrolling has also been added, making scrolling evocative of the iPhone and iPad user interface.

In February 2011, a new model range was released, featuring Intel Core i5 and i7 Sandy Bridge processors, the latest Intel Thunderbolt technology and a high-resolution FaceTime camera. Also in the new models it was possible to use discrete video cards from AMD: Radeon HD 6490M and Radeon HD 6750M.

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Third generation MacBook Pro (Retina display)

Release date: year 2012
Main characteristics:

• Intel Core i5 and i7 processor 2.4 GHz to 2.6 GHz
• Hard drive from 256 GB to 1 TB
• Retina display from 13” (2560 x 1600) to 15” (2880 x 1800)
• Video card built-in Intel HD Graphics 4000 and discrete NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M 1GB
• RAM 4, 8 and 16 GB

The generation of MacBook Pro laptops with Retina display was introduced on June 11, 2012 at WWDC. Apple positioned this laptop as a completely new line of MacBook Pro laptops.

It might seem that the most significant difference from the previous generation is the Retina display. Of course, this innovation was an important step, because the quality of the picture has increased significantly, the image has become more contrasty, and there is much less glare. However, these are not all the features of the new generation:

• The size and weight of laptops have changed - they have become thinner and lighter. In addition, a MacBook Pro model appeared with a 13-inch display.
• Increased productivity and speed.
• An important change was the joint operation of the integrated GPU processor Ivy Bridge (Intel HD Graphics 4000) and a discrete video card in the form of the GeForce GT 650M.
• The battery life has also increased.
• The new model features two Thunderbolt ports, a pair of USB 3.0 ports, an SDXC card slot, an HDMI port and a new MagSafe 2 connector.
• The built-in camera has been upgraded to 720p.
• The hard drive has been replaced with a full-fledged SSD drive.
• The big plus was the increase in RAM.
• The keyboard has changed a little, which has now become more protected from crumbs getting into it, which is why pressing the buttons has become more dense.

Among the shortcomings, we can note the lack of an optical drive, which now may not be so important for users, and an Ethernet connector. Also, holes for ventilation appeared in the case in the bottom panel, which upset those who like to use the laptop while holding it on their laps.

In 2013, the MacBook Pro underwent changes again - models with Intel Ivy Bridge 2.8 GHz (Turbo Boost 3.8 GHz) and Intel Haswell 2.6 GHz (Turbo Boost 3.8 GHz) processors appeared. In the fall of 2013, the graphics processor was also updated - now Intel Iris Pro Graphics and NVidia Geforce GT 750M 2GB were installed in fully equipped models.

Fair, not overpriced and not underestimated. There should be prices on the Service website. Necessarily! without asterisks, clear and detailed, where technically possible - as accurate and concise as possible.

If spare parts are available, up to 85% of complex repairs can be completed in 1-2 days. Modular repairs require much less time. The website shows the approximate duration of any repair.

Warranty and responsibility

A guarantee must be given for any repairs. Everything is described on the website and in the documents. The guarantee is self-confidence and respect for you. A 3-6 month warranty is good and sufficient. It is needed to check quality and hidden defects that cannot be detected immediately. You see honest and realistic terms (not 3 years), you can be sure that they will help you.

Half the success in Apple repair is the quality and reliability of spare parts, so a good service works directly with suppliers, there are always several reliable channels and your own warehouse with proven spare parts for current models, so you don’t have to waste extra time.

Free diagnostics

This is very important and has already become a rule of good manners for the service center. Diagnostics is the most difficult and important part of the repair, but you don't have to pay a penny for it, even if you don't repair the device based on its results.

Service repairs and delivery

A good service values ​​your time, so it offers free delivery. And for the same reason, repairs are carried out only in the workshop of a service center: they can be done correctly and according to technology only in a prepared place.

Convenient schedule

If the Service works for you, and not for itself, then it is always open! absolutely. The schedule should be convenient to fit in before and after work. Good service works on weekends and holidays. We are waiting for you and working on your devices every day: 9:00 - 21:00

The reputation of professionals consists of several points

Company age and experience

Reliable and experienced service has been known for a long time.
If a company has been on the market for many years and has managed to establish itself as an expert, people turn to it, write about it, and recommend it. We know what we are talking about, since 98% of incoming devices in the service center are restored.
Other service centers trust us and refer complex cases to us.

How many masters in areas

If there are always several engineers waiting for you for each type of equipment, you can be sure:
1. there will be no queue (or it will be minimal) - your device will be taken care of right away.
2. you give your Macbook for repair to an expert in the field of Mac repairs. He knows all the secrets of these devices

Technical literacy

If you ask a question, a specialist should answer it as accurately as possible.
So that you can imagine what exactly you need.
They will try to solve the problem. In most cases, from the description you can understand what happened and how to fix the problem.

Considering the modern world, many people are very computer savvy. However, many things reach the CIS countries with a serious delay, and therefore for people from the outback, especially the older generation, the computer remains a “dark forest”. Of course, this is not the rule, and there are a large number of exceptions. If you have any idea what an Apple MacBook is, what modifications exist, and what its history is, then the article will not be useful. A computer and a review of it will only help ignorant people learn a little something new.

Definition

MacBook is a line of portable computers from Apple. Until 2006, the laptop was called “iBook” (it’s very difficult to find a photo of an iBook). It featured a more primitive PowerPC processor. At the beginning of 2006, the line was awaiting modernization. There was a new Intel processor and a name we know as MacBook. At the same time, a series of professional MacBooks appeared. The MacBook line ceased production in 2011. Nowadays, seeing a laptop or at least a photo of it is a rarity, especially if it is a modification from 2006-2008.

Distinctive features

MacBooks most often had a white plastic body, which they once tried to replace with a metal one, but the idea failed. A total of 9 modifications were released. Looking at them in more detail, you can pay attention to the updates of each subsequent model, which were sometimes completely insignificant.

A review of an Apple computer from those years is now hard to find. And it’s too difficult to consider all the modifications. We will look at the first laptop computer, the MacBook 1.1, with which the model range began, and the last laptop, the MacBook 7.1, with which it all ended. Photos of these models are not easy to find, but you can try to find them on the Internet. It’s unlikely that these photos will impress you, because Apple’s design concept has never changed radically.

The first model range included modifications MA254*/A, MA255*/A, MA472*/A. They were released on May 16, 2006. Screen characteristics: 13.3 inches, glossy surface, resolution 1280x800 pixels, CCFL screen backlight. Photos and videos on the display looked fine, but the review would not have been very enjoyable in this regard. Hard drive 60 or 80 GB. Processor: Core Duo T2400 or T2500, depending on the configuration you choose. Clock frequency 1.83 gigahertz or 2.0 GHz. RAM 512 MB, that is, two slots of 256 MB. Built-in GMA 950 graphics card. Dimensions: 2.75 cm thick, 32.5 cm wide and 23.7 cm long. Weight, by the way, is 2.4 kilograms. Operating system Mac OS X 10.4 / 10.4.6 depending on configuration.

As the review showed, the computer was quite good for its time. And as a laptop, it's very portable. The characteristics of the first model may seem simply shocking, but if you look at Apple’s competitors of that time, everything will become obvious. Technologies are moving forward with huge strides, changing characteristics from year to year. Any computer from Apple keeps pace with new technologies, the MacBook began to fall short of the level, the company abandoned it without regret. It is now difficult to find a photo of such a device even on the Internet, because new gadgets from Apple fill the open spaces and make you forget the origins.

The review of the latest model range should begin with the model number, which, as in the three previous cases, was one. Number MC516*/A. It is worth immediately noting that the model was subsequently slightly updated. For the first time ever, the display characteristics have changed, although the size and resolutions remain the same, but a new LED screen backlight technology has been used. Now reviewing movies or photos gives you a more pleasant experience. If review and comparison are possible, evaluate the evolution of Apple products. The processor has changed beyond recognition: P8600, Core 2 Duo with a clock frequency of 2.4 GHz.

The hard drive has a capacity of 250 gigabytes, and the RAM is 2 GB, again two slots of 1 gigabyte each. The characteristics of the built-in video card - GeForce320M - have also changed. The dimensions have changed in the weight parameters, and even then not much. The computer now weighed 2.3 kg. That is, about more than a hundred grams less. The OS has also undergone a major transformation to Mac OS X 10.6.3. There were also other significant changes, but about them in another article.

Photos of the new version, by the way, are also difficult to find on the Russian-language Internet. And it’s impossible to find a review of any model at all. At least you can look at the characteristics on Wikipedia, and a couple of photos. It would be interesting to read a review of an Apple laptop of that time and a modern Apple laptop.

Bottom line

At various auctions you can see offers from various inquisitive people who would like to buy a similar laptop, with all the included “trinkets” (instructions, charger, and so on). A laptop is an interesting device, but an Apple computer is something completely special. Using a MacBook, no matter what modification, is amazing. Of course, there are competitors with which you can compare any laptop or computer.

Very often, many users who want to buy a laptop from Apple ask themselves the question: “Which MacBook should I choose?” And indeed, everything is not as simple as it might seem. There are a lot of different models of Apple devices, and they are all very similar in their characteristics, but they differ noticeably in price. In today's material we will take a detailed look at some of the most interesting and best laptops from Apple that you can definitely buy.

Apple MacBook Air 13 (MMGF2)

The first model that comes to mind when asked “which MacBook to choose” is, of course, the MacBook Air 13. This laptop can easily be called the most balanced and popular among all Apple devices in the company’s budget segment. Not only is it perfect for home use and work, but it will also be an excellent device for travel and travel.

Delivery set and appearance

The laptop is delivered in a relatively small branded white box, which contains images of the model itself. The packaging also indicates the main characteristics of the device and key features. The delivery package is as follows: laptop user manual, warranty card, network cable with power supply, and, in fact, that’s all.

It’s difficult to find fault with the exterior, because it looks very cool and beautiful. The body is made of metal and has a pleasant texture to the touch. On the top cover there is traditionally the company logo in the form of an apple, which glows when turned on.

On the left side there is a USB 3.0 port, a 3.5 mm headphone jack and a socket for the power cable. On the right side there is a card reader, another USB version 3 port and a Thunderbolt 2.0 connector.

As for the laptop screen, it has a diagonal of 13.3 inches and a resolution of 1440 x 900 pixels. The matrix type is TN+film, and the pixel density is 127.7ppi. Apple is very famous for its well-calibrated and tuned screens, so the picture quality here is excellent. Color rendition is good, correct, there is a reserve of brightness and contrast, and everything is in order with saturation. The only negative that is worth noting is the glossy finish of the display. Fingerprints remain on it, and they are visible to the naked eye.

Well, in conclusion, a little about the keyboard and touchpad. In principle, everything here is also more than standard for the company. The keyboard is “stripped down”, without a number pad, but the key layout is spacious and incredibly comfortable. The buttons have a not too large, but very clear stroke, and each press is accompanied by a pleasant click. In terms of ergonomics - a solid five. Those who work a lot with text will clearly be pleased.

The touchpad is also very interesting and convenient. The finger glides over the surface easily, there is support for gestures. The buttons are also easy and pleasant to press. Another advantage of the touchpad is its size - it is larger than in any other laptop, which makes the process of using it even more comfortable.

Characteristics

The MacBook runs on an Intel Core i5 5250U processor. The processor is dual-core, with a frequency of 1.6 GHz. There is an automatic overclocking mode in which the frequency increases to 2.7 GHz, which is quite good. The CPU also has a 3 MB L3 cache.

The laptop has 8 GB of memory, and there is no way to expand this volume. The RAM operates at a frequency of 1600 MHz. A 128 GB solid state hard drive (SSD) is used for storage.

Unfortunately, the laptop has an integrated video card, Intel HD 6000. It does not have its own video memory, so it will take up some part of the RAM.

The operating system of the laptop is Mac OS X, and not Windows, as many might mistakenly think. The fact is that Windows is not installed on a MacBook, this is Apple's policy.

And finally, a little about autonomy. The laptop battery has a capacity of 4900 mAh. Once fully charged, the device can work for up to 12 hours, which is an excellent indicator.

Reviews

Reviews of this laptop show that the MacBook Air is an excellent and balanced device in all its characteristics, with good speed and performance. Users especially note the high autonomy and excellent build quality of the model. The laptop has no shortcomings as such. Except that the screen is not Retina, and the price could be lower (75 thousand rubles).

Apple MacBook Pro 13 (MPXT2)

Continuing the topic “Which MacBook to choose,” we move on to the next model - Apple MacBook Pro 13. This laptop is already considered a higher class than the previous one. There is a Retina display, a more powerful processor, and higher performance; in general, it is better in all respects, but it is more expensive.

Equipment and appearance

The laptop is sold in a small white branded box. Inside the package there is the following delivery kit: warranty card, instructions, MacBook Pro 13 laptop and network cable with power supply and plug.

Externally, the laptop looks very cool, even better than the Air version. The body is still made of metal and painted silver. On the bottom of the laptop you can only find rubber feet, and the lid, according to tradition, is decorated with the company logo.

The only jacks on the right side are 3.5mm for headphones. On the left are 2 USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) ports. As you can see, there are no classic USB 3 ports here, so to connect the same flash drives you will have to use third-party USB hubs.

Now you can go to the display. Just a minus for the glossy finish, which will always leave fingerprints. Fortunately, this is the only drawback of the screen. The Retina display has a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels and a diagonal of 13.3. Pixel density - 227 ppi. Matrix type - IPS. There are no complaints at all regarding image quality. The picture is very clear, bright, rich, with rich colors, correct and natural color rendition. There is a reserve of brightness; there are no problems with contrast.

As for the keyboard, it is, as always, excellent. The layout is a little denser than the previous model, but there is still enough distance between the buttons to avoid pressing two keys at once. If we talk about the presses themselves, the buttons have a small, but very confident and clear stroke. The sound from touches is practically inaudible, which is certainly a plus.

The touchpad is much larger than the Air version, making it virtually a full mouse replacement. There is huge support for gestures and combinations of presses to perform certain functions. Also, this touchpad implements Force Touch technology, which, in essence, is a rejection of conventional buttons. Instead, there are special sensors that measure the force of pressing and perform appropriate actions. It is very convenient and to some extent even better than a classic mouse.

Laptop Specifications

It's time to move on to the specifications. The processor here is from Intel, model i5 7360U with two cores and four threads. The clock frequency is 2.3 GHz, and in automatic overclocking mode - 3.6 GHz. There is a level 3 cache, its size is 4 MB.

The laptop has 8 GB of RAM, not expandable. It operates at a frequency of 2133 MHz, which is an excellent indicator.

Integrated video card - Intel Iris Plus 640, without its own dedicated memory.

The hard drive of the MacBook is solid state, 256 GB. Unfortunately, the opportunity to install another one is not provided, so the only option is to replace the drive with a more capacious one.

The OS is the proprietary Mac OS Sierra, which has many useful and interesting features, as well as excellent optimization.

To summarize the technical part, it is worth noting this: the system works very quickly, without any delays or slowdowns. The laptop's performance level is good - it is suitable not only for home use, but also as a device for video editing, working with photographs and even 3D graphics. In conclusion, a few words about autonomy. The MacBook Pro 13 battery has a capacity of 6580 mAh, which allows the laptop to work for just over 10 hours on a full charge. Considering the characteristics and capabilities of the model, this indicator can be considered very good.

Reviews about the laptop

Reviews about the laptop show that the MacBook Pro 13 model turned out to be very successful, interesting and with excellent characteristics, but it is not without its drawbacks. Thus, users note the lack of regular USB ports, only 2 USB-C ports, a scratchy screen coating, strong heating during prolonged use (an additional cooling pad is needed), lack of an HDMI port, not very successful charging technology and a high price. Otherwise there are no complaints.

Apple MacBook Pro 15 (MPTU2)

Well, the last one for today is the MacBook Pro 15 laptop. Another representative of the Pro line that deserves attention. There's a bigger screen, even better performance and features, an incredibly high-quality screen, and more. More details below.

Laptop delivery set and appearance

There is no particular point in writing about the packaging, since it is the same as above, so you can go straight to the packaging. Inside the package, in addition to the MacBook Pro 15 itself, there is a network cable with a power supply, a plug, an instruction manual and a warranty card.

You also don’t have to dwell too much on the appearance and design, since this is almost the same laptop as the previous one, only slightly larger. The body is also metal, everything is assembled perfectly, the only thing is that the color is different - it is lighter.

As for the elements and their location, almost everything is unchanged. On the right side there are 2 USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) and a 3.5mm headphone input. On the left side there are 2 more USB-C (Thunderbolt 3) and that's it. There is no disk drive, card reader or anything else additional here, as before.

The Retina screen has a diagonal of 15.4 inches with a resolution of 2880 x 1800 pixels and a pixel density of 220 ppi. Matrix type IPS. There are no complaints about the quality of the display. The matrix is ​​configured and calibrated very precisely. Colors are reproduced correctly, contrast, saturation and brightness are at a very high level. The display will definitely appeal to those who work with photographs or vector graphics. Unfortunately, the screen has a downside - a glossy finish. Apple will probably never give it up. Anyway.

There is no point in talking too much about the keyboard and touchpad, since they are essentially the same as those of the previous model. The layout and layout are identical, the buttons have a short but clear stroke, which is accompanied by a click. The keyboard is comfortable to use and those who type a lot will definitely appreciate it.

As for the touchpad, it is still slightly larger than in the Pro 13 laptop, but it is made using the same Force Touch technology, with all its features, comfort and convenience.

The only other thing this model has is a touchbar, a strip above the top row of keyboard buttons. This touchbar is a small touch panel on which, depending on the situation, various controls appear. For example, when watching movies on the touchbar, a time bar is displayed, with which you can rewind. Useful thing.

MacBook Pro 15 Specifications

The device is powered by a quad-core Intel Core i7 7700HQ processor. In addition to 4 cores, there are also 8 threads, which will be a huge plus in applications for 3D graphics or video editing. The CPU clock frequency is 2.8 GHz, and in automatic overclocking mode it is 3.8 GHz. The size of the second level cache has been increased to 1 MB, and the third level cache has a capacity of 6 MB.

The MacBook Pro 15 has as much as 16 GB of RAM. As always, there is no room for expansion. The RAM operates at a frequency of 2133 MHz.

Finally, the video card is discrete - AMD Radeon Pro 555 with 2 GB of memory on board. However, there is also a discrete video card here - this is an Intel HD 630, without its own memory.

The drive is traditionally installed as a solid-state one, but only 256 GB, and without the ability to add another drive. Expectations from a laptop of a higher class are somewhat different. I would, of course, like the SSD to be at least 500 GB, but alas, it is what it is.

The operating system of the model is the same as above - Mac OS Sierra. Everything works quickly, smoothly, without brakes or freezes.

In general, when it comes to overall performance, the laptop is simply excellent. It can be safely used to work in heavy applications, especially where multitasking is required.

If we talk about battery life, then everything is not bad here either. The battery has a capacity of 6320 mAh, which allows it to work for 5-6 hours on a full charge.

We have finished the story of PowerBook and iBook - portable devices from Apple running on PowerPC processors. And so, at the Macworld conference in 2006, Steve Jobs introduced the first MacBook Pro - a laptop with an Intel processor. The reasons for the transition to x86 were explained simply: Apple tried to “shove” the powerful PowerPC G5 into a compact case, but, alas, heat dissipation did not allow it. As a result, a transition was made to the x86 architecture, or more precisely, to Intel Core Duo processors, which entailed some problems, but more on that below.

MacBook Pro 2006-2008 - Intel, but not that one

These MacBooks were not very different from the PowerBook G4, and this is understandable - Apple focused on hardware, and the result exceeded all expectations - the efficiency of Intel processors was 4 times higher than that of the G4, that is, with the same energy expenditure it was possible to obtain absolutely another level of work. Externally, there were almost no changes (yes, the body became a little deeper and thinner, but this was visible only in direct comparison), but in addition to improved hardware, the iSight camera appeared for the first time (previously you had to connect an external webcam) and the MagSafe port - a magnetic connector that saved one MacBook from falling. However, something had to be sacrificed (due to a slightly reduced thickness), and that was the disk drive - it was slower than in the G4, and could not write double-layer DVDs. Yes, Apple was already slowly abandoning disks in 2006, which looked, of course, quite strange then (about the same as USB-C in laptops now).

There was also a rejection of the 12" model - now the line included only 15" and 17" laptops with screens of 1440x900 and 1680x1050 pixels. The matrices were built using TFT TN+film technology, so the viewing angles were relatively good. Moreover, Apple significantly increased brightness, which made it possible to work with laptops even outdoors in the shade.

Laptops were equipped with up to 2 GB of RAM and HDD up to 120 GB. The video card in all models was ATi Radeon X1600, which had up to 256 MB of GDDR3 memory.

Alas, the models had enough problems, and the first, oddly enough, was the processor: it did not support 64-bit computing, so both the system and EFI (analogous to BIOS) were 32-bit. Therefore, the last supported OS was Mac OS X 10.6.8, released in 2011. The second problem, oddly enough, was again the processor - it was not binary compatible with PowerPC, so the Rosetta translator was written, which allowed Intel processors to execute code written for G3 and G4. It no longer supported G5, so some of the programs needed to be rewritten. At the same time, as we remember, support for Macs with PowerPC processors continued, which is why developers had to write two versions of the program, which seriously complicated development. As a result, in 10.6 - an OS that no longer supports PowerPC - the translator could only be enabled as an additional option, and in 10.7 it was “cut out” completely, so now it is no longer possible to run a PowerPC application on a Mac. And the third problem was... yes, yes, again because of the processor: and although it “fried” less than the G5, the thermal package was still 35 W. Adding to this a not-so-budget video card and a thin aluminum case, we get a problem that is also inherent in modern MacBooks - significant heating under load.

Of course, Apple later began to update the models - the graphics were represented by mobile video cards from Nvidia, which were more productive and less hot, the processors became Core 2 Duo - that is, 64-bit, but for unknown reasons the EFI remained 32-bit, so, if you wanted, you could put 4 GB of memory in the laptop, but in reality less worked. This also limited support - at the level of Mac OS X 10.7, and then in 32-bit mode.

Of course, many were interested in battery life, and here it was not great - about 4-5 hours under load, like a PowerBook with one battery. The reasons for this behavior were clear - there was now only one battery, and the fact that its capacity was increased by 10 Wh did not increase battery life due to a more voracious processor. So those who were expecting excellent battery life were disappointed and were left with a PowerBook G4 with two batteries giving up to 10 hours of runtime.

MacBook 2006-2010 are the only black MacBooks

Of course, Apple could not put an end to such a popular line as the iBook, and therefore, a little later than the release of the aluminum Pro, in May 2006, white and black MacBooks in a plastic case were introduced. The models cost significantly less than the Pro (up to a $500 difference), and the only serious difference from the Pro, other than the 13" display diagonal, was the lack of discrete graphics - only the GMA 950 was available, the capabilities of which were only enough to render the interface. But it's still there were full-fledged MacBooks, they were significantly more powerful than the iBook, and therefore they sold like hot cakes, especially the Black version - it looked at least unusual.


The 2008 model began to include Core 2 Duo, which extended support until Mac OS 10.7, but a discrete video card was never delivered, so the capabilities for working with graphics were, to put it mildly, modest. However, this was corrected in the 2009 model, which introduced an Nvidia GT 9400M graphics card - that is, the plastic MacBook of 2009 was, in terms of hardware, nothing more than the aluminum Pro of 2008.

After 2010, Apple did not continue the line - it was decided to release a 13" MacBook Pro.

MacBook Pro Unibody 2008-2012 - familiar design

In 2008, Apple introduced a design that, with the exception of some minor details, has not changed to this day. Now the glass covers the entire display module, which when turned off gives the impression of a frameless screen; the keyboard became black, which significantly improved text readability. Gone are the touchpad buttons - now it's a large glass plate with multi-touch support. In 2008, the laptop produced a wow effect, setting a high quality bar for a long time.

Over the course of 4 years, the line changed significantly - in 2011, the 17" model was excluded from it as too bulky and outdated; in 2010, the older models acquired processors from the Core i5 and i7 lines, while the younger, 13", remained on the Core 2 Duo, which caused confusion . In 2010 models, a proprietary Thunderbolt port appeared, which made it possible to connect any peripherals to the MacBook - even external video cards. In 2012, the latest model introduced USB 3.0 ports. In 2010, Apple significantly improved batteries - they could now “live” up to 1000 cycles, losing no more than 20% of capacity and providing battery life of up to 8-9 hours. Also in 2011, Apple abandoned the use of discrete graphics in the 13" MacBook, and until now these models only have an integrated video card, “to the delight” of users working with 3D.


Perhaps one of the critical problems of the line is the failure of the GPU in models with AMD graphics (2011) - due to poor-quality solder, contact between the crystal and the substrate was lost, which led to graphic artifacts. Apple, of course, launched a replacement program, but it was this fact that led the company to revert back to Nvidia graphics until 2015.

All Unibody models are quite up to date - most of them (2010-2011) are updated to the latest versions of macOS, the oldest are stuck on version 10.11, which also allows you to run most of the software.

In general, there is nothing more to describe here - I think there are many people who use these wonderful laptops now, so it’s hard to call the Unibody line history.

MacBook Air is the thinnest laptop to date

In 2008, at the same Macworld, the same Steve Jobs took out a laptop from a folder to the applause of the audience. It looked, of course, futuristic then - it weighed 1.5 kg, the thickness at the thinnest part was only a few millimeters, and it had a full keyboard and touchpad. Of course, something had to go under the knife, and that something was the disk drive and ports: yes, yes, the 2008 laptop completely lacked a disk drive and had only one USB 2.0.

His problems did not end there - an attempt to cram hardware from plastic MacBooks into a thin case (yes, Jobs said on stage that the processor was specially designed by Intel for ultrabooks, but in fact it was a regular Core 2 Duo with reduced frequencies) led to that the laptop was constantly overheating, and the cooler often worked without turning off. And the autonomy was far from the 12 hours of modern Air.


In 2010, the line was significantly improved - firstly, there were two USBs, and, secondly, an 11.6" model appeared. And that’s where the external changes ended - even now the 2017 models look the same and have low-resolution TN matrices and mediocre color reproduction, which is somehow a shame for a company of this level.But still, the MacBook Air has one plus that outweighs all the minuses and makes people buy them even now - this is the “royal” battery life, up to 10-12 real hours Surfing the Internet.

But, in general, it’s obvious that it’s time for the line to retire - this became clear with the release of the MacBook 12.5" in 2015, but we’ll talk about it below.

MacBook Retina 2012-2015 - the best displays on the market

In 2012, Apple made a major update to the Pro line, getting rid of three atavisms at once. Firstly, they threw out the disk drive - it was high time; in 2012, with the widespread development of the Internet and online services, disks were no longer needed. Secondly, FireWare was removed - even Apple became clear that the connector, all revisions of which were not physically compatible with each other, did not take root and will not take root - Thunderbolt 2 took its place. Thirdly, the company abandoned the old TN displays , replacing them with IPS with huge resolutions of 2560x1600 and 2880x1800, ensuring that individual pixels were not visible during normal use. Well, the last pleasant “bun” is that due to the removed disk drive, it was possible to reduce both weight and thickness, so these laptops can safely be called ultrabooks.


Of course, there were some glitches - some shadowy genius from Apple decided that the integrated Intel HD 4000 could cope with the heavy GUI of macOS at a resolution of 2560x1600. Alas, practice has shown that it won’t work, and animation twitches on 2012 models still happen from time to time. The second problem is the peeling anti-reflective coating, which looks, to put it mildly, ugly. The reasons for its application are clear - Apple got rid of matte displays, and it was necessary to offer something in return.

There were no other special changes with Unibody - the same Core i5 and i7 were installed in laptops, the amount of RAM could reach 16 GB (the memory was soldered on the board), and instead of HDD, fast SSDs are now always installed.

MacBook 2015-2017 is a good attempt to replace Air, Apple, but no

The MacBook Air seemed futuristic in 2008, ordinary in 2012 and obsolete in 2015, so Apple has prepared a replacement for it, but, as usual, with its own quirks.

If the Air was never distinguished by the presence of a large number of ports, then in the MacBook 12 Apple went even further - there was only one port, and not only was it USB-C without Thunderbolt support (that is, no connection of monitors), but it was also used for charging. This created two problems at once - for simultaneous charging and data transfer, an adapter is now needed, and the second problem - if earlier, when tugging the power cable, it was easily disconnected from the MacBook, thereby saving it from falling, but now, taking into account the lightness of the 12" model, it is beyond this cable can be carried around the table, so one awkward move and a laptop worth almost 2 thousand dollars flies to the floor.

Alas, the shortcomings of the model do not end there. Realizing that it was impossible to squeeze normal processors into such a case, Apple installed Core m with passive cooling, which, as expected, led to passive performance, often one and a half times slower than that of Air 2015. And even this was not the biggest problem - hardly Does anyone use such machines for heavy work? The worst thing was that battery life even at 10 hours was unattainable - it turned out to be at the level of 7-8 hours, like that of a full-fledged MacBook Retina, but significantly worse than 12 hours of Air. Adding here a price almost at the level of the 15" Retina, we get essentially a beautiful expensive machine, but, alas, useless if there are 13" Air and Retina on the market.

MacBook Pro TouchBar 2016-2017 - touch-portless modernity

People who can count understood that Apple had to show something new in 2016 (in 2008 there was Unibody, in 2012 - Retina, in 2016 - ???). And the company showed something new - the Retina models are now called Pro again (well, yes, in 2017 you won’t surprise anyone with 2K resolution, so the name change is quite expected), while there were plenty of other innovations: firstly, they reduced the thickness even more and weight (now the 15" model weighs only 400 grams heavier than the old 13"), secondly, having tested a new butterfly keyboard on the 12" MacBook, Apple transferred it to the Pro. Thirdly, the company decided to get rid of the F-buttons, and in a rather original way - instead of them, she added a touch strip that can display anything, including the same F-buttons. Well, in order not to waste time on trifles in our aspirations for the future, only 2 or 4 USB-C ports remained (thanks , that at least there is support for Thunderbolt 3) Of course, in 5 years these ports will become the norm, but for now, owners of new MacBooks have to buy docking stations and a bunch of cables.

Well, the expected question is - what did Apple throw out in order to make laptops even thinner and lighter? The answer is simple - a battery and a normal cooling system. And it’s even funny - the 13" 2015 model has the same battery capacity as the 15" 2016, while Apple promises that the battery life will not change. Alas, all independent reviewers claim the opposite: yes, although the processor has become more economical, now the operating time is on average 6-7 hours, which is no longer just comparable with competitors - it is often less than that of competitors and MacBook Retina. As for CO, it’s no longer funny, but sad - for the first time since 2012, 2 coolers are again used to cool the 13" model, and moreover, holes from the ports are used to capture air (previously there was a slot under the display for this). All this leads to the fact that the long-standing problem with heating, alas, has not been solved, and component temperatures often go beyond 90 degrees. Of course, in such a thin case this is expected, but it still makes me wonder - why should I take an older processor model if under will there be no significant difference in operating speed with the younger one due to overheating?


But we are all about something sad - of course, the new MacBooks have enough advantages: this is a gorgeous display with record brightness and full coverage of the P3 range, a huge comfortable touchpad, larger in size than the screens of many phones, and almost a record weight for aluminum ultrabooks.

The future of the MacBook

Of course, the company does not share its plans for the future, but here we can speculate. It’s obvious that the Pro line will be updated for a couple of years for sure, because Apple’s designs don’t last two years. But as for the 12" models and Air, the first one will most likely be transferred to ARM processors, which will immediately solve the problems with battery life, heating, and increased price, and this, in turn, will allow the second line to be sent to retirement. Considering that ARM is growing faster than x86-64, who knows - maybe in a couple of years Apple will not only make a new Pro design, but will also transfer them to its own processors. But all this is just fantasy , what will actually happen we just have to find out, but for now at this moment we are ending the history of portable laptops from Apple, which took more than 25 years.