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Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008) vs Apple MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2006)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008)AppleMacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2006)
Overview
ReleasedFebruary 2008November 2006
Display
Screen size15.4″17″
Resolution1440 × 9001680 × 1050
Brightness–300 nits
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeLED-backlit widescreen TFT display, matte with optional glossy finish with millions of colours. Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read.Widescreen TFT display; optional glossy finish with millions of colours. Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read.
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2008), Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2008) or Intel Core 2 Duo 2.6 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2008)Intel Core 2 Duo 2.33 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2006)
CPU cores22
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) or NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (512 MB GDDR3)ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3)
Memory2 GB or 4 GB2 GB or 3 GB
Storage200 GB to 300 GB100 GB to 200 GB
CPUDual-core Intel Core 2 Duo at 2.4 GHz with 3 MB shared L2 cache, or 2.5 GHz with 6 MB; 2.6 GHz with 6 MB is configurable from the 2.5 GHz base, as confirmed by Macworld. All use an 800 MHz frontside bus. Maker-described clock records avoid unverified Intel SKU assumptions.Dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo at 2.33 GHz, with 4 MB shared L2 cache and 667 MHz frontside bus. The record retains the maker’s clock and model without an unverified Intel SKU.
GPUNVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (256 MB GDDR3); NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (512 MB GDDR3). GPU memory varies with processor configuration.ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3)
Memory type667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots; 2 GB standard, configurable to 4 GB.667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots; 2 GB standard, configurable to 3 GB.
Storage type200 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA drive at 2.4 GHz or 250 GB 5400-rpm at 2.5 GHz. Maker build-to-order options are 200 GB at 7200 rpm, 250 GB at 5400 rpm or 300 GB at 4200 rpm; 200 GB rows on higher CPUs represent the optional faster drive. 8× SuperDrive with double-layer DVD writing.160 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive, configurable to 100 GB at 7200 rpm or 200 GB at 4200 rpm. 8× SuperDrive with 4× double-layer DVD+R writing.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)–Up to 5.5 hours
Battery capacity–68 Wh
Thickness26 mm–
Width × depth357 × 243 mm–
Battery life detailRemovable lithium-polymer battery; capacity and battery-life hours omitted because the surviving maker sources read do not publish them. Macworld lists 5.4 lb; metric weight omitted. Dimensions 357 × 243 × 26 mm are published by Notebookcheck’s exact-model review.Removable 68 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 5.5 hours in Apple’s test. Apple publishes 6.8 lb and a 15.4 × 10.4 × 1.0-inch enclosure; weight varies by configuration. Unpublished metric fields omitted.
Charger85 W MagSafe Power Adapter85 W MagSafe Power Adapter
MaterialsAluminium enclosureAluminium enclosure
ColoursSilverSilver
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe3 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe
Wi-FiAirPort Extreme 802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/gAirPort Extreme 802.11g; 802.11n requires the optional software enabler
Bluetooth2.1 + EDR2.0 + EDR
WebcamBuilt-in iSight cameraBuilt-in iSight camera
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detail2 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 and FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe, dual-link DVI, ExpressCard/34, separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and combined optical digital audio output/headphone output, and Kensington lock slot. VGA adapter included; composite/S-video adapter optional.3 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 400 and FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe, dual-link DVI, ExpressCard/34, separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and combined optical digital audio output/headphone output, and Kensington lock slot. VGA adapter included; composite/S-video adapter optional.
External displaysOne external display up to 2560 × 1600 alongside the built-in screen through dual-link DVI; included VGA adapter, optional composite/S-video adapter.One external display up to 2560 × 1600 alongside the built-in screen through dual-link DVI; included VGA adapter, optional composite/S-video adapter.
KeyboardFull-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keysFull-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys; embedded numeric keypad
TrackpadMulti-Touch trackpad with separate button; scrolling, pinch, rotate and three-finger swipe.Scrolling trackpad with a separate button; two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap and drag.
SpeakersBuilt-in stereo speakersBuilt-in stereo speakers
MicrophonesBuilt-in omnidirectional microphone under the left speaker grilleBuilt-in omnidirectional microphone under the left speaker grille
In the boxMacBook Pro, removable battery, 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter with AC wall plug and power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and iLife ’08. Apple Remote sold separately. The former SP4 specification URL is no longer available; surviving maker launch notice and exact user guide provide core specifications.MacBook Pro, removable battery, 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter with AC wall plug and power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Apple Remote and DVI-to-VGA adapter included. Mac OS X 10.4.8 Tiger and iLife ’06. Apple’s 24 October announcement says this model would ship the following week, crossing the month boundary; Macworld’s contemporary laboratory report confirms that actual shipping began in November. An exact first-sale day is unestablished.

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