Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) vs Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2007)
Better figure, where one is clearly better
| AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008) | AppleMacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2007) | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Released | October 2008 | June 2007 |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 15.4″ | 15.4″ |
| Resolution | 1440 × 900 | 1440 × 900 |
| Touchscreen | No | No |
| Display type | Glossy LED-backlit widescreen LCD with millions of colours. Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read. | LED-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 Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read. |
| Performance | ||
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008), Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) or Intel Core 2 Duo 2.8 GHz (MacBook Pro Late 2008) | Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2 GHz (MacBook Pro Mid 2007) or Intel Core 2 Duo T7700 |
| CPU cores | 2 | 2 |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M or NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M | NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (128 MB GDDR3) or NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) |
| Memory | 2 GB or 4 GB | 2 GB or 4 GB |
| Storage | 128 GB to 320 GB (better) | 120 GB to 200 GB |
| CPU | Dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo at 2.4 GHz with 3 MB shared L2 cache or 2.53 GHz with 6 MB; 2.8 GHz with 6 MB is configurable only from the upper base, as confirmed by Ars Technica and SlashGear. 1066 MHz frontside bus; clock records avoid unverified Intel SKU assumptions. | Dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo at 2.2 GHz or 2.4 GHz, with 4 MB shared L2 cache and 800 MHz frontside bus. Notebookcheck identifies the upper chip as T7700; the lower record keeps the maker’s clock without an unverified SKU. |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (256 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M; NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT (512 MB GDDR3) + GeForce 9400M. GPU memory varies with processor configuration. The integrated GeForce 9400M and discrete GeForce 9600M GT are selectable alternatives; changing GPU requires logout, as confirmed by Ars Technica and SlashGear. | NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (128 MB GDDR3); NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT (256 MB GDDR3). GPU memory varies with processor configuration. |
| Memory type | 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots, up to 4 GB. Lower base starts with 2 GB; higher has 4 GB. | 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots; 2 GB standard, configurable to 4 GB. |
| Storage type | Lower base has a 250 GB and higher a 320 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA drive. Maker configurable options include 250 GB or 320 GB 7200-rpm drives, or a 128 GB SSD. All 128 GB rows are SSD configurations; higher-base 250 GB rows represent the faster configurable hard drive. 8× SuperDrive with double-layer DVD writing. | Lower base has 120 GB and higher 160 GB, with 160 GB or 200 GB configurable storage. 160 GB drives are available at 5400 or 7200 rpm; 200 GB runs at 4200 rpm. The 250 GB option in the combined sheet is restricted to the 17-inch model and is excluded here. 8× SuperDrive with double-layer DVD writing. |
| Battery and size | ||
| Battery life (maker's claim) | – | Up to 6 hours |
| Battery capacity | – | 60 Wh |
| Weight | 2.49 kg | 2.45 kg (better) |
| Thickness | – | 25.9 mm |
| Width × depth | – | 357 × 243 mm |
| Battery life detail | Removable lithium-polymer battery; capacity and battery-life hours omitted because the surviving maker sources read do not publish them. Apple lists 5.5 lb; the main 2.49 kg reference weight is explicitly published by Ars Technica. Ars lists enclosure dimensions 14.35 × 9.82 × 0.95 inches; metric dimensions omitted. | Removable 60 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 6 hours in Apple’s test. Maker reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. |
| Charger | 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter | 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter |
| Materials | Aluminium unibody enclosure and glass trackpad | Aluminium enclosure |
| Colours | Silver | Silver |
| Connections | ||
| Ports | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe | 2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe |
| Wi-Fi | AirPort Extreme 802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/g | AirPort Extreme draft 802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/g |
| Bluetooth | 2.1 + EDR | 2.0 + EDR |
| Webcam | Built-in iSight camera | Built-in iSight camera |
| Operating system | macOS | macOS |
| Port detail | 2 USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe, Mini DisplayPort, ExpressCard/34, separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and combined optical digital audio output/headphone output, and Kensington lock slot. Display adapters sold separately. | 2 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 displays | Mini DisplayPort supports an external display up to 30 inches; separate DVI, VGA or dual-link DVI adapters required. A numeric external resolution is omitted because it is not stated in the surviving maker sources read. | One external display up to 2560 × 1600 alongside the built-in screen through dual-link DVI; included VGA adapter, optional composite/S-video adapter. |
| Keyboard | Full-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys | Full-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensors, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys; embedded numeric keypad |
| Trackpad | Glass Multi-Touch trackpad with integrated button; scrolling, pinch, rotate and three-finger/four-finger swipes. | Scrolling trackpad with a separate button; two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap and drag. |
| Speakers | Built-in stereo speakers | Built-in stereo speakers |
| Microphones | Built-in microphone above the Escape key | Built-in omnidirectional microphone under the left speaker grille |
| In the box | MacBook 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 and display adapters sold separately. The former SP499 specification URL is no longer available; maker launch notice and exact user guide supply core facts. | 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. Launch bundle: Mac OS X 10.4.9 Tiger and iLife ’06. The later retained specification lists iLife ’08 and iWork ’08; these are later bundles, not launch software. |
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