Apple · MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
An aluminium 17-inch MacBook Pro with Intel dual-core processors, discrete graphics and an optical drive.
Model history · 6 models, 2003–2006
- 2003PowerBook G4 17-inch (Early 2003)Compare
- 2003PowerBook G4 (17-inch, 1.33GHz)Compare
- 2004PowerBook G4 (17-inch, 1.5GHz)Compare
- 2005PowerBook G4 (17-inch, 1.67GHz)Compare
- 2005PowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD)Compare
- 2006MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2006)
- Size
- 17″
- Display
- –
- Processor
- Intel Core Duo 2.16 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006)
- Memory
- 1 GB – 2 GB
- Weight
- 3.1 kg
- Battery
- 5.5 h
What reviewers say
Reviewers praised the bright large screen, construction and native-application performance, but found older PowerPC software slower through Rosetta and criticised heat underneath. Macworld found quiet operation but battery life below Apple’s claim; Notebookcheck noted Windows driver limitations.
From macworld.com and notebookcheck.net
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specDisplay
- Screen size
- 17″
- Resolution
- 1680 × 1050
- Brightness
- 300 nits
- Touchscreen
- No
- Display type
- Widescreen TFT display; matte at launch, with glossy option added later in May 2006 with millions of colours. Exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished in the maker sources read.
Performance
- Processor
- Intel Core Duo 2.16 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006)
- CPU cores
- 2
- Graphics
- ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3)
- Memory
- 1 GB or 2 GB
- Storage
- 100 GB to 120 GB
- CPU
- Dual-core Intel Core Duo at 2.16 GHz, with 2 MB shared L2 cache and 667 MHz frontside bus. The record retains the maker’s clock and model rather than copying an unverified retail-chip specification.
- GPU
- ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3)
- Memory type
- 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM in two SO-DIMM slots; 1 GB standard, configurable to 2 GB.
- Storage type
- 120 GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive, configurable to 100 GB at 7200 rpm. 8× SuperDrive with 2.4× double-layer DVD+R writing.
Battery and size
- Battery life (maker's claim)
- Up to 5.5 hours
- Battery capacity
- 68 Wh
- Weight
- 3.1 kg
- Thickness
- 25.9 mm
- Width × depth
- 392 × 265 mm
- Battery life detail
- Removable 68 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 5.5 hours in Apple’s test. Maker reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
- Charger
- 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter
- Materials
- Aluminium enclosure
- Colours
- Silver
Connections
- Ports
- 3 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe
- Wi-Fi
- AirPort Extreme 802.11g
- Bluetooth
- 2.0 + EDR
- Webcam
- Built-in iSight camera
- Operating system
- macOS
- Port detail
- 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 displays
- 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; embedded numeric keypad
- Trackpad
- Scrolling trackpad with a separate button; two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap and drag.
- Speakers
- Built-in stereo speakers
- Microphones
- 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. Apple Remote and DVI-to-VGA adapter included. Mac OS X 10.4.6 Tiger and iLife ’06. Apple’s 24 April 2006 notice states shipping the following week, supporting May month precision without an exact delivery day. The optional glossy screen was introduced later in May and is not treated as an original launch configuration.
Configurations
| Processor | Memory | Storage | Graphics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Intel Core Duo 2.16 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006) | 1 GB | 100 GB | ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3) |
| Intel Core Duo 2.16 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006) | 1 GB | 120 GB | ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3) |
| Intel Core Duo 2.16 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006) | 2 GB | 100 GB | ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3) |
| Intel Core Duo 2.16 GHz (MacBook Pro Early 2006) | 2 GB | 120 GB | ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (256 MB GDDR3) |
Pros and cons
Pros
- Backlit keyboard and built-in optical drive
- Replaceable memory and removable battery
- Large 1680 × 1050 screen
Cons
- Large chassis by current laptop standards
- 3 USB 2.0 ports
- Older expansion connections
Closest rivals
Model | Size | Display | Processor | Memory | Weight | Battery | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17″ | – | Intel Core 2 | 2 GB – 4 GB | – | – | Feb 2008 | |
| 17″ | – | Intel Core 2 | 2 GB – 3 GB | – | 5.5 h | Nov 2006 | |
| 17″ | – | PowerPC G4 1 GHz (PowerBook 17-inch Early 2003) | 512 MB – 1 GB | 3.1 kg | 4.5 h | Mar 2003 |
Previous model: PowerBook G4 (17-inch, Double-Layer SD). Newer model: MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2006).
Sources
Photo: cdsassets.apple.com