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MacBook Pro Q&A - Revised November 19, 2006
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What are the differences between the MacBook Pro "Core Duo" 15-Inch and 17-Inch models?
Please note that all systems mentioned in this Q&A have been discontinued. The MacBook Pro "Core Duo" models were replaced by the "Late 2006" MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" series on October 24, 2006.
The most immediately apparent difference between the MacBook Pro "Core Duo" 2.16 17-Inch and the MacBook 15-Inch models is that the 17-Inch model has a 17-Inch widescreen display with a 1680x1050 native resolution and the 15-Inch models each have a 15.4" widescreen display with a 1440x900 native resolution.
Although there are some notable differences as well, the MacBook Pro "Core Duo" 2.16 17-Inch has much in common with the 15-Inch models, as they all share a similar logic board design with Intel "Core Duo" processors -- two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip -- a 2 MB shared "on chip" level 2 cache, a 667 MHz frontside bus, and support for 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (PC2-5300) RAM.
Also internally, all feature Serial ATA/100 (5400 RPM) hard drives of varying capacity with "Sudden Motion Sensor" technology that stops the hard drive heads from moving if the laptop is dropped and ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics processors with dual-link DVI functionality with differing amounts of GDDR3 SDRAM.
Common external features include fiber-optic-based "ambient light sensors" that automatically "measure ambient light and work with integrated software to adjust keyboard illumination and screen brightness based on user preferences", "scrolling TrackPads" that allow one to scroll or pan by touching the trackpad with two fingers instead of one, built-in iSight video cameras for easy videoconferencing, included Apple Remotes for use with Apple Front Row media organization software, and the clever "MagSafe" power connector.
Common connectivity includes AirPort Extreme (802.11g), Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, a FireWire "400" port, optical digital audio in/out, DVI out, and ExpressCard/34. However, the MacBook Pro "Core Duo" 2.16 17-Inch also has a FireWire "800" port, which no doubt will make video professionals happy, as well as a third USB 2.0 port. No MacBook Pro "Core Duo" has an internal modem, although an external Apple USB Modem is available for purchase.
The configurations are similar as well, particularly between the MacBook Pro "Core Duo" 2.16 17-Inch and MacBook Pro "Core Duo" 2.16 15-Inch, as both have the same processor speed, 1 GB of DDR SDRAM installed on a single SO-DIMM, 256 MB of video GDDR3 SDRAM, and can have the same 120 GB hard drive, although it is stock with the 17-Inch model and a US$100 upgrade for the 15-Inch model.
Curiously, if one was to upgrade to the MacBook Pro "Core Duo" 2.16 15-Inch at the time of purchase, which was US$300 more than the MacBook Pro "Core Duo" 2.0 15-Inch, and then upgrade the hard drive from 100 GB to 120 GB, the MacBook Pro "Core Duo" 2.16 15-Inch was actually US$100 more than the 17-Inch model at the time of introduction. This is despite the fact that the 15-Inch model has a 4X single-layer DVD±RW/CD-RW SuperDrive and the 17-Inch model has an 8X dual-layer SuperDrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW).
The MacBook Pro "Core Duo" 2.16 17-Inch has a 68-watt-hour lithium polymer battery compared to a 60-watt-hour battery for the 15-Inch models. Sharp eyes will no doubt notice that Apple quoted a battery life of 5.5 hours for the 17-Inch model, and began quoting battery life of 4.5 hours for the 15-Inch systems, confirming earlier speculation.
As one would expect given the larger display and battery, the MacBook Pro "Core Duo" 2.16 17-Inch also is bigger -- an extra 1.3 inches wide, 0.8 inches deep, and 1.2 pounds heavier.
In a nutshell, when compared to the 15-Inch models, the MacBook Pro "Core Duo" 2.16 17-Inch has a larger display, a larger stock hard drive, a faster dual-layer SuperDrive, a FireWire "800" port, an extra USB 2.0 port, and longer battery life.
Please refer to the Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to dynamically compare any MacBook Pro model to any other G3 or later Mac.
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