MacBook Pro 20 years: from PowerBook to the Apple Silicon Era

Steve Jobs called the MacBook Pro the fastest and thinnest Mac laptop Apple has ever made. (photo; dok. apple )

JAKARTA - On January 10, 2006, in a historic moment at the Macworld event, Steve Jobs announced that Apple officially ended the legendary PowerBook line. Instead, he introduced the first MacBook Pro powered by an Intel processor. Two decades later, the MacBook Pro remains one of the most important products in Apple's history.

The PowerBook was a very successful product since it was first launched on October 21, 1991. However, after surviving for 14 years, 2 months, and 20 days, the line was discontinued and replaced by the MacBook Pro. The decision marked the end of Apple's "Power" laptop era and the start of a new, more modern phase.

"This is because we have finished with the word 'power', and because we want 'Mac' to be in the name of our product," Steve Jobs said at the time.

The MacBook Pro was introduced amid Apple's big transition from PowerPC processors to Intel. Years later, the laptop is again playing a key role in another equally important transition, namely the shift from Intel to Apple Silicon.

At the time of its debut, many Mac users were enthusiastic about the promise of improved performance, although not a few also felt the loss of the PowerBook name. It was only after the update to the Intel Core 2 Duo processor in October 2006 that the MacBook Pro was really considered a worthy successor.

Jobs explained that one of the main reasons Apple switched to Intel was the limitations of the PowerPC G5 for use in laptops.

"There is one small problem that bothers the PowerBook," said Jobs. "It's no secret that we have tried to put the G5 into the PowerBook, but failed because the power consumption is not realistic for such a small package."

He added with his typical style, "We have done everything possible technically. We even consulted with all the highest authorities."

Intel Core Duo, according to Jobs, offers a much better balance between performance and battery life. He claims that its performance is four to five times faster than the PowerBook G4.

"It's hard to believe, but that's what the numbers show," Jobs said. "Four to five times faster than the PowerBook G4. This laptop is really fast."

The first MacBook Pro came with a 15.4-inch screen and was available in two configurations. The model priced at $1,999 was equipped with an Intel Core Duo 1.67 GHz processor, built-in iSight camera, 512 MB RAM, 80 GB SATA hard drive, 4x SuperDrive, ATI Radeon X1600 graphics card, AirPort Extreme, Bluetooth, ExpressCard slot, and MagSafe power connector. Meanwhile, the $2,499 version offers a 1.83 GHz processor, 1 GB RAM, and 100 GB storage.

If adjusted to current money values, the price is equivalent to around 3,200 to 4,000 US dollars.

One of the features that received a warm reception at the time was the built-in iSight camera, which allowed for live video conferencing without additional devices.

"Now you can do video conferencing right out of the box, and anywhere," Jobs said. Although the resolution is only 640 x 480 pixels, the presence of an integrated camera was a big step in its time.

On the other hand, the MacBook Pro also brought changes that users did not fully like. Some PowerBook features were removed, such as the FireWire 800 port and SuperDrive support for dual-layer DVDs. The 80 GB and 100 GB hard drive capacities even feel small, even by today's standards.

Jobs called the MacBook Pro the fastest and thinnest Mac laptop Apple had ever made. With a thickness of 1 inch, a width of 14.1 inches, and a depth of 9.6 inches, it weighs 5.6 pounds. The screen resolution at the time was 1,440 x 900 pixels.

For comparison, the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro with Apple Silicon now has a 16.2-inch screen with a resolution of 3,456 x 2,234 pixels, a thickness of 0.66 inches, and a weight of about 4.7 pounds. The current model is powered by a processor with a minimum of 10 CPU cores and 10 GPU cores, a minimum of 16 GB RAM, and a minimum of 512 GB SSD storage.

Even though nostalgia for the PowerBook name is still felt, the reality is that the line also has various problems, ranging from product recalls to overheating issues. The MacBook Pro is not completely free from problems throughout its history, including the removal of MagSafe and the use of a keyboard that has been criticized.

However, since its inception, the MacBook Pro has represented a major leap in performance and usability for Mac users. Twenty years later, the laptop is back to its roots, bringing major innovations and remaining the backbone of Apple's professional computer line.