The new Macbook Pro unibody designs offered a completely new class of Laptop.
Like the Intel iMac, the Macbook Pro was redesigned to incorporate a “Glass” covered TFT screen with black surround and now features an easy access hard drive/ battery bay Combo and “easy” removable bottom cover plate for access to memory slots. The sleek, slim design, underpins development of a new type of case that has been milled from a single block of Aluminium and a new motherboard, incorporating a faster bus and faster memory. Like the previous early 2008 Macbook Pro, the system is powered by Penryn Core2Duo Processors, although these are again of slightly different design.
New Trackpad: The Unibody Macbook introduces a new trackpad that is 5 inches diagonal and provides multi touch gestures, “four finger” gestures and programmable “zones”.
Specs:
The Unibody Apple MacBook Pro “Core 2 Duo” 2.4 15-Inch (Late 2008) features a 45 nm “Penryn” 2.4 GHz Intel “Core 2 Duo” processor (P8600), with two independent processor “cores” on a single silicon chip. Unlike the previous (early 2008) Penryn Macbooks, which featured a 6MB level 2 Cache, this newer processor incorporates a 3 MB shared “on chip” level 2 cache. However, it is based upon a faster 1066 MHz frontside bus, 2 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500) installed in pairs (two 1 GB modules), a 250 GB Serial ATA (5400 RPM) hard drive, an 8X DL “SuperDrive”.
Video & Graphics:
The original Unibody Macbook Pro features dual graphics processors comprising an 
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT with 256 MB of dedicated GDDR3 SDRAM and a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory. The screen consists of an LED-backlit 15.4″ widescreen TFT active-matrix “glossy” display (1440×900 native resolution). It also supports “1280 by 800, 1152 by 720, 1024 by 640, and 800 by 500 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio stretched; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio stretched.
The Macbook supports an exteranl display with a resolution of up to 2560×1600. It offers both mirrored and extended desktop display modes.
Memory:
The Original Unibody Macbook Pro supports 1066 MHz PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM. Apple originally stated that the laptop could address 4 gigabytes of ram (2 x 2GB SDRAM DIMMS). However, users soon discovered that the Macbook could address 6 gigabytes. If updated to Boot ROM Version MBP51.007E.B05 and running MacOS X 10.6 “Snow Leopard.”, this Macbook will support a total of 8 gigabytes ram.
Memory upgrade guide available here.
Ports:
Connectivity includes an ExpressCard/34 slot, AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, one Firewire “800″ port, optical digital/analog audio in/out, and a new “Mini DisplayPort” that supports an external display at 2560×1600.
| Introduction Date: |
October 14, 2008 |
Discontinued Date: |
June 8, 2009 |
| Processors: |
1 (2 Cores) |
Geekbench: |
3261/3634* |
| Processor Speed: |
2.4 GHz |
Processor Type: |
Core 2 Duo (P8600) |
| Custom Speeds: |
N/A |
Architecture: |
64-Bit |
| Processor Upgrade: |
Soldered |
FPU: |
Integrated |
| System Bus Speed: |
1066 MHz |
Cache Bus Speed: |
2.4 GHz (Built-in) |
| ROM/Firmware Type: |
EFI |
EFI Architecture: |
64-Bit |
| L1 Cache: |
32k/32k |
L2/L3 Cache: |
3 MB (on chip) |
| RAM Type: |
PC3-8500 DDR3 |
Min. RAM Speed: |
1066 MHz |
| Standard RAM: |
2 GB |
Maximum RAM: |
8 GB* |
| Motherboard RAM: |
None |
RAM Slots: |
2 |
| Video Card: |
GeForce 9600M GT* |
VRAM Type: |
GDDR3* |
| Standard VRAM: |
256 MB* |
Maximum VRAM: |
256 MB* |
| Built-in Display: |
15.4″ Widescreen |
Native Resolution: |
1440×900 |
| 2nd Display Support: |
Dual/Mirroring |
2nd Max. Resolution: |
2560×1600 |
| Standard Hard Drive: |
250 GB (5400 RPM) |
Int. HD Interface: |
Serial ATA (3 Gb/s) |
| Standard Optical: |
8X DL “SuperDrive” |
Standard Disk: |
None |
| Details: |
Apple reports that this slot-loading “SuperDrive” drive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) has a maxium write speed of “8x DVD-R, DVD+R; 4x DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, DVD+RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW” and a maximum read speed of “8x DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-ROM; 6x DVD-ROM (double layer DVD-9), DVD-R DL (double layer), DVD+R DL (double layer), DVD-RW, and DVD+RW; 24x CD”. |
| Standard Modem: |
None |
Standard Ethernet: |
10/100/1000Base-T |
| Standard AirPort: |
802.11a/b/g/n |
Standard Bluetooth: |
2.1+EDR |
| USB Ports: |
2 (2.0) |
Firewire Ports: |
1 (800) |
| Details: |
Two 480-Mbps USB 2.0 ports, one 800-Mbps Firewire “800″ port. |
| Expansion Slots: |
ExpressCard/34 |
Expansion Bays: |
None |
| Incl. Keyboard: |
Full-size |
Incl. Input: |
Trackpad (4 Finger) |
| Case Type: |
Notebook |
Form Factor: |
MacBook Pro (Unibody) |
| Apple Order No: |
MB470LL/A |
Apple Subfamily: |
Late 2008 |
| Apple Model No: |
A1286 (EMC 2255) |
Model ID: |
MacBookPro5,1 |
| Battery Type: |
50 W h Li-Poly |
Battery Life: |
5 Hours |
| Pre-Installed MacOS: |
X 10.5.5 (9F2114) |
Maximum MacOS: |
X 10.8 |
| Minimum Windows: |
XP SP2 (32-Bit)* |
Maximum Windows: |
7 (64-Bit)** |
| MacOS 9 Support: |
None |
Windows Support: |
Boot/Virtualization |
| Dimensions: |
0.95 x 14.35 x 9.82 |
Avg. Weight: |
5.5 lbs (2.49 kg) |
Like the Intel iMac, the Macbook Pro was redesigned to incorporate a “Glass” covered TFT screen with black surround and now features an easy access hard drive/ battery bay Combo and “easy” removable bottom cover plate for access to memory slots. The sleek, slim design, underpins development of a new type of case that has been milled from a single block of Aluminium and a new motherboard, incorporating a faster bus and faster memory. Like the previous early 2008 Macbook Pro, the system is powered by Penryn Core2Duo Processors, although these are again of slightly different design.
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT with 256 MB of dedicated GDDR3 SDRAM and a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory. The screen consists of an LED-backlit 15.4″ widescreen TFT active-matrix “glossy” display (1440×900 native resolution). It also supports “1280 by 800, 1152 by 720, 1024 by 640, and 800 by 500 pixels at 16:10 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio; 1024 by 768, 800 by 600, and 640 by 480 pixels at 4:3 aspect ratio stretched; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio; 720 by 480 pixels at 3:2 aspect ratio stretched.