The 17-inch MacBook Pro continues to feature dual video cards: the Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT with 512MB of dedicated memory, and the lesser-performing Nvidia GeForce 9400M which shares 256MB of system memory; you can easily switch between them to get better performance or battery life, respectively, although switching requires you to log out and then log back in.
You still get a 1,066MHz front side bus, 4GB of 1,066MHz DDR3 memory (upgradeable to 8GB), an 8x slot-loading SuperDrive, Gigabit Ethernet, three USB 2.0 ports, a single FireWire 800 port, AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (supporting 802.11n draft and 802.11a/b/g), Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), an iSight camera, a backlit keyboard, and separate audio input and output jacks (each of which auto-switches between optical-digital and analog). The MacBook Pro also includes built-in stereo speakers, a mono microphone, Apple’s MagSafe power jack, and a Kensington lock slot. All ports are located on the left-hand side of the laptop, with the optical drive slot on the right.
As with all current MacBook Pro models, the 17-inch model features Apple’s large, multi-touch trackpad. The trackpad makes multi-touch gestures easy-and fun-to use, although it requires an adjustment period for people used to a traditional trackpad with separate buttons. The physical click, which requires you to depress the entire trackpad, feels especially odd. Even after using a recent 13-inch MacBook with a similar trackpad for several months, I prefer the touch-sensitive-tap approach, which you can enable in Trackpad preferences.
The MacBook Pro’s Mini DisplayPort jack supports VGA, DVI, and dual-link DVI video output using the appropriate adapter. Unfortunately, no video adapters are included, not even the basic DVI version, which will cost you another $29. Similarly, you can use an Apple Remote with the 17-inch MacBook Pro, but you have to pony up another $19 to get it. These omissions feel cheap given the price you’re paying for the computer.
The 17-inch model retains the same dimensions as its short-lived predecessor: 15.5 inches wide, 10.5 inches deep, just under an inch thick, and 6.6 pounds. And unlike its 15-inch siblings, which now feature an SD-memory-card slot, the latest 17-inch MacBook Pro keeps the popular-with-pros ExpressCard/34 slot, making it the only Mac laptop with such expandability.