The Apple MacBook Pro 15-inch Late 2008 was a significant addition to Apple’s line of notebook computers, available from 2008 to 2009 as part of the MacBook Pro series. Introduced on October 14, 2008, this model started at a price point of $1,999.
Apple’s unveiling of the MacBook family marked a milestone in notebook design, offering advanced features at a more accessible price point. The 15-inch MacBook Pro boasted a precision unibody enclosure crafted entirely from a single block of aluminum. This innovative design choice resulted in a thinner, more durable, and visually striking device. Each member of the MacBook family featured state-of-the-art NVIDIA graphics, instant-on LED-backlit displays, and spacious glass Multi-Touch trackpads, enhancing user experience with intuitive gestures.
Notably, the MacBook family prioritized environmental sustainability, meeting stringent Energy Star 4.0, EPEAT Gold, and RoHS standards. These notebooks led the industry in eliminating toxic chemicals, incorporating PVC-free internal components, and utilizing energy-efficient LED-backlit displays free from mercury and arsenic.
Jonathan Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of Industrial Design, emphasized the groundbreaking nature of the MacBook’s unibody enclosure, which replaced multiple parts with a single structure, resulting in a device that was thinner, stronger, and more robust.
The 15-inch MacBook Pro featured the powerful NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor, delivering enhanced 3D graphics performance with 16 parallel processing cores. The Multi-Touch trackpad provided users with expanded functionality, offering nearly 40 percent more tracking area and supporting a variety of gestures for seamless navigation.
In terms of performance, the MacBook Pro featured the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, running up to 2.8 GHz, and a flexible graphics architecture that allowed users to switch between integrated and discrete graphics processors for optimized battery life or performance, respectively.
Environmental consciousness was a key focus for the MacBook family, with each model achieving EPEAT Gold status and featuring recyclable aluminum enclosures, energy-efficient displays, and toxic chemical-free components.
The MacBook Pro, along with other models in the MacBook family, supported connectivity with the Apple LED Cinema Display via the industry-standard Mini DisplayPort, offering a pure digital signal capable of driving large widescreen displays.
Every MacBook came bundled with iLife ’08, Apple’s suite of digital lifestyle applications, and ran on Leopard, Apple’s advanced operating system featuring Time Machine for effortless backups, a redesigned Finder for streamlined file management, and other enhancements.
The specifications of the 15-inch MacBook Pro included options for Intel Core 2 Duo processors running at 2.4, 2.53, or 2.8 GHz, a 15.4-inch TFT Display, aluminum unibody case, up to 4 GB of RAM, and various storage configurations with either a 250 GB or 320 GB hard drive.
As of June 8, 2009, the MacBook Pro 15-inch Late 2008 model was discontinued, marking the end of its production run.
Today, the MacBook Pro 15-inch Late 2008 celebrates its 15-year anniversary, reminiscing on its contributions to Apple’s notebook legacy.
MacBook Pro 15-inch Late 2008 Details
| Introduced | October 14, 2008 – 15 years ago |
| Discontinued | June 8, 2009 – 14 years ago |
| Last Software Update | October 18, 2016 – 7 years ago |
| Time on the Market | 237 days (7 months) |
| Time of Support | 96 months (8 years) |
| Model Identifier | MacBookPro5,1 |
| Model Number | A1286 |
| EMC | 2255 |
| Order Number | MB470LL/A MB471LL/A |
| Original Price | $1,999 $2,499 $2,799 |
| Colors | Aluminum |
| Weight | 5.5 Ibs. 2.49476 KG |
| Dimensions | 0.95” H x 14.35” W x 9.82” D 2.41 cm H x 36.44 cm W x 24.94 cm D |
MacBook Pro 15-inch Tech Specs
Processor
| Processor | Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 “Penryn” (2.4 GHz) Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 “Penryn” (2.53 GHz) Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 “Penryn” (2.8 GHz) |
| Processor Speed | 2.4 GHz 2.53 GHz 2.8 GHz |
| Architecture | 64-bit |
| Number of Cores | 2 |
| System Bus | 1066 MHz |
| Cache | 3 MB on-chip shared L2 (2.4 GHz) 6 MB on-chip shared L2 (2.53 GHz & 2.8 GHz) |
Storage & Media
| Storage | 250 GB (HDD) 320 GB (HDD) 128 GB (SSD) 256 GB (SSD) |
| Media | 1 – 8x DVD-R/CD-RW dual-layer “SuperDrive” slot-loading drive |
Memory
| Built-in Memory | 2 GB 4 GB |
| Maximum Memory | 4 GB (Apple) 8 GB (Actual) |
| Memory Slots | 2 – PC3-8500 DDR3 204-pin SO-DIMM 1066 MHz |
| Interleaving Support | Yes |
Display
| Built-in Display | 15.4″ Color TFT Display (Glossy Display Optional) |
| Pixel Density | 110 dpi |
| Brightness | 300 cd/m² |
| Resolutions | 640 x 480 720 x 480 800 x 500 800 x 600 1024 x 640 1024 x 768 1152 x 720 1280 x 800 1440 x 900 (native) |
Graphics
| Graphics Card | NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT NVIDIA GeForce 9400M |
| Graphics Memory | 256 MB or 512 MB GDDR3 (NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT) 256 MB DDR3 shared with main memory (NVIDIA GeForce 9400M) |
| Display Connection | 1 – Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI, or dual-link DVI with adapter) |
| Display Modes | Dual display extended and video mirroring |
| External Resolution | Up to 2560 x 1600 pixels |
| Camera | iSight |
Expansion
| Expansion Slots | 1 – ExpressCard / 34 |
| Hard Drive Interface | 3 Gbps Serial ATA (SATA) |
| Optical Drive Interface | 3 Gbps Serial ATA (SATA) |
| Bays | None |
Connections
| Wi-Fi | AirPort Extreme Card 802.11a/b/g/n |
| Ethernet | 10/100/1000BASE-T (RJ-45) |
| Modem | Apple USB Modem MA034Z/A (Optional) |
| Bluetooth | Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR |
| Infrared | 1 – For Apple Remote Only |
| FireWire | 1 – 800 Mbps |
| USB | 2 – 480 Mbps |
| Audio In | 1 – 3.5-mm analog/optical input jack 1 – Built-in microphone |
| Audio Out | 1 – 3.5-mm analog/optical output jack 2 – Built-in speakers |
| Display | 1 – Mini DisplayPort (VGA, DVI, or dual-link DVI with adapter) |
| Security Slot | 1 – Kensington cable lock |
Sensors
| Motion Sensor | Sudden Motion Sensor (SMS) |
| Liquid Sensor | Liquid Contact Indicators (LCI) |
Keyboard and trackpad
| Keyboard | Full-size backlit keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys |
| Trackpad | Multi-Touch trackpad |
Software
| Original OS | Mac OS X 10.5.5 |
| Later OS | Mac OS X 10.5.6 |
| Maximum OS | OS X 10.11.6 |
| Firmware | Intel Extensible Firmware Interface (EFI) |
| AirDrop | Supported |
| Bundled Software | Mac OS X 10.5 iLife ’08 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand) |
Power
| System Battery | 50 W Lithium-Polymer (MB772LL/A) |
| Backup Battery | None |
| Battery Life | Up to 5 hours |
| Maximum Battery Cycles | 500 |
| Maximum Continuous Power | Unknown |
| Line Voltage | 100-240 V AC |
| Power Adapter | 85 W MagSafe Power Adapter (MA938LL/A) |
