MacBook & MacBook Pro Upgrades - More Speed + Multi-Touch (GALLERY)

Apple has been on a roll lately with an almost weekly new product or upgrade. Only last week Apple cut down the price of the 1GB iPod Shuffle from $79 to $49 and introduced a new $69 2GB model (see our story). Now Apple has unveiled more powerful versions of the MacBook Pro with up to 2.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Penryn processors, and the MacBook Air’s Multi-Touch trackpad. The 17-inch model can now be configured with a superb 1,920 by 1,200 pixels with LED backlighting, powered by a new NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with up to 512MB of GDDR3 RAM. The MacBook recieved a minor bump in speed (2.1GHz to 2.4GHz) but no multi-touch trackpad.

From the Press Release:

CUPERTINO, Calif., Feb. 26
Apple(R) today updated its popular MacBook(R) and MacBook Pro notebook lines with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, larger hard drives and 2GB of memory standard in most models. In addition, MacBook Pro includes the latest NVIDIA graphics processors, now with up to 512MB of video memory, and Apple’s innovative Multi-Touch(TM) trackpad, first introduced in MacBook Air(TM). All Mac(R) notebooks include a built-in iSight(R) video camera for video conferencing on-the-go*, Apple’s MagSafe(R) Power Adapter that safely disconnects when under strain and built-in 802.11n wireless networking for up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g.**

The new MacBook Pro features the latest Intel Core 2 Duo technology with up to a 2.6 GHz processor with 6MB of shared L2 cache; up to 4GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory and up to a 300GB hard drive, plus NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics with up to 512MB of video memory. Every MacBook Pro now includes a trackpad with Multi-Touch gesture support for pinch, rotate and swipe, making it more intuitive than ever to zoom and rotate photos in iPhoto(R) or Aperture(TM) 2 or browse web pages in Safari(TM); an illuminated keyboard that makes it ideal for dimly lit environments such as airplanes, studios or conference halls and a built-in ambient light sensor, which automatically adjusts the brightness of the keys as well as the brightness of the display for optimal visibility.

Featuring a gorgeous 13-inch glossy widescreen display, and with prices still starting at just $1,099, the new MacBook lineup comes in three models and includes faster processors and larger hard drives across the line; sleek white 2.1 GHz and 2.4 GHz models with 120GB or 160GB 5400 rpm hard drives and a stunning black 2.4 GHz model with a massive 250GB 5400 rpm hard drive, previously only available as an option. The 2.4 GHz MacBook models ship with 2GB of memory standard, expandable up to 4GB across the line.