Tech Shout!

On Tuesday, MacBook and MacBook Pro received a highly-awaited upgrade to the existing versions. An upgrade means that the products now bundle new faster processors and a multi-touch track pad in the same skin as before. Amongst a set of key updates, the one enhancement that stands out quite evidently amidst the rest is that both the MacBook as well as the MacBook Pro have now got new Intel Penryn processing chips.

The new chips have the ability to boost processing speeds to as much as 50%, still maintaining the same minimal heat rendering and lasting the battery for a longer duration too.

The MacBook Pro will now also feature the multi-touch track pad that its relatively younger sibling MacBook Air incorporates, however the pad in the Pro would be a trifle smaller than the one that comes in the Air. It will be available in three variations, a 2.4 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro ($1999) model with a 200GB 5400 rpm hard drive, a 2.5 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro ($2499) with a 250GB 5400 hard drive, and a 2.5 GHz, 17-inch MacBook Pro ($2799) with a 200GB 5400 rpm hard drive. In addition, MacBook-maker Apple also added that the MacBook Pro now includes the choice of a LED backlight for the 17-inch models. Furthermore, both models also get the latest GeForce 8600M GT graphics cards from Nvidia with up to 512MB of video memory along with an optional build-to-order processor upgrade.

The revamped MacBook also comes in three variations: white 2.1 GHz and 2.4 GHz models ($1099, $1299) with 120GB or 160GB 5400 rpm hard drives and a black 2.4 GHz model ($1499) with a 250GB 5400 rpm hard drive. The 2.1 GHz model includes 1GB of memory while the 2.4 GHz models come with 2GB of memory. All three models can be expanded to up to 4GB. All the same, it still has to settle without a backlight or multi-touch feature.

However, the Apple Remote which initially came as a standard pack-in feature with both laptops is now an add-on for an extra $19.

The Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro with upgraded processors are both available right away.