Apple is planning to sneak in a modest refresh of its high-end MacBook Pro line later this month according to a new rumor. AppleInsider cites multiple anonymous sources in claiming that Apple’s MacBook Pro line will receive a light bump in late September that delivers marginal speed improvements to the laptops’ Intel Core i-series processors and little else. Intel’s just-announced 2.4GHz, 2.5GHz and 2.7GHz quad-core Core i7 processors are expected to replace the current 2.0GHz, 2.2GHz and 2.3GHz chipsets found in Apple’s current 15 and 17-inch MacBook Pro models, the report says. Apple may also update the current 2.7GHz CPU in the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Intel’s new dual-core 2.8GHz Core i7 chip. If the late-2011 MacBook Pro refresh does occur later this month, AppleInsider says it will take place after September 20th when Apple’s back-to-school promotion is set to end.

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According to Consumer Reports, Apple’s various lines of laptop computers are the best notebooks in the world. Recent rankings published by the popular nonprofit consumer product tester place Apple computers at the top of every relevant laptop category. Apple’s low-end MacBook Air topped competitive offerings from Dell and HP in the 11-inch category, and its computers took the top five spots in the 13-inch class — the 13-inch MacBook Air was No. 1, followed by three different configurations of the 13-inch MacBook Pro and then Apple’s standard 13-inch MacBook. In the 15-inch category, various configurations of the MacBook Pro took the top three spots, and Apple’s high-end MacBook Pro beat out HP’s Pavillion and the Dell XPS for top billing in the 17-inch category. The only category Apple did not dominate was the 14-inch class, but Apple does not currently offer a 14-inch notebook.

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Apple on Thursday surprised no one when it launched its new line of MacBook Pro computers. Despite ongoing rumors that have been swirling for weeks now, anxious Apple fans in need of new rigs can finally breathe a sigh of relief as they open their wallets nice and wide. Here’s the breakdown:

• MC700LL/A: 13.3-inch display, 2.3GHz dual-core Core i5, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 320GB HD, Intel HD Graphics 3000 — $1,199
• MC724LL/A: 13.3-inch display, 2.7GHz dual-core Core i5, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB HD, Intel HD Graphics 3000 — $1,499
• MC721LL/A: 15.4-inch display (1440×900), 2.0GHz quad-core Core i7, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB HD, AMD Radeon HD 6490M  — $1,799
• MC723LL/A: 15.4-inch display (1440×900), 2.2GHz quad-core Core i7, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 750GB HD, AMD Radeon HD 6750M — $2,199
• MC725LL/A: 17-inch display (1920×1200), 2.2GHz quad-core Core i7, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 750GB HD, dual graphics processors with automatic switching (Intel HD Graphics 3000 and AMD Radeon HD 6750M) — $2,499

Oh, and don’t forget those nifty little Thunderbolt ports on each notebook, of course. The new MacBook Pro models will become available for purchase shortly. Hit the break for Apple’s full press release.

Apple Updates MacBook Pro with Next Generation Processors, Graphics & Thunderbolt I/O Technology

CUPERTINO, California—February 24, 2011—Apple® today updated the industry-leading MacBook® Pro family with next generation processors and graphics, high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology and a new FaceTime® HD camera. Featuring the very latest dual-core and quad-core Intel Core processors, the entire MacBook Pro line is up to twice as fast as the previous generation.*

“The new MacBook Pro brings next generation dual and quad Core processors, high performance graphics, Thunderbolt technology and FaceTime HD to the great design loved by our pro customers,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Thunderbolt is a revolutionary new I/O technology that delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second and can support every important I/O standard which is ideal for the new MacBook Pro.”

Starting at $1,199 the new 13-inch MacBook Pro offers amazing value and performance in a compact design. The highly portable 13-inch MacBook Pro features Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors up to 2.7 GHz and Intel HD Graphics 3000. The powerful 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models feature quad-core Core i7 processors up to 2.3 GHz and AMD Radeon HD graphics processors with up to 1GB of video memory for high performance gaming, pro video editing and graphics intensive applications.

MacBook Pro is the first computer on the market to include the groundbreaking Thunderbolt I/O technology. Developed by Intel with collaboration from Apple, Thunderbolt enables expandability never before possible on a notebook computer. Featuring two bi-directional channels with transfer speeds up to an amazing 10Gbps each, Thunderbolt delivers PCI Express directly to external high performance peripherals such as RAID arrays, and can support FireWire and USB consumer devices and Gigabit Ethernet networks via adapters. Thunderbolt also supports DisplayPort for high resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and VGA displays. Freely available for implementation on systems, cables and devices, Thunderbolt technology is expected to be widely adopted as a new standard for high performance I/O.

The MacBook Pro now includes a built-in FaceTime HD camera with triple the resolution of the previous generation for crisp, widescreen video calls. With Apple’s innovative FaceTime video calling software, the new camera allows high definition video calls between all new MacBook Pro models and supports standard resolution calls with other Intel-based Macs, iPhone® 4 and the current generation iPod touch®. FaceTime is included with all new MacBook Pro models and is available for other Intel-based Macs from the Mac® App Store℠ for 99 cents. The MacBook Pro lineup continues to feature its gorgeous aluminum unibody enclosure, glass Multi-Touch™ trackpad, LED-backlit widescreen display, illuminated full-size keyboard and 7-hour battery.**

As the industry’s greenest notebook lineup, every Mac notebook achieves EPEAT Gold status and meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements, setting the standard for environmentally friendly notebook design.*** Each unibody enclosure is made of highly recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass. Mac notebooks contain no brominated flame retardants, are PVC-free and are constructed with recyclable materials.

Every Mac comes with Mac OS® X Snow Leopard®, the world’s most advanced operating system, and iLife®, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for creating and sharing great photos, movies and music. Snow Leopard builds on more than a decade of innovation and includes multiple features for portable computing such as Multi-Touch navigation, advanced wireless networking, easy file sharing, automated data backup and intelligent power management. The new iLife ’11 features iPhoto® with stunning full screen views for browsing, editing and sharing photos; iMovie® with powerful easy-to-use tools to transform home videos into fun theatrical trailers; and GarageBand® with new ways to improve your playing and create great sounding songs.

Pricing & Availability
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro and 17-inch MacBook Pro are available through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two configurations: one with a 2.3 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 320GB hard drive starting at $1,199; and one with a 2.7 GHz Dual-Core Intel Core i5 and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,499. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.0 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6490M and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,799 and one with a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199. The new 17-inch MacBook Pro features a 2.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7, AMD Radeon HD 6750M and 750GB hard drive and is priced at $2,499.

Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core processors up to 2.3 GHz, additional hard drive capacity up to 750GB, solid state storage up to 512GB, more memory up to 8GB DDR3, antiglare and high-resolution display options and AppleCare® Protection Plan. Additional technical specifications and configure-to-order options and accessories are available online at www.apple.com/macbookpro.

Blog 9to5Mac has procured some interesting information in regards to what Apple is cooking up behinds its closed web store. The blog is reporting that all 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models will have an Intel i7, quad-core processor clocked from 2.0GHz up. The laptops will also switch from NVIDIA graphics cards to AMD silicon. The base-line 15-inch MBP will have AMD Radeon HD 6490M with 256MB of RAM, while upper tier 15 and 17-inch models will sport a AMD Radeon HD 6750M chip with 1GB of dedicated RAM. The 15-inch model will be available with a 1920 x 1200, 1080p display and this display resolution will be standard on the 17-inch model. The SKUs and additional specs are waiting for you after the break. Anyone biting?

MC700LL/A – MBP 13.3/2.3/2X2GB/320/SD-USA
MC724LL/A – MBP 13.3/2.7/2X2GB/500/SD-USA

MC721LL/A – MBP 15.4/2.0/2X2GB/500/SD/GLSY-USA
MC723LL/A -MBP 15.4/2.2/2X2GB/750/SD/GLSY-USA

• 15″ 1080P 1920 x1200
• 4GB 1333MHz RAM
• 750GB hard drive
• 2.2Ghz Dual Core i7
• SDXC
• AMD 6750 GPU w/1GB.

MC725LL/A – MBP 17/2.2/2X2GB/750/SD/GLSY-USA

• 17″ 1080P 1920 x1200
• 4GB 1333MHz RAM
• 750GB hard drive
• 2.2Ghz Quad Core i7
• SDXC
• AMD 6750 GPU w/1GB

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UPDATE: Couple commenters and other people wrote in… this seems to simply be the older 17″ aluminum iMacs that are discounted for educational institutions.

[Via Giz]

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The battery in Apple’s recently revamped 17″ MacBook Pro, incase you somehow missed it, is amazing. With a single charge it can power the monster notebook for approximately eight hours while using the NVIDIA 9400M graphics processor or approximately seven hours while the 9600M GT chip is at work. What’s more, the new powerhouse has a charge cycle life of 1,000 charges which is leaps and bounds beyond the shelf life of a standard laptop battery. While those are some remarkable specs, it doesn’t mean that the new battery is immune to problems of course and Murphy’s Law makes it likely that problems will occur after the one-year battery warranty has expired. It also can’t (shouldn’t) be replaced by end-users so what happens if the pack starts to go after its estimated five-year lifespan and you want to swap it out for a new one – though we can hardly imagine using the same notebook for two years, let alone five. Apple has just put up a support page detailing the process and cost to put your mind at ease as you debate shelling out that $2,800 – $4,000 on a shiny new Pro. In a nutshell, the replacement battery will run you $179, which includes the installation of your new battery and the disposal of your old one. If you can find your way to an Apple Store, the turn around time is just one day. If you choose to mail your baby to Apple you’re looking at three to four days from the date Apple receives it. There, now you can sleep better at night.

[Via MacRumors]

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Ok, Philly Schilly has finally gotten around to the new MacBook Pro now so we’ve got all the new details for you: How does Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz Dual Core, 6MB L2 Cache, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM at 1066 MHz sound to you? Oh yeah, good stuff indeed – and all wrapped in a gorgeous unibody aluminum case. The new rig is Apple Cinema display-ready and uses both NVIDIA 9400M and 9600M GT graphics chips just like the 15″ model. The glass trackpad is 39% larger and the battery supposedly lasts for a whopping eight hours with a 1,000-charge life cycle! The eight hour rating is on the 9400M chip, with the 9600M GT dropping it down to seven hours (still phenomenal) but we’ll believe it when we see it. Judging by the current MacBook performance, eight hours of juice on a single charge would be a thing of beauty. There will only be one base purchase option for the new 17″ Pro – ringing up at $2,799 for the glossy screen, 2.66 GHz processor, 4GB of RAM, 320GB 5400 rpm hard drive, glass trackpad, backlit keyboard and so on – and options such as the 2.93GHz processor, 8GB of RAM, 320GB 7200 rpm HD/128GB SSD/256GB SSD, anti-glare screen, etc will all be add-ons.

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Oops! We’re minutes away from Apple’s keynote featuring Phil “I am not Steve Jobs” Schiller and we’ve already got our second major bungle. The team back in Cupertino apparently got a little trigger happy and let the 17″ MacBook Pro page go live a tad ahead of schedule. Woo! 4GB of RAM out of the box, 320GB+ hard drive, up to 2.93GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor… This baby is a killer! You’ve also got a Firewire-400 and a Firewire-800 port so none of those MacBook complaints are an issue for Pro users. Hit the read link for the live page and get ready for more Apple goodness coming any minute now.

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