Apple notebooks get Intel 45 nm Penryn processor

Cupertino (CA) – Apple updated its Macbook and Macbook Pro models with new processors, new graphics chips, more hard disk space and the Macbook Air’s multi-touch trackpad.

The Macbook Pro is now available with Intel’s latest 45 nm Core 2 Duo processors with Penryn core. The entry-level 15” Macbook Pro is still priced at $1999 ($200 more than the Macbook Air) and comes with a 2.4 GHz CPU, 200 GB of storage space as well as Nvidia’s GeForce 8600M GT GPU with 256 MB of memory. The high-end Macbook Air is priced at $2799 and includes a 2.5 GHz CPU, a 250 GB hard drive as well as a 8600M GT GPU with 512 MB of memory. Options include a 2.6 GHz processor, 300 GB storage space as well as 4 GB of main memory as well as a higher-resolution 17” display.

Every Macbook Pro now includes, similar to the Macbook Air, a trackpad with multi-touch gesture support for pinch, rotate and swipe actions. What is still missing in the Macbook Pro is an option of a solid state disk drive, which so far is only available as a $1000 extra for the Macbook Air.

The regular 13” Macbook has been upgraded with 2.1 GHz and 2.4 GHz CPUs, hard drives with up to 250 GB capacity in a new black version of the notebook.