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Apple Updates MacBook Line

By TechTaffy Desk

[Techtaffy Newsdesk]

Apple has updated its MacBook line with faster processors, graphics, memory, flash storage and USB 3 connectivity; this includes both the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro machines.

Lets talk about the MacBook Air first. Available in 11-inch and 13-inch designs, the newer MacBook Air features Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors, with new integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000. Apple says the new machines are some 60 per cent faster than their predecessors. MacBook Air features flash storage up to four times faster than traditional hard drives, and now comes with 4GB memory, configurable up to 8GB. MacBook Air also features a new FaceTime HD camera that delivers high-definition 720p.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro features the latest Intel Core i5 or Core i7 dual-core processors up to 2.9 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6 GHz. The 15-inch MacBook Pro features the latest Intel Core i7 quad-core processors up to 2.7 GHz with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.7 GHz and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M discrete graphics. Both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro can be configured with a 1TB hard drive or SSDs up to 512GB that are up to twice as fast as the previous generation. The 17-inch MacBook Pro is retiring quietly without much fanfare nor ado.

The new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro both feature a Thunderbolt port and two USB 3.0 ports. The 13-inch MacBook Air, and 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro deliver up to 7 hours of wireless battery life, and the 11-inch MacBook Air delivers up to 5 hours. Mac notebook batteries can provide up to 1,000 recharges.

The MacBook Air and MacBook Pro ship with OS X Lion. Users who buy the machines before the Mountain Lion launch will be eligible for a free upgrade to the newest Mac OS.

The 11-inch MacBook Air comes with a 1.7 GHz processor, 4GB of memory and is available with 64GB of flash storage starting at $999, and 128GB of flash storage starting at $1,099. The 13-inch MacBook Air comes with a 1.8 GHz processor, 4GB of memory and is available with 128GB of flash storage starting at $1199 , and 256GB of flash storage starting at $1,499 . Configure-to-order options include a 2.0 GHz Intel Core i7 processor, up to 8GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 onboard memory and up to 512GB flash storage.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro is available with a 2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB of memory and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,199, and with a 2.9 GHz dual-core Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of memory and 750GB hard drive starting at $1,499 . The 15-inch MacBook Pro is available with a 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, 4GB of memory, Intel HD Graphics 4000 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, and 500GB hard drive starting at $1,799 ; and with a 2.6 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of memory, Intel HD Graphics 4000 and NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M, and 750GB hard drive starting at $2,199 . Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core processors up to 2.7 GHz, additional hard drive capacity up to 1TB, up to 8GB of memory and solid state storage up to 512GB.

Apple’s Airport Express wifi base station has also been completely overhauled.

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