Apple improves MacBook Pro line without increasing prices

by Steven Mostyn - Oct 25 2011, 09:51

If you’re one of those PC owners who battles the draw of the ‘dark side’ where the temptation of Apple hardware is concerned, the following is only going to make matters worse.

Specifically, Cupertino-based gadgetry giant Apple Inc. has this week moved to refresh its line of MacBook Pro computers, introducing a smattering of tantalizing tweaks and improvements in the process.

Although existing form factors and (more importantly) price points remain unchanged, prospective buyers can look forward to the addition of new second-generation Intel processing, expanded data storage, and boosted graphics muscle.

Taking a closer look at what’s on offer, the baseline 13-inch MacBook Pro now sports a dual-core 2.4GHz Core i5 CPU and a 500GB hard drive as standard, and is attached to a price of $1.199 USD.

That basic configuration can be pushed to a speedier dual-core 2.8GHz Core i7 processor and a spacious 750GB hard drive, with both setups improving upon Apple’s previous 2.3GHz and 2.7GHz offerings.

Meanwhile, the entry point for Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro has been improved thanks to the introduction of a quad-core 2.2GHz Core i7 processor, and a choice of either Intel’s HD Graphics 3000 or AMD’s Radeon HD 6750M (with 512MBs of dedicated memory).

The base 15-inch model, which has a starting price of $1,799 USD, can be pushed to carry a 2.4GHz Core i7 processor, and improves upon the existing 2.0GHz and 2.2GHz iterations.

Finally, if your pocket can stretch to $2,499 USD, the upper-tier 17-inch MacBook Pro starts with quad-core 2.4GHz Core i7 processing, Radeon HD 6770 graphics, and its own separate integrated graphics solution.

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