Apple Introduces MacBook Pro

Apple on Tuesday rejuvenated its professional computer notebook market with the launch of the brand new MacBook Pro notebook computer featuring for the first time, the new Intel Core Duo processor that gives up to four times the performance of the PowerBook G4.

The new MacBook Pro comes with a 67 % brighter 15-inch display. It has an aluminum enclosure about one inch thin, and weighs just 5.6 pounds. It also includes an iSight video camera for video conferencing on the fly, and the Apple Remote and Front Row software.

Speaking on the launch, Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO said “MacBook Pro delivers dual-processor desktop performance in a thin, sleek notebook.

The new MacBook Pro, with its Intel Core Duo dual-core processor, delivers the performance of not just one, but two G5 processors in the world’s most stunning one inch thin design.”

The MacBook Pro is available in three variations:
· 2.4 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro model with a 200GB 5400 rpm hard drive for $1999.
· 2.5 GHz, 15-inch MacBook Pro model with a 250GB 5400 rpm hard drive for $2499
· 2.5 GHz, 17-inch MacBook Pro model with a 200GB 5400 rpm hard drive for $2799.

Consumers can also modify the above models as per their requirements. For an additional $250, one can get a 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo model in either the 15-inch or 17-inch screens. For $100 more, the 17-inch MacBook Pro users also have the option of a hi-resolution LED wide screen display in glossy or matte.

Users may also choose between a smaller but faster 200GB 7200 rpm hard drive for $50 more or a larger, slower 300GB 4200 rpm hard drive for $75 more.

The MacBook Pro also includes a NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT graphics cards with either 256MB or 512MB of video memory and a Multi-Touch pad as seen on Apple's iPhone.

Even though Apple reported the highest revenue and earnings in its history in January, analysts believe that the iPod faces a saturated market.

The launch of the new Macbook Pro thus comes at a crucial time when market analysts have projected the demand for iPods and iPhones to weaken.

The MacBook Pro also marks the debut of Apple’s MagSafe magnetic power connector. The MagSafe power connector charges the notebooks battery by magnetically coupling the power cord to the MacBook Pro thus making the process simple and easy.