Apple updates MacBook, MacBook Pro lines

Apple today announced a much-anticipated update to their MacBook and MacBook Pro computer lines. The MacBook Pro has acquired some new features while MacBook remains mostly the same with the exception of a speed boost.

The biggest news is the addition of multi-touch to the MacBook Pro, the same one that’s found on the new MacBook Air. Users can now use two fingers to zoom, rotate, and scroll through their photos. Unfortunately, the new MacBooks still have the same old, boring trackpad.

Both lines have been upgraded to Intel’s new Penryn CPUs, meaning less heat and lower power consumption. That should certainly make new owners happier.

The rest of the upgrades are fairly minor. Processor power has been bumped up slightly to a base 2.4GHz for the MacBook Pro and 2.1GHz for the MacBook. Optional video memory has been doubled to 512MB. The MacBook Pro has also been upgraded to an LED backlight for the 15-inch models with the LED remaining an option for the 17-inchers. Hard drive capacities have also been increased to a minimum 200GB for the Pro and 120GB for the MacBook.

Other than that, the size, shape, and weight appear to be the same. We were looking forward to some new visual touches, but it looks like that’ll have to wait until the next round of updates.