New MacBook Pros with LED displays

Apple today updated the MacBook Pro line with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors, 2GB standard RAM, bigger hard drives, faster graphics cards, LED-backlit displays on the 15" version and an optional ultra high-resolution screen on the 17" version.

The new processors are based on the latest Intel Santa Rosa chipset that offers a faster 800Mhz front side bus and 2.2 or 2.4Ghz processors. Apple claim they are up to 50% faster than the original Intel MacBook Pro using the Core Duo chip.



The new laptops also feature the 8x SuperDrive that we saw introduced with the MacBooks recently and they now support up to 4GB RAM (up from 3GB). They are also 802.11n wi-fi enabled out of the box.

Perhaps the most significant changes are in the displays though, with both 15" models now using LED-backlighting, offering anywhere between 30 and 60 minutes extra battery life. The brightness levels and viewing angles remain the same.

The 17" version still uses the CCFL backlit displays (not the new LED ones) but it does have an optional upgrade to an ultra high-resolution 1920 x 1200 display.

Overall, a pretty decent upgrade and worth it for the better battery life on the 15" LED versions alone, not to mention more standard RAM and hard drive capacity.

Prices range from £1,299 to £1,799 for the standard models. Check out the Apple store for more details.