Apple Takes Wraps Off New MacBook Pro Lineup

Apple Inc released its new lineup of MacBook Pro notebook computers, featuring Intel’s new processors and graphics chips made by Advanced Micro Devices. The new MacBook Pros will be powered by Intel Corp’s latest dual-core and quad-core chips, which were previously code-named Sandy Bridge and include integrated graphics processing. More expensive versions of the MacBook Pro also include graphics chips from Advanced Micro Devices for added performance.

Graphics processors made by competitor Nvidia had been used in past versions of the MacBook Pro. Apple’s personal computers are a high-profile battleground for chipmakers Intel, AMD and Nvidia. “It starts to show that the new AMD products have the potential to start to elevate their notebook share,” said Cody Acree, an analyst at Williams Financial Group.

Intel supplied the MacBook Pro with a faster, compact input/output technology called Thunderbolt, which supports high-resolution displays and devices through a single port. The price of a 13-inch MacBook Pro, with a full-size keyboard, seven-hour battery life and an aluminum casing, will start at $1,199. The 15-inch starts at $1,799 and the 17-inch is priced at $2,499.