Apple refreshes its MacBook Pro notebooks

From CNET News.com: Apple on Tuesday updated its MacBook Pro line of notebook computers with faster processors and new Nvidia graphics.

The biggest news amid the new MacBook Pro changes is that the 15-inch and 17-inch models now use Intel's Core i5 and i7 processors. The 13-inch model will continue to use Intel's Core 2 Duo processor.

The 15-inch and 17-inch models will also use Apple's graphics-switching technology, which allows the computer to automatically toggle between the Nvidia GeForce GT 330M and Intel's HD Graphics processors.

The graphics-switching technology is good for Apple's notebooks in several ways, including improved battery life. The 15-inch and 17-inch models, for instance, both have 8 hours to 9 hours of battery life because the computer is able to use the best graphics for the task you're doing.

David Moody, Apple's vice president of worldwide Mac product marketing, told CNET that Apple is not relying on a list of graphics-intensive apps and they are not asking developers to do anything special. The new technology detects an application that needs more graphics power and switches automatically. When that app is closed, the system automatically switches back to using the less-intensive graphics chip, saving power and adding to battery life.

Users will have the ability to turn off the graphics-switching technology in the Energy Saver control panel. Turing off the switching feature manually will run the graphics from the discrete graphics chip all the time, essentially using the high-end graphics full-time.

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