Tuesday, March 03, 2009, 10:00 am

Apple quietly intros 2.66GHz MacBook Pro, offers larger SSDs

By AppleInsider Staff

Flying under the radar of Tuesday's broad desktop overhaul were quiet updates to Apple's MacBook Pro notebook line, which now includes a faster 15-inch model, new high-end chip options, and larger solid-state drive (SSD) choices that are also offered alongside the company's 13-inch MacBooks.

Beginning today, the high-end 15-inch MacBook Pro now comes standard with a 2.66GHz processor, up from the 2.53GHz. For an extra $300, it can be upgraded to a 2.93GHz chip, which replaces the previous 2.8GHz build-to-order option.

The processor in the base model 15-inch MacBook Pro, 2.4GHz, remains unchanged with no upgrade option, and the new 17" unibody MacBook Pro keeps the same 2.66GHz standard configuration and 2.93GHz upgrade option priced at $300.

Meanwhile, the 15-inch MacBook Pro and both 13-inch unibody MacBook models can now be configured with the same 256GB SSD previously available only to their larger 17-inch companion.

The prices for the 256GB drive upgrades are as follows: 2.0GHz unibody MacBook ($900), 2.4GHz unibody MacBook ($825), 2.4GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro ($825), 2.66GHz 15-inch MacBook Pro ($750), and 17-inch MacBook Pro ($750).