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The new laptops - two 15in models and one 17in - have twice as much memory as standard, plus increased storage and a FireWire 800 port for connecting to high-speed peripherals.

Otherwise the machines are largely unchanged. The 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory is expandable up to 3GB. Graphics are powered by an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 cards with up to 256MB of dedicated GDDR3 memory. Both models feature a SuperDrive for double-layer DVD and CD burning plus 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, built-in

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AirPort Extreme wireless and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), two FireWire ports, combination analogue and optical digital audio input and output ports, an ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot and a DVI video output.

'With an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, greater storage capacity and FireWire 800 connectivity, the new MacBook Pro delivers unprecedented performance and mobility in an incredibly thin and light design,' said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior VP of Worldwide Product Marketing. We are thrilled that our notebook sales are growing twice as fast as the overall notebook market, and we hope these new MacBook Pro models continue that success.'

The entry-level 15in (1,440 x 900 pixels) has a 2.1GHz Core2Duo plus 1GB of RAM and a 120GB HDD. The mid-range 15in has a 2.33GHz processor with 2GB of RAM and a 120GB HDD. The top-end 17in (1,680 x 1,050 pixels) also has a 2.33GHz processor and 2GB of RAM, but a larger, 160GB HDD.

Apple has also cut £50 from the entry-level price, which is now £1,349. The other two models are unchanged at £1,699 and £1,899 respectively.