The upgraded line also offers double the memory and greater storage capacity, as well as a FireWire 800 port for connecting to high-speed peripherals.
The 1-inch thick computer with an aluminum case is available in 15- and 17-inch models, and features a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing. Made for the business and creative professional, the new notebooks provide memory expansion of up to 3GB.
The computer's duo core chip replaces the Intel single-core 2.16 GHz processor that shipped with previous models. Apple claims the new chip boosts performance by 39 percent.
Other features includes an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics card with up to 256MB of memory, a DVD burner, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, and up to 160GB of storage. The notebook can connect up to a 30-inch Apple Cinema HD (high-definition) Display.
The new 15-inch MacBook Pro shipped Monday, with prices starting at $2,000. The 17-inch model is scheduled to ship next week. Prices are expected to start at $2,800.