For some reason, out of the box the new MacBook Pros are downgraded to the slower, 1.5Gb per second SATA protocol, which is bizarre considering the MacBook moved in the opposite direction.

But a firmware upgrade which restored the Pros to the faster, 3.0Gb/sec SATA II speeds was soon released, and unless you plan to replace your hard disc drive with a speedy solid-state drive, you'd never notice the difference.

Combining the unique style and strength of Apple's sleek aluminium unibody casing together with a gorgeous new screen (and some exciting component upgrades), the new MacBook Pros are a real winner. And at the reasonable prices of £1,149 and £1,699 respectively they truly represent a substantial investment, especially in these current recession-hit times.

Suffice to say, a solid performance increase coupled with a significant price drop can only be welcomed.

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