New MacBook Pros get multi-touch trackpads

Dying to try your hand at Apple's new multi-touch trackpad, but not so keen on the pricey, port-challenged MacBook Air? Good news: The MacBook Pro line of laptops just got updated, and multi-touch is part of the deal. Also: updated MacBooks, sans multi-touch.

Apple just announced the widely expected refresh of its top-of-the-line MacBook Pros, and the specs are impressive.

Under the hood, you'll find Intel's new Penryn processors at speeds starting at 2.4GHz, along with 2GB of RAM, 200-250GB hard drives (at 5,400 RPM), and Nvidia's GeForce 8600M GT graphics card with up to 512MB of dedicated memory.

Not bad, but the inclusion of the multi-touch trackpad is the big news. Previous MacBook Pros (and MacBooks as well) have had rudimentary multi-touch, but gestures were pretty much limited to two-finger vertical swipes for scrolling. The new trackpad adds the iPhone's horizontal swipes, "pinching" for expanding and shrinking images, and rotation (using a finger and your thumb). Worth noting, however, is that the MacBook Pro multi-touch trackpad is smaller than the one you'll find on the Air.

It's good stuff for anyone who was on the verge of getting a new laptop; however, if you're happy with your current MacBook/MacBook Pro, don't hold your breath for a trackpad software update. The latest buzz seems to be that a mere software download won't be enough to enable multi-touch on existing MacBook trackpads (although there's some debate on that topic).

Meanwhile, the consumer-level MacBooks also got an update, including the new Intel Penryn processors (starting at 2.1GHz) and bigger hard drives (the smallest being 120GB). No multi-touch trackpads, however.

Prices for the new MacBook Pros range from $1,999 (for the 15-inch, 2.4GHz model) to $2,799 (for the 17-inch, 2.5GHz version). The updated MacBooks start at $1,099 (2.1GHz processor, 120GB hard drive, CD-burning optical drive) and top out at $1,499 (2.4GHz, 250GB hard drive, DVD burner).

So, who's thinking about a new MacBook? Also, what about the multi-touch trackpad: big deal? Overrated? Fire away.

Related:
Apple Releases Penryn-Based MacBook Pros with Multitouch [Macrumors]