Apple unveiled updated version of its notebook models, MacBook and MacBook Pro. Basically, the company is proposing new notebooks with faster processors, the latest Intel Core 2 Duo (Penryn), larger hard drive and 2 GB of memory as a standard.

Apart from the more advanced 45-nm process, Penryn uses new fabrication materials, most significantly a hafnium-based dielectric to reduce capacitance but minimize leakage current. The new materials for making transistors can allegedly boost their switching speeds by more than 20 percent while reducing their power consumption by about 30 percent, according to Intel.

Also, Apple has updated the graphic “heart” of its notebooks by including NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT with up to 512MB of video memory.

With a 13-inch widescreen display, the new MacBook comes in three versions: sleek white 2.1 GHz and 2.4 GHz models with 120GB or 160GB 5400 rpm hard drives and a black 2.4 GHz model with a 250GB 5400 rpm hard drive, previously only available as an option.

The prices for the new MacBooks start at $1,099 for the basic model, while the 2.4 GHz, 13-inch black MacBook is available for $1499.

Unlike MacBook, the new models from MacBook Pro lineup include Multi-Touch trackpad, previously available only for MacBook Air. The track pad lets users rotate photos and browse Web pages using gestures such as pinch, rotate, and swipe.

The new MacBook Pro features the latest Intel Core 2 Duo technology, with up to a 2.6 GHz processor with 6MB of shared L2 cache; up to 4GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory and up to a 300GB hard drive.

There are also three versions of MacBook Pro: two models with 15-inch screen and one with 1 17-inch screen.

A MacBook Pro with a 15-inch display, 2.4GHz processor, 3MB of L2 cache, and a 200GB hard disk is priced at $1,999, while the 17-inch model, with a 2.5GHz Core 2 Duo chip, 6MB of L2 cache, and a 250GB hard drive costs $2,799.

All Mac Books include a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go, Apple’s MagSafe Power Adapter that safely disconnects when under strain and built-in 802.11n wireless networking.

Last month Apple reported that in the first quarter, the Mac unit has registered a growth of 44 percent and revenue growth of 47 percent compared with last year. Apple shipped 2,319,000 computers and the company estimates that 19 percent of the Mac installed base is running Leopard, Mac OS X 10.5. Leopard generated $170 million in revenue for Apple during the first quarter.

Also, in a study released earlier this month the market researcher Gartner said that by 2011, Apple will double its U.S. and Western Europe unit market share in Computers.

“Apple's gains in computer market share reflect as much on the failures of the rest of the industry as on Apple's success. Apple is challenging its competitors with software integration that provides ease of use and flexibility; continuous and more frequent innovation in hardware and software; and an ecosystem that focuses on interoperability across multiple devices (such as iPod and iMac cross-selling),” Gartner analysts explained.