Digital Buzz

Apple's updated notebook range features the Multi-Touch trackpad on the MacBook Pro, along with faster processors.
First used in the MacBook Air, the Multi-Touch trackpad supports pinch, rotate and swipe gestures. These interactions are supported in Apple applications including Safari, iPhoto and Aperture, and an API makes them available to third-party developers.Notably, the MacBook Pro's touchpad appears to be the same size as the previous models, not the oversized unit fitted to the MacBook Air. It's going to be interesting to read user reports of how convenient gestures - especially pinch and rotate - are when they must be performed within a more confined space.If Multi-Touch does gain wide support from users and developers, it will also be interesting to see how long it takes to spread to the MacBook and - at least as an option - to Apple's desktop keyboards.Three stock MacBook Pro configurations are offered. The minimum specification is a 15in screen, 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, 2G of RAM, a 200G hard drive and 256M of video memory ($US1999/$A2699). The next step pushes the CPU speed to 2.5GHz, the hard drive to 250G and doubles the video memory ($US2499/$A3399), while the $US2799/$A3799 17in model is otherwise similar to the 2.5GHz 15in configuration, including LED backlighting.Options include upgrading from the 2.5GHz processor to a 2.6GHz part for an extra $US250/$A350. The Apple Remote included with previous models is now an optional extra costing $US19/$A29.