But where are the Macbooks? As I and others have predicted, Apple have finally launched Core 2 Duo based MacBook Pros onto the world market. Already for sale from all major Apple websites including Australia, Apple’s greatest chance at gaining new Mac converts has arrived.

With Intel’s Core 2 Duo currently the most powerful mainstream processor, it was only a matter of time before Apple included them in its own line-up. Most thought it would happen next week, with a couple of pundits thinking this week was possible… and so it has come to pass.

Of course, that already happened with the launch of Core 2 Duo based desktop iMacs a few months ago, but the lack of similarly equipped notebook models was becoming more and more obvious, especially as competitors already had Core 2 Duo equipped notebooks on sale.

Now the disparity has ended, with the MacBook Pro range available with either a 2.16Ghz or 2.33Ghz processor that Apple says is 39% faster than its predecessor. Intel says 40%, so we’re not sure where that last 1% went. Perhaps Apple wanted to be the tiniest bit more conservative, or maybe 39% sticks in your head more readily as an unusual number.

Now with the added power, running OS X 10.4 (and soon 10.5), alongside XP and Vista will be smoother, more seamless and more enjoyable than ever. Buying a new Mac has never been more compelling than it is today, even with the extra cost of buying the Parallels virtualisation software and Windows XP or Vista on top.

To get performance, you’ll still want 2Gb of memory as standard, with the maximum of 3Gb RAM being the best option for power users.

What’s missing from this line-up are the 13.3-inch MacBook models. Smaller and even more portable, they suit users that just don’t want to lug a 15.4-inch or 17-inch model around. Nevertheless, they are no doubt coming, and both the MacBook and MacBook Pro, with Core 2 Duo, are Apple’s greatest chance in a generation to gain more new users and converts than ever before.

My own notebook has a 12-inch screen, and while a 15.4-inch screen is certainly bigger and nicer to look at, the more portable 13.3-inch size is personally much more appealing, although this is clearly a matter of choice. Many waiting for a Core 2 Duo portable from Apple at the larger screen sizes have their wish granted at last, with no more waiting to buy.

Apple’s designers still trump any of the PC notebook designs out there – the MacBook Pros certainly are sleek machines, as the PowerBook and MacBook range has been for some time now. They’re really the iPod’s of the notebook computing world – when will a competitor really come up with something just as beautiful and iconic?

The 15.4-inch model comes with a 120Gb hard drive as standard, while the 17-inch model sports 160Gb. 200Gb is an option if you need it, although this will spin at the slower speed of 4200rpm, not the faster 5400rpm of the smaller HDDs.

The base 15.4-inch model comes with a 2.16Ghz Core 2 Duo processor, 1Gb of RAM (expandable to 3Gb), the 120Gb hard drive, ATI graphics card with 128Mb SDRAM, a 6x DL-DVD Superdrive, 1 Firewire 400, 1 Firewire 800, 2 USB 2.0 ports, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, ExpressCard 34, an illuminated keyboard, built-in iSight webcam, included iLife software and more, weighing 2.54kg and being only 1-inch thick.

This model is AUD $3199 (or at the much nicer sounding US $1999).

The upgraded 15.4-inch model comes with a 2.33Ghz processor, ups the memory to 2Gb, has a 256Mb ATI graphics card and retails for AUD $3,999 (or US $2499).

The 17-inch model has the same 2.33Ghz processor, 2Gb of RAM and 256Mb graphics card, boosts the hard drive to 160Gb and gives you an 8x DL-DVD Superdrive for AUD $4399 or US $2799.

I’ll certainly be venturing into a store to check out the new models, and am keenly awaiting an announcement from Apple Australia which is usually coupled by a special press launch to introduce the new models to Australian journalists eager to see the speed demons for themselves.

How soon a Core 2 Duo 13.3-inch MacBook model becomes available is anyone’s guess… it could happen before the end of the year, it could be in January to coincide with MacWorld alongside those rumoured iPod phones and widescreen 6G iPods, or it could simply be down to how many processors Intel can supply.

Everyone manufacturer wants Core 2 Duo computers in their range, and with 1 million notebooks expected to be sold by Apple alone over the holiday season, the Core 2 Duo 13.3-inch MacBook might just have to wait until early next year for more stocks to arrive.

Until then, if you’ve been waiting for an excuse to upgrade to a Mac, here it is!

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