MacBook Pro may get SSD OS drive, big input, light

Apple's imminent MacBook Pro update could well take additional cues from the new MacBook Air, a late-breaking rumor asserted Monday afternoon. The portables wouldn't use SSD-only storage but would get an 8GB or 16GB boot drive for the OS regardless of what technology is used. Although BGR couldn't understand the information, the move would let the MacBook Pros get much of the quick boot and fast resume support of the Air without sacrificing storage.

The current-generation 27-inch iMac already has the option of an SSD as a main boot drive, but Apple is using a full-size, 256GB SSD that adds at least $750 to the price. A fast 8GB of 16GB drive could be near-invisible to the price but would have a major impact on speed along with freeing up space.

Along with the storage upgrade, the design is reportedly getting trackpads that are larger still than the ones available today. The systems might also get much lighter, by as much as half a pound on average, but how this would be accomplished wasn't said. No signs have emerged of Apple stripping out the optical drives, which would be the quickest route to weight savings.

Larger trackpads would likely be in advance preparation for Mac OS X Lion's increasing focus on multi-touch gestures for navigation and full-screen apps.

The systems are due to ship to Apple stores in "coming days" and would be on sale in earnest in the next two weeks, although Apple's recent shipment delay makes it more likely that the portables would arrive this week.

When they ship, the MacBook Pros should get Intel's Sandy Bridge (2011 Core) processors, new dedicated graphics on 15- and 17-inch systems as well as usual upgrades to storage. The 13-inch model is likely to get the 13-inch Air's 1440x900 display and could use Intel's much faster integrated graphics.

By Electronista Staff