Apple Launches 17" MacBook Pro

Engadget reports that Apple has just posted the new flagship 17" MacBook Pro to their website. Armed with a 17" LCD with a native 1680x1050 resolution, a 2.16GHz Core Duo CPU, and a dual layer burner this new notebook will surely be a highly sought-after item. Somewhat surprisingly, the pricing for the new 17" is on par with the 15" model below it so you won't have to give up your first born or pawn a kidney to enjoy Apple's latest fruit.

The new model comes standard with 1GB of RAM, an 8X dual-layer burner and a 120GB 5400 RPM hard drive, along with a FireWire 800 port, for $2,799. Maximum RAM is 2GB, and Apple also offers a 100GB 7200 RPM drive as an option. At the same time, Apple has removed the 17-inch PowerBook G4 from its lineup, leaving the 12-incher as the sole remaining option for customers willing to settle for last year's model (or who want a smaller-footprint portable). The pricing on the 17-incher actually matches that of the 2.16GHz 15-inch model, which makes this one a relative bargain -- especially given its larger hard drive, FireWire 800 and dual-layer burner. As previously noted, the launch was timed to coincide with the opening of the National Association of Broadcasters conference, which begins today. More pictures on the flip side.