A number of news sites have been able to go hands-on with Apple's newly announced 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros with Retina Display, both of which come with Intel's newest processors, offering increased battery life with improved performance.
TechCrunch says that the slightly slimmer 13-inch model is a "big change" compared to the older model and will likely be much easier to carry around.
The 13-inch version is a big change, however – the 3.46 lbs compared to the 3.57 of the last generation may not feel like much, but combined with a thickness of just 0.71 inches, it feels like a lot, and will probably be even more impressive if you’re carrying one around with you every day.
The Verge echoed that sentiment, noting that its new processor is a large improvement over the previous model.
Where the old model would stutter and lag on web pages and while working with images, the new model's Haswell processor with upgraded Iris graphics was totally smooth. Obviously we didn't get to test it too harshly, but if it holds up when we review it, the 13-inch Pro just reentered the conversation in a big way — especially since the base price is now just $1,299.
Unlike the 13-inch model, the 15-inch model doesn't seem to have a massive noticeable improvement on first impression. TechCrunch notes the new model seems "speedier" and "generally more responsive", while The Verge says the difference "isn't quite so clear."
Apple is offering the entry level 13-inch version for $1,299 and the entry level 15-inch model for $1,999. Apple's updated MacBook Pros are available today from its Online Store and at retail locations and come with Mavericks included.
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Last month, Apple began offering a 
Apple today released Safari 6.1 for Mountain Lion users. The update includes many of the new features added to 
Apple also announced that iOS 7 is now running on approximately 64 percent of all iOS devices. It was the "Fastest software upgrade in history." iTunes Radio, a service that was introduced alongside iOS 7, now has more than 20 million listeners that have played 1 billion songs over the course of the last month.
Apple's highly anticipated October media event is being held today at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco. The event begins at 10:00 AM Pacific Time / 1:00 PM Eastern Time, and Apple is expected to unveil a number of new products including updated iPads, new Retina MacBook Pros, and new iLife and iWork offerings.
