Apple's March Madness: In Like a Lion

Apple kicked off what looks to be a few weeks of big news by putting a new line of MacBook Pros on the shelves as well as giving developers a new OS X Lion preview. News about iPad 2 and iOS 4.3 is expected soon. Meanwhile, a WinPho 7 update snuffed some phones, Amazon ruffled Netflix's feathers and Apple's board scuffled with investors.

If you nauseate easily at the prospect of non-stop Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) announcements, right now might be a good time to take a long hike in the woods, weather permitting. Apple's given developers a brand-new preview of OS X Lion; next week we'll see an announcement that's almost certainly going to be all about iPad 2; and there are rumors that iOS 4.3 is just around the corner.

Previews and just-about-there hearsay aside, Apple also pulled off an actual product release this week. A new batch of MacBook Pros washed ashore, and in terms of design, they're really very similar to last year's models. There were a few notable steps forward, though, including a new technology Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) has been talking up over the last few months.

But first, processors: All three models -- 13, 15 and 17 inches -- have Intel's latest Core processors, and the bigger two offer quad-core options. In graphics, the larger models have ditched Nvidia (Nasdaq: NVDA) and jumped over to AMD's (NYSE: AMD) camp.

Apple's also polished up the webcam to provide 720p HD video-calling abilities. You can use FaceTime, too, if you happen to have an extra dollar.

Then there's Thunderbolt, the new input/output system built on Intel's Light Peak technology. It's all about fast data transfer speeds -- up to 10 gigabits per second. So you can move lots of data into and out of the computer -- as long as that other data bucket happens to be have a Thunderbolt port as well. Several companies say they have stuff on the way, but it's going to be a while before you'll find it everywhere you turn.

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