For the slightly-heavier MacBook Pro line, Apple also went with Intel's Ivy Bridge processors, boosted RAM and for the priciest 15-in. laptop, equipped it with a quad-core processor as standard.

Prices changed for three of the four models in the Air line: All but the entry-level 11-in. Air now cost $100 less than before. The MacBook Pro laptops retained their earlier prices.

"We are so proud of this lineup.... [It's] the best in the industry," said Schiller.

After Schiller's time on stage, Craig Federighi, Apple's head of OS X development, took the WWDC crowd on a quick spin of Mountain Lion, aka OS X 10.8, the upgrade now slated to ship next month.

"Mountain Lion is a major new release with hundreds of new features," said Federighi, who then spelled out only eight, including iCloud integration, three new apps -- Messages, Reminders and Notes -- and something called iCloud Tabs in a new version of Safari.