Prices for the models, which all sport either 1.83-GHz or 2-GHz Intel Core Duo processors and 13.3-in. widescreen LCD screens -- with a new glossy sheen -- range from US$1,099 to $1,499. And to paraphrase Henry Ford when asked about colors for the Model T, buyers can get their MacBooks in any color they want, as long as it's black or white.

Despite rumors preceding Tuesday's launch that Apple would release MacBooks in a variety of colors, Apple chose to stick with white for the base model and a midrange version that sells for $1,299. The high-end iteration sports a new shiny black case and an 80GB hard drive -- 20GB larger than the drive in the less-expensive models.

"It's an entirely new design," Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president for worldwide product marketing, said in an interview Tuesday. "This completes our transition of our portable line to all Intel-based. It's taken 90 days to complete that transition. We're pleased. We feel very good at how fast we're getting it done."

Stressing the use of dual-core chips throughout the company's laptop line, Schiller said: "It's all duo-core. You don't have to make any trade-off [in processing power]. The performance is pretty stunning compared to the iBook it replaces."

In benchmark tests, the new MacBooks are up to five times faster than their predecessors, he said. "And in real-world, day-to-day application use, we see anywhere from two to three to four times the performance jump."