So it looks like the MacBook Pros will be keeping the optical drives. And they’ll weigh in at 2.04 kg, which is 4.5 lbs — the same weight of the current 13” MBP. In fact, by these specs, they’ll be the exact same size.

They are getting spec bumps and this new “Thunderbolt” high-speed input (the artist formerly known as “Light Peak”). But it has a lame old 5400 rpm standard hard drive.

Unless I’m missing something, I’m still not seeing any really compelling reason to get one of these over a MacBook Air (besides video production, obviously, but why wouldn’t you use a 17”?). The 13” Air is 2.9 pounds. 

The unstated x-factor may be battery life. The current 13” MBP gets up to 10 hours. If they can stretch that to 12 hours, it could be worth it. That would be a full 5 hours beyond the the 13” Air. 

It’s also not clear if “HD” FaceTime is different from the current variety. The current iSight cameras are capable of 1280x1024 but often limited to 640x480.