As predicted, Apple announced a new, 17-inch MacBook Pro model during its Macworld keynote today. It shares the unibody, black-and-grey design used for the 15-inch MacBook Pros released in October, as well as the dual-GPU solution: an integrated GeForce 9400M graphics processor for conserving power, and a dedicated GeForce 9600M GPU for when you need performance.

The most surprising change is the battery. The 17-incher's battery is not removable, but Apple did this to free up space for components that improve battery life. The company claims the new battery will run for eight hours between charges.

The laptop starts at at a pricey $2,800, but its default hardware is a bit beefier than that of the cheaper 15-inch models: 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with a 6 MB L2 cache, a 1,920 x 1,200 pixel LED-backlit display with a 700:1 contrast ratio, a 320 GB hard disk drive, and 4 GB of RAM at 1,066 MHz.

Apple is also heralding the laptop's eco-friendly credentials, with a gold mark from the Electronic Product Enviromental Assessment Tool.

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