By Graham K. Rogers

Apple has announced that the MacBook has been updated with the latest Intel processors, improved graphics performance, faster flash storage and an additional hour of battery life. The MacBook with its all-metal unibody enclosure now comes in four finishes: gold, silver, space gray, and for the first time on a Mac, rose gold.

The new version of the MacBook has sixth-generation dual-core Intel Core M processors up to 1.3 GHz (Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz), and faster 1866 MHz memory. New Intel HD Graphics 515 provide up to 25 percent faster graphics performance. In addition, there is faster PCIe-based flash storage.

The MacBook now has up to 10 hours of wireless web browsing and up to 11 hours of iTunes movie playback. With its 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0 for fast wireless connectivity, Apple claims that the MacBook is the perfect notebook for all day, on-the-go computing.

The MacBook is available through Apple starting today and select Apple Authorised Resellers starting tomorrow.

• With 1.1 GHz dual-core Intel Core m3 processor, Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.2 GHz, 8GB of memory and 256GB of flash storage it is priced at 49,900 baht;

• With 1.2 GHz dual-core Intel Core m5 processor, Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.7 GHz, 8GB of memory and 512GB of flash storage it is priced at 59,900 baht.

There are options for the MacBook which can be configured when ordering. These include a 1.3 GHz dual-core Intel Core m7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.1 GHz.

Additional technical specifications and accessories are available online. The relevant English language pages will be updated soon.

As an aside, Apple also today made 8GB of memory standard across all configurations of the 13-inch MacBook Air.

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs. He is now continuing that in the Bangkok Post supplement, Life.