Apple Bumps MacBook Pro with Processor, Graphics, Storage Upgrades

[PyX]

So the Superdrive hasn't disappeared yet. I believe they can’t get rid of it so fast on Pro machines…

[Shadrack]

So I buy a Pro version when an SSD, go, oh this thing won't fit half the stuff I need for my work and go and buy a standard hard drive.

The MacBook Pro is the only MacBook where you can have both an HDD for storage and SSD for speed if you replace the optical drive with an SSD or HDD.

Most "Pro" users (not rich kids that want a MacBook to look cool, but people who actually use the thing for a purpose), working with virtual machines and image/video/sound, development environments and so on don't especially need lightning fast speed, they more often need the space to do their work. A 7200 RPM drive provides a meaningful performance improvement over a 5400 RPM while providing the space Pro users often need.

I'm not sure if there is a real trade off, but I suspect that the slower drive has better battery life which is something highly touted for MacBook Pros.