----------------------------------- hbgator Mon 08 Jun, 2009 Apple rolls out new MacBooks, drops prices ----------------------------------- SAN FRANCISCO - Apple Inc. showed off new MacBook Pro laptops with longer battery lives, faster processors and lower prices. Apple made the new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro laptops the introductory part of its developers' conference in San Francisco, where speculation swirled that a new iPhone would be unveiled later in the presentation. The laptop with the 13-inch screen starts at $1,200, and the 15-inch model sells for $1,700 and up ā€” both $300 less than existing similar models. The company also lowered the price on its ultra-thin MacBook Air to $1,500 from $1,800. Apple's 17-inch MacBook Pro, which was unveiled in January, costs $2,500 and up. Apple Inc. is dropping the retail price of the least expensive iPhone to $99 from $199 and introducing new models. Apple executives said Monday at an annual conference for software developers that the newer iPhones will include some sought-after features such as a video camera, a compass and an auto-focus function on photos. A 16-gigabyte version will cost $199 and a 32-gigabyte model will be $299. They go on sale June 19.