According to MacGadget, Apple is preparing the introduction of new MacBook Pro model in the near future, with an announcement possible as soon as next week.

The MacBook Pro is the oldest Intel Mac, and has begun to show its age. Unlike the iMac that was announced at the same time as the MacBook Pro, the portable has not received any upgrades since it was introduced, and is a little behind with the technology. While the newer MacBook may be fine with just a Core Duo processor, the pro portable could really do with a bump.

According to MacGadget, the most significant change to the upgraded MacBook Pro is the Core 2 Duo processor; however, that is not the only change we can expect. Apple is also expected to include FireWire 800 in all models, bigger HD, faster graphics cards as well as faster DVD burners.

Speculations about such an upgrade have been around ever since it was announced that the Core 2 Duo processor is not swappable with the Core Duo, and that this would not be possible with the portables, because the processor is soldered. Ever since Apple updated the iMac in September, people have been waiting for this. It is still unclear whether Apple will update both the MacBook Pro and the MacBook at the same time.