Apple released an update this week to its Powerbook line of notebooks. The new 15″ and 17″ version will feature a higher resolution screen than the previous models. The 15″ will feature 1440 x 960 and the 17″ will featue 1680 x 1050. For you non nerds out there, that means you get to squeeze more stuff onto the screen. Very very cool.

Also of note is that all 3 notebooks will now support the 30″ Apple Cinema HD display. To power a monitor with that kind of resolution on a laptop is worthy of note. All models will now feature the SuperDrive (DVD recorder) standard.

The new machines are now shipping and will only cost you:

• 1.5 GHz, 12″ Powerbook – $1,499
• 1.67 GHz 15″ Powerbook – $1,999
• 1.67 GHz 17″ Powerbook – $2,499