Apple Inc.'s latest MacBook Pro laptops came with a number of upgrades to processor speeds, RAM and hard drives -- not to mention reduced price tags.

Apple also reduced something else: the serial-ATA (SATA) drive interface, which dropped from 3Gbit/sec on earlier MacBook Pros to 1.5Gbit/sec. on newer ones.

The downgrade was initially picked up by Mac aficionados on the MacRumors.com Web site. Computerworld then confirmed the SATA change on a new 15-in. MacBook Pro as well as on the smaller, 13-in. model.

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