Email leaks MacBook with Core i5 ahead of official launch

Apple has a very strong following of customers that wait with baited breath for the next announcement from the company of new and upgraded products. AppleInsider reports that an email sent around to members of the Intel Retail Edge program has leaked a new version of the MacBook Pro.

The email had a little banner for a giveaway of couple MacBook Pros sporting the new Intel Core i5 processor. Those processors have not been announced in the MacBook officially at this time. The Retail Edge Program from Intel is reportedly a program that tests retail employees knowledge of Intel gear allowing them to win chips that can be traded in for gear.

The new Core i5 processors were officially unveiled at CES last week. Current MacBook Pro notebooks use Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs so the i5 update makes sense. It would seem with the timing of the email that the Apple event set for later this month will at least feature revamped MacBooks even if that long rumored tablet isn't on the agenda.