QuickerTek has announced an updated external battery/charger unit, designed for the 17-inch MacBook Pro. The 3lb. device can extend the notebook's battery life by as much as 18 hours, and can also charge a Pro while it is still in use. The charger is designed to provide 1,000 full cycles, and takes approximately 12 hours to recharge from an empty state.

It supports 120 or 240V AC power, and has the option of a European adapter. Versions of the charger are also available for 15-inch Pro and the 13-inch basic MacBook. The new model is available for $500 from the QuickerTek website.