Introduction

MacBook

Manufacturer: Apple (product page)

Quick specs: Intel Core Duo T2500 CPU, 512MB RAM, 60GB hard drive, Intel GMA950 graphics

Price as configured: US$1,299 (shop for this item)

We all knew it was coming and we had a pretty good idea about what form it would be arriving in. The announcement was supposedly delayed for a week, and the tension building up to its actual release was thick despite the overwhelming amount of information readily available, albeit rumored, on certain websites. Once the MacBook was announced, Apple shut the door on PowerPC portable computers, completing a chapter of the transition to its Intel-powered future.

On May 16, the MacBook replaced the nearly seven-year-old iBook and brought with it a new era of consumer-grade portables from Apple. For the first time since the clam-shell style iBooks were discontinued at the beginning of 2001 is an Apple portable available in more than one color. Apple has been toying with the idea of offering both black and white devices since the iPod nano and subsequently the video-capable iPod, and now they've begun offering their consumer-grade portable laptop, the predictably named MacBook, in similar glossy black and white models.

As configured by Apple, there are three models of MacBook to choose from. The cheapest, and least powerful model is nearly as capable as the original MacBook Pros (they received their own incremental upgrades this week as well). An Intel Core Duo T2400 processor (1.83GHz) powers this base model, and a 2.0GHz T2500 processor sits inside the other two. Unfortunately for lovers of glossy black Apple stuff, only the most powerful and expensive MacBook model is available in ebony. The specifications of the three base models can be seen below:

White 1.8 White 2.0 Black 2.0 Processor Intel Core Duo T2400 (1.83GHz) Intel Core Duo T2500 (2.0GHz) Memory 512MB PC2-5300 DDR2 Hard drive 60GB SATA @ 5400rpm 80GB SATA @ 5400rpm Front-side bus 667MHz Graphics Intel GMA950, 64MB Optical drive Combo Drive (CD-RW/DVD-ROM) SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)



Looking down at the MacBook from on high Looking down at the MacBook from on high

As our astute readers have probably already realized, there is scant difference between the low- and high-end models of MacBook. Actually, the only differences are very slight variations in CPU, optical drive, and hard disk space. This has caused several questions to be raised about the pricing of the models, which are US$1,099, US$1,299, and $1,499 in respect to the figure above. An oft-bandied-about factoid is that if you were to configure the midlevel model to ship with an 80GB hard disk to match the high-end model, you'd still notice that it's approximately US$150 cheaper. The only difference is the color and finish of the shell, of course (white is glossy and the black has a matte finish). This is undoubtedly done on purpose and is the direct result of Apple's experience selling iPod and iPod nanos in two color options. It didn't take long for Apple, and casual observers of Apple's operations to notice that the black models were selling out faster. A lot faster.

Obviously the demand for black Apple products is much higher than the white products, and Apple is simply responding as most companies would when faced by high demand for a product. People who are set on getting that black MacBook are going to have to wrestle with the US$150 mark-up. Apple is banking that most people will willingly hand over even more cash to get a unique item. It sucks for people without the extra moolah to blow, but it doesn't take long to come to the realization that it's just a different color and that you're going to be saving a nice chunk of change by going with white.

It's up to you to decide whether black is worth US$150.



The G4 iBook on top of the MacBook The G4 iBook on top of the MacBook

Lets get on to what's new in the MacBook, my clever observations on the machine, and how it compares to its predecessors and peers.

Download the PDF

(This feature for Premier subscribers only.)