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Each generation has been available in three base configurations. The current base configuration features a 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, an 80 GB hard drive and a Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW optical drive), while the upgraded models feature a 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo, a 120 GB, 160 GB or optional 250 GB hard drive and a 8x Double Layer Superdrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW). All models have 1 GB of memory, upgradable to 4 GB and feature Intel's GM965 chipset, which includes an 800 MHz front-side bus and Intel's X3100 integrated graphics .
The MacBook features a widescreen 13.3" glossy LCD display, with a 1280x800 resolution with a built-in iSight webcam. The MacBook closes with a magnetic latch mechanism. Sound capabilities include built-in stereo speakers, built-in omnidirectional microphone, combined optical digital audio input/audio line in, and combined optical digital audio output/headphone out. Further it includes a mini-DVI, built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, AirPort Extreme, two USB 2.0 ports, one Firewire 400 port, Bluetooth 2.0 +EDR, Sudden Motion Sensor and a Scrolling TrackPad. Packaged with the MacBook is an Apple Remote and the MagSafe power connector.[2] The hardware operates in dual channel memory mode when memory is installed in each slot (called asymmetric dual channel). Using exact pairs (e.g. 2x1 GB) is called interleaved dual channel, and theoretically results in higher performance.[3] It also includes a Trusted platform module chip.
The MacBook is pre-loaded with Mac OS X v10.5, which includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row and Xcode Developer Tools. Further it comes with iLife '08, which includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand. There is a 30-day trial of Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac included as well.
The MacBook's appearance is loosely based on that of its predecessor, the iBook G4. In addition to the classic white case, Apple is offering a premium black case option; both cases are made of polycarbonate, the thermoplastic Apple is known for using in many of its products. The two-color decision has received some criticism because the base black model had originally cost US$150 more than a white model with the same hardware configuration.[8] With the latest price revision, this has been reduced to US$125.
Display
The MacBook was the first Apple portable to feature a glossy display. The different reflective properties of glossy displays are said to increase color saturation when compared with anti-glare displays. The display has a narrower viewing angle than the anti-glare displays and may glare in bright or fluorescent lighting. Apple's approach with the new glossy display is similar to that of other PC manufacturers such as Sony with its XBRITE displays, Dell's TrueLife, or Toshiba's TruBrite.
[edit] Keyboard
The MacBook also features a new sunken keyboard design. Unlike the iBook, PowerBook G3, and Titanium PowerBook's keyboards, it is not removable; instead, each key is individually integrated into the casing with about 1.5 mm between neighboring keys. This is ostensibly intended to give the keyboard a sturdier feel and to avoid keyboard contact with the screen when closed. As of the most recent revision, it also closely mirrors the keyboards that ship with the iMac, and includes the same hotkeys. The color scheme for keys and labels is white with grey letters for the white model, and black with white letters for the black model.
Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics processor. Intel's integrated graphics chipsets have been criticized in the past for being unable to handle graphically-intensive tasks such as complex 3D gaming and other heavily GPU-dependent processes.[9] However, the GMA X3100 is capable of playing many popular games[10] and rendering the Aero GUI when running Windows Vista.
Apple most likely used integrated Intel graphics as a cost-cutting measure, as the Intel GMA chipset is cheaper than most discrete GPU solutions from ATI and nVidia.[11] While the Intel GMA x3100 lacks dedicated video memory, it is highly optimized for video playback and requires less power to operate than most ATI and nVidia chipsets.[12]
Furthermore, looking at the benchmarks between the MacBook and MacBook Pro,[13] it's likely that a dedicated video solution would have placed the performance of the "consumer" oriented line close to the performance of the more expensive "professional" line.
The MacBook is different from its iBook predecessor in terms of user serviceability. Apple has made it easier to disassemble compared to the old iBook, which required removing many components such as the EM shields to get to anything, whereas the MacBook requires simply the removal of the outer shell to access almost any interior component. However, the redesigned keyboard is integrated into the main body of the laptop and is thus no longer easily removable or replaceable. In contrast, the MacBook's internal hard drive and RAM are now easily accessible[14] via the underside of the unit. Further, the RAM and hard drive are considered user replaceable parts by Apple, meaning that these parts can be replaced by the end user without violating any terms of the warranty.[15][16] In contrast, replacement of MacBook Pro's internal hard drive is more difficult, requiring disassembly by an authorized service provider to prevent risk of voiding the warranty.
When it comes to CPU intensive applications, such as iMovie and iDVD, the 13" MacBook Core Duo is virtually the equal of a 15" MacBook Pro Core Duo running at the same 2 GHz core clock speed, even with a slower 5400 rpm hard drive.[13] This is due to the identical underlying Intel Core architecture.
However, there are many distinguishing features between the two lines. The MacBook Pro features an nVidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics card using 128 or 256 MB GDDR3, while the MacBook uses an integrated Intel GMA x3100 graphics solution with shared video memory. Both graphics solutions support DirectX 10 and OpenGL, however the overall gaming performance of the GMA x3100 pales in comparison to that of the GeForce or Radeon.[17] This means that the GMA x3100 is capable of playing many popular game titles,[10] though typically at lower settings and/or framerates than the Geforce.
Due to its aluminium enclosure, the MacBook Pro is relatively lightweight considering its size. Since the Pro models have larger screens, they also have larger display resolutions (1440×900 for the 15.4" and 1680×1050 or 1920x1200 for the 17"); the MacBook is 1280x800. Other notable differences include the illuminated keyboard, a FireWire 800 port and an ExpressCard/34 slot included with the MacBook Pro. The 17-inch MacBook Pro also features an extra USB 2.0 port (three instead of two). Finally, the lid of the MacBook is held closed by a magnet with no mechanical latch, whereas the Macbook Pro lid is latched by traditional actuated magnetic hooks.
The basic MacBook Pro is priced at US$1999, which is US$900 more than the basic MacBook, or US$500 more than the most expensive (black) MacBook.
# Some early MacBook models had problems with "random shut downs" when the computer would shut down, and sometimes be difficult to restart. According to Apple,[18] software and firmware updates solved these shut-down problems.
# Some MacBook owners complained of discoloration that appeared on the palm rests of their white MacBooks,[19] which Apple has acknowledged as a manufacturing problem after a few weeks, offering to replace that part of the casing.[20][21] Apple has issued a Knowledge Base article regarding this issue.[22]
# Some MacBook owners complain of uneven illumination of the MacBook's glossy display. In reviews by computer magazines and websites, the display was sometimes criticized as having too narrow a viewing angle (particularly in the vertical direction), unsatisfying color saturation and below-average color contrast, compared to other glossy laptop displays.[23]
# Some MacBook owners have reported their screen to be occasionally flickering, as if the screen switched between the different brightness levels very rapidly.[24]
# Apple's MagSafe power adaptor has been a cause of many complaints, which many users reporting melted adaptor heads and frayed cables near the head.[25]
# The magnetic closing mechanism, combined with the ledges at the top of the screen can lead to pieces of the case chipping off.[26]
# The 55-watt battery that ships with the MacBook has a reputedly bad half-life. Many users have reported dead or dying batteries at or around 12 months of usage.
MacBook
The MacBook is a line of Macintosh notebook computers by Apple Inc. that replaced the iBook G4 series and the 12" PowerBook G4. The original MacBook was built around the Intel Core Duo chip and released on May 16, 2006. The latest update to the MacBook line occurred on November 1, 2007.[1]Each generation has been available in three base configurations. The current base configuration features a 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, an 80 GB hard drive and a Combo Drive (DVD-ROM/CD-RW optical drive), while the upgraded models feature a 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo, a 120 GB, 160 GB or optional 250 GB hard drive and a 8x Double Layer Superdrive (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW). All models have 1 GB of memory, upgradable to 4 GB and feature Intel's GM965 chipset, which includes an 800 MHz front-side bus and Intel's X3100 integrated graphics .
Overview
The MacBook features a widescreen 13.3" glossy LCD display, with a 1280x800 resolution with a built-in iSight webcam. The MacBook closes with a magnetic latch mechanism. Sound capabilities include built-in stereo speakers, built-in omnidirectional microphone, combined optical digital audio input/audio line in, and combined optical digital audio output/headphone out. Further it includes a mini-DVI, built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, AirPort Extreme, two USB 2.0 ports, one Firewire 400 port, Bluetooth 2.0 +EDR, Sudden Motion Sensor and a Scrolling TrackPad. Packaged with the MacBook is an Apple Remote and the MagSafe power connector.[2] The hardware operates in dual channel memory mode when memory is installed in each slot (called asymmetric dual channel). Using exact pairs (e.g. 2x1 GB) is called interleaved dual channel, and theoretically results in higher performance.[3] It also includes a Trusted platform module chip.
The MacBook is pre-loaded with Mac OS X v10.5, which includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row and Xcode Developer Tools. Further it comes with iLife '08, which includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand. There is a 30-day trial of Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac included as well.
Apperance
The MacBook's appearance is loosely based on that of its predecessor, the iBook G4. In addition to the classic white case, Apple is offering a premium black case option; both cases are made of polycarbonate, the thermoplastic Apple is known for using in many of its products. The two-color decision has received some criticism because the base black model had originally cost US$150 more than a white model with the same hardware configuration.[8] With the latest price revision, this has been reduced to US$125.
Display
The MacBook was the first Apple portable to feature a glossy display. The different reflective properties of glossy displays are said to increase color saturation when compared with anti-glare displays. The display has a narrower viewing angle than the anti-glare displays and may glare in bright or fluorescent lighting. Apple's approach with the new glossy display is similar to that of other PC manufacturers such as Sony with its XBRITE displays, Dell's TrueLife, or Toshiba's TruBrite.
[edit] Keyboard
The MacBook also features a new sunken keyboard design. Unlike the iBook, PowerBook G3, and Titanium PowerBook's keyboards, it is not removable; instead, each key is individually integrated into the casing with about 1.5 mm between neighboring keys. This is ostensibly intended to give the keyboard a sturdier feel and to avoid keyboard contact with the screen when closed. As of the most recent revision, it also closely mirrors the keyboards that ship with the iMac, and includes the same hotkeys. The color scheme for keys and labels is white with grey letters for the white model, and black with white letters for the black model.
Intergated Graphics
Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics processor. Intel's integrated graphics chipsets have been criticized in the past for being unable to handle graphically-intensive tasks such as complex 3D gaming and other heavily GPU-dependent processes.[9] However, the GMA X3100 is capable of playing many popular games[10] and rendering the Aero GUI when running Windows Vista.
Apple most likely used integrated Intel graphics as a cost-cutting measure, as the Intel GMA chipset is cheaper than most discrete GPU solutions from ATI and nVidia.[11] While the Intel GMA x3100 lacks dedicated video memory, it is highly optimized for video playback and requires less power to operate than most ATI and nVidia chipsets.[12]
Furthermore, looking at the benchmarks between the MacBook and MacBook Pro,[13] it's likely that a dedicated video solution would have placed the performance of the "consumer" oriented line close to the performance of the more expensive "professional" line.
User serviceability
The MacBook is different from its iBook predecessor in terms of user serviceability. Apple has made it easier to disassemble compared to the old iBook, which required removing many components such as the EM shields to get to anything, whereas the MacBook requires simply the removal of the outer shell to access almost any interior component. However, the redesigned keyboard is integrated into the main body of the laptop and is thus no longer easily removable or replaceable. In contrast, the MacBook's internal hard drive and RAM are now easily accessible[14] via the underside of the unit. Further, the RAM and hard drive are considered user replaceable parts by Apple, meaning that these parts can be replaced by the end user without violating any terms of the warranty.[15][16] In contrast, replacement of MacBook Pro's internal hard drive is more difficult, requiring disassembly by an authorized service provider to prevent risk of voiding the warranty.
MB vs MBP
When it comes to CPU intensive applications, such as iMovie and iDVD, the 13" MacBook Core Duo is virtually the equal of a 15" MacBook Pro Core Duo running at the same 2 GHz core clock speed, even with a slower 5400 rpm hard drive.[13] This is due to the identical underlying Intel Core architecture.
However, there are many distinguishing features between the two lines. The MacBook Pro features an nVidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics card using 128 or 256 MB GDDR3, while the MacBook uses an integrated Intel GMA x3100 graphics solution with shared video memory. Both graphics solutions support DirectX 10 and OpenGL, however the overall gaming performance of the GMA x3100 pales in comparison to that of the GeForce or Radeon.[17] This means that the GMA x3100 is capable of playing many popular game titles,[10] though typically at lower settings and/or framerates than the Geforce.
Due to its aluminium enclosure, the MacBook Pro is relatively lightweight considering its size. Since the Pro models have larger screens, they also have larger display resolutions (1440×900 for the 15.4" and 1680×1050 or 1920x1200 for the 17"); the MacBook is 1280x800. Other notable differences include the illuminated keyboard, a FireWire 800 port and an ExpressCard/34 slot included with the MacBook Pro. The 17-inch MacBook Pro also features an extra USB 2.0 port (three instead of two). Finally, the lid of the MacBook is held closed by a magnet with no mechanical latch, whereas the Macbook Pro lid is latched by traditional actuated magnetic hooks.
The basic MacBook Pro is priced at US$1999, which is US$900 more than the basic MacBook, or US$500 more than the most expensive (black) MacBook.
Issues
# Some early MacBook models had problems with "random shut downs" when the computer would shut down, and sometimes be difficult to restart. According to Apple,[18] software and firmware updates solved these shut-down problems.
# Some MacBook owners complained of discoloration that appeared on the palm rests of their white MacBooks,[19] which Apple has acknowledged as a manufacturing problem after a few weeks, offering to replace that part of the casing.[20][21] Apple has issued a Knowledge Base article regarding this issue.[22]
# Some MacBook owners complain of uneven illumination of the MacBook's glossy display. In reviews by computer magazines and websites, the display was sometimes criticized as having too narrow a viewing angle (particularly in the vertical direction), unsatisfying color saturation and below-average color contrast, compared to other glossy laptop displays.[23]
# Some MacBook owners have reported their screen to be occasionally flickering, as if the screen switched between the different brightness levels very rapidly.[24]
# Apple's MagSafe power adaptor has been a cause of many complaints, which many users reporting melted adaptor heads and frayed cables near the head.[25]
# The magnetic closing mechanism, combined with the ledges at the top of the screen can lead to pieces of the case chipping off.[26]
# The 55-watt battery that ships with the MacBook has a reputedly bad half-life. Many users have reported dead or dying batteries at or around 12 months of usage.
