2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 3 MB shared L2 Cache
2 GB (two SO-DIMM) 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 160 GB 5400 rpm Serial ATA hard drive; 8x Double-Layer SuperDrive
One FireWire 400, two USB 2.0 ports, DVI, VGA, S-video, and composite video (requires adapters, sold separately)
Built-in 10/100/1000BASE-T (Gigabit) Ethernet; Built-in AirPort Extreme Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11n); built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) module
13.3-inch (diagonal) glossy TFT widescreen display, 1280 x 800 resolution; Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard
Rating: - Best synergy of size, power, battery life, and durability
The MacBook is a little more expensive than similarly-configured Windows laptops. However, the tangible and intangible benefits that come with the MacBook make it worth the extra money.
The MacBook is perfectly sized for an all-purpose machine. The old 12.1" iBooks were great, but their screens were just a little too small. The MacBook's 13.1" has adequately high resolution and screen real estate for most tasks outside of publishing and heavy-duty Photoshopping or web design, and the compromise size keeps the MacBook's size below most of the 15.4" systems common in the Windows world. It's just small and light enough to be easily toted around, and just big enough for useful work.
One of the MacBook's big selling points (and one worth the Apple premium) is the fact that you're not forced to use Vista. Mac OS X "Leopard" is a far more polished and user-friendly operating system, and it's the seamless integration of OS and hardware that makes the MacBook such a joy to use. Everything just works as advertised.
The MacBook is not the first or only laptop to use Intel's Penryn CPU, but it's the only one running a highly optimized OS with excellent power management. With the stock Li-Ion battery, I never get less than four hours of runtime, with the backlight turned up three quarters of the way, and Wi-Fi enabled. When I am in writing mode, working in my word processing application, with the backlight turned down to one notch above the "off" setting (which is still plenty bright to see your stuff just fine in most lighting conditions), and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, battry life is over six hours, touching seven hours on occasion. There's simply no Vista laptop, even with a similar C2D Penryn CPU and comparable hardware, that can match this kind of field endurance. A laptop's purpose is mobility, and battery life is one of its most important attributes. With the MacBook, you can realistically be away from a power source all day, putting the system to sleep when you're not actively working, and you'll be able to get by on a single battery charge. With most Vista laptops, you have to haul that power brick around with you, and stay plugged in most of the time.
Speaking of sleep mode: the MacBook goes to sleep instantly when the lid is closed, and it wakes up before you have time to completely open the lid and put your fingers on the keyboard. ACPI power management on Windows is such a kludgy mess that most Vista laptops don't even wake up properly from sleep 25% of the time, and when they do, it takes them almost as much time to get back into action as a reboot would have taken. You can't even put a dollar value on the ability to just close-and-go, and being able to open your laptop again to pick up where you left off, without waiting or worrying.
Lastly, there are the many subtle design touches that make the MacBook so much fun to use. The MagSafe adapter is a genius idea--no more worn-out power plugs, or tripping over cords. The iSight camera works seamlessly with Leopard, iChat, and other A/V applications, and the PhotoBooth application really makes you want to use that camera. The keyboard improves on one of the main complaints I had with the iBook, which was flex and "mushiness". The MacBook's keyboard has individually attached keycaps mounted directly into the chassis, and the keyboard feels extremely solid as a result. There's also no room for stuff to get under the keys, and the keyboard deck is very easy to clean. The slot-loading optical drive means no more broken trays or non-closing tray latches. The overall design is pleasing in its minimalism: just a white slab with a keyboard and a power button, and no superfluous switches, latches, or protrusions. The power brick is a bricklet, the smallest power supply you'll find short of an integrated PSU, and it comes with pop-out hooks to wind up your power cord. The latch is magnetic, so the MacBook opens like a cell phone, with no mechanical latches that can break or stick.
Apple sells a blue zillion of these for a reason: they are extremely well designed laptops, mature technology that improves on the already great and proven iBook that preceded them. They're also durable, tough, easy on the eyes, and easy to upgrade, including hard drive replacement. (The iBook needed to be pulled apart almost to the last screw to replace the HD, while the MacBook HD sits under a hatch below the battery compartment, user-swappable in five minutes.)
Overall, I think the MacBook will be regarded as one of the best Apple portables of all time. There's simply nothing else on the market that offers the same synergy of size, power, battery life, durability, build quality, and ease of use.
Rating: - From PC to Mac...almost
You know what? It just works. Why 4 stars? It could have included a basic office suite - like an iWorks Lite. Now this wasn't TOO critical for me as I knew it didn't come with an office suite and I primarily wanted this for writing, I had planned on downloading Open Office (I have and the writing module, at least, works well). Also, some things have just not been as intuitive as I thought they would be. I haven't used an Apple in many years. As my 8 year old desktop PC (built it myself) is about out of steam and in need of a new build I started to shop for parts. I have also been more seriously pursuing my creative writing over the past two years and was thinking about a laptop. Until a few months ago I figured it would be a Windows based machine - I HAVE NOTHING BUT THE UTMOST RESPECT FOR XP - IT HAS BEEN FLAWLES FOR YEARS AND I LEAVE MY MACHINE RUNNING 24/7. Then I got to play with a Mac. Hmmm. After some reading and the desire to learn a new operating system (and frankly to see just what all the fuss was REALLY about) I decided I would dive in to the Apple corner. I still have no desire to give up my PC desktop - yet. Now that I have the Mac and have moved iTunes to it, I started to clean my old system and realized that the Mac probably bought me another year with my desktop. At that time I might decide to go all Mac - WAY too early to tell. A few things I really like:
-The machine starts and is ready to use SO quickly that leaving it on in Sleep mode vs. Shut Down is a crisis for me when I am walking away!
-iTunes works faster than I can think! Now I know this is an Apple program and I was using it on an older, bloated (PC) machine that took forever for iTunes to start, but when I click on a song now it starts as I click! It is as if the songs are in flash memory instead of the hard drive. Is this possible? I even tried jumping from song to song to song and they start as I am clicking. That's incredible.
-The slickness factor. Things like Spaces are cool. I didn't think I would use that - but I find that I do and it is especially helpful on a small laptop screen. There are other nice touches like the keyboard which is very comfortable and I am especially impressed by the keys - something that jumped out at me right away. I have used other laptops for work and even my wife's that is quite large and the keys are not nearly as nice as these. I can't really explain it other than they are low and smooth. There are many intangibles in the slickness factor.
A few things that could be better:
-Slot covers. I live in a dusty area and we have two big dogs. As soon as I saw the open USB, Firewire, et al, slots, I was concerned. Now it is too soon to know if they are going to be a problem, but a tip from the digital camera that my wife has - small rubber plugs attached to the body that you pop out (and they stay attached) until you are done would be nice and keep the look clean when everything is covered (and protected). And before anybody says anything about them breaking off or falling out - she has had the camera for about 4 years and we both use it a lot and never has anything fallen off and they still fit their respective holes snugly. I am sure Apple could do as well if not better.
-Cover cont'd - it's a laptop - it's going in your briefcase or backpack or nothing, maybe. It just should have a protective skin - period. It should at least come with something simple. I am quite certain that whatever Apple would package with it (if they ever do) would meet no ones needs - this is why the accessory market is so HUGE and profitable. I knew that I would be carrying this in my backpack and to avoid things scratching it (or poking in to the slots) I purchased the Tucano Second Skin. It absolutely does nothing else but protect my Macbook and exceeded my expectation by actually having a little thickness padding my investment. If I have read the design correctly, the little flap inside (which I had no idea of before I got it) goes over the edge of the computer to keep it from sliding out when you unzip it. Nice touch.
-Volume - preset or some way to control when off. Sometimes it is like a commercial blaring on after a quiet passage from a T.V. show. Either when I am turning it on or when I click on something that produces a sound effect, if I forgot to turn down the volume before, I get surprised. Now it's a laptop with tiny speakers in the back - it isn't shattering my ear drums, but would be nice if I had something more automated as so many other things are.
As I continue to live with and learn the computer I am sure there will be many more things that I learn and like and I am also certain that the plusses will greatly outweigh the minuses.
By the way, did I use (like this) too many parentheses?
Hope this was helpful!
Rating: - Full Laptop Review + Recommended tips for the first time + Hardware-Software must-haves
I received my MacBook 1 month ago. The box containing the Mac is beautiful, perfectly designed, unlike any other computer box I've ever seen (all of them are boring cartoon gray). I recommend you order the remote control along with this computer (you'll miss so much fun if you don't). Once you open the box you'll find your MacBook, the MagSafe adapter, and a greeting card size little box containing all the software and a little user guide. The MacBook plastic is a very durable polycarbonate (the one that's used in bullet-proof and glass industry), the display is gorgeous, the MagSafe Adapter is magnetic and great too. The notebook comes with half battery life so there's no need to connect it to the power line for setup, just put it in a firm surface and turn it on. And don't forget to connect the Ethernet cable or a Wi-Fi connection for register. The first time you open it you'll find there's no buttons or nothing, it's just a magnetic latch so be careful when pulling the top.
Then you'll find Leopard is just amazing, the setup is so easy: just selecting your language (you don't need to download language packages or nothing like Vista), creating a user name, registering your MacBook (don't forget to register, it enables your Apple warranty!) and then making a picture of you (make sure to smile :) )
I have a Windows Vista desktop computer with all my docs, images, music, etc. and I just took 1 hour or less to backup and transfer all my data to my new Mac. * MAKE SURE you make a backup DVD in iTunes to transfer all your music the way it was (File>Make Backup Disk) And then the battery died, so you can figure the battery last long. About 3.5 to 4 hours using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth disabled
The must haves hardware/software for my Mac that I recommend are:
- Apple Mighty Mouse: you'll thank me when you discover the trackpad is great for travelling, when you're overseas or waiting to board a plane, but is not fast or practical at all to use in a desktop setup.Plus, this mouse is great, Bluetooth (means doesn't use a USB port) and tactile.
- A bag for carrying the computer: choose anyone that supports 13" display, my suggestion is STM Bags 13" Small Alley, so fashion, beautiful, durable and padded for extra protection.
- An Incase sleeve for MacBook: it's a little neoprene case where you can put your MacBook when you're not using it, this will prevent it from getting dust and scraches for such a valuable product
- A keyboard sillicone protector. With the time you'll find your keyboard is filled with a lot of dust and lint, and this is imposible to clean, so If you are a little obssesive with expensive purchases like this jewel, make sure you get one too
- Microsoft Office 2008 Student & Home Edition (the Standard edition comes with Entourage costing $399 but with Apple mail is perfect for me) And it's the only Microsoft product better than iWork
- Toast Titanium 9, what a great software for burning your DVD's/CD's in the SuperDrive
- Widgets: this is a very difficult choice to make, but besides the one's that comes standard I would seriously recommend BatteryInfo, istat_pro4.71, plasmatube. Those are beautiful in your Dashboard.
- Download all the software updates for your Mac. I downloaded most of this updates (one of them is 500+ MB) in my desktop Windows PC and burn them to a DVD later, so I don't make my little beautiful jewel work too much!
- Make sure to visit www.microsoft.com/mac, they have all the updates for Office 2008 and have the latest Messenger for Mac, etc. * Don't use Windows Media, iTunes is SOOO much better!
Thanks for reading it, I know it's a long review but I want to make sure you have the same amazing experience I had when I first received my little beautiful machine, also when carrying or moving your Mac *don't forget to put it to sleep first (Mac>Sleep) and to wait a few seconds until the sleep light is flashing, this will prevent the hard disk from damages.
If you're a new user like I was, feel free to ask me any question you have or might and ENJOY YOUR NEW JEWEL!
* For Spain/LatinAmerica spanish buyers, it doesn't come with characters Ñ and '. Just standard english ISO keyboard.
Rating: - A++
Exelent product i'm feel do glad to buy on amazon. because i always find the best products
Apple MacBook MB403LL/A 13.3-inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive) White Reviews
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