Apple Releases Updated MacBook

[blachole]

Well its true and it has happened...

Apple Unveils New MacBook With Intel Core 2 Duo Processors

CUPERTINO, California?November 8, 2006?Apple? today unveiled its new line of MacBook? consumer notebooks that now include Intel Core 2 Duo processors. Just one-inch thin, the new MacBooks are up to 25 percent faster than the previous generation and feature a built-in iSight? video camera for on-the-go video conferencing, Apple?s MagSafe? Power Adapter that safely disconnects when under strain, and iLife? ?06, Apple?s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications.

?MacBook has helped drive Apple?s notebook market share to over 10 percent in US retail, and the new MacBooks will be among this holiday season?s most exciting new products,? said Philip Schiller, Apple?s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. ?With Intel Core 2 Duo processors across the entire line, these new MacBooks are up to 25 percent faster than their predecessors.?

With prices starting at just $1,099, the new MacBook lineup includes three models: sleek white 1.83 GHz and 2.0 GHz MacBook models, and a stunning black 2.0 GHz MacBook model. With Intel?s latest Core 2 Duo processors, the new MacBook is up to 25 percent faster than the previous MacBook and up to six times faster than the iBook?, making it even easier for consumers to manage and enjoy their digital content with iLife ?06.* Consumers will also benefit from the added power in the new 2.0 GHz models, including double the memory and greater storage capacity than the previous generation, as well as a double-layer SuperDrive? for burning professional-quality DVDs.

The new MacBook features a gorgeous 13-inch glossy widescreen display, ideal for enjoying videos, DVDs and photos with Apple?s breakthrough Front Row media experience. The MacBook is just one-inch thin and includes a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go with friends or family using iChat AV, recording a video podcast or iMovie? using iLife ?06, or taking fun snapshots with Photo Booth.

Designed for the mobile lifestyle, the MacBook includes Apple?s MagSafe Power Adapter that magnetically connects the power cord to the MacBook and safely disconnects under strain, preventing the notebook from falling off its work surface. Apple now also offers a new MagSafe Airline Adapter that makes using a MacBook on an airplane even more convenient by connecting to in-seat power ports for continued productivity throughout the duration of a flight. The MacBook also includes Apple?s Sudden Motion Sensor, designed to protect the hard drive in case of a fall, and a simple and intuitive Scrolling TrackPad for scrolling through long web pages or panning across large photographs.

The lightweight MacBook design includes built-in AirPort Extreme? and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), making it ideal to take anywhere consumers work and play?from the office, to the classroom and the local WiFi hot spot. With the latest high-performance connectivity options, each MacBook includes built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire? 400 port, combination analog and optical digital audio input and output ports and a mini-DVI video output to connect up to a 23-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.

The MacBook comes with iLife ?06, the next generation of Apple?s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring iPhoto?, iMovie HD, iDVD?, GarageBand? and iWeb?, the latest iLife application that makes it super-easy to create amazing websites with photos, blogs and podcasts and publish them on .Mac for viewing by anyone on the Internet with just a single click.** The MacBook also comes with the latest release of the world?s most advanced operating system, Mac OS? X version 10.4.8 Tiger, including Safari?, Mail, iCal?, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth, running natively on the Intel-based notebook.

Pricing & Availability

The new MacBook is available immediately through the Apple Store? (www.apple.com), Apple?s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. The Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter is available for a suggested retail price of $59 (US).

The 1.83 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,099 (US), includes:

13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display with 250 cd/m2 brightness;

1.83 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;

667 MHz front-side bus;

512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;

60GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;

a slot-load Combo (DVD-ROM/CD-RW) optical drive;

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950;

Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);

built-in iSight video camera;

Gigabit Ethernet port;

built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;

two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port;

one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;

Scrolling TrackPad;

the infrared Apple Remote; and

60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US), includes:

13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display with 250 cd/m2 brightness;

2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;

667 MHz front-side bus;

1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;

80GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;

a slot-load 6x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD?RW/CD-RW) optical drive;

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950;

Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);

built-in iSight video camera;

Gigabit Ethernet port;

built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;

two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port;

one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;

Scrolling TrackPad;

the infrared Apple Remote; and

60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch black MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:

13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display with 250 cd/m2 brightness;

2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;

667 MHz front-side bus;

1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;

120GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;

a slot-load 6x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD+R DL/DVD?RW/CD-RW) optical drive;

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950;

Mini-DVI out (adapters for DVI, VGA and Composite/S-Video sold separately);

built-in iSight video camera;

Gigabit Ethernet port;

built-in AirPort Extreme wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR;

two USB 2.0 ports and one FireWire 400 port;

one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;

Scrolling TrackPad;

the infrared Apple Remote; and

60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Additional build-to-order options for the MacBook include the ability to upgrade to 80GB, 120GB or 160GB (5400 rpm) or a 200GB (4200 rpm) hard drive, up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple USB Modem, Apple Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, Apple Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan. Additional build-to-order options also include: pre-installed copies of iWork ?06, Logic? Express 7, Final Cut? Express HD 3.5 and Aperture? 1.5.

*Based on estimated results of industry-standard SPECint and SPECfp rate tests. SPEC is a registered trademark of Standard Performance Evaluation Corporation (SPEC); see www.apple.com/macbook for more information.

**Internet access required, fees may apply. The .Mac service is available to persons age 13 and older. Terms and conditions apply.

Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning desktop and notebook computers, OS X operating system, and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital music revolution with its iPod portable music players and iTunes online music store.

[xfodder]

still uses integrated graphics ... (N)

[Broski]

yup, thumbsdown on that graphics chip.

[blachole]

still uses integrated graphics ... (N)

Ya that was my biggest regret. If they updated the graphics on this to even a 128MB card, my current macbook would be on eBay today..bummer.

[instant.human]

and there it starts again... ;)

great step, the intel graphics-"chip" is not that bad and hell gonna order it soon! :)

[+s55 Subscriber¹]

Can i point out that the graphics chip does infact have the whole 256MB at its disposal if you use windows on it. Under OSX its limited to 64MB but why under OSX wud u need more? It runs sharpish under osx and i dont run games on it so its pefect. Games would melt it anyway

[macro]

Can i point out that the graphics chip does infact have the whole 256MB at its disposal if you use windows on it. Under OSX its limited to 64MB but why under OSX wud u need more? It runs sharpish under osx and i dont run games on it so its pefect. Games would melt it anyway

QFT

(Are you gonna buy a Macbook for gaming? No, no you aren't)

[instant.human]

of course you dont but as dazzlas review has proven, under bootcamp the macbook in fact is able to play games like half life 2 at native resolution.

even with the "old" core duos.

the macbook appears to be the perfect solution for me. its mac, its windows, its small, its apple, it has a great screen and if i feel the lust for a quick half life 2 (or any other game) session i just do a quick reboot, launch windows and here we go.

no powergaming stuff of course but thats not what i want.

in my view its the perfect notebook for eveyone who needs transportability, power and windows and mac at one time. and with the core 2 duo the macbook indeed is pretty powerful.

aw but thats just me.

[Son of Hook]

There's more to graphics processing than available RAM...

[Broski]

Yeah, I'm confused too.

The 950 states its a 256 bit card.

256-bit graphics core running at 400MHz

Up to 10.6 GB/sec memory bandwidth with DDR2 667 system memory

1.6 GPixels/sec and 1.6 GTexels/sec fill rate

Up to 224 MB maximum video memory

2048x1536 at 75 Hz maximum resolution

Dynamic Display Modes for flat-panel, wide-screen and Digital TV support

Operating systems supported: Microsoft Windows* XP, Windows* XP 64bit, Media Center Edition 2004/2005, Windows 2000; Linux-compatible (Xfree86 source available)

Does this implement that apple may put out a firmware upgrade that will allow the card to produce better performance?

Also i saw a stat stating that the chip can use up to 224MB of main memory for video usage.

What do you guys think of this?

[+s55 Subscriber¹]

the 64MB is a software limit under OSX only, it is not present in Windows

the 950 is also underclocked to 250Mhz under OSX, Not sure about windows but due to the fact the battery life is quite a bit less i suspect its running at the full 400mhz

[instant.human]

interesting.

does that mean i could softmod it?

[Broski]

I am sure it is possible. Someone needs to figure this out!

[instant.human]

yeah, please! :)

...and if i had to glue a hair on the chip. screw that. ;)

[+s55 Subscriber¹]

potentially yes. I reckon you'd have to start kicking around with the kernel modules as its likely one of those that controls it. Not the best of ideas. I already broke it trying to figure out the processor management. why its kept at 1.5Ghz instead of allowing speedstep to go down to 1Ghz

[wicker_man]

Graphics isn't everything that's bad, either. Would you pay ?749 for a laptop with a ****ty combo drive? Come on, you Cupertino freaks, people who want a combo drive would buy a crappy ?300 Dell! It's 2006 for freak's sake, and didn't you tell us all that Apple is all about innovation?

Sorry for a rant, but this crap is getting out of hand. As a proud owner of a 12" PowerBook I'd say 2004 was the last year Apple really listened and cared. People have been asking for a standalone graphics chip for obvious reasons for a while, and with everyone whining about GMA Apple still hasn't done anything. I guess when a company is going mainstream, they lose a bit of touch with the customers - Apple knows that even with GMA in MacBooks they will sell like hotcakes.

Also, just like a lot of people, I am waiting for a 12" pro portable to replace my PowerBook, what's up with the "presence of absence" of it?

[hagjohn]

Not enough of an increase for me to buy a new "MacBook"... may be next time.

[TogaForComfort]

Graphics isn't everything that's bad, either. Would you pay ?749 for a laptop with a ****ty combo drive? Come on, you Cupertino freaks, people who want a combo drive would buy a crappy ?300 Dell! It's 2006 for freak's sake, and didn't you tell us all that Apple is all about innovation?

Sorry for a rant, but this crap is getting out of hand. As a proud owner of a 12" PowerBook I'd say 2004 was the last year Apple really listened and cared. People have been asking for a standalone graphics chip for obvious reasons for a while, and with everyone whining about GMA Apple still hasn't done anything. I guess when a company is going mainstream, they lose a bit of touch with the customers - Apple knows that even with GMA in MacBooks they will sell like hotcakes.

Also, just like a lot of people, I am waiting for a 12" pro portable to replace my PowerBook, what's up with the "presence of absence" of it?

Apple will not put a dedicated graphics in the MacBook, If they did then that takes one of the selling points away from the MacBook Pro

[rayjin]

I want the latest and greatest! :rolleyes:

oh well.. I guess i'll stick with what i have.

[instant.human]

the cool thing with computers is that not everyone has to buy one and sometimes they just fit the needs of someone perfectly. :)

[dan]

Ya that was my biggest regret. If they updated the graphics on this to even a 128MB card, my current macbook would be on eBay today..bummer.

No offense but ig they added a discreet graphics card it would be called the MacBook Pro... oh wait...

[Hurmoth]

Wahoo! Can't wait to order one of these babies tonight. :D

[Scirwode]

Apple will not put a dedicated graphics in the MacBook, If they did then that takes one of the selling points away from the MacBook Pro

Considering that the Macbook Pro has an ATi Mobility Radeon X1600, I find that a bit strange. The Sony VAIO SZ has an Nvidia Geforce Go 7400 and it's a 13" notebook. The Nvidia Geforce Go 7700 which has just been release with an Asus notebook, is a 14" notebook. Why can't they upgrade the graphic processor in the Macbook Pro to the 7700, which is more of a gaming graphic card and the Macbook to the 7400, which is more of a mainstream graphic card.

That's not to say the Macbook isn't good, far from it. I just think that they reach out to more customers if they just give a dedicated graphic processor. I might probably buy one, but the only thing that's making me hesitant is the graphic processor. Once that is out of the way, then I'll be first in line.

Scirwode

[instant.human]

they wont put a gaming card in a macbook (pro) because apples are actually not supposed to be used as gaming machines. ;) its about decent graphics for cad or good photoshop and aparture performance.

the thing is that now everyone thinks that they should be made for gaming because of bootcamp, and the ability to play windows games. but bootcamp wasnt specifically designed for the gamers, of course. its just a little add-on and for that the x1600 AND the intel are more than okay. if you want to play games on your laptop get something other than an apple.

no offense here but you know... why should they put gaming cards in there while macbook (pros) are for working and maybe sometimes a little gaming infact?

and for the normal mac-use, the graphic chips/cards are okay, even bettet than that.

[Scirwode]

they wont put a gaming card in a macbook (pro) because apples are actually not supposed to be used as gaming machines. ;) its about decent graphics for cad or good photoshop and aparture performance.

the thing is that now everyone thinks that they should be made for gaming because of bootcamp, and the ability to play windows games. but bootcamp wasnt specifically designed for the gamers, of course. its just a little add-on and for that the x1600 AND the intel are more than okay. if you want to play games on your laptop get something other than an apple.

no offense here but you know... why should they put gaming cards in there while macbook (pros) are for working and maybe sometimes a little gaming infact?

and for the normal mac-use, the graphic chips/cards are okay, even bettet than that.

But you have to take into account that without a graphic card, the CPU has to process whatever applications that is running and output it to the screen. With a dedicated graphic card, the CPU can just concentrate on whatever task it is doing and leave the monitor screen or output in this case to a graphic card. Even a budget graphic card can help out. It doesn't have to be a gaming machine.

It's a bit confusing to me why they won't put it in. The Macbook Pro serves a different market so there is no way that the Macbook can threaten it. So then why? Heating issues?

Scirwode