Apple today unveiled the newly designed MacBook, the world’s most advanced consumer notebook featuring the Intel Core Duo processor and a gorgeous new 13-inch glossy widescreen display, all in a sleek design that is up to five times faster than the iBook and up to four times faster than the 12-inch PowerBook. Together with the 15-and 17-inch MacBook Pros, the new MacBook completes Apple’s Intel-based portables lineup and replaces both the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook, as MacDailyNews first reported back on January 11, 2006. Apple’s entire portables lineup now offers Intel Core Duo processors; a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go; breakthrough Front Row media experience with Apple Remote; and several advanced features including DVI with dual display support, optical digital audio input and output, Gigabit Ethernet, Sudden Motion Sensor, Scrolling TrackPad and MagSafe Power Adapter.
“Apple began the transition to Intel Core Duo-based notebooks in February with the 15-inch MacBook Pro, and now just 90 days later we have completed the transition with the release of the all new MacBook,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in the press release. “The complete MacBook lineup leads the industry with Apple’s trademark innovative design and advanced mobile features — from top to bottom it is the best notebook line that we have ever offered.”
With prices starting at $1,099, the MacBook lineup includes three models: a 1.83 GHz and 2.0 GHz MacBook in a newly-designed white enclosure and a 2.0 GHz MacBook in a new black enclosure. The new MacBook offers performance up to five times faster than the iBook and up to four times faster than the 12-inch PowerBook with a completely new system architecture including a 667 MHz front-side bus and 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2GB. At about one-inch thin, the new MacBook is 20 percent thinner than the iBook and features a gorgeous new 13-inch glossy widescreen display. With a display that is 79 percent brighter than the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook, the MacBook provides incredibly crisp images with richer colors, deeper blacks and significantly greater contrast. At a resolution of 1280 x 800, the MacBook display provides 30 percent more viewing area than the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook.
Every new MacBook comes with a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go using Apple’s award-winning iChat AV, or recording a video Podcast or iMovie using iLife ’06. MacBook also includes Photo Booth, Apple’s fun-to-use application that lets users take quick snapshots with the built-in iSight video camera, add entertaining visual effects and share their pictures with the touch of a button. The new MacBook gives customers a simple way to enjoy their digital lifestyle content wherever they go — including music, photos and videos from across the room using the Apple Remote. With Front Row, users can effortlessly access shared iTunes playlists, iPhoto libraries and video throughout their home via Bonjour, Apple’s zero configuration wireless networking built into Mac OS X.
Designed to withstand the rigors of life on the go, every MacBook comes with Apple’s MagSafe Power Adapter, created especially for mobile users that makes charging the notebook’s battery easier than ever by magnetically coupling the power cord to the MacBook. The MagSafe Power Adapter safely disconnects from the notebook when there is strain on the power cord, helping to prevent the notebook from falling off its work surface. Every MacBook also includes Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor that is designed to protect the hard drive in case of a fall, and all MacBooks include a Scrolling TrackPad to easily scroll through long web pages or pan across large photographs.
With the latest high-performance connectivity options, every new MacBook includes built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11g WiFi for up to 54 Mbps fast wireless networking, built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), two USB 2.0 ports, 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.
Every MacBook includes iLife ’06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand and iWeb, a new 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. All the iLife ’06 applications run natively on the new Intel-based MacBooks for maximum performance.
Every MacBook also comes with the latest release of the world’s most advanced operating system, Mac OS X version 10.4.6 “Tiger” including Safari, Mail, iCal, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth, running natively on Apple’s Intel-based notebook line. Mac OS X Tiger includes an innovative software translation technology called Rosetta that lets customers run most Mac OS X PowerPC applications seamlessly. Intel-based Mac customers have more than 1,700 Universal applications to choose from and the list is growing each day with hundreds of developers including Adobe, Quark and IBM’s Lotus division announcing support for Mac OS X Intel-based applications. An updated list of Universal applications for Mac OS X is available at http://guide.apple.com/universal
The new MacBook is available immediately through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple today also increased processor speeds on both models of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, delivering even greater performance at no additional cost. The $2,499 model now includes a 2.16 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from 2.0 GHz, and the $1,999 model now includes a 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from 1.83 GHz. Beginning today, the MacBook Pro also offers the new glossy widescreen display as a CTO option on both the 15-and 17-inch models at no additional cost.
The 1.83 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of US$1,099, includes:
• 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display with 250 cd/m2 brightness
• 1.83 GHz Intel Core 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
• Infrared Apple Remote
• 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter
The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,299, includes:
• 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display with 250 cd/m2 brightness
• 2.0 GHz Intel Core 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 SuperDrive(TM) (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
• Infrared Apple Remote
• 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter
The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch black MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,499, includes:
• 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display with 250 cd/m2 brightness
• 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo processor
• 667 MHz front-side bus
• 512MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB
• 80GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor
• a slot-load SuperDrive (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
• Infrared Apple Remote
• 60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter
Additional build-to-order options for the MacBook include the ability to upgrade to 80GB, 100GB or 120GB 5400 rpm hard drive, up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple USB Modem, Apple Mini-DVI to DVI adapter, Apple Mini-DVI to VGA adapter, and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
See the new Apple MacBooks here.
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Related articles:
Apple’s new Mac mini: perfect for HDTV – March 01, 2006
Apple Mac mini’s Intel GMA950 Integrated Graphics Core reviewed – March 01, 2006
Old Apple Mac mini G4 vs. new Mac mini’s graphics and video specs – February 28, 2006
RUMOR: Apple iBook to become ‘MacBook’ while ‘MacBook Pro’ will offer more screen size choices soon – January 11, 2006
I love it. Thats it. There is no more to be said. I’m speechless.
It just leaves me with one really annoying question:
iMac or MacBook?
Speccing them both out o what I want, I have the 17″ iMac and the White MacBook at the same exact price. The only thing holding me back is wheter or not I need/want the portability.
..its gonna be a long night hahaha…..
Um… I dont know what to think. Im saving to switch from my Dell and was hoping the regular macbook would be $799 or lower, I mean thats not all that bad! But $1100? That’s a little too pricey. If they lower the price by a couple hundred, maybe then I’ll make the switch! I hope I do.
And I agree, the black looks bad! I’ll stick with chrome, thank you very much!
IGNORE BOTH THE FANBOYS & FUD – 3 REASONS MACBOOKS AREN’T $899:
One reason MacBooks don’t start at $899 is because Apple can’t afford a migration away from their best-selling & most profitable 15″ MacBook Pro line. For the first time, the consumer i/MacBook is now fast enough for all but legitimate graphics pros. So, now that the gap between “iBook” & “PowerBook” performance has narrowed (thanks to the Intel migration) over half of my Mac friends are tempted to get a MacBook instead of MB Pro.
Secondly, if Apple tries to increase market share by significantly lowering their profit margins for a couple of years, shortsighted Wallstreet would spank them so hard they’d bleed money. Bye bye Apple R&D budget. Finally, if will NEVER behoove Apple to EVER enter the brutal, tight margin comidity market wherein box assemblers like Dell profit mere pennies per laptop, a profit margin so slim it only works if Dell sells an EXTREMELY high volume of laptops – which, by the way, they’re failing to do, quarter after quarter… No, the only way to enter the commodity market is to FIRST increase market share THEN lower the prices, not the reverse, as common sense would dictate.
3rd reason? You’ll never see BMW or Mercedes or Audi come out with a Kia-priced sedan. Apple business model = Audi, not Dell. Want an $899 laptop? Buy an ugly 2 inch thick bathroom scale from Dell. Want an $899 sedan? Buy a used Kia.
Um… I dont know what to think. Im saving to switch from my Dell and was hoping the regular macbook would be $799 or lower, I mean thats not all that bad! But $1100? That’s a little too pricey. If they lower the price by a couple hundred, maybe then I’ll make the switch! I hope I do.
And I agree, the black looks bad! I’ll stick with chrome, thank you very much!
******
Sad_WIndows_user. My advice to you would be to stick with a PC, If $1100 is too much for you to spend on a laptop as fully equipped as the MB then you should just buy a Dell..
At least if you buy a Dell you’ll only spend $699 up front. Of course you’ll end up spending the extra $400 that you think you saved within the first two years, by purchasing all the software and paying all the annual fees and service support that you’ll need to keep your computer safe on the internet. You’ll also most likely end up replacing your Dell in half the time that you would have replaced your MacBook. But hey $1100 is too expensive, Right?
No one else has said it yet, so I’ll say it:
Don’t forget the biggest advantage of the MacBook over a comparable PC notebook:
on the MacBook, you can run OSX AND Windows.
You can’t do that on the PC notebook (legally).
The price is fair. Apple will sell a ton of these things. I ignore the whiners here (for example “Big Boy”), because these are probably the same people who said the iPod was priced too high when it came out. Look where it is now…
Post!!! Errr…..Uhhhhhh….Sorry I’m a slow typer
all the negative comments above are from microsoft patsies…
Perhaps all you complainers would prefer this board:
http://www.microsoft-watch.com/
I have just gotten Macbook
As I am setting it up I am being scraped constantly by the edges
Has anyone else noticed this problem
The black one is more expensive to cover the cost of anticipated ‘scratches’ lawsuits.
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So its decided then
We need a 12″ core solo mac book without an isight for $899
and a 12″ core duo mac book pro for $1,499
Dont piss us off Steve.
j/k you know we will buy whatever you put out there anyway
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also the $150 for the black model is OBSCENE.. it would be one thing if it was made out of a stronger material or something… but its just the same old plastic.
What happened to other colors? Red? Blue? Green?
and about the GMA950, you guys need to pull your head out of your ass. The GMA950 is a decent entry level 3D processor, and a TOP NOTCH video encoder / decoder.. and if you are concerned about the shared ram, go with a gig or two and it wont be an issue, also the GPU has direct access to the memory controller, so its not any slower than most ~$100 vid cards. I would be all set with the GMA950.. Apple has you taken care of if you want a gaming laptop go with the mac book pro.
The price fiends can chill. This won’t be entry level in 4 to 6 weeks. Right now they are getting all on board who will pay the $1099+. Once that wave has passed they will introduce a new iBook solo for $899.