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
Oh, I do. I have every setting maxed on my MBP, and it still runs like silk. The MacBook was a candidate for a second LAPTOP to be used for more portability where the MacBookPro is more of a NOTEBOOK (and dangerous to keep on your lap).
And to RicMac – I’ve gone through half a dozen laptops over the last year. I’ve thouroughly tested a Sony Vaio Centrino/GMA, Gateway Centrino/GMA, Acer Duo/x1400, Toshiba Duo/x1600, as well as my MBP Duo/x1600. I can say, without a doubt, that just within Windows – not running any 3D apps, I can tell the difference between them. Even running Word and Internet Explorer on the GMA is frustrating. It’s not childish to expect a $1000 modern machine to be able to redraw windows near-instantly.
“To put it mildly, it’s no contest. To put it more bluntly, it’s a complete and total rout for the GMA950, with the possible exception of the CPU-intensive Flight Simulator 2004. Even then, what you get is playable frame rates, but the GeForce 6800TC still crushes the GMA950. The verdict is even worse when you realize the GMA950 wouldn’t even run Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory or Painkiller, even though the specs of the GPU suggests they should. Intel has acknowledged a driver bug with regards to Chaos Theory. But if this is any indication of the potential compatibility issues users may encounter, running games on the new core is a dubious prospect.”
In otherwords, POS. The GMA950, is at best, half the speed of the slowest most usless grahpics chip nVidia can produce. Or, more precisely, about 1/8th a basic x1300 with Hypermemory, and 1/20th the speed of the x1600 in my MBP.
Junk. Garbage. What more can you say?
Big Boy “Mike K, $899 ($200) not $999 ($100)”
—–
You’re grasping at straws here. Apple have never had a laptop at $899. You’ve got to get it through your head that Apple have NEVER been the cheapest and they never will. They have never entered the commodity business like Dell and HP and that is the very reason we are all here discussing their products with such passion (or dis-passion..)
Apple is a premium vendor. After 30 years of NOT being the cheapest available, why would you expect anything different now?
Their pricing is what it is.. If you don’t like it, then don’t buy it. Girping about it is not going to change anything, it’s wasted energy… Accept the fact the new MacBook has been upgraded considerably and costs $100 more. Big deal, Move on.
Awesome. I’m buying the $1100 one, with 3rd-party ram and a DVI adapter to connect to my 20″ Dell LCD. It’s about time I replaced my 3 and a half year old TiPB, that I spent $2500 on.
I told our resident know-it-all that these would be called “MacBook,” but Mr. Smarty Pants insisted that they would be called “iBooks.”
Not bad, but they aren’t any MacBook Pros.
Not bad, but they aren’t any MacBook Pros.
——–
You’re right. They’re MacBooks
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At Canadian educational prices:
Dell Latitude D520 2.0GHz Dual Core
$1,849
Windows® XP Professional, SP2, with media
No bundled software
14.1 inch XGA LCD Panel (1024 X 768 resolution)
1.0GB, DDR2-667 SDRAM, 2 DIMMS
80GB Hard Drive, 9.5MM, 5400RPM
8X DVD+/-RW w/Sonic Digital Media™ and Cyberlink Power DVD™
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (Up to 224MB shared)
4 Cell Primary Battery
65W A/C Adapter
Intel® PRO/Wireless 2200 802.11a/g WLAN mini Card
Bluetooth
Serial, docking connector, S-Video, firewire 400, 4 USB, VGA, headphone/speaker out, infrared port, modem, ethernet, integrated microphone
3yrs limited warranty,plus 3yrs Next Business Day Onsite Service
w=5.24lb, thickness=1.4″ ; width=13.3″, depth=10.75″
White MacBook 2.0 GHz
$1,788
Mac OS X
Bundled: iLife, Front Row (+remote)
1280 by 800, the 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display
1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM – 2×512
80GB Serial ATA drive
SuperDrive (DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Intel GMA 950 graphics processor with (Up to 64MB shared )
55-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery
60W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management system
built-in iSight,
Apple USB Modem
AirPort Extreme Card & Bluetooth
One FireWire 400 port, 2 USB, Mini-DVI port, audio in/audio out ports, infrared port, ethernet (10/100/1000)
AppleCare Protection Plan for MacBook/iBook – Auto-enroll
w=5.2lb, thickness=1.08″, width=12.78″, depth=8.92″
So, thanks to the i950 graphics, I can’t use Aperture on this MacBook (doesn’t support i950) and Photoshop is barely usuable (will need to wait at least another year for the universal version).
Funny, while a $1K Dell or HP sure ain’t as pretty, I can atleast get some graphics work done on it.
What was that about OS X being for “work” and Windows for Solitare?
Heck of a job Apple, heck of a job.
Considering all of the standard features, the $1,299 MacBook is a bargain. Show me another notebook with a 2GHz Core Duo processor, SuperDrive, iSight camera, Front Row, built-in wireless and DVI out all included for that price…
I like the fact it uses the same CoreDuo processor as its big brother but don’t think that they priced it correctly on the high end… another 20GB of HD and it is $200 more!!! WTF?
You think a serious professional photographer willing to pay $300 for Aperture is going to be using anything but a MacBook Pro? I just can’t see it.
It is a shame that Adobe is not releasing a universal version of Photoshop sooner, but I still think that the consumer users that the MacBook will appeal to are probably not heavy Photoshop users; the iPhoto editing tools are sufficient for the casual photographer.
Great Product, except for the shiny screen
Can’t figure out the dumb ass shiny screen!!!!!???????!!!!
What’s the advantage to seeing all the reflections of everything around you on your screen??? I’ve seen these retarded shiny screens on shitty pcs and just wondered why. I don’t get it.
I think they are a great deal – better than most people expected. The specs are as good or better than any sane person hoped for.
The only surprise is that Apple charges an extra $150 for the color black!
Anyone know if the 80GB drive in the black book is a Hybrid drive? That would justify the extra expense, if not I can’t figure it out. The price of the other models is competative to similar specification laptops but you get a better OS and iLfie into the bargain.
Integrated graphics on my mini isn’t a problem, it happily does 1080p.
Cheers,
Tim.
Don’t buy RAM from Apple! It’s a RIP-OFF!
I’m not buying a MacBook until it cures cancer. For $1099, I expect that.
Big boy is exactly the opposite of what his name implies. He just wants attention.
R.I.P. PowerBook
Wow, I can’t wait for the next-gen MacBook Pros with Core 2 Duo to get the pure magnetic case latch and new super-cool keyboard.
If the MacBooks didn’t have integrated graphics, I’d be tempted to get one – I use Aperture, so I need the dedicated graphics.
anyone notice the addition of a mini-phone jack audio input? A lot of GarageBand-ers are going to like that. ‘Bout time, if you ask me. Though a second FW port would have been nicer.
And as to all the whingeing about price? Well, my three-year-old iBook cost $1,499 when I bought it, and it’s still going strong. So I’d say paying the same price three years later for a much, much faster laptop with extra software (iLife), hardware (iSight) and other stuff (mag-safe, or whatever it’s called, integrated WiFi, gigabit ethernet, etc.) is pretty cool.
Even the non-universal Photoshop runs a heck of a lot faster on the new MacBook than it did on the iBook. And professional photographers that need to use Aperture shouldn’t be buying a MacBook, they should be using either a MBP or a PowerMac.
No mini-DVI to VGA adapter included? Huh? A $19.00 adapter? Duuuuudes!
I love all things Apple and I always will, but that is just damn dumb!
I have a hard enough time trying to explain exactly what a VGA connector is, much less that Apple uses DVI on Powerbooks, mini VGA on iBooks, mini DVI on 12″ Powerbooks.
I can’t wait for the tech support calls I’m going to get from teachers who bought one of these shiny new lovelies and didn’t realize you HAVE to have an adapter to connect it to a projector!
I think i’ll need to up my meds for this one…
Complaining about a frickin $100 increase for a boatload of new features and 5x performance increase….
Tell you what, instead of taking your girlfriend out to dinner and a movie this weekend, tell her you’re gonna pick up Chinese food and a rent a movie from Blockbuster.. Then you can take the $100 bucks that you would have spent on dinner and a movie and put it into your new MacBook that you will be using everyday for the next 3-4 years..
Then quit your whining and shut up already… Fricking cheapskates!
Luke, I would usually agree with your assessment of Apple’s prices for RAM … not here. You buy your own and install it yourself and you may not save a penny – OK, you get to keep the extra sticks of RAM you’ve just replaced which might constitute a “savings” – and you take a chance of damaging something while revoking your warrantee. Not a great plan, in my mind. Usually, though, Apple memory is seriously over-priced.
All you guys regretting the loss of the 12″ PB … what are you regretting? The iBo … MacBook NONPro is more powerful, reportedly by a factor of 4, and has a larger and more useful screen without adding significant bulk. A 12″ notebook is not – and never HAS been – an acceptable system for serious graphics work or gaming. So, what’s the complaint here? You miss your shiny metal case? Higher price? Spend the $150 for the MIB Edition and get over it.
Mike K:
“professional photographers that need to use Aperture shouldn’t be buying a MacBook, they should be using either a MBP or a PowerMac.”
…the funny thing is that the new MacBooks are more powerful than my MacBook Pro 1.83Ghz is – except for the integrated graphics. Same memory, same bus, same Core duo, 1280 resolution, FireWire and USB 2.0, same hard drive… The only thing missing is dedicated graphics.
The TCO argument is irrelevant; the only people who believe it already own a mac and will replace it with a mac.
If Apple’s marketing strategy is wholly comprised of beating the TOC drum, dull hardware, and saturation bombing with snotty ads… <5% market share is here to stay. All the people that are interested in this approach are already customers.
Hate to be a naysayer here (since I love the company)… but the stock isn’t likely to recover anytime soon. I suspect we’re heading for the high 50’s w/i a week or two.