MacBook Refresh Bumps Clock Speed A Bit; Value On Entry Level Model A Lot
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
by Charles W. Moore
OK, OK, it wasn’t get up in the night and write home about it exciting, but the “Revision C” MacBooks released yesterday are a welcome speed bump and spec. enhancement.
In a nutshell, the new MacBooks get:• Faster Core 2 Duo processors clocked at 2.0 GHz and 2.16 GHz with 4MB L2 cache across the board
• Standard RAM is now 1 GB on all three models expandable to 2 GB
• Increased hard drives capacities with 80GB, 120 GB, and 160 GB standard on the three models respectively, with 200 GB optional
• integrated 802.11n support
Price points (The Apple Store) remain the same starting at $1099 for the 2GHz Core 2 Duo with 1 GB RAM, an 80 GB hard drive, and a Combo Drive, $1,299 for the white 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo with 1 GB RAM, a 120 GB hard drive and a SuperDrive, and $1499 for the black 2.16 GHz Core 2 Duo with 1 GB RAM, a 160 GB hard drive, and a SuperDrive.
Adv: Compare prices on a new 13" MacBook at MacPrices. At-a-glance price trackers updated daily. Current best prices on the new 13" MacBooks are up to $100 off MSRP!
Perhaps bigger news is what there isn’t, notably no Intel Santa Rosa next-gen CPUs, no LED display backlights, and no replacement or upgrade of the much-maligned Intel GMA 950 “vampire video” graphics support.
Personally, I’m quite pleased with this update, modest though it is, and arguably the biggest news of all is that the relative value equation among the models just shifted significantly. While the 1.83 GHz Core 2 Duo base model at $1,099 wasn’t a bad deal, it paled in value compared with the $200 more expensive 2.0 GHz white “Middle” model, which had twice the amount (4 MB) of level 2 cache as the base Revision B MacBook, a gigabyte of RAM instead of 512 MB standard, an 80 gigabyte hard drive rather than a 60 GB unit, and a 6x dual-layer DVD-burning SuperDrive as opposed to the base machine’s Combo Drive. I had no trouble at all seeing the justification of spending the extra 200 grickles if one could manage it at all.
However, as noted, with these Revision C machines, the landscape has shifted. THe base model still has a slightly slower processor and 40 GB less hard drive capacity, but it now comes with the full 4 MB of L2 cache and 1 GB of standard RAM just like it’s more expensive siblings. Savvy buyers will have to carefully consider whether an eight percent faster processor, 40 gigs. more hard disk space, and DVD-burning capability are worth $200 more capital outlay to them.
In summary, with the Revision B MacBooks, the white middle machine was a substantially better value for what you got than the base machine. Now I would say they’re about equally good deals price-respective, and for me at least the choice just got a lot tougher in a good sort of way, since value has increased across the whole line with this refresh.
We can also expect prices on Apple Certified Refurbished Revision B MacBooks to be tweaked downward some $50 - $100 when there is some stock to start at about $850 for the 1.83 GHz model up to $999 for the black 2.0 GHz unit.
As for Santa Rosa, we’ll now see it first probably on the next revision 15” MacBook Pro (perhaps at WWDC?), which is more logical anyway than having it released first on the consumer ‘Book. The LED backlights as well.
The Revision C MacBook form factor remains unchanged, with the same 1200 x 800 resolution 13-inch glossy widescreen display that all MacBooks have had from the get-go and the somewhat unorthodox keyboard design that some rate the best that’s ever been in an Apple notebook. It comes with built-in 802.11n wireless networking for what Apple claims delivers up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g. Also included are a built-in iSight video camera, Apple’s MagSafe Power Adapter that magnetically connects the power cord to the MacBook, and safely disconnects under sudden shock loads, and the iLife ‘06 suite of Apple’s digital lifestyle applications - iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand and iWeb.
MacBook I/O support includes AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), 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 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.
Revision C MacBook Specifications and Prices
The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,099 (US), includes:
* 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display;
* 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 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 802.11n 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 2.16 GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US), includes:
* 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display;
* 2.16 GHz 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 8x 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 802.11n 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 2.16 GHz, 13-inch black MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:
* 13.3-inch glossy widescreen 1280 x 800 display;
* 2.16 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor;
* 667 MHz front-side bus;
* 1GB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM, expandable to 2GB;
* 160GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
* a slot-load 8x 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 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.
Note: Letters to PowerBook Mystique Mailbag may or may not be published at the editor's discretion. Correspondents' email addresses will NOT be published unless the correspondent specifically requests publication. Letters may be edited for length and/or context.
Opinions expressed in postings to PowerBook Mystique MailBag are owned by the respective correspondents and not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Editor and/or PowerBook Central management.
If you would prefer that your message not appear in PowerBook Mystique Mailbag, we would still like to hear from you. Just clearly mark your message "NOT FOR PUBLICATION," and it will not be published.
CM