Apple Macbook Review

First introduced in 2006, the Macbook replaced Apple's popular iBook. As part of Apple's switch to Intel hardware, the Macbook brought with it a host of new features. These included an integrated web camera, a remote control, the MagSafe power connector and a new black coloured version of the Macbook. In the two years since then Apple has kept their consumer range of laptops current with the latest components, whilst leaving the fundamental design unchanged.

The Macbook strikes a balance between portability and value for money with its 13.3-inch screen and affordable price tag. The current model offers a much upgraded graphics processor and more memory than the previous Macbook.

Key Features:

• 13.3-inch glossy widescreen TFT display
• 2GB SDRAM (supports up to 4GB)
• 160GB hard drive
• 8x optical drive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) (SuperDrive)
• Intel GMA X3100 graphics
• Built-in web camera (iSight)
• WiFi 802.11b/g/n (Airport Extreme)
• Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
• Magsafe power connector

Specification

Compared to previous model:

Name	Apple Macbook 2.4GHz	Apple Macbook 2.2GHz
Thumbnail
Form Factor	Normal	Normal
Operating System	Apple Mac OS X Leopard	Apple Mac OS X Leopard
Display	13.3-inch Glossy TFT display, 1280 by 800 resolution	13.3-inch Glossy TFT display, 1280 by 800 resolution
Processor	Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz (3MB L2 cache shared, 800MHz bus)	Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz (4MB L2 cache shared, 800MHz bus)
Memory	2GB (2x 1GB) DDR2	1GB (2x 512MB) DDR2
Hard drive	160GB 5400-rpm SATA	120GB 5400-rpm SATA
Graphics	Intel GMA X3100 (144MB shared memory)	Intel GMA X3100 (144MB shared memory)
USB	2x USB2	2x USB2
Firewire	1x FW400	1x FW400
VGA	Yes (using optional mini-DVI to VGA adapter)	Yes (using optional mini-DVI to VGA adapter)
DVI	Yes (using optional mini-DVI to DVI adapter)	Yes (using optional mini-DVI to DVI adapter)
HDMI
Video	Yes (using optional mini-DVI to video adapter)	Yes (using optional mini-DVI to video adapter)
Other Input
Audio	Yes (audio line out)/Yes (audio digital out),Yes (audio line in)/Yes (audio digital in),Built-in microphone,Built-in stereo speakers	Yes (audio line out)/Yes (audio digital out),Yes (audio line in)/Yes (audio digital in),Built-in microphone,Built-in stereo speakers
Expansion
Keyboard	Full Size	Full Size
Pointer	Trackpad (supports two finger scroll)	Trackpad (supports two finger scroll)
Memory card reader
Modem	Available separately	Available separately
Network	10/100/1000	10/100/1000
Wireless	802.11a/b/g/n	802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth	2.0+EDR	2.0+EDR
Other wireless
Webcam	Built-in webcam	Built-in webcam
Remote Controller	Available separately	Available separately
Power Supply/Charger	Yes	Yes
Dimensions	27.5mm (H) x 325mm (W) x 227mm (D)	27.5mm (H) x 325mm (W) x 227mm (D)
Weight	2.27kg	2.27kg
Warranty	1 Year, International	1 Year, International

Compared to Macbook Pro:

Name	Apple Macbook 2.4GHz	Apple Macbook Pro 2.5GHz 15-inch
Thumbnail
Form Factor	Normal	Normal
Operating System	Apple Mac OS X Leopard	Apple Mac OS X Leopard
Display	13.3-inch Glossy TFT display, 1280 by 800 resolution	15.4-inch Glossy/Matte TFT display, 1440 by 900 resolution
Processor	Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz (3MB L2 cache shared, 800MHz bus)	Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5GHz (6MB L2 cache shared, 800MHz bus)
Memory	2GB (2x 1GB) DDR2	2GB (2x 1GB) DDR2
Hard drive	160GB 5400-rpm SATA	250GB 5400-rpm SATA
Graphics	Intel GMA X3100 (144MB shared memory)	Nvidia Geforce 8600M (512MB dedicated memory)
USB	2x USB2	2x USB2
Firewire	1x FW400	1x FW400, 1x FW800
VGA	Yes (using optional mini-DVI to VGA adapter)	Yes (using included VGA adapter)
DVI	Yes (using optional mini-DVI to DVI adapter)	Yes
HDMI
Video	Yes (using optional mini-DVI to video adapter)	Yes (using optional DVI to video adapter)
Other Input
Audio	Yes (audio line out)/Yes (audio digital out),Yes (audio line in)/Yes (audio digital in),Built-in microphone,Built-in stereo speakers	Yes (audio line out)/Yes (audio digital out),Yes (audio line in)/Yes (audio digital in),Built-in microphone,Built-in stereo speakers
Expansion
Keyboard	Full Size	Full Size (backlit)
Pointer	Trackpad (supports two finger scroll)	Trackpad (supports two finger scroll)
Memory card reader
Modem	Available separately	Available separately
Network	10/100/1000	10/100/1000
Wireless	802.11a/b/g/n	802.11a/b/g/n
Bluetooth	2.0+EDR	2.0+EDR
Other wireless
Webcam	Built-in webcam	Built-in webcam
Remote Controller	Available separately	Available separately
Power Supply/Charger	Yes	Yes
Dimensions	27.5mm (H) x 325mm (W) x 227mm (D)	25.9mm (H) x 357mm (W) x 243mm (D)
Weight	2.27kg	2.45kg
Warranty	1 Year, International	1 Year, International

Design

The new Macbook's design is unchanged from the previous model, which is no bad thing. Constructed from polycarbonate the laptop's fit and finish is excellent, its glossy finish exuding a quality seldom found in this price range. The input ports are all along one side and the optical drive on the other. The laptop's air grilles are found at the back, very smartly concealed between the body and the screen hinge, which opens smoothly thanks to a large recess for the fingers below the lid. The notebook power light and infrared sensor are prominent on the front of the body, and the integrated web camera and microphone are just above the screen.

Design - Details

Screen

The 13.3-inch glossy widescreen TFT on the Macbook is bright and clear with great horizontal viewing angles which are near 180 degrees. The vertical viewing angles are not as good however, with color quality and brightness diminishing unless sitting directly in front. It has a native resolution of 1280x800 which is good for a notebook of this price and as one would expect from a glossy panel, has vibrant colours and rich blacks. Reflections and glare are to be expected with glossy screens and the Macbook is no exception.

An example of the screen's reflectivity can be seen below. It's seldom a problem when working directly in front of the laptop, but under bright light or if looking at the screen from an angle, reflections become problematic. It would be nice if Apple could offer consumers a choice between matte or glossy screens as they do with the Macbook Pro.

Ports

The Macbook's ports are found along one side of the machine, with none to be found on the rear. Most notebooks have ports on the back so this is a god-send for those used to picking their notebook up from the front and finding that they've bent a connected USB drive or connector plugged in the back. Alongside the Magsafe power connector, there is an Ethernet port offering gigabit speeds, a mini-DVI output port which supports DVI, VGA, S-video and composite video all from the same port. It requires the use of separate adapters, none of which come with the machine. A Firewire 400 port and two USB 2.0 ports provide connectivity for hard drives, flash drives and other external devices. It's unfortunate that there's no Firewire 800 port as well. Audio outputs and inputs are catered for as well, with optical digital in/out being offered by the same ports as well as analogue. Hats off to Apple for including this.

Keyboard

One of the most important parts of any computer is the keyboard. Whether tapping away on your latest novel, typing on your blog, or entering numbers into Excel, a bad keyboard can critically bring down a notebook which is good in every other way. The Macbook brings with it a style of keyboard differing from others on the market. Instead of keys with curved tops which start wider at the base and become narrower going up, the Macbook's keys are flat and square, similar in style to a pocket calculator. The gap around the base of the key is very narrow, which in general use helps reduce the amount of detritus which normally falls between the keys on conventional keyboards. Typing on the keyboard took a little while to get used to but after a few hours, touch typing at speed is comfortable. Unfortunately the edge of the wrist rest is sharp which is surprising considering Apple's Macbook Pro has a smooth plastic bevel around the wrist rest edge to avoid this problem.

Trackpad

Sitting almost flush with the surface of the laptop, the trackpad on the Macbook is large, accurate and a pleasure to use. Featuring two finger scrolling, the trackpad allows you to scroll web pages or zoom in and out simply by placing down two fingers instead of one, and sliding in the desired direction. There is still no second mouse button, which seems an odd omission considering the fact that Apple's operating system and nearly all Mac software utilize right-click activated contextual menus. Instead Apple offers an alternative; press Ctrl and click, or place two fingers on the trackpad and click (or tap it with two fingers instead). Surprisingly this works quite well, and is a huge welcome for those used to the hassle of Ctrl+Click.

Battery & power

The Apple MagSafe port is an innovative solution to the common problem of yanked notebook power cords. With the typical pin-type power connector most notebooks would be sent clattering to the floor, the MagSafe however uses magnets to hold the power connector in place, and releases instantly if the cord is yanked suddenly. In practice it worked very well, the MagSafe detaching anytime the power cord was yanked, with the notebook hardly budging at all. Whilst the power connector would get disconnected accidentally in day to day use, this was rare enough that it was hardly a problem. Apple have been shipping the MagSafe on all their notebooks since 2006, it would be good to see something similar on their competitors' notebooks.

The Macbook battery sits flush in the base of the laptop and has five indicator lights which show the amount of charge left. They light up when a small button is pressed, and are useful for checking the amount of charge left when the Macbook is off. Removing the battery is fairly straightforward requiring a coin to turn a lock next to the battery whereupon it springs out for removal.