After months of speculation and delays, it is finally here: The Apple Macbook.
The Macbook, Apple’s replacement to the iBook G4, looks to me like a big step up. In the same way that the Intel Mac Mini wipes the floor with the PowerPC version, the Macbook seems to leave that “consumer” tag behind.
I could have guessed the specifications: 1.83Ghz or 2.0 Ghz Intel Core Duo processors with 512MB RAM - so no surprises there. The 13.3″ super-shiny widescreen display (1280 x 800) is a nice touch (the old 1024 x 768 12″ screen was one of the reasons I didn’t buy an iBook).
But black? I heard about this a few months ago via macrumors.com - where there was speculation that they may go for an iPod Mini look (brushed, coloured, aluminum) or all out coloured plastic (much like the original iBooks) - but in an attempt to match the recent iPod Video/Nano facias the Macbook is also available in a nice glossy black finish.
When you see the pictures you will realise that this is no Dell job. The black really does look nice, and slightly more discrete than the white model of yesteryear (is this an attempt to get back in to the business market, a la the Powerbook G3 “Wallstreet”?). Sadly however, the white model (2.0Ghz Intel Core Duo, 512MB RAM, 60GB SATA disk) retails at $1299, where as the black model with an additional 20GB of hard drive, costs $1499. As far as I’m concerned, it’s not worth the money.
But, I suppose in an attempt to push professionals towards the more expensive Macbook Pro ($1999) they have only included a 64Mb graphics card. Smart move, I’m sure, but I’d pay another $100 for an extra bit of graphics power before buying the Macbook pro.
Of course, the Macbook comes with all the features you would expect from an Intel Mac: combo drives, built in iSight and 802.11G Airport Extreme card and that Front Row controller thing. What the hell, I’d have one.
For more information, check out www.apple.com/macbook
Tags: Apple, Mac, iPod, Macbook, MacbookPro, Intel, OSX.
