MacBook Laptops

Apple revamps its MacBook lineup

Apple has two laptop lines: MacBook (*Est. $1,000 and up) and MacBook Pro (*Est. $1,200 and up). Apple made some major changes to both of these lines in 2009. Every Apple laptop is upgraded, and the 13-inch aluminum MacBook introduced last year is moved into the Pro family. As a result, Apple has three MacBook Pro models (ranging from 13 inches to 17 inches) and one 13-inch white MacBook.

The new MacBook (*Est. $1,000 and up) -- the only Apple laptop that uses the traditional white polycarbonate shell instead of the aluminum unibody -- comes in one standard configuration for 2009. The MacBook has a 2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2 GB of memory, a 160 GB hard drive and Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics. It also sports one FireWire 400 and two USB 2.0 ports, but there are no slots for memory cards. Available upgrades include a bump to 4 GB of memory, or an increase in hard-drive capacity to 250 GB, 320 GB or 500 GB.

Though it may lack the smooth styling of the MacBook Pros, the entry-level MacBook gets high marks for value. Dan Ackerman at CNET calls it a "real bargain" and James Galbraith at Macworld says it's a "better bargain than ever." TechRadar.com gives it a perfect five-star rating.

Overall, reviewers say the MacBook offers good battery life, admirable performance and affordability. Unlike the new MacBook Pros, the MacBook uses a removable battery. The advantage with that is that the battery can be swapped out for a fully charged spare. On the other hand, battery life could be better; it is longer with the nonreplaceable batteries used by the MacBook Pro (discussed below). The white MacBook is also the only Apple laptop that has a FireWire 400 port; all of the laptops in the MacBook Pro family have FireWire 800 slots.

If you are trying to decide between the white MacBook and the new entry-level, 13-inch MacBook Pro (*Est. $1,200 and up), there are a few things to keep in mind. Not surprisingly, the MacBook Pro is faster -- for example, during PC Advisor's tests, the 13-inch MacBook Pro was 7.5 percent faster than the MacBook -- and it has faster frame rates for gaming. The 13-inch MacBook Pro also receives considerably more picks from reviewers than the white MacBook. Still, Dan Ackerman at CNET says the two laptops are pretty comparable. Like PC Advisor, CNET's tests show that the 13-inch MacBook Pro is faster overall, but the two computers have pretty similar results on Photoshop and iTunes tests. Overall, MacWorld says the biggest difference between the two notebooks is the design -- if you're on a budget, you can still get good performance with the MacBook and save $200.

MacBook Pro drops in price

Although much of the media attention at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June was devoted to the iPhone 3GS, Apple also announced major news regarding the MacBook Pro family. In a very un-Apple-like move, it slashed prices on each MacBook Pro and announced that the 13-inch aluminum MacBook would be joining the Pro lineup.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro has the same unibody aluminum design, glossy widescreen and large trackpad as the MacBook it replaces, but it boasts some internal improvements. For 2009, Apple adds a much-requested SD memory card slot, a FireWire 800 port, a full-size backlit keyboard, a brighter display and a built-in battery. The 13-inch MacBook Pro now has two standard configurations, including a 2.26 GHz model (*Est. $1,200 and up) with 2 GB of memory and a 160 GB hard drive. The other configuration is a 2.53 GHz version (*Est. $1,500 and up) with 4 GB of memory and a 250 GB hard drive. Both have Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics.

Among all of the MacBook Pros, experts overwhelmingly pick the 13-inch 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro as the best choice for most users. It wins numerous accolades, including Editors' Choice awards from CNET, PCMag.com, Laptop Magazine and ComputerShopper.com. Dan Ackerman at CNET calls the 13-inch MacBook Pro "one of the most universally useful laptops available." In PCMag.com's tests, Cisco Cheng praises the improved battery life, lower price and zippy performance. Dana Wollman at Laptop Magazine likes the speedy processing and good graphics quality, saying the 13-inch Pro offers "the best combination of performance, endurance and smart software." The more expensive 13-inch MacBook Pro (with a 2.53 GHz processor) also gets high marks, but most reviewers say that the 2.26 GHz MacBook Pro will suit most users and offers the best value. In PC Advisor's review, the 2.53 GHz 13-inch MacBook Pro was slightly faster -- 12 percent overall -- than the 2.26 GHz model in tests.

According to PC Advisor, the performance of the new 13-inch MacBook Pro nearly matches that of its older 15-inch sibling -- and it costs $500 less. However, a few downsides emerge in reviews. Laptop Magazine would like to see more hard drive space on the base model and would appreciate better sound quality from the built-in speakers. In addition, although Wollman says the 13-inch Pro can handle light gaming, hard-core gamers will want to look further up the line to the 15- or 17-inch MacBook Pros.

The 15-inch MacBook Pro comes in three standard configurations, 2.53 GHz (*Est. $1,700 and up), 2.66 GHz (*Est. $2,000 and up) and 2.8 GHz (*Est. $2,300 and up). All have 4 GB of standard memory, and the hard drive sizes are 250 GB, 320 GB and 500 GB, respectively. Although it receives fewer picks overall than the entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro, the 15-inch MacBook Pro earns its fair share of accolades. Those including an Editors' Choice award from Laptop Magazine, where Jeffrey Wilson says "you won't find a more powerful 15-inch notebook that's this easy to carry." The 2.66 GHz and 2.8 GHz MacBook Pros offer improved graphics performance over the 2.53 GHz version, thanks to the use of two graphics cards instead of one -- a Nvidia GeForce 9400M and a GeForce 9600M GT. At these configurations, Wilson finds the 15-inch Macbook Pro can handle most games but not at the highest resolutions.

If you are considering the entry-level, 15-inch MacBook Pro with a 2.53 GHz processor, it may be worthwhile to consider the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the same processing speed. James Galbraith at PC Advisor finds little difference between the 13- and 15-inch 2.53 GHz MacBook Pros. Except for a larger screen and higher price tag, the performance and speed of the two laptops are nearly identical in tests. So unless a larger display is important to you, you can stick with the 13-inch 2.53 GHz MacBook Pro and save $200.

The 17-inch MacBook Pro (*Est. $2,500 and up) comes in one standard configuration -- a 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4 GB memory and a 500 GB hard drive. It's the only MacBook that still includes an ExpressCard/34 slot; the other MacBook Pro laptops have traded that feature for SD card compatibility. Like most Apple computers, you have the option to increase the processing speed (up to 3.06 GHz), memory and hard drive for more money. Compared to the previous 17-inch MacBook Pro released in February, reviewers say Apple has made only modest changes to this laptop but has significantly upped the value. Even though the processing speed and hard drive capacity have increased, the starting price has fallen compared to the previous generation.

Dan Frakes at Macworld compares the 17-inch MacBook Pro to the previous 2.66 GHz version, finding it only slightly faster in Speedmark tests. Still, Frakes thinks the new MacBook Pro offers solid performance, and he says that the 17-inch MacBook Pro is "the fastest Mac laptop ever, at the lowest price Apple has ever charged for a top-of-the-line notebook." Digital Arts also has good things to say about the new 17-inch MacBook Pro, giving it their Best Buy designation. Macworld and Digital Arts are among the few reviewers that test the updated 2.8 GHz MacBook Pro -- most others report only on the 2.66 GHz version released in February. User reviews for the new 17-inch MacBook Pro are also highly positive. Initial reports at sites like Amazon.com indicate that consumers are very pleased with the new laptop, calling it "absolute perfection" and "the best laptop I've ever owned."

Beyond the obvious -- a larger screen -- there are some significant perks to the 17-inch MacBook Pro compared to 13- or 15-inch notebooks. For one, the 17-inch model is the only Pro laptop that offers an optional anti-glare display. Reviewers are nearly unanimous in saying that the glossy display on the MacBook Pro can be too reflective and distracting, and some users might appreciate having an anti-glare option. In addition, a single battery charge should last for eight hours of light use (Macworld gets eight hours and 20 minutes in its test), as opposed to seven hours for the rest of the MacBook Pros. You'll also get more USB ports and the aforementioned ExpressCard/34 slot. If you're looking for a desktop replacement, reviews indicate that this is the laptop to get.