Macbook laptops

Macbook laptops

Apple currently has two laptop lines: MacBook (starting at *est. $1,100) and MacBook Pro (starting at *est. $2,000) . Both lines were revised last summer, but Apple is continuing the old product names. The MacBook line was revised again in late 2007, so both lines now include Santa Rosa technology.

Apple laptops now use Intel chips, just like PCs; Intel’s newest laptop chips and technology are called Santa Rosa by the media, but marketed as Centrino Duo by Intel and the laptop manufacturers. The business version is called Centrino Pro. The new chips are faster and can have more on-board cache, and they can conserve power. A feature called Intel Turbo Memory enables 512 MB or 1 GB of flash memory, which should speed booting, opening programs and saving documents. The chipset can accommodate up to 4 GB of RAM. For more information on the actual laptop chips, we list some useful guides in the "Best Research" section.

The MacBook Pro -- which is Apple's power-laptop line -- has three base configurations (starting at *est. $2,000, $2,500 and $2,800). The two least expensive MacBook Pro laptops have 15.4-inch widescreen displays; the top model has a 17-inch widescreen display. CPU choices are 2.2 or 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors. The graphics card has 128 or 256 MB of video RAM. All models have an 8X SuperDrive DVD burner and FireWire 400 and 800 ports. All have integrated iSight webcams. The displays in the 15-inch models are backlit with LEDs. Apple offers a choice of regular or glossy displays with all MacBook Pros.

The MacBook Pro wows reviewers. Laptop magazine, PC Magazine, CNet.com and NotebookReview.com honor it as an Editor’s Choice. Macworld, TrustedReviews.com and Ars Technica give it high ratings. Ars Technica has the best review of the MacBook Pro laptops. Reviewer Eric Bangeman extensively compares the newest models with their predecessors. Apple takes advantage of the Santa Rosa technology to include an 800 MHz front-side bus on all models and offer up to 4 GB of RAM. The video card has been upgraded, and Bangeman says the battery will last 15 minutes longer (Apple claims 30 to 60 minutes).

Yet, Bangeman and Macworld’s Henry Norr agree that the biggest improvement in the 15.4-inch models is a backlit LED display. That’s not available on the 17-inch model, but the resolution is higher than the previous generation’s screens. According to Nicholas Franklin’s NotebookReview.com review, "LED back-lighting is touted to provide a more evenly lit screen with sharper images and colors without sacrificing battery life. All these I find to be true." The biggest disadvantage he found is that the MacBook Pro runs a little hot. As the only criticism in a rave review, Computer Shopper confirms the potential for overheating.

Experts say the MacBook Pro laptops are the best Apple laptops for gamers and graphic artists, with the most robust video performance. They also have the best options for upgrading specs, since you can option them with up to 4 GB of RAM (though loading them up with options adds dramatically to price). Few reviewers offer guidance in deciding which MacBook Pro is best. PC Magazine's Cheng believes either 15-inch model is a better value than the 17-inch MacBook Pro. Macworld's Norr believes the cheaper 15-inch model offers more for the dollar than paying an extra $500 for the middle model. Ars Technica's Bangeman appears to lean toward the 17-inch MacBook Pro. All three models have a scrolling touchpad, which allows you to scroll through documents and web pages by sliding a finger on the touchpad. All have a backlit keyboard, integrated Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a dual-link DVI connector (which allows you to connect to external monitors) and an ExpressCard/34 expansion slot. Apple’s full multimedia software bundle is included. However, there are only two USB ports, which reviewers such as Franklin and Cheng agree is inadequate. The 15-inch models weigh 5.4 pounds, versus the 17-inch model’s 6.8 pounds.

The MacBook laptops are less expensive than the MacBook Pro models, yet reviewers also have little to say about choosing between a MacBook and a MacBook Pro. MacLife’s Jennifer Berger pinpoints the best value by saying, "If you can afford to spend an extra $500 to $900, you might seriously consider taking a step up to the MacBook Pro. For that money, you get a bigger, LED-backlit screen in your choice of glossy or matte finish, a less smudgy outer case, dedicated VRAM, twice the RAM, a backlit keyboard and an ExpressCard/34 slot. That’s a lot more Mac for the money." Ars Technica’s Jonathan Gitlin leans in the other direction. He says, "The MacBooks make a lot of sense. Their performance is closer than ever to the Pro laptops, and with the exception of the black shell and larger hard drive, the middle range MacBook is identical to the range-topper." The most obvious difference is that the MacBook laptops are much smaller, with 13.3-inch displays compared to 15.4- and 17-inch screens in the MacBook Pro series.

Three MacBook laptops are available. All have a 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display and weigh 5.1 pounds. Although the new MacBook Air is even lighter, the MacBook laptops are small enough and light enough to be considered ultra-portables. Few PC laptops weigh as little.

The 2.0 GHz 13-inch white MacBook (starting at *est. $1,100) is the entry-level model. The middle model, the 2.2 GHz 13-inch white MacBook (starting at *est. $1,300) is faster, has a bigger hard drive (120 GB versus 80 GB) and has a DVD burner instead of a CD burner/DVD player. The top MacBook, the 2.2 GHz 13-inch black MacBook (starting at *est. $1,500) , is still $500 cheaper than the MacBook Pro, but the extra $200 only gets you another 40 GB of storage and a black case. All models have Intel Core 2 Duo processors, 5,400 RPM SATA hard drives, 1 GB of shared RAM with integrated video, gigabit Ethernet, wireless networking, Bluetooth 2.0, speakers, a microphone, a webcam, two USB ports, a remote control and entertainment software.

These features indicate that the MacBook is more oriented to entertainment than business. The MacBook doesn't include a modem, so if you're a dial-up user, you'll have to buy a USB modem if you don't already have one. The display is smaller than what you'll find on comparably priced PCs, yet reviewers think the MacBook is reasonably priced. The AppleCare Protection Plan, which extends your free tech support warranty beyond 90 days, costs an additional $250.

Laptop magazine, MacLife and Macworld rate the Apple MacBook laptops highly. Integrated graphics is the major disadvantage, but their small size and Santa Rosa chipset allow them to conserve battery life.

MacBook Air

In NotebookReview.com’s tests, the MacBook Pro is more than twice as fast as the smaller MacBook Air. Reviewer Jerry Jackson summarizes, "While the Apple MacBook Air is an impressive design with some innovative features, the number of sacrifices that had to be made in order to create this ultra-thin notebook severely limits this laptop." He loves the appearance, but concedes, "The lack of ports, low-capacity slow hard drive, and slow overall performance make the MacBook Air the weakest performing MacBook we've seen in the last few years."

Functionality is limited by the hardware, and more importantly, what it lacks. The Air has no optical drive. You can buy an external drive to load software, but the Air has a unique feature that will work as a substitute for some users. You can use a networked computer (Mac or PC) as a de facto external optical drive. This worked well for some reviewers, but others had problems.

The Air does not include a user-replaceable battery. In tests, reviewers usually got a little more than three hours use from the battery. The ultra-thin laptop literally only has three connectors. One is for an external monitor, an audio line-out can be used for headphones or speakers, and reviewers lambaste the presence of just one USB port and cite many reasons why more are needed. The MacBook Air has built-in Wi-Fi, but no Ethernet jack for wired broadband Internet or networking.

Among reviewers, Newsweek’s Steven Levy is in Snell’s camp. He details the MacBook Air’s disadvantages, but that doesn’t overcome his infatuation. The Wall Street Journal’s Walter Mossberg doesn’t express a personal conclusion, but lists all the common laptop uses for which the Air is unsuitable. He infers that it’s a great choice for anyone whose needs are very basic.

PC Magazine and CNet.com attempt to compare the MacBook Air to PC alternatives. PC Magazine’s Cisco Cheng says the Sony VAIO VGN-SZ791N (*est. $2,500) and the Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (starting at *est. $1,200) are better ultra-portables. CNet makes the obvious comparisons with other MacBook laptops and provides a simple chart showing what the MacBook Air offers relative to typical ultra-portables. The missing attractions are four USB ports (instead of one), a PC card or Express card slot, a modem, an Ethernet connector and a DVD burner.

In the Computerworld article, "MacBook Air: Ethereal or Unrealistic?" and the Macworld article, "Stacking up the MacBook Air and a Sony VAIO," Scot Finnie and Rob Griffiths, respectively, fantasize about what they would like an ultra-portable Macintosh laptop to be. Periodicals, enthusiast websites and bloggers are already speculating that a product like that is coming. Enthusiasts are a step or two ahead of Apple.

Riyad Emeran of TrustedReviews.com summarizes reviewer opinion: "I absolutely loved the Sony VAIO X505VP back in 2004, but if Sony was still pushing that product today, it would have a tough time standing up to the competition. You see the X505VP was a design statement and a technology showcase at the time, whereas as the MacBook Air is simply a design statement."

 ... Continued (iMac, Mac Pro & Mac mini)