Like a bat out of hell,
Apple has just shuttled a new,
unibody MacBook in the gadget world's direction. The new model -- which looks like an arctic, glossy version of the familiar 13-inch
MacBook Pro line -- will be landing in stores today (yes, today), with a familiar price tag: $999. In terms of changes, besides the new, high-test plastic casing (built in the same fashion as the aluminum MacBook Pros) the 13-incher boasts a LED-backlit display, new glass multitouch trackpad, and a built-in, "7 hour" battery. Inside the single SKU will be a 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM (upgradable to 4GB), an NVIDIA 9400M GPU, 250GB hard drive and the old standby SuperDrive. We had a chance to play around with the laptop, and it's pretty snazzy for a hunk of plastic. The surface is super slick (AKA super fingerprint friendly), though the base of the laptop utilizes a soft-touch, non-slip surface that's nice to handle. The display certainly is brighter and better looking than the previous model, though the one on the desk we saw was slightly dimmer than we would prefer -- in its defense it was sitting right next to a super bright iMac. As stated, the new model can be picked up
right this very second at stores around the globe, and we'll have a much closer look very soon -- so stay tuned! A full spec breakdown is after the break.
Update: Check out
our hands-on!
• 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;
• 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;
• 1066 MHz front-side bus;
• 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB;
• NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
• 250 GB 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);
• Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
• built-in AirPort Extreme® 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
• Gigabit Ethernet port;
• built-in iSight® video camera;
• two USB 2.0 ports;
• one audio line in/out port, supporting optical digital out and analog in/out;
• glass Multi-Touch trackpad;
• built-in, 60WHr lithium polymer battery; and
• 60 Watt MagSafe® Power Adapter.
posted Oct 20th 2009 12:02PM
I guess I don't understand how it can be "built in the same fashion as the aluminum MacBook Pros" when this is plastic (probably molded) and the MacBook Pros are aluminum (and are machined)?
It's a solid piece rather than several pieces stuck together.
Looks good. Too bad for no black.
What Uncontrol said. Goodbye cracking top cases.
it still looks like all the other macbooks and weighting in >5lbs.
no thanks.
thank god sony n dell still designing good stuffs. did i say dell? yeah, im shocked too.
Damn, nice hardware. Looks good on paper. Would love to dual boot with Win7.
Still, I can't get over $999. That's the deal killer right there, my friends.
Actually, the specs have it dipping down to 4.7 lbs.
Haha, 9400.
Only two USB ports? I usually have at least three things plugged in (HDD, mouse, iPod).
Error in the body...it says 2.6 ghz C2D when it's really 2.26 ghz
You guys released this info before it was up on the site haha. These look pretty slick, but I'll probably wait for another one or two iterations to upgrade my unibody aluminum macbook.
Me too
I might recommend these to someone over the MBP 13's though. All you're losing is the aluminum shell and the SD card slot. Although if the current unibody 13 MBPs are the same as my old unibody MacBook, they're almost indestructible, so probably would last longer.
You should also potentially gain an audio port
Omg, nah they have screwed the ports again...
Urrrr, no FW and a single audio. They only just returned them after the last blasting from the community
You also lose the backlit keyboard.
very very nice.. when will they spec the MBP though... coz this is BETTER than the 13 226 MBP..
I would pay extra for alu, but not that much extra
Well, the specs are identical now. big difference is the backlit keyboard in addition to the aluminum. I just bought a 13" MBP on Sunday (the higher end one) and while it probably wouldn't have changed my decision, I would have liked to know that this was coming...
mmm eye candy...
*drool over glossy plastic
Not that bad, now the wait is on for tablet i guess...
so now there's no firewire 400 port on anything apple makes anymore. fantastic.
Meh. You can have the one on my Thinkpad. I'm not using it.
just get a 800 to 400 adaptor. They're cheap.
This looks better than the unibody Macbook Pros in my opinion, I like the one color scheme.
so in other words this has very similar specs as the 13 inch MPB, but is cheaper?
if thats the case i should of waited a month to get this new plastic "macbook" (Pro)
and boo that built-in battery.
Yeah, I just got my mom the “old” macbook this month. Oh well, its not like she’ll know the difference anyway. If anything the mousepad with no specific right or left click would have confused the hell out of her lol.
Also, what the heck’s with the built-in battery? Does that mean if the battery goes you need to replace the whole computer? Given how that’s the first thing to go in any of my laptops, I’m feeling glad that I got a pro before they started putting these things in.
@ snowleopard233: "Does that mean if the battery goes you need to replace the whole computer?"
No. You just hand over your MacBook (Pro) to Apple and they replace the built-in battery, for pretty much if not *the* same price a new removable battery would cost in an older MacBook.
Phew. Well that’s good. They should probably clarify that a bit, especially considering how many laptop owners have issues with replacing and removing internal components. “Built-in” makes it sound as difficult to remove as a fan or keyboard.
wowwwwwwww... this is what I waited for? I'm pretty dissapointed with this.. how do you even call that an update?
the bottom part of the case is actually pretty cool.. i'll have to hold my opinions until I see some more info
well.. overall, it's pretty underwhelming. and still no matte display on the 13" mbp.. I'm done with apple, I guess I''ll stick with my original windows 7 plan
they completely reworked the case and changed some internals... how is that not an update? they're not calling it a new line of laptops or anything.
the case is the exact same thickness.. still has a huge bezel around the display.. it's glossier than ever.. the bottom of the case looks better than the whole machine.. it's just a shame that I'll never see the bottom since it faces down.. and it's the same price because well, who wouldn't pay $1000 for all those features
I got the Macbook when it first came out in 2006 instead of a Macbook pro.
I regret it because the plastic casing sucks and it's prone to over-heating. I'll never get another plastic computer.
Though I'm sure this model will be very popular.
Apparently you haven't been paying much attention. The MBP's are not immune to the reports of overheating either.
Yeah, my wife's 2007 MacBook doesn't overheat, but my 15" MacBook Pro of the same vintage used to get molten hot. That's improved dramatically since I installed Snow Leopard - I guess it's smarter about how it uses the graphics card or hard drive or whatever the burning component is on the left hand side.
As a mechanical engineer I don't really understand the whole "unibody" hype.
Have you ever held one?
A unibody or as we call them in engineering a monocoque ? Yes
As a side note my Thinkpad is make of carbon fiber and magnesium. Both having higher stiffness to weight ratios than aluminum.
Just that... a hype. There is not so much advantages from the mechanical stand point, but it makes devices look sleeker. I assume they are using a very strong polycarbonate because if not we will soon see people complaining about cracking macbooks all around.
A thinkpad is essentially the complete opposite of a macbook.
Practical, well built, sturdy, very reliable, well specced and fairly priced.
But style wise its... an aquired taste to say the least.
"Practical, well built, sturdy, very reliable, well specced and fairly priced."
In what universe is the unibody MacBook not practical, well-built, sturdy, very reliable (aren't those last three all the same thing)?
Paul, how did you get carbon fiber on your Thinkpad? Mine (T400) is made of plastic.
I don't get unibody either. There is no benefit in build quality, it just makes it a pain in the ass to fix your own computer, not like macbooks weren't good enough at that already.
This is how Apple takes a bad aspect and spins it as a perk.
"Removable batteries are bad." ?!?!?!
Better build quality? I've always found the Apple laptops to be sturdier than most of the competition. My 12" iBook simply didn't flex when you picked it up from one corner. The unibody aluminum laptops are even sturdier.
Unibody construction makes it feel a hell of a lot more solid and sturdy, at least to me. Try comparing the non-uni MBP to the new one and tell me you can't tell a difference in the feel. The new ones have no give to them at all.
The X300, X301, and T400s have carbon fiber reinforced plastic in the roll cage (mainly in the screen structure).
A monocoque can be extremely rigid, but simply being a monocoque doesn't mean it is more rigid than a non-monocoque structure. How you gain stiffness isn't that important to a consumer. It would make more sense for Apple to advertise the torsional rigidity of the chassis or at least give a percentage increase over the previous generation chassis.
"It would make more sense for Apple to advertise the torsional rigidity of the chassis..."
Lol, you should thank Vishnu you're an engineer and not in marketing...
Reminds me of that dodgy Samsung N310 netbook thats meant to be designed by an artist or something but looks more like a child's my first notebook.
So the only difference is that this uses polycarbonate and MBP uses aluminum? -.-
I never understood "all white" as the color of any electronic. My boogers and nose hair hair show way to easily!
the white is to cover up the other fluids that mac fanboys get on their equipment after touching it.
Calling them Mac fanboys show that you are an opposing fanboy and thus making unfunny, snide, disgusting remarks show that you are an arrogant human. Seeing that your mind is so sick in saying that something white, is white to hide Semen, why don't you go ejaculate into an albatross. Prefferably the white species (Seeing you are so obsessed with white)
@paddyireland: So are you saying your impotent?
@paddyireland
I bet your one of those dudes that has to stop when they walk past a mirror or reflective surface to enjoy how much better you think you are compared to everyone else. Get a life man, it was a joke.
I love how neither person who responded to paddyireland knew the difference between "your" or "you're."
No SD slot?
You're right! I just noticed that. Any laptop that does not include an SD slot by now is already on the road to fail.
Well so much for my hopes of even a slight price drop.
Now, I confess, I'm an Apple hater, I've always been but I love good deals and this is one very good deal. Right on the price/performance/quality sweat spot.
Good Job Jobs...
'sweat spot' ? Ewwwe!
God, who cares? Apple is so terrible, this is more overpriced crap that NO ONE will buy
If they dropped the price to about $700, it would be reasonable. But come on, $1,000 for a 13inch laptop with 2.26 C2D and 2gb of RAM? A little ludicrous.
I think the additional $300 is for the software (well, Macs do come with useful productivity tools out of the box) and the typical Apple premium.
Battery Life + Productivity software+ LED display + thin (when compared to another $700 laptop) + good keyboard and trackpad = $200
See, when you break it down there is not so much of a crazy cost gap. Bottom line, if you like the macbook, GET IT.
(BTW I am a PC user...)
keyboard/trackpad is arguable, OpenOffice is free, and other 13" laptops have equal battery life and are nearly as thin.
what 13" laptop has the battery life of a macbook without having an extended sticking out of its ass?
Answer:
My Acer Timeline has BETTER (removable) battery life, more expansion ports, a 14" true 16:9 display, a multi-card reader, aluminum construction (frame/lid), thinner design, an exponentially larger available software library, and cost US $300.00 less than the new MacBook 13.3.
Choice is Always Good.
@DaHarder - Your Acer also uses a much slower ULV processor. I agree that choice is good, but I don't see why every Apple post has to include a "my laptop is better than your laptop" pissing contest in the comments.
@DaHarder
The Acer timeline also has an anemic processor and graphics.
The acer is not bad but it isn't in the same league as the macbook when it comes to power. (read the text under "power" http://www.acer.com/timeline/power.html)
Also, the keyboard/ trackpad are weak on the Acer, and the productivity software is not included.
I forgot to mention in y first post that if you are a student you can buy a "student developers" membership and save 20% off of any mac. That makes the macbook even cheaper. My point stands, if you want a Mac, get one. You are not paying for trash....
That wasn't the question posed by Streetfights.
The question was, "what 13" laptop has the battery life of a macbook without having an extended sticking out of its ass?"
I provided a viable answer.
What freaking productivity software? iLife != productivity, iLife is extra "fun" crap. To get a basic text editor on a Mac, I have to pay (assuming I want to avoid the horrid failure that is the OOo Mac port).
The MS Works that comes free with every Dell is more useful.
I think a blackbook version would look really nice.
What would be the point of a black version? You wouldn't even be able to see it under all extra visible the fingerprints.
i think they should go rainbow like the ipod nano
Boo!!! No FW400 or FW800 ports!! >:(
At least Apple finally accepted that FW was never going mainstream. Now if they would only put SD slots on all their machines...
"The display certainly is brighter and better looking than the previous model, though the one on the desk we saw was slightly dimmer than we would prefer -- "
a. displays (LCD/LED) appears to always get dimmer over time--a combo between battery management (as the batt loses mem), and wear-n-tear. So the brighter and better is a misleading plug as it will look like the one sitting on the table within a couple of weeks.
"in its defense it was sitting right next to a super bright iMac"
IN IT'S DEFENSE? This whole article spews Apple fanboism. More offense than defense.
OK so i had just planned to buy the MBP 13 2.26 in a week but now theres a change in plan by seeing this because i like price,the spec and the design . The only problem now is that when will it be available in India
http://www.apple.com/in/buy/
Good hunting.
I hate aluminium.
I wish all MacBooks and iMac would be like this new MacBook. Or even better, as the new ULTRASEXY Magic Mouse.
Mac is white, not aluminium.
Mac is all about cold, sterile design.
I hope its 2.6 ghz and not 2.26 that would suck. In fact, it should be higher than 2.6ghz
I'd love an Apple laptop, but even with this latest upgrade, I simply cannot justify the cost when compared to other computer manufactures.
Another "revolutionary" update by Apple....
I'd love to buy a mac, but they are so damned expensive, even after price cuts :(
Buy it, use it for 3 years, sell for $500, apply that $500 to your next purchase... wash, rinse, repeat.
Purchase price isn't everything.
Overpriced still... I guess they dont care to ever drop the price
8 GB? Does it take 4 GB RAM per slot?
> 2GB (two 1GB SO-DIMMs) of 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 4GB
Why wouldn't it be able to take 4GB per slot?
(It's expensive RAM, though.)
Is it 8GB of ram, becase the Apple site shows only 4 GB of Ram??
I take it back, I must be blind or the changed the posting. It does who 4GB now.
Handsome design, Yes, but...
Those specs are simply abysmal for a $1k laptop:
2gb Ram ?
250 gb Hard drive ?
13.3 inch (16:10 A/R) display ?
There are simply too many viable alternatives at half the price these days to get excited about this effort - IMO
Did you see the new Apple Remotes? They have changed...
When did you get a chance to play around with it? I thought there was no conference?
My guess would be that they had someone waiting at the local Apple Store, and they were put out on display at the same time the site went back up.
Why does anyone care that it's not a "user" replaceable battery? All you need is to remove like 8 screws and pull the battery out and you'll be fine. Probably won't even void the warranty. The extra life is such a benefit, yet all anyone does is complain that its not user replaceable.
NIce computers though. Still happy with my first gen unibody macbook. Would love that new magic mouse though.... too bad it's white and doesn't match any of Apple's design languages except the macbook.
"All you need is to remove like 8 screws" - Really?
How Convenient!
The structural rigidity gained by 'unibody' construction in no way justifies such an un-user-friendly design decision in a laptop computer.
It's a portable computer NOT an all-terrain vehicle!
I'm still puzzled by the need to replace a battery so easily. I am using a 15" Mac Book pro now and not being able to replace a 7 hour battery doesn't bother me at all - if I would need to swap the battery in a computer that has easily replaceable batteries I still have to have AC power available or shut down to swap batteries.
What I am getting at is since they do not need to add a shell and latches they can use the space that would have gone to those for a larger battery.
The multi-touch pad is an awesome add to this - I was surprised at how quickly I picked it up and loathe old school touch pads now. One finger clicks for left click, two finger clicks for right-clicks. Two fingers together slid around scolls windows without have to click and hold anything - I'm surprised someone didn't come up with these before Apple.