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Apple MacBook
File:Overview-hero20081014. small.jpg
MacBook in aluminum, released in October 2008
DeveloperApple Inc.
TypeLaptop
Release date2006-05-16 (last updated 2008-10-14)
Base priceUSD$999/$1,299/$1,599
GBP£719/£949/£1,149
CPU2.0 / 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Web siteApple — MacBook


The MacBook is a line of Macintosh notebook computer by Apple Inc. Introduced in May 2006, it replaced the iBook G4 and 12" PowerBook series of notebooks as a part of the Apple Intel Transition. Part of the MacBook Family, the MacBook is aimed at the education and consumer markets. There have been two designs of the MacBook: the first uses a polycarbonate casing and was modeled after the iBook G4, while the second uses an aluminum casing whose tapered sides were influenced by the MacBook Air.

Polycarbonate MacBook[]

File:MacBook white.png

The standard Macbook White.

The original MacBook was released on May 16 2006, and used the Intel Core Duo processor and 945GM chipset, with Intel's GMA950 integrated graphics on a 667 MHz front-side bus. Later revisions of the MacBook moved to the Core 2 Duo processor and the GM965 chipset, with Intel's X3100 integrated graphics on an 800 MHz system bus.

While thinner than the iBook G4 that it replaced, the MacBook was wider than the 12" model due to its widescreen display. In addition, the MacBook adopted Apple's newer MagSafe power connector and replaced the iBook's mini-VGA display port with a mini-DVI display port. The iBook's discrete graphics chip was replaced with an integrated Intel GMA solution. When the aluminum MacBook was announced, the low-end white MacBook was given an optical drive update and a lower price and was kept as the MacBook White.

Industrial Design[]

While the MacBook largely followed the industrial design standard set by the PowerBook G4, the MacBook was Apple's first notebook to use features now standard in its notebooks: the glossy display, the sunken keyboard design, and the non-mechanical magnetic latch. With the late 2007 revision, the keyboard received several changes to closely mirror the one that shipped with the iMac: adding the same player-function hot-keys and removing the embedded virtual numeric keypad and the Apple logo from the command keys.[1]

Offered in white and black models, the MacBook was also the first Macintosh to be offered in more than one color since the iBook G3 (Clamshell).

User serviceability[]

The polycarbonate MacBook is different from its iBook predecessor in terms of user serviceability. Apple made it easier to disassemble compared to the iBook, which required removing many components to access anything, whereas the polycarbonate MacBook only needs the outer shell removed to access almost any interior component. Apple provides do it yourself manuals for replacing the hard drive or memory of MacBooks.[2]

Quality problems[]

Some early MacBook owners complained of discoloration that appeared on the palm rests of their white MacBooks.[3] Apple acknowledged the issue and replaced the defective part with more smudge resistant plastics.[4][5][6] There have been many customers complaining about the cracks on the polycarbonate MacBooks bottom case after weeks or months of careful use due to the poor quality of the plastic and over-tightening of the screws.[7] So far, Apple's policy towards these manufacturing defects is providing free repairs for cracks that appear on the keyboard plate, but not the bottom case.[citation needed]

Models[]

Model Early 2006[1]1 Late 2006[2] Mid 2007[3] Late 2007[4] Early 2008[5] White [6]
Release date
May 16, 2006 November 8, 2006 May 15, 2007 November 1, 2007 February 26, 2008 October 14, 2008
Display 13.3-inch (viewable) glossy widescreen; 1280 x 800 pixel resolution
Graphics Intel GMA 950 graphics processor using 64 MB (64 MiB) of DDR2 SDRAM shared by main memory (up to 224 MB in Windows through Boot Camp).[8] Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor using 144 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared by main memory
Processor 1.83 GHz or 2.0 GHz
Intel Core Duo (T2400/T2500)
1.83 GHz or 2.0 GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo (T5600/T7200)
2.0 GHz or 2.16 GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo (T7200/T7400)
2.0 GHz or 2.2 GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo (T7300/T7500)
2.1 GHz or 2.4 GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo (T8100/T8300)
2.1 GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo (T8100)
Hard drive
Serial ATA
5400 rpm2
60 GB or 80 GB
Optional 100 GB, 120 GB
60 GB, 80 GB or 120 GB
Optional 160 GB, 200 GB (4200 rpm)
80 GB, 120 GB or 160 GB
Optional 200 GB, 4200 rpm.
80 GB, 120 GB or 160 GB
Optional 250 GB, 5400 rpm.
120 GB, 160 GB, or 250 GB 120GB Optional 160 GB or 250 GB
Memory
Two slots for
DDR2 SDRAM
(PC2-5300)
512 MB stock (2x256)
max. 2 GB
512 MB (2x256) or 1 GB (2x512 MB)
max. 4 GB (3 GB actual)
1 GB (2x512 MB)
max. 4 GB (3 GB actual)
1 GB (2x512 MB) or 2 GB (2 x 1 GB)
max. 4 GB
1 GB (2x512 MB) or 2 GB (2 x 1 GB)
max. 4 GB
1 GB (2x512 MB)
max. 4 GB
AirPort Extreme Integrated 802.11a/b/g Integrated 802.11a/b/g and draft-n
(n disabled by default)3
Integrated 802.11a/b/g and draft-n (n enabled)
Combo drive4
Base model only
8x DVD read, 24x CD-R and 10x CD-RW recording 8x DVD read, 24x CD-R and 16x CD-RW recording n/a
Internal slot-loading SuperDrive3 8x double-layer discs reads. 4x DVD±R & RW recording. 24x CD-R and 10x CD-RW recording 2.4x DVD+R DL writes, 6x DVD±R read, 4x DVD±RW writes, 24x CD-R, and 10x CD-RW recording 4x DVD+R DL writes, 8x DVD±R read, 4x DVD±RW writes, 24x CD-R, and 10x CD-RW recording
Minimum operating system required Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.6[9] Mac OS X Tiger 10.4.8[10] Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.0[11] (introduces non-beta Boot Camp for other operating systems) Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.4
Weight 5.2 pounds / 2.36 kg 5.1 pounds / 2.31 kg 5.0 pounds / 2.27 kg
Dimensions 1.08 x 12.78 x 8.92 inches / 27.5 x 325 x 227 mm

Notes:
1Some early MacBooks had an issue with "random shutdowns". According to Apple,[12] software and firmware updates have fixed the problem.
2Hard drives noted are options available from Apple. As the hard drive is a user-replaceable part, there are custom configurations available, including the use of faster 7200 rpm drives.
3Enabling Wireless-N functionality may require an 802.11n-capable AirPort Extreme Base Station, which includes wireless-N enabler software to be installed on older MacBooks. Alternatively, the enabler software may be purchased from Apple separately.[13]
4Given optical drive speeds are the theoretical maximum possible.
5Commencing with the Early 2008 revision, the Apple Remote became an optional add-on.

Aluminum MacBook[]

During a special event held in Cupertino on October 14, 2008 as a "One More Thing", Apple announced the aluminum MacBook with a new NVIDIA chipset. The chipset brought a 1066 MHz system bus, use of DDR3 system memory, and integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics that is up to five times faster than the graphics offered on the White MacBook.[14] Changes also include an LED-based display, a new Mini DisplayPort (replacing the polycarbonate MacBook's mini-DVI port), a multi-touch glass trackpad, and the removal of FireWire. [15]

Industrial Design[]

The aluminum MacBook resembles a shrunken MacBook Pro. The aluminum MacBook is also slightly thinner than its predecessor due to its use of a unibody aluminum case with tapered edges. In addition, the keyboard of the higher-end model is backlit like that of the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

Models[]

Model Late 2008[7]
Release date
October 14, 2008
Display 13.3-inch LED backlit glossy widescreen; 1280 x 800 pixel resolution
Graphics Integrated NVIDIA GeForce 9400M with 256MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory
Processor 2.0 GHz or 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo (P7350/P8600)
Hard drive1
Serial ATA 5400 rpm
160 GB or 250 GB , optional: 320 GB; 128 GB SSD
Memory
Two slots for DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500)
2 GB (2x1 GB) max. 4 GB
AirPort Extreme Integrated 802.11a/b/g and draft-n
Internal Slot-Loading SuperDrive2 8x DVD+R DL writes, 8x DVD±R read, 4x DVD±RW writes, 24x CD-R, and 10x CD-RW recording
Minimum operating system required Mac OS X Leopard 10.5.5
Weight 4.5 pounds / 2.04 kg
Dimensions 0.95 x 12.78 x 8.94 inches / 24.1 x 325 x 227 mm

Notes:
1 Hard drives noted are options available from Apple. As the hard drive is a user-replaceable part, there are custom configurations available,
including the use of faster 7200 rpm drives.
2 Given optical drive speeds are the theoretical maximum possible.

Timeline of the MacBook family

See also: Timeline of Macintosh models
iPhoneXserve#Intel XserveMac ProMac mini#Mac mini CoreiMac (Intel-based)MacBook Pro#MacBook Pro 15.4MacBook Pro#MacBook Pro 17MacBook Pro#MacBook Pro 15.4MacBook Pro#MacBook Pro 15.4MacBook AirMacBookMacBookMacBookMacBook


See also[]

References[]

  1. The Vanishing Numeric Keypad, David Pogue, New York Times blog, 9 January 2008.
  2. Apple. "MacBook Manuals". Retrieved on 2008-10-14.
  3. Evan Blass (June 13, 2006). "White MacBooks showing premature discoloration?". Engadget.com. Retrieved on 2006-12-23.
  4. Victor Mihailescu (June 29, 2006). "Apple Acknowledges MacBook Stains As Manufacturing Defect". Softpedia. Retrieved on 2006-12-23.
  5. Rae Whitlock (July 13, 2006). "My Stained MacBook (and what Apple did about it)". not another blog.. Retrieved on 2006-12-23.
  6. "About white MacBooks' palmrest area". Apple Computer. Retrieved on 2006-12-23.
  7. {{cite web|url=http://www.appledefects.com/wiki/index.php?title=MacBook/
  8. "Mobile Intel 945 Express Chipset Family Datasheet". Intel (April 12, 2007).
  9. Apple MacBook (13-inch, 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo), CNET review, 23 May 2006
  10. Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2GHz), CNET review, 15 November 2006
  11. MacBook Developer Note, Apple, November 2007.
  12. "MacBook: Shuts down intermittently" (1 February 2007).
  13. "AirPort Extreme 802.11n Enabler for Mac". Apple, Inc.. Retrieved on 2007-04-15.
  14. Apple. "Apple MacBook Graphics". Retrieved on 2008-10-14.
  15. http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/14/apple-announces-new-aluminum-macbooks/

External links[]

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