No, not the MacBook Pro, the MacBook, [ http://apple.com/macbook/ ] which is the successor to the iBook. The MacBook sports a 13″ LCD display, built-in iSight camera, comes with the Apple Remote and Front Row software, and comes in at about an inch thick and 5 pounds. Not light enough to really be an ultraportable, but certainly not heavy. The MacBook ships with either a 1.83 or 2.0 Ghz Intel Core Duo processor, standard airport and bluetooth like it’s MacBook Pro big brother, and all models ship with 512MB of RAM standard. Additionally, easrly reports are that hard drive upgrades or replacements will be easy on the MacBook, further evidence that Apple is definitely widening its target audience with the new portable. Apple unveiled it as “available now,” and they weren’t kidding; the very same day people turned up with them in their homes, which is a refreshing switch from the “available to order now” that many immediately available Apple products suffered from, and hopefully it’s a long-term change for the better. For example, just moments after the announcement, this flickr photoset appeared by a gentleman named Roger, who had literally just gone out and purchased one. (thanks to the Cult of Mac blog for the photos and links)
Also as you might notice from the picture above, the MacBook comes in the standard white that iBook lovers know, but the tricked out version with the faster processor and superdrive also comes in a high-gloss black that’s absolutely stunning. According to a report from iMacazine, the same MacBook in white costs $150 dollars less, but to be honest, I’m not surprised, and I’m also not surprised that Apple fans (myself included) would consider spending the extra hundred and fifty just to get the same product in black. Yeah yeah, we’re suckers.
[ iMacazine :: New Laptop Announced: 13inch MacBook ]
Anyway, the models still come with a firewire port, which I had thought might have vanished on the MacBook, so perhaps Apple isn’t exactly committed to getting rid of firewire altogether, and with all the other standard ports that the iBook had; some folks have complained that the new display might be “too” glossy, but this is nothing that other companies like Toshiba and Sony haven’t been doing with their displays for a while now, so I don’t consider it a real problem. Either way, reviews are forthcoming, but there are plenty of pictures of the newest addition to the Apple lineup, and the last addition to Apple’s portable computer family. Better processors, heftier features; I think the MacBook will be a winner, and a very suitable replacement for the iBook. They’re retailing now starting at $1099 USD with the most expensive (the black one) at $1499 USD. Pricey yes, but since when has Apple been synonymous with “cheap?”
[ Forbes :: Apple’s MacBook Looks Promising ]
[ CNet :: Out of the box: Apple’s new Intel-based MacBook ]
[ AppleInsider :: Up Close and Personal with Apple’s MacBook (Photos) ]
Thanks for the mention and link. We linked you right back.
We sent someone down to the local Apple Store today to play with the MacBooks. Very nice! Webcam works great, new keyboard does not require change in hand position or any getting used to really. The glossy screen might take some getting used to, but for people switching from a Windows Laptop it’s what they’re used to.
Too bad your Google Ads are all the way down here. We wonder if anyone clicks them?
No problem!
I’m particularly impressed with the new keyboard and the way the keys are more like buttons on the top panel now, which is a change from Apple’s previous keyboard design. I wonder how it feels.
Not so much traffic on the Google Ads. 😉 At some point I should make them more integrated into the page, and put them in more places!