The Bottom Line
The late spring 2010 edition of the MacBook is a basic update to the MacBook product. By bringing many of the basic features of the spring 2010 MacBook Pro to the MacBook, Apple is able to offer a budget-friendly entry-level product that has many of the core features of its more expensive siblings.
The $999 starting price will appeal to many, and will no doubt make the MacBook a popular choice for first time Apple buyers, as well as those in the education market.
Pros
- Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
- NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor
- 10-hour battery life
Cons
- Only two RAM slots for expansion
- 4 GB maximum RAM
- No 7200 RPM drive options
Description
- $999 base model (2.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB hard drive)
- NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor
- 13.3-inch 1280x800 glossy display
- Two USB 2.0 ports
- Mini DisplayPort
- Built-in iSight camera and microphone
- 8x SuperDrive
- AirPort Extreme (802.11 a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1 +EDR, 10/100/1000 Gigibit Ethernet port
Guide Review - Review of the 13-inch MacBook With Intel 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo Processor
When Apple introduced the spring roundup of MacBook Pros we knew it would only be a short time before the MacBook got the same type of treatment: new processor, graphics, and long-lasting battery.
We didn't have to wait long. Apple introduced the new MacBook in late spring, with a slightly faster processor and no real surprises; by the same token, it has no real faults. The late spring 2010 MacBook is an all-around winner for anyone looking for the lowest-cost entry point to the Apple notebook lineup.
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
Apple didn't provide any surprises here, nor could it. By bumping the existing Intel Core 2 Duo from 2.26 GHz to 2.4 GHz, Apple matched the base configuration of the MacBook Pro. Some reviewers were hoping to see Apple use the Intel i3 processor here, but that was never in the cards. Apple didn't use the i3 in the low-end MacBook Pro and there was no way it would let the MacBook upstage its bigger sibling.
Graphics
Perhaps the best change in the new MacBook is the use of the NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor with 256 MB of shared DDR3 SRAM. The 320M contains 48 shader cores and supports PureVideo, an NVIDIA technology for high definition video decoding.
Battery Life
Apple took the long-lasting 10-hour runtime battery from the MacBook Pro and moved it to the 13-inch MacBook. The ability to use the MacBook for an average of 10 hours between battery charges provides new, all-day-long mobility, just the thing for the busy student, small business user, or home user.
Display
The MacBook uses an LED-backlit 13.3-inch glossy LCD display with a native resolution of 1280x800. Unlike the larger MacBook Pro models, there is no option for an alternate anti-glare display.
Storage and Memory
The MacBook supports up to 4 GB of RAM, using two SO-DIMM memory slots. The base configuration of the MacBook has a 1 GB memory module in each slot, for a total of 2 GB. To upgrade to 4 GB, you must replace the 1 GB RAM modules with 2 GB modules.
Hard drive storage is limited to a single 5400RPM drive with 250 GB, 320 GB, or 500 GB as the available options; the 250 GB drive is the default configuration. There are no options for a 7200RPM drive or an SSD (Solid State Drive).
Final Thoughts
The late spring 2010 MacBook is basically a minor update, swapping out the older NVIDIA 9400M for the much more capable NVIDIA 320M. Additionally, the MacBook gets a small nudge up in processor speed while retaining the same base price as the previous version.
The MacBook is limited to a maximum of 4 GB of RAM compared to the 8 GB max for the MacBook Pro. Unlike the MacBook Pro, the MacBook has no FireWire ports or SD card slots. Nevertheless, its performance is reasonably on par with the base model 13-inch MacBook Pro. If you don't need the extra connectivity or RAM offered in the 13-inch MacBook Pro, you can save $200 and still enjoy the benefits of owning an Apple notebook.
