First look: Apple's redesigned 13-inch unibody MacBook

[AppleInsider]

Apple's revamped new MacBook takes everything the company learned from last year's aluminum unibody MacBook Pro redesign and applies it to make a solid, curvy, entry level notebook that carries the same $999 price tag.

With the release of its new aluminum unibody MacBooks last fall, Apple appeared to be taking its entire notebook line upscale. That was in dramatic contrast to the course being pursued by the rest of the industry, where generic PC makers were all scrambling to roll out netbooks and achieve record new lows in pricing in order to entice users to buy something, anything during the recession.

Apple replaced its 5-pound, white plastic MacBook with Intel GMA X3100 graphics with a 4.5-pound, thinner, precision-engineered new 13.3-inch aluminum model sporting NVIDIA's new 9400M graphics for slightly more (but missing FireWire). Apple continued to sell its old "white plastic MacBook" as a low end placeholder for users who wanted to spend less than a grand (or for users who wanted a small notebook with FireWire).

This year, Apple twice souped up the plastic MacBook model with 9400 graphics and a speed bump, first in January and again in May. Shortly afterward, Apple clarified things at WWDC when it rereleased its aluminum notebooks as "MacBook Pros" across the line (with FireWire), offering some significant differentiation between the 13.3" MacBook Pro and the its cheaper plastic little brother.

This month, that reshuffling began to make more sense as Apple debuted a redesigned new unibody MacBook that incorporates many of the design advancements premiered a year ago on the company's higher end models:

the thinner, lighter, more rigid construction

a new built-in battery that lasts much longer

the removal of all flaps and levers and covers (it now takes a screwdriver to open the back panel)

a new multitouch glass trackpad

new Mini DisplayPort video output (rather than mini-DVI)

combined audio input and output ports (rather than separate audio in and out jacks)
Missing from the new $999 unibody MacBook is a backlit keyboard (which all MacBook Pros now have); FireWire (new MacBook Pros all offer FireWire 800); and the SD Card reader that replaced the ExpressCard/34 slot on the 15-inch MacBook Pro and appeared on the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

Unpacking the new MacBook

The new model comes in the same familiar box. Inside, there's a MacBook Air-style MagSafe adapter with extension cord and the little packet with an introductory manual, stickers, and restoration DVDs.

The new machine doesn't look remarkably different at first glance: It still sports the super-glossy screen and recessed white keyboard that the original MacBook debuted with in 2006. The hinge design, rounded corners, lighter and thinner body, and huge new multitouch trackpad are new, as is the degree of gloss you'll notice on all sides of the new notebook. It's shiny.



A handsome backside

Viewed from the side, the new body's rounded edges are more prominent, as is its hinge design. The back is covered in a rubberized matte finish over a single cover held in place by eight Phillips screws. There's no panel for the battery or hard drive, so it's just a smooth expanse of minimalism



Round and rigid

With a closer look, the new body is revealed to be similar to the aluminum MacBook Pros, but rather than being a rounded-off rectangle of solid metal, the new MacBook has the glossy polycarbonate curves of the iPhone. The fit and finish is nearly as solid and precise as the aluminum models, but the shiny white plastic is a fingerprint and scratch magnet, more closely related to the iPhone 3GS.



It seems to be well crafted as a compromise between cost effectiveness and clean, strong lines of minimalism. It looks $200 cheaper than the similarly sized MacBook Pro, and it is.



Oh shiny

Apple's plastic notebooks have always been shiny, but the new model looks to be about as glossy from every angle as could be possible. That means after a few weeks, it will likely begin looking like a broken-in pair of comfortable jeans unless it is handled like the Hope Diamond.

No, that's no Photoshop, it's just MacBook shininess held up to the light in such a way as to allow inconspicuous spying on the neighbors' houses.



The difference of a half decade

To see the progress Apple has made on a design level over the last half decade, here's a 2005 iBook G4 up close to the new model. No clunky port framing, no huge intake gills, no exposed screws on the side, and nearly half as thick.



There's also considerably better fit and finish overall. The old iBook isn't worn out, it shipped with that warped frame around its hinge. The lid didn't come within a millimeter of the body when closed, but hovered with a big gap, held down by a clumsy mechanical catch that necessitated a big button to release it.



Our full review is coming up, so don't hesitate to post questions in the forum thread about the new MacBook that we can try to answer.

Exclusive Savings

Meanwhile, those interested in the new 13-inch unibody MacBook can pick one up from OnSale.com at a $100 savings when combining the reseller's mail-in-rebates with an additional 3% discount offered exclusively to AppleInsider readers. To take advantage of the offer, use this link to access OnSale's MacBook product page. To see the 3% discount and achieve the final price of $899.18, you must first add the MacBook to your shopping cart. The 3% discount is reflected as "Instant Discount(s)" during checkout, after the items have been placed in your shopping cart.

For similar offers on the remainder of Apple's Mac product line, please see our full-fledged Mac Price Guide.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[Ireland]

Unpacking. A handsome backside. Round and rigid. Oh shiny. The difference of a half decade. Exclusive Savings.

We are talking about a laptop right?

[manfrommars]

That is one tacky laptop.

[cmf2]

Just to give Teckstud some fuel, there is no IR receiver or firewire on this thing. Which reminds me, I haven't seen my Apple remote in a while....

[doyourownthing]

i love it

[JeffDM]

Exactly what part of the new one is nearly half as thick as the same part of the G4 counterpart? The article isn't seriously suggesting that the old iBook was 2" thick, is it? Too bad the wording was clunky. Running the numbers, the new model is 20% thinner than the old, but the previous MacBook is the same thickness as the new one.

[sheff]

But will it run Crysis?

I dunno about this one. I have a late 07 whitebook, 2.16 with 3.3GB Ram limit. I had my MacBook chip away slowly, but that was fixed by apple for free no problem. Now I think I like mine better then the new one, and here is why:
1. Firewire (400) still have it
2. Sound in
3. About as thick
4. Not as shiny/ finger print magnet.
5. Still No Backlit keyboard

Why I consider buying it:
1. 9400m
2. $999
3. Long ass battery life.

[Daniel001]

Originally Posted by manfrommars

That is one tacky laptop.

That's what I thought. Apart from losing the cracking wrist pad, this seems like a step backwards aesthetically from the previous model.

[solipsism]

For the extra $200 I’d go for the aluminium MBP which is lighter, thinner, has the IR sensor, FW800, SD card slot, battery indicator, backlit keyboard and much better display.

[dreamery]

Originally Posted by manfrommars

That is one tacky laptop.

I've never bought an entry level not matter how gorgeous and shiny it looks. It underperforms in the advertising world. Pro all the way for me.
This part of the world, the MB is around the 4K mark - taking into consideration that I earn the same dollar to dollar when working with US and local companies.

[JeffDM]

Originally Posted by cmf2

Just to give Teckstud some fuel, there is no IR receiver or firewire on this thing. Which reminds me, I haven't seen my Apple remote in a while....

I can't imagine the remote sensor being too expensive or complicated, so I wonder if it's an admission that most people don't use the thing? I'm surprised they didn't axe the little iSight thing. It always seemed like a gimmick anyways.

[Dueces]

The Engadget staff has had one for less than 20 hours I think before they reviewed it, and it looks like its been through WW3 already.

Also you can get much better prices from many university bookstore websites, than what your advertising. And no you dont need a student id to order them.

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

Exactly what part of the new one is nearly half as thick as the same part of the G4 counterpart? The article isn't seriously suggesting that the old iBook was 2" thick, is it? Too bad the wording was clunky. Running the numbers, the new model is 20% thinner than the iBook, but the previous MacBook is the same thickness as the new one.

It didn’t look half as thick in the images.

Originally Posted by Daniel001

That's what I thought. Apart from losing the cracking wrist pad, this seems like a step backwards aesthetically from the previous model.

This one does look dumpier to me, and that rubber bottom looks problematic.

[cmf2]

Originally Posted by JeffDM

I can't imagine the remote sensor being too expensive or complicated, so I wonder if it's an admission that most people don't use the thing? I'm surprised they didn't axe the little iSight thing. It always seemed like a gimmick anyways.

I have no idea why they axed the remote sensor. I did feel it was worth mentioning in the odd chance that someone was planning on buying this with the intention of using the remote. I have used my remote on many occasions when travelling and watching a movie on my MBP screen or hooked up to a TV (if the hotel room TV was modern enough to support something other than a coaxial plug). Although I don't think many MB users would have the same intentions, nonetheless, it is disappointing if you want it.

As for the iSight, I know some people use it and most PC manufacturers have followed suite and included a webcam with their laptops, but it does seem like a gimmick to me as well.

[unoxinu]

Originally Posted by manfrommars

That is one tacky laptop.

and this sums it all from the write-up:

It looks $200 cheaper than the similarly sized MacBook Pro, and it is.


well, looks like I've $1000 to spend on something else for xmas!

[MsNly]

Originally Posted by cmf2

As for the iSight, I know some people use it and most PC manufacturers have followed suite and included a webcam with their laptops, but it does seem like a gimmick to me as well.

I don't know about that. I've seen lots of people that use and I use mine some. It's a nice feature.

[PaulMJohnson]

Out of interest, how do those who have one of the current generation Macbooks find the built-in battery?

I remember when they came out there was a lot of discussion about:

1. Would the battery claims by Apple be believable (I suspected in the real world, not)?
2. Would not being able to change the battery be a problem?

Now people have been living with them in the real world for a period of time, how do you feel about the new battery technology?

[elroth]

To AI:

I really don't mind you having ads on your site (you do what you have to do), but you could at least pretend to be journalists, and separate the sales pitch from the story of the object you're "reviewing."

Are you actually going to give a fair review, if at the end you direct readers to a seller of the product, who just happens to give discounts to AI readers? And if your "review" is sponsored by a seller of the product you're "reviewing"?

If your review convinces me to buy the product (if I were that gullible), then you make money by directing me to the seller. You should just say in the headline it's an advertisement, not a review.

[PatsFan83]

Originally Posted by elroth

To AI:

I really don't mind you having ads on your site (you do what you have to do), but you could at least pretend to be journalists, and separate the sales pitch from the story of the object you're "reviewing."

Are you actually going to give a fair review, if at the end you direct readers to a seller of the product, who just happens to give discounts to AI readers? And if your "review" is sponsored by a seller of the product you're "reviewing"?

If your review convinces me to buy the product (if I were that gullible), then you make money by directing me to the seller. You should just say in the headline it's an advertisement, not a review.

There is a huge ad at the beginning of the review: "MacMall Official Sponsor of AI's Mac Review Series".

Maybe it just showed up.

[Hattig]

I think paying extra for the 13" Mac Book Pro is a no brainer.

If you can't stretch to the extra money, then you shouldn't be spending your last pennies on the MacBook either.

[raybo]

I think that the major upgrade to specs here is that the display is now the same as in the MBP.

[elroth]

Originally Posted by PatsFan83

There is a huge ad at the beginning of the review: "MacMall Official Sponsor of AI's Mac Review Series".

Maybe it just showed up.

How can you have someone who sells the product sponsor a "review" of the product? If the "reviewer" hates the product he's going to say so?

[christopher126]

Originally Posted by doyourownthing

i love it

Me too! I don't pretend to be a power user and have always liked the Apple 'White' as opposed to Dell's 'funeral' black and 'pallbearer' gray used in the corporate world.

The white was a looking a little dated when compared to the new aluminum offerings (iMac's/MBP's), which, admittedly, look quite handsome. Especially the new 27" iMac!

But, I'm glad Apple kept the white accent pieces, keyboard and Magic mouse and I think the back of the new iMac is white. (not sure though).

I just upgraded my original iPhone to a white 3Gs and will get the new iMac and MacBook soon!

[lantinian]

1. Is the screen quality better than the first Unibody Macbook screen? I have one of those and the vertical viewing angles is horrible.
2. Since the MagSafe Adaptor plug looks different, will it still work with Apple new 24 in Cinema Display?
3. Battery comparison with 13in Macbook Pro. Battery Size and life
4. WiFi reception vs 13in Macbook Pro. Is the antennae in the same place or is in in the screen?


Please mention in your review that for 200$ less than a 13in Macbook Pro you loose all those:
- Backlit Keyboard
- Display with 60% more color gamut
- SD Card Slot
- Firewire Port
- IR receiver
- Battery indicator
- Aluminium Body
- 8GB Max on memory (I suspect the Macbook has a max of 4GB RAM)
- 4 Finger Gestures on the Trackpad

[doyourownthing]

Originally Posted by christopher126

Me too! I don't pretend to be a power user and have always liked the Apple 'White' as opposed to Dell's 'funeral' black and 'pallbearer' gray used in the corporate world.

The was white was a looking a little dated when compared to the new aluminum offerings (iMac's/MBP's), which, admittedly, look quite handsome. Especially the new 27" iMac!

But, I'm glad Apple kept the white accent pieces, keyboard and Magic mouse and I think the back of the new iMac is white. (not sure though).

I just upgraded my original iPhone to a white 3Gs and will get the new iMac and MacBook soon!

sounds awesome

i already have an aluminum mbp...and getting a macbook would just be redundant..although honestly, had i known it would be this awesome, i would have waited and gotten it instead...

love the white though...the bottom reminds me of the airport extreme a little, maybe they used the same material?

[christopher126]

Originally Posted by MsNly

I don't know about that. I've seen lots of people that use and I use mine some. It's a nice feature.

Agreed. My daughter is away at school overseas and video Skype's to all her friends and family here in the US. It's a real comfort to be able to talk to her Mom and her 'Two Dad's.'

On the other hand, my daughter-in-law, who lives in Denver, has a Dell desktop. A month ago she got a camera too and setup the skype account. Spent hours trying to get sound. Found out from a friend she also needs to buy a microphone. What a nightmare PC's are! She's a pretty bright girl but the computer should should just work...out of the box! I couldn't imagine my mom messing around with a PC at all!

Keep the iSight....it's the wave of the future and Apple knows it. That's why it is even on their stand alone monitor!

[cassnate6259]

It seems as though Apple is really trying to differentiate between the standard and pro line by giving the Macbook bare-bone options in terms of I/O.

As an earlier poster touched on, my 3 year-old Macbook doesn't have quite the horsepower of this new one, but I still have essentially the same display, an audio in, firewire, and remote sensor. I just recently invested about $100 and got myself some more ram and a new battery, and I'm in good shape. I might just make my next investment one of those pretty 27" bad boys. (aka new imac)

lastly, why is EVERYTHING shiny now?? I really am starting to hate shiny. Shiny screens have bad reflections, shiny hardware gets fingerprints. I see all of this shiny mac stuff in the store and it's covered in prints and just looks kind of... well.. not new and pretty. boo to shiny.

[christopher126]

Originally Posted by MsNly

I don't know about that. I've seen lots of people that use and I use mine some. It's a nice feature.

Originally Posted by cassnate6259

It seems as though Apple is really trying to differentiate between the standard and pro line by giving the Macbook bare-bone options in terms of I/O.

As an earlier poster touched on, my 3 year-old Macbook doesn't have quite the horsepower of this new one, but I still have essentially the same display, an audio in, firewire, and remote sensor. I just recently invested about $100 and got myself some more ram and a new battery, and I'm in good shape. I might just make my next investment one of those pretty 27" bad boys. (aka new imac)

lastly, why is EVERYTHING shiny now?? I really am starting to hate shiny. Shiny screens have bad reflections, shiny hardware gets fingerprints. I see all of this shiny mac stuff in the store and it's covered in prints and just looks kind of... well.. not new and pretty. boo to shiny.

That's exactly what I did to my 3 year old macbook, too. The difference is, my daughter 'absconded' with it and went off to school!

I really miss getting all my news and shooting off 20-30 emails on it in the morning while in bed and drinking my coffee. Probably will get the new Macbook, but damn those 27" bad boys. (aka new imacs) sure are beautiful machines. It would be like having a Ferrari in your garage. Not only can you drive it, but you have the added pleasure of 'peaking your head' into the garage and just looking at it! I know, I have a Ducati (poor man's Ferrari) and do it all the time!

[applebook]

I don't understand the comparisons between the MBP and the MB.

We should be comparing the new MB to the old, and the new wins in every aspect. Also, I think it looks nicer too.

[christopher126]

Originally Posted by applebook

I don't understand the comparisons between the MBP and the MB.

We should be comparing the new MB to the old, and the new wins in every aspect. Also, I think it looks nicer too.

Well said! To me it looks like a winner!

[Quadra 610]

Originally Posted by applebook

I don't understand the comparisons between the MBP and the MB.

We should be comparing the new MB to the old, and the new wins in every aspect. Also, I think it looks nicer too.

This. The new MB looks nice and sturdy, and recalls some of the stlye of the iBook, but not all.

[Dreadkid08]

Originally Posted by Hattig

I think paying extra for the 13" Mac Book Pro is a no brainer.

If you can't stretch to the extra money, then you shouldn't be spending your last pennies on the MacBook either.

I kinda agree I was expecting a price cut which would make the macbook somewhere within the 600-800 range probably around 700 to make more of a distance in price between the macbook and the macbook pro. Was kinda upset when they didn't lower the price because I thought they would. Pricing it $699 or so would have been an incredibly smart move.

Originally Posted by applebook

I don't understand the comparisons between the MBP and the MB.

We should be comparing the new MB to the old, and the new wins in every aspect. Also, I think it looks nicer too.

its because the 13 inch MBP used to be the unibody macbook, and for an extra 200 dollars the new macbook is not really worth getting other than a fashion statement which is cool if you like it but functionality-wise I think most people think it should not be so close in cost to the 13 inch macbook pro. Not to mention it was kind of expected the price would be lowered on it taking it out of the $1000 price range

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Dreadkid08

Pricing it $699 or so would have been an incredibly smart move.

Can you explain that to me?

[Dreadkid08]

Originally Posted by solipsism

Can you explain that to me?

more sales for it of course, it'd put it more competitively priced with PC laptops I don't know how much it costs to make the laptop which is why i said somewhere in the range of 600-800 but I do think its current price is too close to the 13 inch Macbook Pro for it to even be worth it unless you're making a fashion statement. I do like the laptop very much, but I think if Apple could have cut some cash off the MBP price they could do the same for the MB

[retroneo]

Originally Posted by lantinian

Please mention in your review that for 200$ less than a 13in Macbook Pro you loose all those:

- 4 Finger Gestures on the Trackpad

The MacBook has 4 finger gestures.

It's the first gesture shown on the MacBook Multitouch video!

http://www.apple.com/macbook/features.html

Click on the video under "Multi-Touch comes to MacBook"

At the end, they go on and on about 4 finger gestures too.

[doyourownthing]

Originally Posted by Dreadkid08

more sales for it of course, it'd put it more competitively priced with PC laptops I don't know how much it costs to make the laptop which is why i said somewhere in the range of 600-800 but I do think its current price is too close to the 13 inch Macbook Pro for it to even be worth it unless you're making a fashion statement. I do like the laptop very much, but I think if Apple could have cut some cash off the MBP price they could do the same for the MB

ever heard of profit?

[solipsism]

Originally Posted by Dreadkid08

more sales for it of course, it'd put it more competitively priced with PC laptops I don't know how much it costs to make the laptop which is why i said somewhere in the range of 600-800 but I do think its current price is too close to the 13 inch Macbook Pro for it to even be worth it unless you're making a fashion statement. I do like the laptop, but I think if Apple could have cut some cash off the MBP price they could do the same for the MB

They did cut the price of the MBPs, too, perhaps even too much unless there goal is to get people to upgrade to the 13” MBP for an extra $200. Seems worth it to me.

As for a $600-800 MB with everything that is comes with, I’m not sure it would turn a profit. Apple’s gross margin this last quarter was 36.6%, but that is for everything, not Macs which suggests it would be lower than that. Plus, that isn’t net profit.

However, we do know that Apple took in a record $7.9 billion is sales and netted a quarterly profit of $1.14 billion. That is a 14.4% average net profit across the board. Dropping the price 20-40% would mean that each MB would lose profit if the iPhone’s profit is higher than the Mac’s profit and/or if Apple is having to use lower margins in their cheaper model to compete more effectively or even to bring new switchers into the “Mac” bubble. We also don’t know what these changes to the MB are costing Apple with the LED-backlight, new unibody construction with polycarb and other changes.

I can’t say for certain, but going lower than another $100 may put the MB past the profit level of other vendor notebooks which likely don’t have the the “fullest” version of Windows on it and likely have crapware installed to supplement the low profit from the HW.

[FuturePastNow]

I don't mind the loss of the firewire port (would never use it), but they could have and should have replaced it with a third USB port.

[ghstmars]

Originally Posted by solipsism

For the extra $200 I’d go for the aluminium MBP which is lighter, thinner, has the IR sensor, FW800, SD card slot, battery indicator, backlit keyboard and much better display.

or go to the refurbished store and pay the say amount for one minus the hard drive size

[teckstud]

Separated at Birth or an Apple copy job?


http://www.msimobile.com/level2_productlist.aspx?id=3

How can that be??? And contrary to what slopsism says, the original MacBook never had this marshmallow, unibody look.