Apple announces new 13-inch MacBook

[AppleInsider]

Apple on Tuesday unveiled its next-generation 13-inch MacBook, which includes a new unibody construction, more powerful NVIDIA graphics, Display Port output, a new glass touchpad with multitouch gestures, and a revised appearance nearly identical to the new MacBook Pro.

Construction

Apple detailed a new "unibody" construction method for the MacBook that improves upon the current model's plastic shell, reinforced with an internal frame. The new design is patterned after the MacBook Air released in January and is extremely similar to that of the new MacBook Pro.

The new construction provides a case that is stronger, torsionally rigid, 4.5 pounds light, and 0.95 inches thin. It features a MacBook Air-style keyboard recessed into the frame. All I/O ports are located on left side, including: MagSafe, Gigabit Ethernet, Dual USB 2.0, Mini Display Port, Analog/digital audio in and out, and a side-mounted battery indicator light.

Graphics

The new MacBook line features the powerful new NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, a revolutionary new 3D integrated graphics processor that features 16 parallel processing cores and delivers up to five times the 3D graphics performance as previous MacBook and MacBook Air designs. Apple has worked together with NVIDIA on this groundbreaking graphics processor and is the first to bring it to market in the new MacBook family.

Multitouch Glass Trackpad

The new MacBook also features a new 39 percent larger multitouch trackpad that supports additional gestures and acts as a single button. The glass surface of the trackpad promises less friction for "silky-smooth travel." The new trackpad supports virtual software buttons, as well as one- to four-fingered multitouch gestures:
two finger pinch and rotatethree finger slidesfour fingers bring up Exposé and app switching



Optical Drive, Latch, and More

The optical drive is located on right edge. It provides a DVD burner but does not support Blu-ray. Jobs said "Blu-ray is a bag of hurt. I don’t mean from the consumer point of view. It’s great to watch movies, but the licensing is so complex. We’re waiting until things settle down, and waiting until Blu-ray takes off before we burden our customers with the cost of licensing."



The new notebooks continue to supply a backlit keyboard, sudden motion sensor, stereo speakers, iSight camera, mic, and magnetic latch.

New Battery Cover and Easy Access

The new battery cover provides easy access to the hard drive bay, which supports both a standard mechanical hard drive and a new solid state drive option. Locking the system with a security cable also locks the cover on the battery and drive.



Side-mounted Battery Indicator Light

The MacBook's new side-mounted battery indicator light means users won't have to turn the machine upside down to see the status of their notebook's battery if the machine is not powered on.



MacBook Configurations

The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch aluminum MacBook will sell for $1,299 and include:
13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;2.0 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;160GB 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) optical drive;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 and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;glass Multi-Touch trackpad; and60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.
The 2.4 GHz aluminum MacBook is priced at $1,599 and includes:
13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;2.4 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;250GB 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) optical drive;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 and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard; and60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Build-to-order options for the MacBook include the ability to upgrade to 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, a 250GB 5400 rpm, 320GB 5400 rpm hard drive, a 128GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple USB Modem, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

In addition, Apple said the existing white plastic MacBook will continue to be sold for $999.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[infinitespecter]

Let me be the first to say, the real successor to the 12" Powerbook is FINALLY here!

[paulgreen]

Just bought mine from the Apple Store (at 11:05 am PST)!

[drxcm]

No Firewire

[Lorre]

These new Apple laptops do look really sexy, and after seeing the vid on Apple's site, I'm conifdent they just might be the best notebooks in the world, but this NOT IN ANY WAY what the computer market needs right now. WHY doesn't Apple introduce a cheaper model to gain market share? Do they want to go all elitist and snobby?

[xt500n]

Originally Posted by drxcm

No Firewire

yeah and what about target disk mode... :-(

[mistergreen]

How would one import video (particularly high def) without Firewire?

[infinitespecter]

Originally Posted by Lorre

These new Apple laptops do look really sexy, and after seeing the vid on Apple's site, I'm conifdent they just might be the best notebooks in the world, but this NOT IN ANY WAY what the computer market needs right now. WHY doesn't Apple introduce a cheaper model to gain market share? Do they want to go all elitist and snobby?

I'm sorry, go all elitist and snobby? They are the epitome of snobbery and have repeatedly stated that they don't want to deal with the lower end of the market. They aren't going anywhere, they're already there.

[samaster1991]

The Hell

In the US white MacBook now $999. In the UK, white Macbook has gone up $40 - and nothings changed

Put off buying MacBook few weeks ago cos I heard it might go down in price. HAHA

Was going to buy one, but now ill go for cheaper option. Dell

[NomadMac]

Originally Posted by drxcm

No Firewire

Uh, it lists FireWire 800 in the story AND an Express 34 card slot.

[Daniel001]

This would look a lot better if they did an anodized black version.

[shatpank81]

you got to be joking me, just went to order from the uk store and the macbook 13" is £949 for the nvidia/black surround version (thats about $1644) a whopping $350 dollars over what most of what you guys will pay ($1299)!
you know what apple shove it!!!
and about 2 hours ago the white macbook was £699, but now its £719????
not paying that. my current macbook currently suffers from massive/huge screen flicker (out of warranty now) and was waiting for this but like i said cant justify paying that, might end up getting the imac now or more likely now ill put leopard on a laptop!!!

[zunx]

NO Firewire on MacBook, NO PURCHASE!

[FuturePastNow]

Originally Posted by Lorre

These new Apple laptops do look really sexy, and after seeing the vid on Apple's site, I'm conifdent they just might be the best notebooks in the world, but this NOT IN ANY WAY what the computer market needs right now. WHY doesn't Apple introduce a cheaper model to gain market share? Do they want to go all elitist and snobby?

They cut the price of the old Macbook to $999. Still not a great deal, but they'll sell a lot of them.

The pricing is pretty devious, though. I wonder how many people will take the $300 bait?

[bloggerblog]

No Firewire! I bought my 12", attached two FW devices at home, and used it to edit in FCP.
Smaller screen size is for portability not less features.

[gwmac]

All my external drives are firewire, so is my $2,000 camcorder. Not to mention target disk mode. Why in the hell couldn't they add at least one firewire port or at least an expresscard slot for expansion?

What Apple giveth they always taketh away.

[xflare]

Originally Posted by samaster1991

The Hell

In the US white MacBook now $999. In the UK, white Macbook has gone up $40 - and nothings changed

Put off buying MacBook few weeks ago cos I heard it might go down in price. HAHA

Was going to buy one, but now ill go for cheaper option. Dell

It comes with a SuperDrive now. But you are having to pay the additional £20 for it.

[smartz]

What is with the pricing disparity? A whooping $350.00 difference here in the UK? I mean importation costs have never been this high before. This sounds like rip-off Britain all over again. Very sad because the credit cards out!

[Xxplosive]

2.0 vs 2.4 GHz

is the difference even noticeable ? and if it is, is it really worth the extra ?

[Frank777]

Yeah, with no Firewire the 13" MacBook is seriously hobbled.

[dr_lha]

Originally Posted by smartz

What is with the pricing disparity? A whooping $350.00 difference here in the UK?

What? The difference is actually more like $115. How are you getting that $350? I assume you're forgetting that the UK price includes 17.5% VAT and the US price does not include sales tax (which gets added on at check out).

[Feynman]

Originally Posted by drxcm

No Firewire

Yeah I really do not understand that either. Do they think making movies is now something only the pros do?

I guess iMovie will be the next to be axed.

[TenoBell]

Originally Posted by mistergreen

How would one import video (particularly high def) without Firewire?

Panasonic and JVC sell cameras with USB ports. It seems Sony is the last hold out.

High Def on these consumer cams is highly compressed with a data rate around 25Mpbs and don't come close to 400Mbps.

[minderbinder]

Originally Posted by Lorre

These new Apple laptops do look really sexy, and after seeing the vid on Apple's site, I'm conifdent they just might be the best notebooks in the world, but this NOT IN ANY WAY what the computer market needs right now. WHY doesn't Apple introduce a cheaper model to gain market share? Do they want to go all elitist and snobby?

Amen to that. The aluminum models are a nice improvement, but it's incredibly stupid for apple to put so much focus on the high end and offer basically nothing for people on a budget. They are telling a large share of the market to get lost.

[fft]

It's incredible!!! Apple just is showing its arrogant face, "Pro's buy Macbook Pro's"...
I JUST A MACBOOK WITH A FIREWIRE CONNECTION, because otherwise I can not connect my 2 FW external drives and my audio interface... but with a alluminium enclosure and gesture trackpad, is it to much to ask? just leave there the FW connection, it doesn't take to much space...

And what about the prices? do they came from mars?

Sick of this fashion thing!!!

[drxcm]

Originally Posted by NomadMac

Uh, it lists FireWire 800 in the story AND an Express 34 card slot.

Story is not correct then

[Shaun, UK]

I really can't see the point in making the MB and MBP look identical. Why not just introduce a 13" MBP instead and adopt a different styling for the MB - preferably with some colour options.

[Elixir]

that has to be the nicest macbook and macbook pro's i've ever seen.


edit: yes, there is no point in getting a macbook unless you really only use it for email, internet, and various other little things.

[SpamSandwich]

Originally Posted by shatpank81

you got to be joking me, just went to order from the uk store and the macbook 13" is £949 for the nvidia/black surround version (thats about $1644) a whopping $350 dollars over what most of what you guys will pay ($1299)!
you know what apple shove it!!!
and about 2 hours ago the white macbook was £699, but now its £719????
not paying that. my current macbook currently suffers from massive/huge screen flicker (out of warranty now) and was waiting for this but like i said cant justify paying that, might end up getting the imac now or more likely now ill put leopard on a laptop!!!

Bloody noobs.

[rtdunham]

Originally Posted by NomadMac

Uh, it lists FireWire 800 in the story AND an Express 34 card slot.

both these statement on appleinsider are incorrect, according to what i saw on the event blogs and on the Apple Store online. I think the writer must have momentarily thought he was writing about the MBP. I wish he were right though...

[gwmac]

How can Apple be so smart and so stupid at the same time?

The white Macbook doesn't even have the newer X4500 Intel graphics, it is still using the older 3100. At $899 it would be a better deal, but with $500 laptops with equal or better specs, not so much. It seems like it is just there to make you get the $1299 version. If they had just included firewire or an expresscard slot it would be a lot easier to swallow.

[AHeneen]

Originally Posted by shatpank81

you got to be joking me, just went to order from the uk store and the macbook 13" is £949 for the nvidia/black surround version (thats about $1644) a whopping $350 dollars over what most of what you guys will pay ($1299)!
you know what apple shove it!!!
and about 2 hours ago the white macbook was £699, but now its £719????
not paying that. my current macbook currently suffers from massive/huge screen flicker (out of warranty now) and was waiting for this but like i said cant justify paying that, might end up getting the imac now or more likely now ill put leopard on a laptop!!!

A $350 difference? In the US, sales tax has to be added to that. The sales tax varies from state to state (0% in 2 states, but most are around 5-8%). For me, it's 7%, so the $1299 MacBook will actually cost me $1390. UK(and other European) prices include ridiculously high (20% + taxes...called GST or VAT). I think the UK is something like 17%

$1299 x 1.07= $1389.93
£949/1.17=£811.11 and the exchange rate (from XE at 14:36) is $1.74481=£1
£811.11 x 1.74481= $1415.23
$1415.23-$1389.93=$25.30=£14.50
That is quite close!! Remember that exchange rates vary and there is probably extra costs involved in doing business with the UK.

[Thomaspin]

This will rank as Apple's greatest marketing disaster since the Newton.

The world is on the verge of a new Depression so what does Apple do? Why, introduce a line of jewelry and increase the price 30-60%.

Add the insult of dropping Firewire - meaning many current MB users will be unable to upgrade without also upgrading their external drives - and you have a study in Marketing Arrogance 101.

On 8/4/08 in AI Comments I stated I expected AAPL to drop to $100 from $150 (to the usual round of offense, of course). I was wrong. Based on a rational PE applied to falling margins make that $70 - within 6 months.

They kept the old plastic MB for a reason - someone looked at the front page of the daily paper and said Ooops! And say what you may about the wonders of Nvidia's GPUs, 2.1 gHz (old MB) is faster than 2.0 gHz (for 30% more - new MB) in most buyers' eyes. That's marketing for you. GPUs do not sell bottom of the line notebooks- price does.

Disclosure: No AAPL position.

[Mr Underhill]

Originally Posted by samaster1991

The Hell

In the US white MacBook now $999. In the UK, white Macbook has gone up $40 - and nothings changed

Put off buying MacBook few weeks ago cos I heard it might go down in price. HAHA

Was going to buy one, but now ill go for cheaper option. Dell

Enjoy it!!

[shatpank81]

Originally Posted by SpamSandwich

Bloody noobs.

why because this is my first post?
you tell me what have i said wrong?
yea i know the white macbook comes with the superdrive (shouldnt ALL computers/laptops come with dvd writers nowadays???)
other than that........oh yea the trackpad!!
but as new technology comes out older tech should get cheaper not more expensive other than the dvdwriter and trackpad its the same old macbook which will no doubt suffer from screen flicker!!!
if they think im paying more for a dvdwriter and a fancy mouse pad they are mistaken!!!
if it was still £699 then people like me would of probably get it, but because its more expensive no way pedro

[Cory Bauer]

Apple is pedaling the MacBook as just like the Pro, but smaller and $700 cheaper. But it doesn't have Firewire, or the option for a 7200RPM drive, so even with that extra graphics power the machine still isn't suitable for multimedia work. Not to mention they actually downgraded the processor. And the $999 plastic MacBook should sell for $799.


Coming from a 17" MacBook Pro, I thought a $1999 MacBook Pro with a high density display would do me well, but that's not an option. Then I thought a 13" MacBook paired to one of those new $799 Cinema Displays would be nice, but you can't put a 7200RPM drive in the MacBook (and it doesn't have firewire). Between the 5400RPM drive and the process downgrade, that's going to be a slow computer.

[amac4me]

Originally Posted by Thomaspin

This will rank as Apple's greatest marketing disaster since the Newton.

The world is on the verge of a new Depression so what does Apple do? Why, introduce a line of jewelry and increase the price 30-60%.

Add the insult of dropping Firewire - meaning many current MB users will be unable to upgrade without also upgrading their external drives - and you have a study in Marketing Arrogance 101.

On 8/4/08 in AI Comments I stated I expected AAPL to drop to $100 from $150 (to the usual round of offense, of course). I was wrong. Based on a rational PE applied to falling margins make that $70 - within 6 months.

They kept the old plastic MB for a reason - someone looked at the front page of the daily paper and said Ooops! And say what you may about the wonders of Nvidia's GPUs, 2.1 gHz (old MB) is faster than 2.0 gHz (for 30% more - new MB) in most buyers' eyes. That's marketing for you. GPUs do not sell bottom of the line notebooks- price does.

Disclosure: No AAPL position.

I'm a bit taken aback by the price points. One would think that given the economic conditions hammering the world economies that Apple would price these things a bit more competitively. Perhaps their marketing and segmentation says otherwise. Who knows! I know one thing for sure, several people I know have been holding out their purchase in anticipation for these new models but at lower price points.

[smartz]

Originally Posted by dr_lha

What? The difference is actually more like $115. How are you getting that $350? I assume you're forgetting that the UK price includes 17.5% VAT and the US price does not include sales tax (which gets added on at check out).

I accept what your saying but it doesn't add up lets take the Mac Mini for example is $599.00. In the UK its £374.00 with a difference at todays conversion of £33.00 or $58.00 and that includes VAT.

This is a $350.00 con!

[TheFatWookie]

Originally Posted by mistergreen

How would one import video (particularly high def) without Firewire?

My last video camera and my current HD video camera (Sony HD SR11) uses USB 2.0 to import to a computer. Do they make FireWire video cameras anymore? Come to think of it, They haven't used firewire to tranfer to an iPod in like 500 years I think.

[John F.]

So it's true, the $1299 and $1599 MacBooks don't have any FireWire. That is a complete rip-off at that price-point. Many older Mac users who want to trade in their Apple notebook and who have FireWire peripherals won't be able to buy a cheap Mac notebook newer style. Also new-to-Mac persons who have older or recent DV and HDV camcorders won't be able to connect them to their new MacBooks. These people will have to buy an old style white MacBook, yesteryear's design, and no sturdy case design. Yes, DV and HDV are on its way out, but we're in the middle of a transition period. Many people and schools still have DV and HDV camera's, and you can still buy HDV camera's. Most can only be connected to the Mac using FireWire. And what if you buy a new-style MacBook and you get to work with a HDV camera on loan? You're out of luck then, it seems. Apologists would say that there's nothing wrong with Apple's decision, because they have kept the white MacBook. But for how long? You can twist it any way you want, I still think it's a rip-off.