MacBook was release as a replacement for the iBook and also for the 12-inch PoweBook, The new 13.3 inched MacBook provides a good balance between design and size.
Some Apple consumers really hoped for MacBook to be an entry level notebook,
but Apple didn't think the same way, they didn't release it with a touch screen display or neither with a touch device as people rumored the new 13-inch MacBook can now escape its designation as the lone holdover system from Apple's previous generation, thanks to an upscale makeover that keeps the cost stable at just under the $1,000 mark.
The better thing is you can get several cool features that MacBook Pro has, for a lower price, Core Duo processors, digital audio in/out, and the groovy MagSafe power adapter. Of course, the performance is not the same as a MacBook Pro, which is outfitted with discrete graphics and more memory, with the new upgraded features, design and appllications the MacBook closes gap between desktop computers.
Unibody, Apple's preferred term, is a bit of a misnomer, as the bottom panel is separate, as are the multiple parts that make up the lid and screen. This MacBook is completely quiet in terms of creaks or noise. Although the placstic hinge on this model is more fragile than the hinges on the Aluminum models, its not useless. Rather than a LCD latch mechanism all MacBooks use a magnetic latch. This model has the white plastic polycarbonate we have known and loved through the years. Just like its earlier versions (I can say I owned three versions) they are very durable.
There are small gaps where panels come together, and the battery still sticks out a wee bit. Controlling tolerances with plastic construction is harder than when using metal.Apple builds the MacBook from a single chunk of polycarbonate - the same rigid material you might know from Nalgene bottles, CDs, and even bulletproof windows. It's tough, and the MacBook shows it. From the sculpted edges to the very center, which can typically feel a little soggy on poor quality laptops, the MacBook feels, well, bulletproof. The same solidification that happened on the MacBook Pro carries right over to plastic version, and we love it just the same.
LED backlit screen system is used on the 13.3 inch display (it is a standard feature of Apple products recently), LED backlit displays are known for their low power consumption rates and quality. Still, they are not the same as more expensive Pro models, you need to pay more money to get a better display. Also MacBook lack a backlit keyboard and an SD card slot and we would like to see a change on screen aspect rate towards to 16:9 as they are becoming the standard. For watching films or working with two windows the MacBook's 13.3 inch display provide the perfect size, still its small enough to allow you to put and airplane table on your lap.
It's also incredibly bright (an above average 230cd/m² on our Minolta luminance meter), also the 1.280x800 display resolution provide the perfect screen detail for this size of display. In a first for an Apple laptop, the MacBook offers a glossy screen for starker contrast and more intense color, keep in mind to be careful of bright places, gloosy coating causes glare.
We're not typically fans of Chiclet-style keyboards, which always seem to lack the satisfying click of traditional models, still nobody can resist Apple's quality.
FireWire fans should note that the port has finally left the building. We would have thought this would be a good opportunity to add the same SD card slot found on the Pro 13-inch, but it was not to be.
When we look at Apple MacBook's performance, it's not bad but the point is there are faster laptops with just about the same cost. None of them have what are the MacBook's best features; OS X and iLife.
When our video playback charge drain test is applied, the Apple MacBook kept going on for 5 big hours plus 42 minutes. Toshiba's Satellite T135-S1310, however, showed the advantage of using an Intel ULV processor, going for an additional 30 minutes to pass 6 hours of total running time.
