For everyday Web surfing and working with native applications such as iLife, the new MacBook provides more than enough muscle, though it is no gaming powerhouse. CNET Labs compared performance of the MacBook to older Apple laptops running the PowerPC processor, as well as to the 2GHz Core Duo-based MacBook Pro. Unsurprisingly, the MacBook's integrated graphics were insufficient for gaming -- it trailed far behind the MacBook Pro's discrete ATI graphics on our games test -- yet the MacBook sped ahead of the MacBook Pro on our iTunes MP3-encoding test.
Like all new Intel-based Macs, the MacBook is, for now at least, at a disadvantage when running applications that weren't designed for the new chip. The MacBook plodded behind even the previous-generation Apple laptops in our Photoshop and Sorenson Squeeze tests, which currently require the Rosetta translation software to run on Intel-based Macs. We expect this discrepancy to disappear once software publishers release more so-called universal binary apps; however, we recommend checking if your applications are or will soon be Intel compatible before buying a new Apple system. In our DVD battery drain tests, the MacBook held out for 3 hours, 48 minutes -- slightly longer than average for a laptop of its size.
Apple backs the MacBook with an industry-standard one-year warranty that covers parts and labour, but toll-free telephone support is limited to a mere 90 days -- well short of what you'll typically find on the PC side -- unless you purchase the AU$419 AppleCare Protection Plan, which extends phone support and repair coverage to three years. Similar three-year warranties for PCs typically cost around AU$300. Apple does offer online troubleshooting, and its Web forums are a good resource for tips from other users and to download the product's printed manual.
(Shorter bars indicate faster performance)
(Longer bars indicate faster performance)
(Shorter bars indicate faster performance)
(Shorter bars indicate faster performance)
(Longer bars indicate better battery life)
Find out more about how we test laptops.
System configurations:
Apple iBook G4 (1.33GHz, 12-inch)
OS X 10.4.2; PowerPC G4 1.33GHz; 512MB PC2700 333MHz DDR SDRAM; ATI Mobility Radeon 9550 32MB; Fujitsu MHV2040AT 40GB 4,200rpm
Apple MacBook (2GHz Core Duo, 13-inch)
OS 10.4.6; Core Duo 2GHz; 256MB PC5300 666MHz DDR2 SDRAM; Intel GMA950 64MB; Toshiba MK6034GSX 60GB 5,400rpm
Apple MacBook Pro (2.0GHz Core Duo, 15.4-inch)
OS 10.4.6; Core Duo 2GHz; 2GB PC5300 666MHz DDR2 SDRAM; ATI Mobility Radeon x1600 256MB; Toshiba MK1032GSX 100GB 5,400rpm
Apple PowerBook G4 (1.5GHz, 12-inch)
OS X 10.4.2; PowerPC G4 1.5GHz; 512MB PC2700 333MHz DDR SDRAM; Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 64MB; Hitachi Travelstar 5K100 80GB 5,400rpm
Apple MacBook (2.0GHz, 13-inch, black)
Company: Apple
Price: AU$2,399
13%
1%
