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Stylishly and intelligently designed for your on-the-go digital lifestyle, Apple's MacBook is the perfect confluence of affordability, innovation, and powerful computing. This latest iteration of the MacBook line (model MB403LL/A) gets a boost of speed from Intel's latest 45-nanometer Penryn series processors, which also helps to reduce power requirements and save on battery life. You'll enjoy quick and nimble multitasking thanks to the 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, and this MacBook also features a 160 GB hard drive and 2 GB of installed RAM (which can be upgraded to 4 GB). The 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display provides the perfect combination of pixels and portability, and the integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi LAN enables computing freedom from wires and compatibility with older 802.11b/g routers as well as the faster throughput of Apple's Airport Extreme.

Measuring 1.08 inches thin and weighing only 5.0 pounds, the MacBook cuts a slim profile on any desk (or in any backpack or briefcase).

Measuring a mere 1.08 inches thin and weighing in at only 5.0 pounds, the MacBook cuts a slim profile on any desk (or in any backpack or briefcase). A durable polycarbonate shell in white keeps it ready for the rough and tumble of everyday life. It also offers a unique keyboard design that sits flush against the bed for a sleeker, lower profile. Other standard Apple 'extras' includes a built-in iSight video camera and Apple's magnetically connected MagSafe power adapter, which safely disconnects when under strain.

It's pre-loaded with Apple's Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system, which enables easy backup of your most important data via Time Machine, a redesigned desktop that helps eliminate clutter. It also comes with the iLife '08 suite of applications--including iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, and iTunes--and the newest version of the fast-loading Safari web browser. Other hardware features include an 8x combo Superdrive (for burning dual-layer DVDs as well as CDs), built-in Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), a FireWire 400 port, DVI video output, and Intel GMA X3100 graphics processor with 144 MB of shared memory.

Apple Innovations

The magnetically connected MagSafe power adapter breaks cleanly away, without damage to either the cord or the MacBook, if you trip over the cord.

With two-finger scrolling, the trackpad becomes a fast track to wherever you want to go.

One of Apple's most celebrated innovations is the MagSafe power adapter connector with offers a magnetic connection instead of a physical one. So, if you happen to trip over a power cord, you won't send MacBook flying off a table or desk--the cord simply disconnects, without damage to either the cord or the system. As an added nicety, this means less wear on the connectors.

Cleverly integrated above your MacBook display is an iSight camera, providing easy video chat capability when using iChat. You can also snap photos in Photo Booth to send via e-mail, as well as record videos and then edit them in iMovie before uploading them to web sites.

The trackpad can tell if you've got one finger on the pedal, or two. With two, you can easily scroll around your documents or open contextual menus. When you need right-click functionality, simply open 'Keyboard and Mouse' in System Preferences and enable the secondary click preference. Opening and closing your MacBook is also a pleasure, thanks to a magnetic latch that catches without a catch. And because it's a magnet, there are no moving parts to snag, jam, or break.

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
Experience improved energy efficiency, expanded wireless connectivity, and amazing battery life with the 45nm Penryn series Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 processor, which has a 2.40 GHz processor speed, super-fast 800 MHz front-side bus (FSB), and a large 3 MB L2 cache. (An L2, or secondary, cache temporarily stores data; and a larger L2 cache can help speed up your system's performance. The FSB carries data between the CPU and RAM, and a faster front-side bus will deliver better overall performance.)

The new hafnium-infused circuitry--which reduces electrical current leakage in transistors--conserves even more energy, giving you more time away from the wall outlet. With a substantial 3 MB of shared L2 cache, data and instructions can be kept close to the two processor cores, greatly increasing performance and allowing the entire system to work more efficiently. And, because the processor cores share the L2 cache, either can use the entire amount if the other happens to be idle.

Hard Drive and Memory
The 160 GB Serial-ATA (SATA) hard drive (5400 RPM) quickens the pace with a higher speed transfer of data--akin to FireWire and USB 2.0. The 2 GB of PC5300 DDR2 RAM (two SO-DIMMs of 1024 MB) have an industry-leading 667 MHz speed, and the RAM capacity can be increased to 4 GB.

Wireless Connectivity
The built-in 802.11n wireless networking provides up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g, but it's also backward-compatible with 802.11a/b/g routers, enabling you to communicate with the a wide variety of Wi-Fi resources. It works seamlessly with the new AirPort Extreme with 802.11n. Use the built-in Bluetooth wireless technology to connect to your PDA or cell phone, synchronize addresses, or download pictures from your cell phone. You can also use a wireless headset for iChat audio chats and VoIP calls as well as quickly share files with a colleague.

Display and Graphics
Whether you're working on a Keynote presentation or watching a movie before you catch a flight, every document, video, and photo on your MacBook will look sharp on the glossy 13.3-inch widescreen display. With pixel-perfect 1280-by-800 resolution, it's great for viewing and working with media. Video is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100, which provides 144 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory. It features Intel Clear Video Technology, which delivers outstanding video playback with sharper image quality, increased clarity, and enhanced visual quality of interlaced content on progressive displays.

Video Conferencing with Built-in iSight
Artfully placed in the display bezel is an iSight camera, which enables easy video conferencing as well as allows you to snap pictures of yourself and create video podcasts. Using the iChat AV application, video conferencing is integrated into your iChat buddy list, so initiating a video conference is a breeze. iChat also lets you hold audio chats with up to 10 people and provides high-quality audio compression and full-duplex sound so conversation can flow naturally. For video podcasting, you can record a short clip using the iSight camera, then use iWeb to create a video blog entry or post your GarageBand-recorded podcast.

Other Features

• 8x slot-loading SuperDrive with the following write speeds: 8x DVD±R; 4x DVD±R DL (double layer); 4x DVD±RW; 24x CD-R; 10x CD-RW
• Mini-DVI port for video output (VGA adapter and mini-DVI to DVI adapter sold separately)
• Built-in stereo speakers and omnidirectional microphone
• Combined optical digital audio input/audio line in
• Combined optical digital audio output/headphone out
• Two USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 400 port
• Built-in full-size keyboard with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys, including 12 function keys, 4 arrow keys (inverted 'T' arrangement), and embedded numeric keypad
• Solid-state scrolling trackpad for precise cursor control; supports two-finger scrolling, tap, double-tap, and drag capabilities
• Kensington cable lock slot
• Meets ENERGY STAR requirements
• Measures 12.78 x 8.92 x 1.08 inches (WxDxH) and weighs 5 pounds

Connect to your network, a desktop monitor and all your peripherals with two USB 2.0, one FireWire, one DVI video output, and one Gigabit Ethernet.

Preloaded with Leopard, you'll enjoy enhanced productivity and a clutter-free desktop (thanks to the redesigned 3-D Dock with Stacks).

Preloaded with Leopard and iLife '08
The biggest Mac OS X upgrade ever, the Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system features over 300 new features, including:

• Time Machine, an effortless way to automatically back up everything on a Mac
• A redesigned Finder that lets users quickly browse and share files between multiple Macs
• Quick Look, a new way to instantly see files without opening an application
• Spaces, an intuitive new feature used to create groups of applications and instantly switch between them
• A brand new desktop with Stacks, a new way to easily access files from the Dock
• Major enhancements to Mail and iChat

Leopard's new desktop includes the redesigned 3-D Dock with Stacks, a new way to organize files for quick and easy access with just one click. Leopard automatically places web, e-mail and other downloads in a Downloads stack to maintain a clutter-free desktop, and you can instantly fan the contents of this and other Stacks into an elegant arc right from the Dock. The updated Finder includes Cover Flow and a new sidebar with a dramatically simplified way to search for, browse and copy content from any PC or Mac on a local network.

Time Machine lets you easily back up all of the data on your Mac, find lost files and even restore all of the software on their Mac. With just a one-click setup, Time Machine automatically keeps an up-to-date copy of everything on the Mac. In the event a file is lost, you can search back through time to find deleted files, applications, photos and other digital media and then instantly restore the file.

The MacBook also comes with the iLife '08 suite of applications that make it easy to live the digital life. Use iPhoto to share entire high-res photo albums with anyone who's got an e-mail address. Record your own songs and podcasts with GarageBand. Break into indie filmmaking with iMovie and iDVD. Then take all the stuff you made on your MacBook and share it on the web in one click with iWeb.

Included Software
Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools); iLife '08 (includes iTunes, iPhoto, iMovie, iDVD, iWeb, GarageBand); Microsoft Office 2004 for Mac Test Drive; iWork '08 (30-day trial)

What's in the Box
MacBook, 60W MagSafe Power Adapter, AC wall plug, and power cord, lithium-polymer battery, install/restore DVDs, printed and electronic documentation



Accessories:
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Accessories:

• Apple Cinema 20-inch Flat-Panel Display
• Apple Cinema 23-inch HD Flat-Panel Display
• Apple Cinema 30-inch HD Flat-Panel Display
• Apple iWork '08
• Apple Mac OS X Version 10.5.4 Leopard [5-User Family Pack]

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

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• AppleCare Protection Plan MA519LL/A for MacBook Air / MacBook
• Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac Home & Student Edition
• Apple iWork '08
• Apple Mighty Mouse Wireless Kit
• VMware Fusion
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Rating: - good college laptop
This is a good choice for a college student who likes the Mac OS X desktop. It is reasonably easy to set up and use. I downloaded and installed the Mac port of OpenOffice, Sun's open source alternative to Microsoft Office, with word processor, spreadsheet, presentation, and database tools. It installs on top of X11 which came pre-installed on the Mac. Overall responsiveness is good. Wireless sensitivity is not superb, but ok. The built-in camera and mic are a nice feature. One complaint is that the microphone does not have built-in echo cancellation. When will this obvious feature nearly everyone would find useful start to be standard equipment on laptops?

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Rating: - Dead Macbook
I purchase a macbook less than 2 years ago (end of 2006) and I have loved it since until yesterday 29 Aug 08 when it died on me. First it frozed, then I shut if off manually and now it never turns on. THe only thing I did different was that I bought a case for it yesterday to protect it from dirt and I guess it didn't like the case because now it has a gray screen with a folder with a ? mark flashing. After searching on the internet I know that my HD has gone bad and the only way to fix it is by installing a new one. I am in shock. Can't believe it. It didn't give me any warning. Now I don't know if I should replace it or never buy a mac again.

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Rating: - Careful: EndNote - Windows 08 not compatible
The computer works well, (besides the cute looks), it was a bit of a headache to work out the problem. Pages (iWorks) does not work well with reference manager software and Office 08' for Mac was not compatible with EndNote either. There is currently an upgrade from Office available to make the latest version of EnNote compatible, but you have to have both. The rest, no problem at all.

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Rating: - Our first Mac computer
This will be my daughter's college computer. Aftre orientation, she said that it was the most popular Mac model. Setting it up was easy and it connected to out home network without a hitch and recognized shared drives and printers. She loves it! Buying it on Amazon was easier than going to the store.

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Rating: - Best synergy of size, power, battery life, and durability
The MacBook is a little more expensive than similarly-configured Windows laptops. However, the tangible and intangible benefits that come with the MacBook make it worth the extra money.

The MacBook is perfectly sized for an all-purpose machine. The old 12.1" iBooks were great, but their screens were just a little too small. The MacBook's 13.1" has adequately high resolution and screen real estate for most tasks outside of publishing and heavy-duty Photoshopping or web design, and the compromise size keeps the MacBook's size below most of the 15.4" systems common in the Windows world. It's just small and light enough to be easily toted around, and just big enough for useful work.

One of the MacBook's big selling points (and one worth the Apple premium) is the fact that you're not forced to use Vista. Mac OS X "Leopard" is a far more polished and user-friendly operating system, and it's the seamless integration of OS and hardware that makes the MacBook such a joy to use. Everything just works as advertised.

The MacBook is not the first or only laptop to use Intel's Penryn CPU, but it's the only one running a highly optimized OS with excellent power management. With the stock Li-Ion battery, I never get less than four hours of runtime, with the backlight turned up three quarters of the way, and Wi-Fi enabled. When I am in writing mode, working in my word processing application, with the backlight turned down to one notch above the "off" setting (which is still plenty bright to see your stuff just fine in most lighting conditions), and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth off, battry life is over six hours, touching seven hours on occasion. There's simply no Vista laptop, even with a similar C2D Penryn CPU and comparable hardware, that can match this kind of field endurance. A laptop's purpose is mobility, and battery life is one of its most important attributes. With the MacBook, you can realistically be away from a power source all day, putting the system to sleep when you're not actively working, and you'll be able to get by on a single battery charge. With most Vista laptops, you have to haul that power brick around with you, and stay plugged in most of the time.

Speaking of sleep mode: the MacBook goes to sleep instantly when the lid is closed, and it wakes up before you have time to completely open the lid and put your fingers on the keyboard. ACPI power management on Windows is such a kludgy mess that most Vista laptops don't even wake up properly from sleep 25% of the time, and when they do, it takes them almost as much time to get back into action as a reboot would have taken. You can't even put a dollar value on the ability to just close-and-go, and being able to open your laptop again to pick up where you left off, without waiting or worrying.

Lastly, there are the many subtle design touches that make the MacBook so much fun to use. The MagSafe adapter is a genius idea--no more worn-out power plugs, or tripping over cords. The iSight camera works seamlessly with Leopard, iChat, and other A/V applications, and the PhotoBooth application really makes you want to use that camera. The keyboard improves on one of the main complaints I had with the iBook, which was flex and "mushiness". The MacBook's keyboard has individually attached keycaps mounted directly into the chassis, and the keyboard feels extremely solid as a result. There's also no room for stuff to get under the keys, and the keyboard deck is very easy to clean. The slot-loading optical drive means no more broken trays or non-closing tray latches. The overall design is pleasing in its minimalism: just a white slab with a keyboard and a power button, and no superfluous switches, latches, or protrusions. The power brick is a bricklet, the smallest power supply you'll find short of an integrated PSU, and it comes with pop-out hooks to wind up your power cord. The latch is magnetic, so the MacBook opens like a cell phone, with no mechanical latches that can break or stick.

Apple sells a blue zillion of these for a reason: they are extremely well designed laptops, mature technology that improves on the already great and proven iBook that preceded them. They're also durable, tough, easy on the eyes, and easy to upgrade, including hard drive replacement. (The iBook needed to be pulled apart almost to the last screw to replace the HD, while the MacBook HD sits under a hatch below the battery compartment, user-swappable in five minutes.)

Overall, I think the MacBook will be regarded as one of the best Apple portables of all time. There's simply nothing else on the market that offers the same synergy of size, power, battery life, durability, build quality, and ease of use.