As previously speculated at Appleinsider.com, Apple announced brand new Core2Duo MacBooks on November 8th, an update to its immensely popular best-selling notebook series.
In an overview, the new notebooks sport Core 2 Duo processors, in the same speed categories as the original MacBooks (1.83GHz, 2.0GHz) with the 2.0Ghz models seeing a bump in 4MB shared L2 cache from 2MB on the 1.83GHz and former models.
Other changes to the hardware include 1 gigabyte of RAM standard on both 2.0 GHz models. The White 2.0GHz series also features an 80 gigabyte 5,400rpm drive with the Black 2.0 GHz model now sporting a significantly increased 120 gigabyte 5,400rpm drive. All models can be custom configured wth up to 2 gigabytes of ram and up to a 200-gigabyte 4200rpm hard drive.
The new MacBooks retail for the sames prices as the former models, at $1,099 for the 1.83GHz White, $1299 for the 2.0GHz White, and $1499 for the 2.0GHz Black model respectively.
Additionally, the new 2.0GHz MacBooks sport 6x DL-supported super-drives, a welcomed addition to the line which had a modest 4x super-drive originally.
According to Apple’s press release, the new MacBooks “are up to 25% faster than the previous generation”.
It’s not clear whether there has been many changes ‘under the hood’ yet, as the new Core 2 Duo MacBooks are designed identically to the previous models on the exterior. Some Apple fans and would-be MacBook owners have speculated in forums already that Apple has made revisions to the internal layout of the MacBooks to avoid continuing issues with shutdowns and heat, as well as other anomalies.
The new MacBooks are available for sale immediately on Apple.com. New MacBook featuring Intel Core 2 Duo!
What about the video??? No change at all! Still 64MB shared!! Apple you really missed the boat on this one. I’ve been waiting for this revision and ready with my credit card, but with the same video chipset I’m not ready to buy one.
Guess I’ll have to save up for a MBP…hey look on the bright side, at least by then Leopard will be out :>
Well it depends on how you look at it, I guess. Compared to the iBooks & Powerbooks before them, the MacBooks enjoy better graphics performance. And with dual-channel memory, a system such as mine maxed out to 2 gigs runs pretty nicely, even in Unreal Tournament.
Apple has done this little bump to keep sales up during the Holiday season, and possibly to curtail issues associated with the 1st gen MacBooks.
Until the Santa Rosa platform, I don’t think you can expect another update to the macBooks anytime soon.
I’m with iJay, from the beginning I though that integrated graphics s**s. Even is they would carry a small 64 mb dedicated graphics I would be happy. I know what they are fast and they perform great and Apple as a company is making a great profit from this, but at least give people the option. I would pay 200$ more on any MacBook if I could select dedicated graphics on them. I’m save my money for a MBP too.
What’s really exciting to me is that when I did some estimating on what a price would be for a black Macbook with the education discount, with the upgrades of (1GB RAM & 120 GB hard drive) also added AppleCare, came out to be $1,697.
So now with the upgrade, Apple made a new estimate much easier since all the upgrading was done, but the AppleCare, and it all totaled out to be $1,582. It’s also nice that not only am I saving over a hundred dollars from before, but I get a better, faster notebook out of it.
Now should the $115 go towards the Product(Red) 8GB iPod nano, or for the extra gigabyte of RAM to make it 2 GB?
Note that the black MacBook tax has also been reduced to $50. Now that the black comes with a 120Gig drive and the white with an 80Gig, the difference to upgrade to 120 is $150 with the extra $50 being the black “tax”. Much better than before.
You’re right Jacob- A much more acceptable premium for the black finish.
I’m with iJay, from the beginning I though that integrated graphics s**s. Even is they would carry a small 64 mb dedicated graphics I would be happy. I know what they are fast and they perform great and Apple as a company is making a great profit from this, but at least give people the option. I would pay 200$ more on any MacBook if I could select dedicated graphics on them. I’m save my money for a MBP too.