A deeper look at the specifications of Apple’s new, polycarbonate MacBook

Oct 21, 2009 12:17 GMT  ·  By

The new, 13-inch, polycarbonate, white MacBook is now immediately available through the Apple online store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple authorized resellers, the company has announced in a press release. “From the durable unibody enclosure to the radiant LED-backlit display, the new MacBook is the must-see notebook of the season,” Apple says on its website. So, what could be so great about the new MacBook (which still sells for $999) that its predecessor didn’t have?

Well, Apple starts with the unibody enclosure. That’s right! Although the white Macbook has a plastic shell, Apple was somehow able to machine that as well, and turn it into a unibody case for its most popular Mac. The shell also boasts rounded edges and other aesthetic pleasantry. Currently, Apple’s polycarbonate notebook is the only Apple laptop bearing the simple “MacBook” dubbing – even the 13-inch, aluminum model originally introduced as “MacBook” is now a “MacBook Pro.”

But don’t be fooled by its name. Although the MacBook isn’t dubbed as Pro, that doesn’t mean it can’t handle popular 3D games like Spore, Call of Duty, and Sims 3, or other graphics-intensive applications. It has an even faster processor now – 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo – and 2GB of standard memory. The 250GB hard drive is more than enough for any kind of library.

Apple also mentions that its new MacBook sports the same, built-in, notebook-specific battery available with its MacBook Pro line. By equipping the MacBook with its lithium-polymer battery, the notebook is said to last up to seven hours on a single charge. Also “stolen” from the Pro line is the glass trackpad and Multi-Touch technology – now a part of the white MacBook too.

The connections and ports on MacBook – MagSafe power, Gigabit Ethernet, Mini DisplayPort, USB, and audio in/out – are all integrated on one side of the notebook, allowing users to stay neatly organized, and connecting and disconnecting their devices with ease.

Review image

The slot loading SuperDrive and ports on the new MacBook

Credits: Apple The new MacBook also continues Apple’s long-time effort of staying green, minimizing its carbon footprint, from the moment of production to how much power the computer uses in the consumer’s hands.

A complete list of the specs offered by Apple can also be found below.

MacBook (model number MC207 - Late 2009) complete specs

- 13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display; - 2.26 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; - 250 GB 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); - 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/out port, supporting optical digital out and analog in/out; - glass Multi-Touch trackpad; - built-in, 60WHr lithium polymer battery; and - 60 Watt MagSafe® Power Adapter.

Visit Apple here for more information on the new, 13-inch, white MacBook.