Apple's MacBook goes Core 2 Duo, too

So, right you are again AppleInsider. Hot on the silvery heels of the Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro, comes this fancy fresh Core 2 Duo bump for the MacBook sibs. Previously maxing out with a 2GHz Core Duo proc, the 13.3-inch MacBook can now boast of a 2GHz Core 2 Duo processor under the hood. $1099 remains the entry fee, only now that buys a 1.83GHz C2D and same 512MB DDR2 SDRAM, 60GB 5400RPM SATA disk, combo optical drive, GMA950 graphics, and 802.11g WiFi -- though we wonder if they snuck in some 802.11n support as well. Optionally, a new 200GB 4200RPM SATA disk is available. Size and weight all remain the same as does the battery, apparently. The 2.33GHz C2D proc is still only available on the MacBook Pro. So besides the new processor, nothing else has really changed. Now hurry on over to the Apple Store kids for a 25 10ish percent performance bump (likely) of your very own.

[telepheedian @ Nov 8th 2006 9:13AM]

Here's to hoping that they fixed all of the problems this time, like they did with the Macbook Pro.

[rob @ Nov 8th 2006 9:24AM]

2.33 c2 is also available on the 15 inch... that's my baby at home...

[umijin @ Nov 8th 2006 9:36AM]

Well until Apple decides to make laptops 20% lighter, I'm not gonna buy any MacBricks.

I'll stick with my old & slow 12"G4.

[Thomas Ricker @ Nov 8th 2006 9:36AM]

true that Rob, I've corrected the post.

Thomas

[Reid Bode @ Nov 8th 2006 9:48AM]

If you check the tech specs, the superdrive is now 6x Dual-layer, 1 GB of RAM is now standard in the 2GHz models, the power brick is now 85W, and the black MacBook now comes with a 120GB HD.

So, actually, some things did change.

[Tony C @ Nov 8th 2006 11:27AM]

Tech specs and press release still says 60W adapter...
http://www.apple.com/macbook/specs.html
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2006/nov/08macbook.html

And MacBook screens only come in glossy now...

Supposedly (someone posted at Gizmodo) the black MacBook is only a $50 differential now, if you include the 80GB to 120GB hard drive upgrade, but I couldn't confirm that with the Apple Store being down for maintenance...

[BernieM @ Nov 8th 2006 9:48AM]

They also changed the Superdrive to write at 6x speed plus support for DL instead of the old 4x speed without DL support

[Dan @ Nov 8th 2006 9:51AM]

First, don't be ignorant. The MacBook Pro receive about a 19% speed boost. Second, the HDD in the higher end MacBooks are now 80GB and 120GB respectively. In one area of the specifications for teh new MacBook it says that it comes with a 60W MagSafe and another area says that it comes with an 85W MagSafe.

I guess We'll find out.

[Rick @ Nov 8th 2006 9:56AM]

64 bit anyone?

[nomadicalloy @ Nov 8th 2006 9:59AM]

get over mac love

[willyjsimmons @ Nov 8th 2006 10:01AM]

'10ish percent performance bump (likely)'

Must EVERY post contain the same quip?

[iBode @ Nov 8th 2006 10:03AM]

Also, some are suggesting that the MacBooks previously had Lithium-ion batteries, as opposed to the lithium-polymer that are listed now.
Can anyone confirm?

[Dan @ Nov 8th 2006 10:10AM]

Old MacBooks had lithium-polymer too.

http://support.apple.com/specs/macbook/macbook.html

[[e-mail] @ Nov 8th 2006 10:13AM]

I want a 13in laptop. However the integrated graphcs just kills it for me. I'm going to get the 15in just because apple decided to play OEM with the cheap ass graphics.

[A_Pickle @ Nov 13th 2006 3:31PM]

Aww. You know, there's a 13.3" ASUS notebook with a Geforce Go 7400 available for about the price of a MacBook... ASUS is the one that even makes the MacBook. :)

[iPodC2D @ Nov 8th 2006 10:23AM]

the apple store is down, bringin out the new hardware

[sw @ Nov 8th 2006 10:23AM]

finally! i could care less about the c2d chip - i was waiting for the RAM and HDD bump and it's here. thanks apple.

[pwfletcher @ Nov 8th 2006 10:25AM]

I guess that my D80 contest picture won't win as it was based on MacBook Pros ... the editors here sure seem to always be skewed against Apple.

I am glad that they updated the MacBook line and not the MacBook Pro line again thus making the MacBook Pro C2D that I received two days ago obsolete already ... maybe they are waiting until next week :-)

[Chris @ Nov 8th 2006 10:28AM]

Besides speed, are there any power/battery benefits to moving to C2D?

When is Apple going to support a real docking solution?

[Andrew @ Nov 8th 2006 10:29AM]

Seriously guys, resample your images.

[Brendon @ Nov 8th 2006 10:38AM]

The images are large for those of us with large monitors.

[Reuven @ Nov 8th 2006 10:34AM]

Chris -
I came across this:
http://www.bookendzdocks.com/Docking_Stations-Docking_Station_for_13_MacBook_White.html

Anyone have any experience with it?

[Aaron @ Nov 8th 2006 10:47AM]

I just ordered myself a MacBook last night, with a Core Duo processor. I heard this news and was kicking myself, so went over to the store to see if I could change my order. Turns out that Apple has been smart enough to do it for me, and it actually works out 20 euros cheaper... Joy.

[Jman @ Nov 8th 2006 10:48AM]

One thing that I think everyone is missing is that this is a 64-bit chip and the next Mac OS will take advantage of that. So look for significant improvments when that happens and Mac World is only a few months away. The Core Duo is only a 32-bit chip.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Nov 8th 2006 10:56AM]

Jman:
> One thing that I think everyone is missing is
> that this is a 64-bit chip and the next Mac OS
> will take advantage of that.

And how increased memory consumption would improve performance? Mac OS X is still 32 bits because it is faster that way.

IIRC, Apple promised to ship both 32bit and 64bit libraries allowing 32/64bit applications to live side by side w/o any effect on end-user.

[Limm @ Nov 8th 2006 11:53AM]

it was always only glossy, the option was in the macbook pro models.

[Jason @ Nov 8th 2006 4:05PM]

When will they bump up the mac mini to core 2 duo?

[Daniel Vincent @ Nov 8th 2006 11:58AM]

you people have to realize that the core 2 duos are 64 bit and leopard is going to be 64 bit. maybe they're getting these numbers on leopard?

these processor bumps are just prepping the hardware line for their new software... so yeah, it doesn't seem so great now, but just wait for january to roll around.

[mvan @ Nov 8th 2006 12:20PM]

Does the new cookbook still fry your legs, shutdown randomly, warp/crack its plastic body or go an off-white? If not then might be interested but until apple improve quality control and reduce their prices will remain in pc land, its using the same off the shelf components as the majority of other pcs with a fancy plastic body. If they were so sure of OSX then it would not be tied to expensive hardware...I await the rush of feedback but 95% of the computing buying public cannot be wrong!

[free radical @ Nov 8th 2006 3:11PM]

". . . 95% of the computing buying public cannot be wrong!"

another lemming heard from

http://tinyurl.com/yjbrf7

[rip @ Nov 8th 2006 7:38PM]

"95% of the computing buying public cannot be wrong!"

Er, a lot of people buy GM cars and shop at Wal-Mart and eat at McDonalds. Doesn't make it right. Or better.

And feel free to price out Apple vs. any major tier 1 manufacturer. Apple comps generally cost about the same. And in the case of the towers, cost less.

[ilovemacs @ Nov 8th 2006 12:34PM]

Does this mean no more leg burns when you put it on your lap if I buy this one? I switched out my battery with the battery exchange program, but the processor still burns things up (Don't get me wrong, I LOVE the processing speed, but hate the leg burns). I was told to use my MacBook Pro as a desktop to avoid this. :( I'd love to be able to sit on my couch and use a MacBook Pro -- sans the iLap!

[PDubNYC @ Nov 8th 2006 1:46PM]

download SMCFanControl. It makes a huge difference if you set the fans to around 3000, and I still cannot hear them. I'm down to around 48C on my MBP

[cire @ Nov 8th 2006 12:45PM]

Nice!!!

[Frank @ Nov 8th 2006 12:59PM]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears as though the price to upgrade the ram in the macbook has dropped significantly too. Its $157 to go from 1 gig to 2 gig, I thought it was something like $220+ before the update to C2D processors.

PS. I get all of my price info with the educational discount.

[ilovemacs @ Nov 8th 2006 3:32PM]

Thank you for that! I've gone to the Apple store and called support so often to find out if they have a fix or something. This is great advice and I'll try it! (And if it works, maybe my PC-loving husband will quit teasing me about this Apple hiccup!). Thanks again!

[Fredster @ Nov 8th 2006 3:11PM]

The MacBook looks so nice! I was thinking about getting one two weeks ago, but ended up getting an 20" iMac instead due to the low specs of the graphic-card and no C2D. I'm kinda new to Mac and mostly run XP on my, but there's just something with Mac's, it's really nice to own one! I'll wait a while and might buy the MacBook for my girlfriend sometime next spring. Would be nice if the MacBook would also come as 15" in white or black, as well as the MacBook Pro would come in 13" and in titanium color (and Pro specs of course). Apple has become very interesting....just my 2 cents:)

[Jerome @ Nov 8th 2006 3:47PM]

bugger i thought as i read this. i only bought my new macbook a couple of weeks ago, luckily thanks to the friendly apple folk on the phone theyre swopping it some time next week for me AND giving me �125 back as this is the difference in price between the c2d and mine as i got some ram and hd upgrades.

my love is restored with apple yet again :)

[Tyme @ Nov 8th 2006 3:57PM]

How'd you manage that? How long ago did you get it? What they say?

[Tyme @ Nov 8th 2006 3:54PM]

Man, I just bought my black one a month ago.....
Anyone want a month old macbook for the price of a new one?
lol

[Russ @ Nov 8th 2006 3:57PM]

I agree with a previous poster. I travel all over the world, and I travel light. I'm not buying an Apple laptop until they produce something that's truly lightweight. Until then, it's Panasonics for me.

[tucker @ Nov 8th 2006 9:26PM]

ahhhh damn. i want that standard one gig of RAM. i want the new superdrive. i want c2d. guess i'll just toss my obsolete 2GHz core duo macbook. gotta have the top 'o the line...

[doc @ Nov 9th 2006 5:48PM]

the integrated graphics just kills it for me; it's barely enough to just watch movies.
that clearly is something behind the MacBook's low price. (compared to Macbook Pro

still waiting for a 13.3-incher with decent graphics (sony has some but they are kind of expensive; comparable to MacBook Pro)

[Ryan @ Nov 11th 2006 1:11AM]

mac rule!! thats all i use. never had any problems!!

[Hal @ Nov 11th 2006 11:04AM]

For everyone bagging on this machine: at least the Macbook doesn't give your lap a 3rd degree burn like the pro does after an hour of use on the go.

[A_Pickle @ Nov 13th 2006 3:31PM]

Neither does my Dell. It actually has vents.

[nikster @ Nov 14th 2006 3:08AM]

Engadget is sending us full-size images, your browser resizes them to whatever you are seeing.

Meaning, it looks crap on windows and pretty good on Mac, because Safari uses some proper downscaling algorithm whereas Windoze doesn't. Inexplicably.

The new MBPs - ok, but it's now time to get off that super-simple product matrix and introduce a pro subnotebook and some 15" high def MacBooks. In fact, both MB and MBP lines should offer 12, 13, 15, and 17 inch versions.

On a side-note, it's also time that the MBP gets a design that can compete with the blackbook. Better battery life would be needed, too.

[Patrick @ Nov 14th 2006 1:16PM]

Dell. 17 XVGA ultra sharp. 200 GB Sata (not sure of the spindle speed) NVIDIA 7900GS video chipset. 2 GB 667MHZ dual data rate RAM. Intel's t7400 dual core two brain, and wireless. 9 Cell power core. $1350. 2 years of next day service. Enough said. In my line of work (sound design and music comp) I have had great overall reliability and customer service from Dell. Can anyone recommend a high end (24 bit / 96 or 192 sampling frequency) A/D convertor (sound card) add on? I need to upgrade from my Event technologies card.

[jennylanny @ Jan 18th 2009 8:58AM]

this is great!