Expert’s Rating
Pros
Cons
Our Verdict
Earlier this calendar month , Apple quietly updated its entry - level laptop , the MacBook . Available in just one standard conformation , the newMacBooknow sports a quicker running processor and improved graphics that provide a humble speed improvement over its predecessor .
raw to the MacBook is a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 duet , which make the home of the 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo used in the previous modelling ( ) . An Nvidia GeForce 320 m integrated graphics subsystem supercede the Nvidia GeForce 9400 m integrated computer graphic .
The only other difference of opinion of note are the addition of inertial scrolling and the Mini DisplayPort now support both audio and video recording out when using a compatible third - company arranger . These unexampled features were added to the MacBook Pro models free in April .
Longer bars are better. Blue bars in italics represent reference systems. Macworld Lab testing by James Galbraith, Chris Holt, Chris Holt, Lynn La, and Meghann Myers.
The new MacBook ’s visual aspect is identical to the mid-2009 model it replaces , using the same 13 - inch glossy screen and white credit card unibody conception . Also unchanged are the embrasure , with a Mini DisplayPort , two USB 2.0 ports , and a Gigabit Ethernet port — FireWire extend to be drop ( and missed by me ) .
Like the older system , the unexampled MacBook ship standard with 2 GB of RAM , and Apple says that 4 GB is the recommended maximum RAM configuration . In case you are question , the intact MacBook Pro line ships with 4 GB of RAM touchstone , with a maximal constellation of 8 Gi . It ’s possible to install 8 GB of RAM in a MacBook and it would belike lick just all right , but if something goes wrong , you ’d be on your own . The included warranty and AppleCare wo n’t traverse a MacBook with 8 GB of RAM .
New 2.4GHz MacBook: Speedmark scores
recollective bar are better . Blue bar in italics represent reference systems . Macworld Lab examination by James Galbraith , Chris Holt , Chris Holt , Lynn La , and Meghann Myers .
To find out how much these enhancements affect execution , we ran the new MacBook through our Speedmark 6 retinue of overall system trial run . We set up that the new MacBook , with a Speedmark 6 grade of 118 , was seven percent faster than the 2.26GHz MacBook it interchange .
By far , the biggest gain was in our 3D game tests , in which the new MacBook , with its Nvidia GeForce 320 M art , was able-bodied to exhibit 66 percent more frames per second than the senior framework with its Nvidia GeForce 9400 M artwork . The new MacBook ’s faster C.P.U. also helped it post a 10 percent faster Cinebench processor score .
The new organisation was also faster in our Photoshop and iTunes tests , but only by a few second . Interestingly , some of the gruelling drive tests ( file duplication and unzipping a 2 GB file ) were a duo of seconds quicker on the senior model .
Comparing the unexampled $ 999 MacBook to the entry - floor $ 1199 13 - inch 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro ( ) , we see identical Speedmark mark . With the same hard driving , processors , and integrate graphics , this should come as little surprise . And though the $ 1199 MacBook Pro , with 4 GB of RAM , includes twice the memory of the MacBook , our Speedmark trial ( fly the coop one at a fourth dimension ) show very little benefit from the additional RAM . I ran Speedmark on the 2.26GHz MacBook with 4 GB of RAM for our recent review of the 13 - in MacBook Pros and find only a 2 - point step-up in Speedmark scores with the additional retention . So why go Pro ? There are a couple of advantages to the MacBook Pro , namely FireWire 800 and an SD circuit card time slot .
Looking at the performance differences between the MacBook and the small - goal 15 - inch MacBook Pro ( ) , a $ 1799 manikin with 4 GB of RAM , both integrated and discreet graphics , and a 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 processor , we see a much bigger gap—24 percent overall , accord to Speedmark 6 results . The Core i5 MacBook Pro , with its Hyper - Threading and Turbo Boost technologies , was 32 percentage faster than the MacBook in the Cinebench CPU psychometric test , 45 percent faster in MathematicaMark and 34 percent faster in our Aperture trial . The 15 - in MacBook Pro ’s discreet graphics was capable to exhibit nearly twice the number of frame of reference per second as the new MacBook with only integrate graphics .
2.4GHz MacBook Pro Speedmark scores
good results inbold . mention systems initalics .
How we essay . Call of Duty sexual conquest is in frames per second ( higher is safe ) . Speedmark and MathematicaMark are carrying into action score ( higher loads are practiced ) . All others are in minutes : second ( lower is better , except for Battery Life , where high-pitched is better ) . All systems were tested with 10.6.3 and 4 GB RAM . The Photoshop Suite psychometric test is a set of 14 written task using a 50 MB file . Photoshop ’s retention was set to 70 percent and chronicle was do to Minimum . We immortalize how long it took to fork out a fit with mulitprocessors in CinemaBench . We used Compressor to encode a MOV data file to the lotion ’s H.264 for video podcast setting . We timed the import and thumbnail / preview creation sentence for 150 photos . In iMovie , we imported a television camera archive and exported it to iTunes for Mobile Devices put . We convert 90 minutes of AAC audio data file to MP3 using iTunes ’ High Quality circumstance . We unzip a 2 GB archive in the Finder . We ran WorldBench 6 multitasking trial run on a Parallels VM . We imported 150 JPEGs into iPhoto . We used HandBrake to rip a DVD chapter to the hard drive . We open up a 500 - varlet Word written document in Pages ’ 09.—Macworld Lab testing by James Galbraith , Chris Holt , Lynn La , and Meghann Myers
Battery life
With the unexampled art and some pocket-size change to the barrage fire , the novel MacBook can last longer between charging cycles . In our tests , where we loop a movie from the tough driving at full screen , full brightness with AirPort connected to our local web and the volume on ( but low ) , the MacBook was capable to scat for nearly 5 hours , or 58 minute longer than the MacBook it replaces . It survive 35 minutes longer than the 13 - column inch MacBook Pro and 22 minutes longer than the 15 - inch MacBook Pro .
notice that our barrage fire trial ( and therefore , the results ) differ significantly from those summons in Apple ’s selling materials .
Limited options
Apple offers a very limited number of optional acclivity for the MacBook . up the RAM to 4 GB from 2 GB will cost $ 100 , and swapping the 250 GB , 5400 - rev grueling parkway for a 320 GB campaign of the same amphetamine will cost $ 50 ; a 500 GB drive adds $ 150 to the cost . Faster hard drives , SSDs , or an anti - glare screen are not offered through the Apple Store .
Macworld buying advice
With its faster processor , improved artwork and longer barrage living , the MacBook makes an attractive option for budget conscious laptop computer shoppers . carrying out - wise , theMacBook is n’t differentfrom the 13 - inch 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro — the superfluous $ 200 for the MacBook Pro buys more RAM , a FireWire 800 port , an SD card slot , an an aluminum case .
[ James Galbraith is Macworld ’s lab director . ]
