MacBook: MacBook @ Apple ($1099, $1299, $1499) * Student discount base prices: $1049, $1199, $1399; select school online at Apple or bring in proof of enrollment into an Apple store to obtain the discount MacBook @ Macmall (After rebates: $1044, $1219, $1349, all with free printer) * Free printer is an HP Deskjet 5740; requires a mail-in rebate with purchase of laptop
Ram upgrades: The MacBook can take a maximum of 2 gigs of ram (2 x 1gb). They are user-replaceable; both slots are located under the laptop. You have to remove the battery to gain access, see this article: Memory installation tutorial. Here are a couple good aftermarket ram upgrades: (for much cheaper than Apple's $500 upgrade offering)
Hard drive upgrades: The MacBooks use a 2.5" SATA hard drive. It is user replaceable ; it is located under the laptop. See here for pictures. Seagate and Hitachi are the two primary sources of 2.5" SATA hard drives. 7200rpm drives are available in 60, 80, and 100gb capacities while 5400rpm drives are available in up to 120gb capacities. The Seagate is the quieter drive while the Hitachi is the better-performing drive.
Update: I just called Apple and spoke to a rep, who said that the 7200rpm SATA drives will NOT fit into the MacBook. This is why the faster drives are not offered with the MacBook; it's a size issue, not a heat issue. However, OWC says these drives are compatible, according to their website . I guess we'll find out when they release their MacBook installation videos...
Notes:
-Glossy screen
-Available in black or white
-64mb GMA950 integrated graphics
-iSight built-in (wifi, bluetooth, etc. too)
-Max 6 hour battery life (3.5 with wifi on, 2.5 watching a DVD)
-No keyboard backlight (small thing)
-No expansion ports (ExpressCard or PCMCIA)
-2-button feature: Activate in mouse prefs; enables 2 fingers on the trackpad plus a click to equal a right-click (not tested by me yet)
-AppleCare is a good thing for laptops. You can purchase AppleCare anytime during the first year of owning your laptop; many people wait until the last month of the first year to purchase it, thus extending their warranty coverage by an extra year (1st year + 3 years vs. 1st year including 3 years)
It may void your warranty, based on the video - you really have to take it apart to get to the hard drive in the MBP. The MacBook has a much simpler procedure
I don't like the "chiclet" style keyboard. Reminds me of my very first TRS-80 Color Computer's chiclet keyboard back in 1983. Very annoying to type on for any length of time. That's why Radio Shack came out with a replacement keyboard in 1984. I wouldn't buy the Macbook simply for that reason. Otherwise they are cool.
I don't like the "chiclet" style keyboard. Reminds me of my very first TRS-80 Color Computer's chiclet keyboard back in 1983. Very annoying to type on for any length of time. That's why Radio Shack came out with a replacement keyboard in 1984. I wouldn't buy the Macbook simply for that reason. Otherwise they are cool.
Take a look at the Engadget review:
http://www.engadget.com/2006/05/17/h...apple-macbook/
"The flat square keys lack side or top ridges, making touch typing a little unusual (and possibly somewhat difficult), being that the only physical key delineation is the space between them. What made up for this, however, was the notably more tactile key feedback when compared to the PowerBook and MacBook Pro, which share the same lame, mushy keyboard."
i just listened ta a podcast called "MacCast" and it said the macbook has a 4xdual layer super drive. is this true?
Yes, strangely enough. With the prices of 8x dual-layer drives being so low, you have to wonder why Apple didn't at least offer the 8x drive as an upgrade...
Slot-loading SuperDrive with double-layer read support (DVD+R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW): writes DVD-R and DVD+R discs at up to 4x speed, writes DVD-RW and DVD+RW discs at up to 4x speed, reads DVDs at up to 8x speed, writes CD-R discs at up to 24x speed, writes CD-RW discs at up to 10x speed, reads CDs at up to 24x speed
this is a great thread, do most of these thing apply for both the macbook and macbook pro or just is it either/or.
Thanks! This thread is focused on the MacBook, but I believe that the ram and hard drives will work on the MacBook Pro as well. However, Apple offers the 7200rpm drive as a build-to-order option on the MacBook Pro, so it's not quite as big of a deal to get as it is on the MacBook.
It was stated in another thread that, Apple was asked about the 7200rpm drive fitting into a MacBook. Apple said that the 7200rpm drive are to big to fit into the MacBook.
__________________ Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, It's about learning to dance in the rain!
It was stated in another thread that, Apple was asked about the 7200rpm drive fitting into a MacBook. Apple said that the 7200rpm drive are to big to fit into the MacBook.
Yup, that was me here Keep your eye on OWC and XLR8 for updated news on that, they should find out the "real" story soon.
