Apple MacBook 2.0GHz

June 12th, 2006 | by Jason Tomczak


Full Review - Setup and Use Part 1

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Setup and Use
 
System as Tested
 
·     2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
·     13.3-inch widescreen display
·     2048MB memory (2x1GB SODIMMs)
·     60GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard drive
·     SuperDrive (DVD±RW, CD-RW)
·     Intel GMA 950 GPU with 64MB of DDR2 SDRAM
·     Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0
·     Apple Remote
  
Setting up the MacBook was quick and easy. The box comes with the MacBook, power supply, Front Row remote and OS X restore DVDs. I had everything set up on my desk in less than a minute. 
 
I used my trusty timer and count-down app, Chimoo Timer to time the setup process.
 
Timer started and power button pressed, the 'select language' screen appeared in 45 seconds, as opposed to 1 minute 53 seconds with my MacBook Pro. My full name, address and other registration information were entered by 2 mins 49 seconds. On the MacBook, OS X was set up and running by the time 4 mins 20 seconds elapsed - as opposed to 6 mins 05 seconds for my MacBook Pro setup. Based on these numbers, the MacBook ran setup approximately 39% faster than the MacBook Pro.

Address Book, iCal, Safari, Firefox, Mail, Thunderbird, iChat and Adium all opened in less than 1.5 seconds. iPhoto opened in 1.7 seconds. Importing 500 8-megapixel images into iPhoto took an impressive 4 minutes 30 seconds. iWork apps, Pages and Keynote, opened in less than 5 seconds. Rosetta-dependent applications like Word, Acrobat Professional and Photoshop CS2 open much slower than Universal applications, but they open faster on the MacBook than they do on a G4 PowerBook 

Apple seems to be on a roll when it comes to improving battery life. The MacBook gets the best battery life of any past or present Apple portable. With "Better Energy Savings" option selected and the screen brightness turned down half way (which is still much brighter than iBooks set at max brightness), I was able to stretch my battery life well over 5 hours while working on iWork projects, surfing the Internet and occasionally chatting with friends. The MacBook, it would seem, can hold up to use on cross country flights, long classes or lectures, etc.

The keyboard on the MacBook has a new design - instead of being a replaceable and removable part like on the iBook, this keyboard is built into the frame of the MacBook. It is somewhat inset, keeping the keys from touching the LCD screen when the lid is closed. The keys are spaced properly and the typing action is very smooth and responsive. Some keyboards feel loose and wobbly, whereas this new keyboard style feels solid and reliable. One major bonus - the built-in keyboard makes it much harder to get potato chip fragments under the keys. 

MacBook Keyboard
The Keyboard on the MacBook

The screen on the MacBook is very bright and clean. I compared the MacBook's screen brightness to the iMac G5, Intel iMac and MacBook Pro and found the MacBook equal in quality. The 1280x800 resolution screen is powered by the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 with 64MB of shared DDR2 memory. Similar to the Intel Mac mini Core Duo, the integrated graphics chip is very impressive but not flawless. It is perfect for all basic applications like iPhoto, iMovie HD and even Photoshop. One caveat - based on numerous reports on the Internet, the MacBook's GPU may not be suitable for hardcore gaming. 
 
In my review of the MacBook Pro, I used the DVD movie Underworld to test the ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 video card. I discovered that the MacBook Pro's DVD playback was simply perfect. When testing Underworld on the MacBook, I noticed some slight artifacts in dark, high-action scenes common to the movie. These artifacts were not distracting at all, but they were present. On a positive note, the colors in Underworld, Last Samurai and Crash were much more life-like thanks to the glossy screen. Overall, I think the integrated graphics card does a fantastic job. 

Traditionally, iBooks, PowerBooks and even the first few revisions of the MacBook Pro came with standard matte LCD screens. When speculation about the MacBook began, no one would have guessed that Apple would introduce full-gloss screens for future laptop lines. While many people welcomed the glossy screens with enthusiasm, some designers, photographers and video professionals suggested that the glossy nature of the LCD screens would violate the sanctity of true-color rendering. Apparently, the glossy screen makes colors look more vivid, rich and saturated. Because of this effect, they say, native colors are not accurately represented. I found the more vivid and saturated colors quite pleasing.  

I opened iPhoto and displayed a set of images on the MacBook's glossy screen and on the matte screen of an iMac G5. The colors, in my estimation, were almost identical. My attention, however, kept going back to the MacBook. It just looks better. I found that the glossy screen creates a slightly reflective surface, however I did not find it distracting in the least bit. In fact, at most angles, the glossy MacBook screen is easier to use outside than the matte screens on other laptops. 
 

The MacBook Setup
The MacBook Setup in a Desktop Configuration

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