MacBook Pro goes Multi-Touch

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 27 February 2008 03:33

Opinion and Analysis

The MacBook now comes with 2G of RAM as standard, apart from the 2.1GHz model which still includes just 1G and a 120G hard drive for $US1099/$A1499. The $US1299/$A1799 2.4GHz configuration sports a 160G drive, and there's still the premium-priced black model at $US1499/$A2099.

Bumping a white 2.4GHz MacBook to 250G of storage adds $US100/$A150 to the price, so you're paying $US100/$AU150 for the black shell. Nothing new there, I suppose.

Omitting the Multi-Touch trackpad from the MacBook increases the differentiation between it and the MacBook Pro. Other distinguishing features include higher performance graphics (Nvidia GeForce 8600M GT vs Intel X3100 plus support for the 30in Cinema display), FireWire 800, and the light-sensing illuminated keyboard.

Apart from Multi-Touch, this is really just one of the speed bump releases we're used to seeing from Apple as faster, more capacious or cheaper parts become available during the lifetime of an overall design. They're always welcome - except perhaps by those who recently purchased an old configuration - but it's more about keeping up with the market than introducing features that will bring a influx of buyers that wouldn't previously have considered the products.