New MacBook five times faster than iBook claim

Stan Beer
Tuesday, 16 May 2006 21:49

Your IT - Home IT

Apple claims that its newly announced Intel MacBook notebook computer can run five times as fast as the fastest Mac iBook according to its benchmark tests. And indeed, if that claim is true, then taken together with the built-in features and relatively low starting price, the MacBook is going to be hard to walk past when you're looking for a new notebook.

Aside from the Intel Core Duo processor, running at either 1.83GHz or 2.0GHz, the MacBook comes with built in web cam called iSight, remote controlled video and photo slide show management system called Front Row, and a suite photo management, recording and filmaking applications called iLife ’06. It also comes with a 13-inch widescreen display,either 80G or 120G hard drive and up to 2G of RAM

As usual, Apple tries to include everything and make it plug and play with built-in 802.11g wireless claimed to be capable of automatically detecting wireless networks, without configuration.

Starting at $1099 with the configuration listed below, the MacBook looks to be great value. Windows users, who wish to run in dual boot mode could well consider this to be a viable alternative to the standard Windows notebooks on the market. Dell, HP, and others watch out!

MacBook At a Glance (Apple website)

    * 1.83GHz or 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
    * 13.3-inch (diagonal) TFT glossy widescreen display
    * Apple Remote with Front Row
    * Up to 2GB memory(3)
    * Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
    * Slot-loading optical drive
    * Up to 120GB hard drive(3)
    * Built-in 54-Mbps 802.11g AirPort Extreme wireless
    * Analog and digital audio in and out
    * FireWire 400 and USB 2.0 ports
    * iLife ’06, Mac OS X Tiger