Apple today began shipping its family of MacBooks upgraded with Intel Core 2 Duo processors.
The new chips make the latest MacBooks "up to 25 percent faster" than the preceding generation, according to the company.
They continue to offer all the features that made first-gen models so attractive, including built-in iSight cameras, the MagSafe power adaptor and iLife '06.
"MacBook has helped drive Apple's notebook market share to over 10 per cent in U.S. retail, and the new MacBooks will be among this holiday season's most exciting new products," said Phil Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of worldwide product marketing.
Prices remain approximately the same. The entry-level model (a white 1.83GHz MacBook) costs $1099, while the price of the midrange MacBook has fallen slightly to $1299. The most expensive black model has seen its premium on color models fall to $1499. It's identical to the midrange model, but has a 120GB hard drive, while the midrange model has an 80GB drive.
Apple has at last beefed up the amount of memory it ships as standard in these Macs, with 1GB of memory shipping as standard in all models except the entry-level configuration, which still ships with 512MB.
The included SuperDrive (available in the mid-range and black model) has also been souped up, a double-layer optical drive now shipping as standard. (The entry-level offers a combo drive).
MacBooks also feature glossy screens, Apple's Sudden Motion Sensor, Scrolling TrackPad, built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR networking, 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire 400 port, combination analogue and optical digital audio input and output ports, and a mini-DVI video output to connect up to a 23-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.
The 1.83GHz, 13-inch white MacBook ($1099) includes:
The 2.0GHz, 13-inch white MacBook ($1299) includes:
The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch black MacBook ($1499) includes:
Build-to-order options include the ability to upgrade to up to a 200GB 4200rpm drive, an Apple USB Modem, Apple Mini-DVI to DVI adaptor, Apple Mini-DVI to VGA adaptor, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter, and the AppleCare Protection Plan.
Jonny Evans, Macworld UK
