MacBook family

The MacBook family is a range of Macintosh notebook computers by Apple Inc. that merged the PowerBook and iBook lines during the Apple Intel Transition. The first model released under this family was the MacBook Pro, which was announced on January 10 2006 at the Macworld Expo. The consumer-focused MacBook was released on May 16 2006. The newest addition to the MacBook family, the MacBook Air, was revealed on January 15 2008. The next generation of MacBooks are due to be released on October 14 2008 in another Stevenote at Apple's Campus in Cupertino. [http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/09/apple-invites-media-to-notebook-event-october-14th/]

Products

Comparison of MacBook family models

When it comes to CPU-intensive applications, such as iMovie and iDVD, the 13" MacBook Intel Core 2 Duo is virtually the equal of a 15" MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo running at the same core clock speed, even with a slower 5400 rpm hard drive.cite web|date = May 29 2006|url = http://www.barefeats.com/mbcd3.html|title = MacBook 13" Core Duo versus two other Macs doing iMovie and iDVD|publisher = Barefeats|accessdate = 2007-04-12] This is due to the identical Intel Core architecture found in all MacBook models.

However, there are many distinguishing features in each notebook line. The MacBook Pro features an nVidia GeForce 8600M GT graphics card using 256 or 512 MB GDDR3, while the MacBook and MacBook Air use integrated Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics with shared video memory. Both graphics solutions support DirectX 10 and OpenGL, but the overall gaming performance of the GMA X3100 is significantly lower than that of the GeForce. [cite web|date =May 30 2006|url = http://www.barefeats.com/mbcd4.html|title =MacBook 13" versus MacBook Pro, PowerBook and iBook in 3D Gaming and Core Image|publisher = Barefeats|accessdate = 2007-04-12] This means that the GMA X3100 is capable of playing many popular game titles,cite web|date =12 Feb 2007|url = http://support.intel.com/support/graphics/intelgm965/sb/CS-026146.htm|title =Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset Family Game Compatibility List|publisher = Intel|accessdate = 2007-04-12] though typically at lower settings and/or framerates than the GeForce.

Due to their aluminium enclosures, the MacBook Pro and Air are relatively lightweight considering their overall dimensions, although the Pro is heavier than both the purposefully-built-to-be-lightweight Air and the MacBook, with its plastic case. The Pro models have larger screens with higher display resolutions (1440×900 for the 15.4" and 1680×1050 or 1920x1200 for the 17"); the MacBook and MacBook Air are 1280x800. Other notable differences include the illuminated keyboards on the Pro and Air models. A FireWire 800 port and an ExpressCard/34 slot are included with the MacBook Pro; the MacBook has a FireWire 400 port, while the Air lacks FireWire ports completely. The 17-inch MacBook Pro also features an extra USB 2.0 port (three instead of two on the 15" MacBook Pro and MacBook, or the single port found on the MacBook Air).

The lids of the MacBook and MacBook Air are held closed by a magnet with no mechanical latch, whereas the MacBook Pro lid is latched by traditional retracting hooks. RAM access is straightforward in the MacBook and MacBook Pro models, with the former also having a user-replaceable hard drive. The MacBook Air does not allow easy access to upgrade the hard drive or RAM, with the latter being soldered to the logic-board. In the USA, the basic MacBook starts at US$1099, the Air at US$1799 and the 15.4" Pro model at US$1999.

ee also

* MacBook
* MacBook Pro
* MacBook Air

References