Technology Reviews: 2008 Apple Macbook

Whether or not one is familiar with technology, it is hard to avoid the increasingly heated battle of Mac versus Windows. While we are each entitled to our preferences, perhaps Apple, as a company, has taken the battle further than even it's consumers would have imagined. To this end, the company has continuously rolled out new products and offered revisions to existing models. While new technology is fun, sometimes an endless stream of changes and different models just makes the consumer feel tired. Thankfully, though, the new Macbook does not fall into this category, and is definitely a welcome change.

The differences between the old and new Macbook are immediately noticeable as soon as one views the machine. The old models were composed entirely of white or black (depending on the trim) plastic. The new model replaces that with brushed aluminum over the entire machine. This is a similar look to the higher end Macbook Pro's, and it definitely adds a nice feel to the machine as a whole. The keyboard has been made entirely in black keys, but sadly still has the same spaced design as was present on the original Macbook. The screen itself is trimmed in black, and the computer is just a tad bit slimmer than the old Macbook. While some may not agree entirely with all of these visual changes, they definitely add a new and unique character to the Macbook, and it sure to be a hit for those who want the intelligent design and look of the Pro, but do not want to drop $2,000 on a laptop.

Of course, this doesn't mean that the new Macbook is cheap. The base model starts around $1299, and the next up is priced at $1599. Of course, there are some sizable differences between the two to warrant the price gap.

The new Macbook is not only a visual improvement over the old model, but also a substantial leap forward. The base model is armed with a 2.0 GHz processor, 2GB of DDR3 memory, a 160GB hard drive, and a very nice NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics card. The available $1599 model has a 2.4 GHz processor, the same amount of DDR3, the same NVIDIA card, and a very pleasing 250GB hard drive. Of course, this is only the standard equipment, and, as always, customers are free to customize their machines to include a bigger hard drive, more DDR3 memory, and so on. However, for the sake of this review, we focused only on the machines as they are purchased directly from Apple.

While the processor in the base may not be the 2.1 GHz offered in the outgoing base line Macbook, it seems to actually perform better. The new 2.4 GHz processor definitely outdoes the older 2.2 GHz, and this is a noticeable difference while running multiple programs. It handles even complex programs, such as Photoshop and Final Cut with ease, allowing the use to multitask like never before. While Apples have never been particulary known for their performance with games, armed with the new NVIDIA card, the new books actually do alright when playing newer games. It, obviously, will not offer the same power as compared to a Windows desktop, but it is a decent performer nonetheless.

The new model also has an LED backlit screen, which looks incredibly sharp and clear. The screen is lit from the moment you release it from the base, and there is no waiting for it to power up or come back from sleep. Those who spring for the more expensive model also get a backlit keyboard.

Both models retain the same 13.3 inch widescreen, and although some may mourn for the death of the G4's 14.1 inch screen, there is really nothing to complain about. It looks good and it works, and it also keeps the size of the machine small and the weight relatively low.

Both of the new Macs come preloaded with Leopard, and those who buy them have the chance to purchase a number of discounts with regards to other various software, such as Final Cut and Aperture through Apple as well.

Yes, the newer Macbooks may be more expensive than the older model (the $999 base model is still available however, and has been reduced to $950), but they offer enough features and power to more than make up for the difference. They look great, are more powerful and much more smooth when it comes to almost any task than the older model, and there seems to be none of the heating problems associated with the Macbook Pro's. If one has been waiting to purchase a newer Apple, but was wanting something between the lower end Macbooks and the high end Pro, the new Macbook is the perfect solution, and is sure to provide years of enjoyment.