Review: Core 2 Duo MacBook (Black)

Cons:

In compact commercial notebook computers, there exists a mainstream morass of undistinguished contenders in the $1,500 range between the thin and light and the desktop replacement. Buyers in the middle deserve something better, and Apple delivers. MacBook is a fast, unusually well-built notebook with a 13-inch wide-aspect glossy display, DVI connectivity to LCD, plasma and HDTV monitors, Bluetooth 2.0 and advanced 802.11 draft-n wireless networking. These qualities make MacBook a standout in its price class, but MacBook’s specs are just the beginning.

Happy fingers, grateful eyes

There is nothing in its performance, capabilities or ergonomics that positions MacBook as either a poor man’s MacBook Pro or a consumer notebook in a business suit. Quite the contrary: MacBook is a unique design that’s ideally suited to professional use. Its case is, as Apple’s notebook cases consistently are, hardened against damage from crushing and impact. MacBook’s odd-looking keyboard turns out to be evolutionary, completely silent and incomparably comfortable for ten-fingered and two-fingered typists alike. As it does for photographs, the gloss finish of MacBook’s display makes colors more saturated and edges sharper. MacBook’s display is even viewable in direct sunlight, handy for those times when the fine gentleman in the window seat won’t lower his shade.

Intel’s GMA 950 integrated graphics controller is used in MacBook as it is in most Intel Core and Core 2 Duo notebooks that are not based on the AMD/ATI mobile chipset. Apple’s developers worked magic, raising GMA 950 to meet Mac users’ high standards for speed in GUI, PDF and HTML rendering as well as full-motion media playback. Those wanting real time mobile 3-D goodness can get it from MacBook Pro or from a PC gamer’s notebook for an extra $500-$800. You can buy a MacBook and plow those savings into a really sweet desktop display.

As it happens, my testing included using the optional mini DVI-to-full DVI pigtail to jack MacBook into a 30-inch Apple Cinema Display, just because I could. What I approached as a lark showed that MacBook’s high-resolution performance is roughly on par with that of its built-in display. I did a more realistic test with an entry-level Samsung digital LCD monitor that was a fuzzed-out mess in Windows. Apple’s ColorSync color calibration tool kicked this mediocre monitor into brilliance that put my reading glasses back in their case. Your mileage will vary, but I found the difference startling.

Beneficial radiation

MacBook’s AirPort Extreme 802.11a/b/g/draft-n WLAN gave a fine showing in performance and range tests operating in the 2.4 GHz band. 802.11 draft-n almost consistently connected at around 105 megabits/second, roughly twice the speed of 802.11a and 802.11g. I had trouble with fluctuating connections when operating at 5 GHz, but Apple has set up a call with me to try to resolve it. I’ll update this review on-line after that call.

Update: An engineer from Apple worked with me on the problems I had maintaining 5 GHz draft-n connections. He narrowed the cause down to AirPort Extreme’s automatic channel selection. After manually switching channels, then switching back to automatic selection, the speed latched at a rate of 250 to 300 megabits/second. We agreed that changing channels momentarily must have shaken some gremlins loose.

MacBook’s wireless capabilities are rounded out with a built-in Bluetooth 2.0 transceiver, enhanced with Extended Data Rate (EDR) capability. MacBook has no CompactFlash slot, and even though MacBook would be ideal for the 34 mm ExpressCard, it is absent. This limitation only concerns me with regard to future wireless USB or potential incompatibility between 802.11 draft-n and ratified-n, but that’s asking a lot of a $1,500 notebook.

MacBook’s supreme advantage over other $1,500 notebooks is unquestionably OS X Tiger and the iLife ’06 multimedia suite. iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, Garage Band and iWeb are consumer-easy but prosumer-grade. There is no lite version of OS X; MacBook has, bit for bit, the same incredible OS that ships with Mac Pro. The most skeptical analysis will find that the combination of OS X Tiger and iLife ’06 trounce Windows Vista Ultimate, and MacBook throws in the iSight Web cam, infrared Apple Remote and Front Row media center software. After all, professionals do kick off those too-tight dress shoes now and then.

The last word

I brought a good deal of performance and quality snobbery into this review, and came away thoroughly impressed with MacBook. If you’re using a Windows notebook now and it’s time for an upgrade, I insist (politely, of course) that you lay your hands and eyes on a MacBook while you’re shopping around. Keep in mind that MacBook runs Windows at least as well as any mainstream commercial notebook, but no PC notebook shares MacBook’s advantage: MacBook runs OS X, and if Vista turns your head, Apple’s Spring release of OS X Leopard release will twist your head clean off.