A Macbook that can do more things than the previous one is now here
Friday, October 17th, 2008 by Peter ZhangApple has just released yet another generation of Macbooks. The new Macbooks included various upgrades on CPU, graphics, appearance, touchpad and lots more. Although I am not a Mac fan myself, I feel the neccessity to write something about them. =P
When I first saw the new Macbook photos, the first thing I noticed with the Touchpad. There are no more buttonss near it, and it seems like the touchpad is much bigger. The new Macbooks now support Multi-touch on the touchpads, so now it is not only a “Macbook Air” thing.
Through a software, you may add more virtualized buttons on your keypad. Look at the following image for example:
The next thing I notice would be the improved graphics. Now all of the Macbooks are equipped with NVidia 9400M graphic cards. Compared to the old Intel GMA X3100 one, this is a HUGE jump. GMA X3100 is an onboard graphics card, which means it needs to “borrow” some of the memory from the systems for it to work. 9400M, however, has memory on its own, so it doesn’t need to take any memory from your system. It improves both the system performance and 3D rendering performance.
The Macbook Pros even have two graphics card – 9600M and 9400M ready for you to switch which one to use (however, it is a bit too annoying since it reuiqres a restart).
The last thing that caught my interest is the upgrade of the system hardware. (Doesn’t mean that it is not important) The new CPU on Macbook has either 2.0 or 2.4GHz. The top model of MacBook Pro even has 2.53GHz CPU with 6MB L2 Cache. The performance of that laptop can be compared to a really good desktop computer. Except for the top model of Macbook Pro, which has 4GB Ram, the rest of the models all have 2GB Ram. It is about the standard stats for the laptop industry nowadays. So, it wasn’t really a surprise (at least not to me)
The stats for each models are:
Macbook – $1299
- 13′3 LED-Backlit LCD
- 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo / 3MB L2 Cache
- 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3
- NVidia GeForce 9400M
Macbook – $1599
- 13′3 LED-Backlit LCD
- 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo / 3MB L2 Cache
- 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3
- NVidia GeForce 9400M
Macbook Pro – $1999
- 15′4 LED-Backlit LCD
- 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo / 3MB L2 Cache
- 2GB 1066 MHz DDR3
- NVidia GeForce 9400M / 9600M 256MB
Macbook Pro – $1999
- 15′4 LED-Backlit LCD
- 2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo / 6MB L2 Cache
- 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3
- NVidia GeForce 9400M / 9600M 512MB
These Macbooks are relatively powerful, in my honest opinion. Those Mac fans who have enough money in their wallet to get something like this, you better start doing it now =)
October 19th, 2008 at 11:04 am
It is pretty
October 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
black surrounding of the screen makes it look a lot better
October 22nd, 2008 at 7:43 pm
[...] A Macbook that can do more things than the previous one is now here The performance of that laptop can be compared to a really good desktop computer. Except for the top model of Macbook Pro, which has 4GB Ram, the rest of the models all have 2GB Ram. It is about the standard stats for the laptop … [...]
November 2nd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I’ve never been a huge fan of Apple products, but these are just appalling. Worse specs and more expensive? Call it a worthwhile premium, I don’t care, but this will not be able to reach most consumers.
November 2nd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I thought most college students use Apple computers, though. Well, if you want to think about “saving money”, DIY computers should be the cheapest, yet still most people choose to buy brand computers. I guess, both ways have different pros and cons within them.
December 7th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Eh…Macbooks are good if you are like a Music Writer or something. Or that’s what I heard, also most college students probably have macbooks because they get the College Student Special, which allows them to receive a free printer and/or iPod (forgot).
Overall, I like Windows more but still appreciate different Apple Products that come out. :)
December 7th, 2008 at 2:53 pm
I think it is a free iPod for college students. Macs are also good if you are involved in editing movies, because the famous Final Cut Pro is only available on Apple. Although, some other powerful editing softwares such as Adobe Premiere are available on both Mac and PC.
I have never tried using a Mac yet, but just like you, I still appreciate the different Apple Products.. it is cool just by looking at it =)
December 7th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Well, my drama teacher had bought a Macbook Air, and got a free iTouch and printer as well. So probably you get both? Hm, anyways Final Cut Pro is a program for those people who are really into making movies and stuff for Hollywood or whatever because the program is so amazing that it has basically everything to make a awesome movie. Just like the TI-83 Graphing Calculator=Adobe Premiere (Maybe! Didn’t say it is…just a comparison) and TI-89 Silver Edition=Final Cut Studio Pro.
Anyways I have used Mac several times and its pretty good but unless you have one or get one for free or for a really cheap price. There’s no use in buying one if you have a decent Desktop/Laptop already. :)
December 7th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
Hmm, it’s been quite a while since I saw that, so probably you are right about both printer and iPod.
Well, I know some amateur people that use Final Cut Pro, and I have a classmate in class (and I am a sophomore in high school) that has a TI-89 as well. I do editing on Premiere Pro, but if I had Final Cut Pro, I would have give it a try. I haven’t used Final Cut Pro so I can’t make a comparison between them two. To me, though, Final Cut Pro is the only reason why I should try a Mac. lol..
December 8th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
Well I would prefer you using Premiere Pro first, and as you continue to grow in knowledge about movie making and your skills increase exponentially. Then get Final Cut Pro and a macbook for it. :)
February 21st, 2009 at 10:10 am
I like your style of writing, I can’t say agree with everything, but it is fun to read :)