Mac Product Guide: 13-inch MacBook/2.1GHz

13-inch MacBook/2.1GHz

Essentially, this is the same 2.1GHz MacBook Apple introduced in February 2008 right down to its white plastic enclosure and FireWire ports--something Apple abandoned with the rest of its MacBook offerings. The main difference between this model and the one Apple introduced in February is the optical drive -- this MacBook now features a DVD-burning SuperDrive -- and the price tag. This model breaks the $1,000 barrier for the Intel-based MacBooks.

	Reviewed	Full Review

The 2.1GHz MacBook is a capable system, and the only Mac laptop you can buy for less than $1,000. (And unlike the unibody systems, it retains a FireWire port.) If you're on a budget, aren't tempted by the improved graphics in the newer MacBooks, or have a lot of FireWire peripherals, this laptop is a perfectly fine option.

Pros: Performance comparable to previous high-end model; larger hard drive than previous model.

Cons: Only 1GB of RAM; no video adapters or Apple Remote in the box; no SuperDrive

Basics

Reviewed Price: $999

Processor: 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo

Information about this system on Apple's website

Price Comparison

Shop at:	Price
	$999.00
	$949.95
iUnitek	$941.86
	$989.88
	$995.00

Compare Prices for All Sellers

Lab Tests

Speedmark 5 Score	180
Cinema 4D XL XL 10.5	1:01
iMovie HD 6	0:56
iTunes 7.5	1:10
Photoshop CS3	1:19
Compressor	2:02
Unreal Tournament 2004	26.9fps
Tested Configuration	Mac OS X 10.5.2 with 2GB of RAM

Tested Configuration	Mac OS X 10.5.2 with 2GB of RAM
Display	flat panel (glossy); 13.3 inches; 1,280 x 800
Processor	2.1GHz Core 2 Duo
Cache	3MB shared L2
Frontside Bus Speed	800MHz
Memory	1GB of DDR2 SDRAM ; 4GB maximum - 667MHz
Graphics Card	Intel GMA X3100 with 144MB of DDR2 SDRAM (shared with main memory); Maximum resolution:1,900 x 1,200; Port(s):Mini-DVI port
Hard Drive	120GB Serial ATA, 5,400 rpm
Optical Drive	8x SuperDrive (DVD+/-R DL/DVD+/-RW/CD-RW)
Ethernet	10/100/1000BASE-T
Wireless	AirPort Extreme built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR built-in
Peripheral Ports	Firewire: 1 FW 400 port; USB: 2 USB 2.0 ports
Audio	Inputs: Combined optical digital input/audio line in;Outputs: Combined optical digital output/headphone out
Expansion Slots	None
Dimensions	12.78 x 1.08 x 8.92 inches
Weight	5.0 pounds
Battery Life	4.5 hours