Until now, I was convinced that a new Core 2 Duo-equipped Apple MacBook couldn't possibly come out this year. After all, the Apple MacBook Pro (Core 2 Duo) had already been announced, in what I believed was an effort to create more separation from the MacBooks. So much for that theory. One week after the MacBook Pro announcement, Apple launched the MacBook 13-inch (Core 2 Duo) ($1,174 direct as tested), thereby eliminating any differentiation between the two models. Sometimes you just have to scratch your head and move on, I guess. Despite back-to-back announcements, the move is considered perfectly timed for the holiday shopping season, and with Apple's best-selling laptop by its side, a strong fourth quarter is sure to come.
Though I normally ask for the best model available when requesting test units, I'm not crazy about the MacBook Black, which is the most expensive system in the MacBook line. You're basically paying a premium for the color, and since the best and most affordable model is the base configuration, I asked for the MacBook 13-inch White ($1,099 direct).
The MacBook's signature white chassis is as much a part of a Mac laptop as the Apple logo. If you want to go with something other than white, well, you might as well get a PC. The glossy finish is sleek and doesn't attract as many fingerprints or smudges as would something in black; the system is easily one of the best-looking laptops in the industry. The MacBook 13-inch's 5-pound frame and 1-inch thickness means it's also one of the most easily luggable. Whether you're trekking across campus or fighting your way through rush hour, it's a huge advantage to have a MacBook in your briefcase or backpack.