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Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M)

Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MB467LL/A

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$1,485.62 - $1,599.99 at 9 online stores

CNET Editor rating:
4.0 stars Excellent
Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 198 reviews

Oct 2008

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: Apple's redesigned 13-inch MacBook is essentially a shrunken version of the more expensive 15-inch Pro line. With its new aluminum body, new trackpad, and Nvidia graphics, it's an even more attractive choice for mainstream laptop buyers than was the plastic model it replaces.
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CNET editors' review

Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M)

price range: $1,485.62 - $1,599.99

Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
Edited by: Matthew Elliott
Reviewed on: 10/16/2008
Released on: 10/15/2008

The good: New aluminum construction looks good, feels solid; giant touch pad; attractive edge-to-edge glass on display; improved integrated graphics; backlit keyboard on some models; thinner than previous version.

The bad: Still no ExpressCard or SD-card slot; loses FireWire port; all-clicking touch pad is a bit awkward, at least initially; $1,299 now gets you a slower CPU than it did before; no matte-screen option.

The bottom line: Apple's redesigned 13-inch MacBook is essentially a shrunken version of the more expensive 15-inch Pro line. With its new aluminum body, new trackpad, and Nvidia graphics, it's an even more attractive choice for mainstream laptop buyers than was the plastic model it replaces.

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Editor's Note 10/20/2008: This review has been updated with complete battery life scores.

There are two ways to look at Apple's newly reimagined MacBook laptops. They can be seen as more advanced, and in some ways more expensive, versions of the classic 13-inch MacBook, but we prefer to think of them as slightly stripped down, and less expensive, versions of the 15- and 17-inch MacBook Pro line. Some Internet commentators have even referred to the new models as the "MacBook Pro Mini."

Internally, the big news is an Nvidia chipset with improved integrated graphics, while the "unibody" aluminum chassis, the buttonless (or more accurately, all-button) touch pad, and edge-to-edge glass on the LED-backlit display are the major physical changes on the outside.

While the base model keeps the same $1,299 price (our review unit was the upgraded $1,599 version with a faster processor, a bigger hard drive, and backlit keyboard), you lose the FireWire port in the transition. And the $1,299 model gets you a 2.0GHz Core 2 Duo, rather than the 2.4GHz CPU. The higher-end model keeps the same 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, but also costs $100 more. Both new MacBook models operate on a faster front-side bus, (from 800MHz to 1066MHz) and move from DDR2 memory to DDR3.

Even with the slower base model CPU and missing FireWire, the new MacBook represents both an impressive value and an impressive feat of engineering--although it's hard to expect anything else from Apple's flagship computer product, which has been a consistent favorite for several years.

Price as reviewed / Starting price	$1,599 / $1,299
Processor	2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory	2GB, 1066MHz DDR3
Hard drive	250GB 5,400rpm
Chipset	Nvidia GeForce 9400M
Graphics	Nvidia GeForce 9400M (integrated)
Operating system	Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Dimensions (WD)	12.8 x 8.94 inches
Height	.95 inches
Screen size (diagonal)	13.3 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter	4.5/5.2 pounds
Category	Thin and light

The most obvious changes are physical. The familiar white-and-black bodies have been replaced with an aluminum chassis that looks nearly identical to the new MacBook Pro, only smaller. The actual construction for both the new MacBook and MacBook Pro now follows the MacBook Air model, with a solid block of aluminum carved down, rather than a thin outer shell that has had support struts added to it. The result is a lighter and thinner, yet stronger, chassis that feels more solid and substantial--a notable feat, as the previous MacBook models were already extremely sturdy.

Another notable new feature is a radically redesigned touch pad. This larger touch pad uses multitouch gestures similar to those found on the iPhone, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro, and offers a much larger surface area than previous 13-inch MacBooks--thanks to the elimination of a separate mouse button. In fact, the entire touch pad depresses like a button, although a simple tapping (as on a PC laptop) will also work once you turn that option on in the settings menu.

The all-button touch pad concept is actually a bit difficult to get used to, and feels slightly clunky at first compared with a traditional fixed-position touch pad. On the other hand, there are some useful new gestures: you can hide all your apps by sweeping four fingers up on the pad, and you can also designate one corner of the touch pad as a "right-click" zone. Most useful, perhaps, is sweeping four fingers left or right, which brings up the application switcher. Once you get used to that, going back to a regular touch pad would be difficult.

The 13.3-inch wide-screen LCD display offers a 1,280x800 native resolution, which is standard for screens between 13 and 15 inches in size. It provides for text and icons that are highly readable, but we'd love to see Apple move into the 16:9 display universe, as in the case with new systems from Sony, Hewlett-Packard, and others.

Apple has also added LED-backlit displays (previously available on the Pro models), which means a thinner lid and some battery life benefits, plus the edge-to-edge glass we're seeing more often on multimedia systems, such as the HP HDX18. The glass, however, also grabs stray light rays with ease, making the glossy screen seem that much glossier--a problem if you prefer matte screen finishes.

	Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, Nvidia GeForce 9400M)	Average for category [thin-and-light]
Video	Mini DisplayPort	VGA-out, S-Video
Audio	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks	Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks
Data	2 USB 2.0	3 USB 2.0, mini-FireWire, SD card reader
Expansion	None	ExpressCard/54
Networking	Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	Modem, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional WWAN
Optical drive	DVD burner	DVD burner

With only two USB 2.0 ports and no more FireWire, the new MacBook isn't exactly brimming with connections. Our two fondest MacBook wishes--an ExpressCard slot and an SD-card reader--have yet to come true, so photographers (especially those who use equipment with FireWire connections) may be disappointed--or encouraged to spring for a MacBook Pro. Apple is making a firm move to the DisplayPort camp by including a mini DisplayPort connection instead of mini-DVI or VGA, but a variety of external dongles (sold separately) will give you any video output you need.

In our benchmark tests, the new MacBook and its 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU performed comparably to its predecessor, which is to say that basic multitasking and productivity are a breeze, as is streaming and viewing HD-video content--much as we'd expect from any current Intel Core 2 Duo laptop. While the hardware is largely similar, MacBooks score better on our Multitasking test than similarly configured Windows laptops (such as the Dell Studio 15), thanks in part to the efficiency of the Mac operating system.

With no new CPU options, the big development in terms of performance is the new Nvidia chipset, called the GeForce 9400M, which also includes improved integrated graphics. Of course, one would not have to go far to improve on the Intel integrated graphics found in most laptops--we've long ago given up on trying to find a 3D-game test that gives playable frame rates from Intel's integrated graphics.

The GeForce 9400 graphics were impressive, giving us 58.7 frames per second in Quake IV (admittedly not the most hardware-intensive game) at 1,024x768 resolution. There may be some hope for integrated graphics yet--long the bane of any semi-serious PC gamer. The new MacBook Pro takes it one step further, including a separate discrete GeForce 9600 GPU and letting you switch between integrated and discrete graphics to save battery life or give better performance.

There's no doubt that Apple laptops are known for having above-average battery life. On CNET's video playback battery drain test, we got 4 hours and 3 minutes, which is shy of the "up to 5 hours of wireless productivity," promised by Apple. But as Web surfing can be less intensive than video playback, we could see getting close to that 5-hour mark in casual use. Notably, the new 15-inch MacBook Pro gets almost the same score with its dedicated GPU turned off (using only the integrated Nvidia 9400 chip, the same as in the 13-inch MacBook), and about 3 hours with the Nvidia GeForce 9600 card turned on.

Apple continues to both frustrate and impress with its service and support. MacBooks still have a standard 1-year parts-and-labor warranty, but only 90 days of toll-free telephone support. This, along with the proprietary nature of Apple's products, makes purchasing an extended Apple Care warranty almost a necessity, at $249 for a total of three years of coverage.

Multimedia multitasking test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 15.4 inch - 2.53GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT)

426

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 13.3 inch - 2.4GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9400M)

431

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 15.4 inch - 2.5GHz

469

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 13.3 inch - 2.2GHz

545

Dell Studio 15

1,040

Lenovo Thinkpad X301

1,386

Adobe Photoshop CS3 image-processing test (in seconds)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 15.4 inch - 2.5GHz

126

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 15.4 inch - 2.53GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT)

135

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 13.3 inch - 2.2GHz

144

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 13.3 inch - 2.4GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9400M)

146

Dell Studio 15

202

Lenovo Thinkpad X301

257

Apple iTunes encoding test (in minutes)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 15.4 inch - 2.53GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT)

143

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 15.4 inch - 2.5GHz

155

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 13.3 inch - 2.4GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9400M)

158

Dell Studio 15

167

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 13.3 inch - 2.2GHz

184

Lenovo Thinkpad X301

262

Find out more about how we test laptops.

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 13.3inch - 2.4GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9400M) OS X 10.5.5 Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz; 2048MB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9400M; 250GB Toshiba 5,400rpm

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo 15.4 inch - 2.53GHz (Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT) OS X 10.5.5 Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz; 4096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1066MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9400M / 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT; 320GB Hitachi 5,400rpm

Apple MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo - 2.5GHz / 15.4 inch OS X 10.5.1 Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.5GHz; 4096MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT; 250GB Hitachi 5,400rpm

Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo - 2.2GHz / 13.3 inch OS X 10.5.1 Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.2GHz; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 144MB Intel GMA X3100; 160GB Fujitsu 5,400rpm

Lenovo Thinkpad X301 Windows Vista Business Edition SP1; 1.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo U9400; 2048MB DDR3 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB Mobile Intel 4500MHD; 64GB Samsung Solid State Drive

Dell Studio 15 Windows Vista Home Premium Edition SP1; 2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T8100; 2048MB DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz; 256MB ATI Mobility Radeon HD3400; 250GB Western Digital 5,400rpm

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Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 198 reviews
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Specifications

Manufacturer: Apple
Part number: MB467LL/A
Description: Instead of assembling a notebook from many minor parts, the MacBook was reinvented from just one: the solid-aluminum unibody enclosure. It gets full credit for making MacBook thinner, lighter, and even more stunning. But it's not all beauty. Because of the unibody, this MacBook is also durable. It was designed to take on your world. So slip it into your backpack or briefcase and pull it out wherever you go - it's impressive in any setting. The MacBook uses a graphics processor that economizes space in a whole new way. A traditional computer logic board contains multiple components: the CPU, two chips that control communication throughout the computer, and the graphics processor. The logic board in the MacBook contains only two components: The CPU and a graphics processor with all of the core logic built into a single chip. The beautifully seamless, remarkably thin design isn't the only gleaming quality of the LED-backlit display. Open your MacBook and you're instantly greeted by glorious full screen brightness. The aluminum enclosure is perfectly integrated with a glass overlay that stretches to the edge of the notebook, providing a completely unobstructed picture. Anything you view, including the glossy widescreen display itself, is a spectacular experience. The LED-backlit display is more power efficient. And it's mercury- and arsenic-free, so it's greener than ever.

General
System Type Notebook
Built-in Devices Wireless LAN antenna, Stereo speakers, Bluetooth antenna
Width 32.5 nm
Depth 22.7 nm
Height 2.4 nm
Weight 2 mg
Notebook type Ultraportable (Under 4 lbs.)
Screen type Wide-screen
Wireless capabilities 802.11g, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11 pre-N, Bluetooth
Processor
Processor Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz
Multi-Core processor technology Dual-Core
64-bit processor Yes
Data bus speed 1066 MHz
Cache Memory
Type L2 cache
Cache size 3 MB
RAM
Installed Size 2 GB / 4 GB (max)
Technology DDR3 SDRAM - 1066 MHz
Memory specification compliance PC3-8500
RAM form factor SO DIMM 200-pin
RAM configuration features 2 x 1 GB
Environmental Parameters
Environmental & energy standards compliance EPEAT Gold, EPA Energy Star
Min Operating Temperature 50 ?F
Max Operating Temperature 95 ?F
Humidity Range Operating 0 - 90%
Storage Controller
Storage controller type Serial ATA
Storage Controller / Serial ATA Interface Serial ATA-150
Storage
Floppy Drive None
Hard Drive 250 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
Storage Removable None
Hard drive type Portable
Optical Storage
Type DVD?R (?R DL) - Integrated
CD / DVD read speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
CD / DVD write speed 24x
CD / DVD rewrite speed 10x
Optical Storage (2nd)
2nd optical storage type None
Display
Display Type 13.3 in TFT active matrix
Max Resolution 1280 x 800 ( WXGA )
Widescreen Display Yes
Features Glossy, LED-backlit
Video
Graphics Processor / Vendor NVIDIA GeForce 9400M Shared video memory (UMA)
Video Memory SDRAM
Max Allocated RAM Size 256 MB
Audio
Audio output type Sound card
Audio Input Microphone

Notebook Camera
Camera Type Integrated
Multimedia Functionality
TV Tuner Type None
Input Device(s)
Input device type Trackpad, Backlit keyboard
Features Multi-touch technology
Telecom
Modem None
Networking
Networking Network adapter
Networking / Wireless LAN Supported Yes
Data link protocol IEEE 802.11a, Gigabit Ethernet, Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
Networking standards IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.1, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 ( 0 ) x Memory - SO DIMM 200-pin
Interfaces 1 x Audio - SPDIF output/headphones - Mini-phone 3.5 mm / TOSLINK, 2 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Display / video - Apple mini-DisplayPort, 1 x Audio - SPDIF input/line-in - Mini-phone 3.5 mm / TOSLINK, 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45
Miscellaneous
Included Accessories Cleaning cloth
Features Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), Aluminum enclosure
Power
Power device form factor External
Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
Battery
Technology Lithium polymer
Installed Qty 1
Battery capacity 45 Wh
Mfr estimated battery life 5 hour(s)
Manufacturer Warranty
Service & Support 1 year warranty
Service & Support Details Technical support - Phone consulting - 90 days, Limited warranty - 1 year
Operating System / Software
OS Provided Apple Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Software Apple iChat, Apple Spotlight, Apple DVD Player, Apple Mac OS X Mail, Apple iLife?08, Apple Address Book, Apple iCal, Apple Spaces, Apple QuickTime, Apple Safari, Apple Dashboard, Apple XCode Developer Tools, Front Row, Apple Quick Look, Drivers & Utilities, Photo Booth, Apple Time Machine

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Apple MacBook (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M)

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CNET editors' review

User reviews

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Specifications

General

Processor

Cache Memory

RAM

Environmental Parameters

Storage Controller

Storage

Optical Storage

Optical Storage (2nd)

Display

Video

Audio

Notebook Camera

Multimedia Functionality

Input Device(s)

Telecom

Networking

Expansion / Connectivity

Miscellaneous

Power

Battery

Manufacturer Warranty

Operating System / Software

Manufacturer info

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