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Apple Macbook 5th Gen

The successor to Apple's consumer laptop iBook line, the MacBook has become popular with students and home users. The biggest drawback is the lack of a dedicated video chip (the iBooks all used some nVidia chipset). However, with the raw processing power offered by the Core 2 Duo, for most, this isn't an issue. The Macbook features a 13.3" glossy LCD screen and comes in two Intel Core 2 Duo processor options: either 2.1 GHz or 2.4 GHz.

Where to Buy

Apple Macbook 1
MSRP $1,300.00
Release date --
Brand Apple
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have it
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Pros & Cons18
Reviews28
Details
Buy It
Competitors2
Comments4
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Pros & Cons

ProSCORE
26 reviews
60
negative
mixed
positive
17 positive
5 mixed
4 negative

[i] How is the ProSCORE calculated?

show me!

Pros:
Do you agree?
•
intel chip allows you to run windows
+20agreedisagree

•
runs Mac OS X
+18agreedisagree

•
SLot for optical drive .. no tray .... Less dirt to go thru ...
+13agreedisagree

•
Amazing trackpad ... two fingers for right click .. vertical scrolling via fingers .. also horizontal scrolling ... Press Ctrl and then move ur fingers to zoom-in and zoom - out ... Amazing ....
+12agreedisagree

•
about 4.5hrs battery life
+10agreedisagree

•
excellent power adapter
+6agreedisagree

•
Reasonably small and robust - very good for traveling.
+5agreedisagree

Cons:
Do you agree?
•
integrated video card not good for gaming
+14agreedisagree

•
Only 2 USB ports
+13agreedisagree

•
Doesn't allow smaller sized optical drives to be inserted... Only standard sized CDs and DVDs
+7agreedisagree

•
Plate around keyboard is prone to cracking (staining yellow from the natural oils in our skin) due to weak plastic
+7agreedisagree

•
dirt shows up easily on case
+6agreedisagree

•
No built-in dedicated right-click button - bad for some Linux/Windows users.
+3agreedisagree

•
relatively low resolution (1280×800)
0agreedisagree

•
Apple tax
0agreedisagree

•
Weak casing, hinges
-1agreedisagree

•
keyboard is not as responsive as other laptop keyboards (i.e. pressed keys don't always register signals), especially after 2 years of use
-1agreedisagree

•
poor battery performance
-1agreedisagree


30 people added to this review by submitting or voting on pros and cons. Add your say!
See individual votes »

Details

Features

  • CPU: 2.1GHz or 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor 3MB on-chip shared L2 cache running 1:1 with processor speed
  • 800MHz frontside bus
  • RAM: 1GB (two 512MB SO-DIMMs) or 2GB (two 1GB SO-DIMMs) of 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM; two SO-DIMM slots support up to 4GB
  • 13.3 in glossy TFT LCD screen
  • Available in white or black
  • Battery: 4.5 hours , 5-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery, 60W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management system
  • Dimensions: 1.08" H x 12.78" W x 8.92" D
  • Weight: 5.0 pounds (2.27 kg)
  • Price: $1099 (2.1 GHZ), $1299 (2.4 GHz, 160 GB HD), $1599 (2.4 GHz, 250 GB HD)

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This report was started August 22, 2007 at 9:30 pm by bob1th
with the last edit occurring October 15, 2009 at 3:48 pm by Yale
This page has been viewed 2764 times, with 343 edits by 34 contributors.
See the full report history »

Buy It

Apple Macbook MB404LL/A | 2.4GHz - 2GB RAM - 250GB HDD - Black

• Apple MacBook MB404LL/A 13.3-inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 250 GB Hard Drive) Black

• 13.3" MacBook Notebook

UPC: 885909214297

EAN: 885909214297

MPN: MB404LL/A

Apple Macbook MB402LL/B | 2.1GHz - 1GB RAM - 160GB HDD - White

• Apple MacBook MB402LL/B 13.3-Inch Laptop (2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive, DVD/CD SuperDrive) White

• 13.3" MacBook Notebook

UPC: 885909281169

EAN: 885909281169

MPN: MB402LL/B

Apple Macbook MB402LL/A | 2.1GHz - 1GB RAM - 160GB HDD - White

• Apple MacBook MB402LL/A 13.3-inch Laptop (2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 1 GB RAM, 120 GB Hard Drive) White

• 13.3" MacBook Notebook

UPC: 885909214235

EAN: 0885909214235

MPN: MB402LL/A

Apple Macbook MB403LL/A| 2.1GHz - 2GB RAM - 160GB HDD - White

• Apple MacBook MB403LL/A 13.3-inch Laptop (2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive) White

• 13.3" MacBook Notebook

UPC: 885909214266

EAN: 885909214266

MPN: MB403LL/A

Competitors

Apple Macbook 5th Gen is ranked 1st among it's competitors.  See the top picks in Laptops »
Lenovo ThinkPad T400

Lenovo ThinkPad T400

MSRP  $1,130.00    Released  July, 2008
Pros
  • allows the option for 1440x900 resolution on a 14.1" screen
  • ATI Mobility Radeon 3000-series runs cool and quiet, and is superior to on board Intel graphics 5-10x
  • Laptop runs cool
Cons
  • function key location is a bit odd - where ctrl should be on the vast majority of keyboards
  • does not come with a DVD writer standard
  • weight - still quite heavy, can be configured over 5 pounds
ProSCORE
7 reviews
67
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Apple Macbook 5th Gen 100% vs. vote Lenovo ThinkPad T400 0%
Sony VAIO CR

Sony VAIO CR

MSRP  $1,200.00    Released  March, 2008

The Sony VAIO CR series are stylish 14.1" widescreen LCD notebooks with XBRITE-ECO LCD designed for the student or aesthetic minded person. The CR series comes in an array of cool colors like indigo blue, sangria, cosmopolitan and dove. Weighing in at 5.5 pounds and 1.67" thick, it is neither thin or light by...

ProSCORE
0 reviews
N/A
Vote! (1 vote)
vote Apple Macbook 5th Gen 100% vs. vote Sony VAIO CR 0%

Suggest a new competitor to add to the list of competing products.
If the product hasn't yet been added to ProductWiki, submitting it here will also start the product report.

Comments

22 taps
show more
1.  avatar nebs said:

Very nice laptop. Built very well. I'm new to Mac and I love the OS. Perfect bridge between linux and windows (in fact, you can run linux/windows on the intel based macs if you want). Most of the pros for this machine involve the OS but overall it seems fast/responsive.
Oct 07, 2007 10:20am
2.  avatar touch0ph said:

This is a really great product for the money. This is my third Mac and though it does feel a little "cheap" compared to Powerbooks that I have owned, this thing really makes up for it in perfomance. Though it can get prety hot. I would suggest a cooler for your Macbook.
Oct 07, 2007 9:56pm
3.  avatar Rob1234 said:

Plate around keyboard is prone to cracking (& staining yellow from the natural oils in our skin) due to weak plastic in my opinion. I was told by MacTivate (Authorised Repair Centre) that the magnets above the screen are too strong and when you close the mac it is too much of a force on the bottom plastic plate. Both are well known issues. Overall I think the casing is weak
Dec 18, 2008 11:24am
4.  avatar simplistic said:

Magsafe adapter only lasted a year before it started to warp. The cord had burn marks on it...$80 to replace
Oct 15, 2009 3:48pm
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Reviews

Sort by: Most helpful  •  Newest  •  Most positive

theojepsen

avatar
July 28, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
67
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
2 cons
trustedtrusted
love itlove it
have ithave it
4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • SLot for optical drive .. no tray .... Less dirt to go thru ...
  • about 4.5hrs battery life
  • excellent power adapter
  • Reasonably small and robust - very good for traveling.

Cons

  • integrated video card not good for gaming
  • No built-in dedicated right-click button - bad for some Linux/Windows users.

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

amit.gaharwar

avatar
October 7, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
56
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
4 cons
trustedtrusted
have ithave it
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • intel chip allows you to run windows
  • runs Mac OS X
  • SLot for optical drive .. no tray .... Less dirt to go thru ...
  • Amazing trackpad ... two fingers for right click .. vertical scrolling via fingers .. also horizontal scrolling ... Press Ctrl and then move ur fingers to zoom-in and zoom - out ... Amazing ....
  • about 4.5hrs battery life

Cons

  • integrated video card not good for gaming
  • Only 2 USB ports
  • Doesn't allow smaller sized optical drives to be inserted... Only standard sized CDs and DVDs
  • dirt shows up easily on case

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

simplistic

avatar
April 22, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
60
negative
mixed
positive
6 pros
4 cons
have ithave it
love itlove it
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • intel chip allows you to run windows
  • runs Mac OS X
  • SLot for optical drive .. no tray .... Less dirt to go thru ...
  • Amazing trackpad ... two fingers for right click .. vertical scrolling via fingers .. also horizontal scrolling ... Press Ctrl and then move ur fingers to zoom-in and zoom - out ... Amazing ....
  • about 4.5hrs battery life
  • Reasonably small and robust - very good for traveling.

Cons

  • integrated video card not good for gaming
  • Only 2 USB ports
  • Doesn't allow smaller sized optical drives to be inserted... Only standard sized CDs and DVDs
  • Plate around keyboard is prone to cracking (staining yellow from the natural oils in our skin) due to weak plastic

Comments

"Magsafe adapter only lasted a year before it started to warp. The cord had burn marks on it...$80 to replace"
Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Yale

avatar
October 15, 2009
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
38
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
5 cons
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • intel chip allows you to run windows
  • runs Mac OS X
  • about 4.5hrs battery life

Cons

  • integrated video card not good for gaming
  • Only 2 USB ports
  • No built-in dedicated right-click button - bad for some Linux/Windows users.
  • relatively low resolution (1280?800)
  • Apple tax

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

squirgle

avatar
August 28, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
62
negative
mixed
positive
5 pros
3 cons
have ithave it
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • intel chip allows you to run windows
  • runs Mac OS X
  • SLot for optical drive .. no tray .... Less dirt to go thru ...
  • Amazing trackpad ... two fingers for right click .. vertical scrolling via fingers .. also horizontal scrolling ... Press Ctrl and then move ur fingers to zoom-in and zoom - out ... Amazing ....
  • about 4.5hrs battery life

Cons

  • integrated video card not good for gaming
  • Only 2 USB ports
  • Doesn't allow smaller sized optical drives to be inserted... Only standard sized CDs and DVDs

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

Howlsthunder

avatar
April 16, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
50
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
4 cons
want itwant it
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • intel chip allows you to run windows
  • runs Mac OS X
  • SLot for optical drive .. no tray .... Less dirt to go thru ...
  • Amazing trackpad ... two fingers for right click .. vertical scrolling via fingers .. also horizontal scrolling ... Press Ctrl and then move ur fingers to zoom-in and zoom - out ... Amazing ....

Cons

  • integrated video card not good for gaming
  • Only 2 USB ports
  • Doesn't allow smaller sized optical drives to be inserted... Only standard sized CDs and DVDs
  • dirt shows up easily on case

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

JimQ

avatar
December 30, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
57
negative
mixed
positive
4 pros
3 cons
have ithave it
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • intel chip allows you to run windows
  • runs Mac OS X
  • SLot for optical drive .. no tray .... Less dirt to go thru ...
  • Amazing trackpad ... two fingers for right click .. vertical scrolling via fingers .. also horizontal scrolling ... Press Ctrl and then move ur fingers to zoom-in and zoom - out ... Amazing ....

Cons

  • integrated video card not good for gaming
  • Only 2 USB ports
  • keyboard is not as responsive as other laptop keyboards (i.e. pressed keys don't always register signals), especially after 2 years of use

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

buckethead

avatar
June 22, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
86
negative
mixed
positive
6 pros
1 con
love itlove it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • intel chip allows you to run windows
  • runs Mac OS X
  • SLot for optical drive .. no tray .... Less dirt to go thru ...
  • Amazing trackpad ... two fingers for right click .. vertical scrolling via fingers .. also horizontal scrolling ... Press Ctrl and then move ur fingers to zoom-in and zoom - out ... Amazing ....
  • about 4.5hrs battery life
  • excellent power adapter

Cons

  • integrated video card not good for gaming

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

kayleech

avatar
April 3, 2008
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
43
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
4 cons
want itwant it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • intel chip allows you to run windows
  • runs Mac OS X
  • SLot for optical drive .. no tray .... Less dirt to go thru ...

Cons

  • integrated video card not good for gaming
  • Only 2 USB ports
  • Doesn't allow smaller sized optical drives to be inserted... Only standard sized CDs and DVDs
  • dirt shows up easily on case

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No

csmith75

avatar
December 9, 2007
approved
reviewer
ProSCORE
50
negative
mixed
positive
3 pros
3 cons
have ithave it
love itlove it
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Pros

  • intel chip allows you to run windows
  • runs Mac OS X
  • SLot for optical drive .. no tray .... Less dirt to go thru ...

Cons

  • integrated video card not good for gaming
  • Only 2 USB ports
  • dirt shows up easily on case

Did you find this review helpful?
Yes
 / 
No
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