Apple MacBook Core 2 Duo 2 GHz - 13.3" TFT > Reviews > Apple of My Eye!

Author's product rating:   

Speed	Very fast
Look & Feel	Excellent
Comfort & Portability	Excellent
Robustness & Durability	Excellent
Value For Money	Excellent

Advantages:	Robust, ease of use, compact and portable !
Disadvantages:	None

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I've been sceptical of Apple for as long as I can remember. I think I was just phased by the fact that their computer products use a completely different operating system, in comparison to the likes of Windows which most of us are accustomed to. So you could say I've been in the dark really.

My foray into the world of Apple began quite recently with the purchase of my Ipod Nano (See Review). I was suitably impressed with the performance of the i-tunes software and the ease of use, and as I needed to replace my trusty old HP Laptop, I started doing a teensy bit of research into Apple Laptops. I've been to a number of review sites, including Ciao to gauge overall opinions and even consulted the "Which?" consumer website to aid my learning process. Although opinions and reviews can be a valuable tool in a purchasing decision, you can never really be swayed until you try something yourself.
Notably almost all of the reviews I have read have been praising, and looking at the Apple website, I was extremely impressed at the level of technical support available. The site features a highly in-depth FAQ section, as well as an international user forum which also proves extremely valuable if you require assistance with a problem. Access to customer services is also clearly dictated on the site with the contact details being clearly viewable, and the offer of several methods of communicating with Apple.

APPLE MACBOOK CORE 2 DUO OVERVIEW:

With a 13.3 inch viewable TFT screen, the Macbook exceeds many laptops in terms of visual quality. At a resolution of 1280x800, the screen offers sharp definition and excellent detail and colour definition. Perfect for personal use as a movie player and some presentation, although if you are considering a laptop for more executive/presentational purposes, you may want to consider a 15 or 17 inch screen, purely in terms of increased view-ability.

Above the screen you'll notice the tiny "i-sight" camera. Apple have developed this for video calling, i-chat (the conference programme built into the laptop) and VOiP calling via Skype for example. The motion detectors are fast and image pick-up is very clear and defined. The resolution of your screen also determines a clear consistent image when viewing another person via i-sight or webcam.
Another nifty little application associated with the "i-sight" camera is the Photobooth, which as the name suggests, acts as just that, enabling the user to take self or item photo's whilst sitting in front of the laptop. The fun part is the distortion programme built into photo-booth which allows you to mess about with your photo options. It acts in the same way as photo-morph or FaceWarp that Sony built into their , distorts pictures into hilarious charicatures and heinous monster versions of yourself. Great if you're bored!

The keyboard on the Macbook is something I am still getting used to, the keys are squarer and flatter, and if you are used to touch typing, it takes a bit to get used to the design, but the more I use my laptop the more I become accustomed to it. The track pad (built in mouse) is touch sensitive and navigation is easy with its instant recognition. With Windows you have the ability to change your mouse speed (as with some laptops) however You wouldn't need to with the Macbook as every touch delivers instant results. It can be disabled though if you prefer the more traditional approach of a mouse. With 2 USB ports you can instantly plug in an Apple USB Mouse or any other for that matter!

In terms of speed and storage the Macbook serves up 1GB RAm (upgradable to 2GB for around £125 via Apple) which is great if you have invested in your MacBook for the long-term. The massive 120 GB Hard-Drive is also upgradable to 160 gig if you require additional memory, however 120 Gig is huge for a laptop and unless you are replacing a home PC its doubtful you'll necessarily take up all the memory on your Macbook with just personal usage, then again it depends what you are using it for. I currently have about 12 gig of music on mine!
The Apple MacBook Pro 2 GHz Core Duo Laptop uses the very powerful Intel Core Duo processor with a processor speed of 2 GHz and the operating system used to run the Laptop is the Mac OS. Intel are currently the manufacturers of the fastest processor on the planet and have left their closest rivals AMD trailing in their week. So you see, nothing but high-end processing in Apple's new range!

The Macbook runs operating system Mac OSX v 10.4.7 (Tiger) enabling it to co-handle quite a few applications at once and delivering the Tiger Technology (10.4). The Tiger offers startling Spotlight search technology and a lot of other features also. The Tiger also comes with some system applications like Safari 2, Mail 2, Address Book 4, iChat AV 3, iCal 2, Font Book 2, DVD Player 4.5, Preview 3 and Xcode 2.

As with many laptops now, the Macbook comes with the standard Wi-fi and Bluetooth technology. Wireless connectivity to the net is easily manageable, as is connecting your Macbook to any Bluetooth device within range, from your mobile phone to printer with Bluetooth capability. the benefits of this are the minimisation of cables and Plug n Play capabilities of old, conforming to the new wireless standards in technology. The Macbook makes device management a cynch, however with the 2 USB ports, Firewire 400 port, Mini-DVI for monitor connection,

The slot loading SuperDrive DVD/CD drive also gets round the annoying CD loading drives of old, many of which used to suffer eventual problems with drives jamming or the mechanism wearing out. Apple have overcome this problem and with definitive design efficiency too, it fits in with the Macbooks minimalistic look!

I'm really impressed with my new Macbook, and it beggars the question why I never really considered Apple before. I love the speed and instantaneous ease by which I can toggle between different applications. Safari (Macs Internet Explorer) is so simple to use, however I've just found an even better application called Mozilla Firefox, which much like the latest version of Explorer, allows you to have several tabs (rather than seperate windows) open at the same time, which again is great for multiple site browsing or application switching. Ideal I suppose If you are a website designer or something of the like, it makes life so much easier!

Another Plus factor for the Macbook is the "Front Row" capability for movie viewing. The fact that you can just use the tiny remote from the comfort of anywhere in the room to watch a film means you don't have to get up to fiddle with the controls, also ideal for watching television via the net!

So Why The Macbook Core 2 Duo?

In a nutshell, the fast processing speed of the Intel twin processor enables better power distribution, cutting down the amount of overall power used. The new Mac OSX operating system is faster and more varied than ever before, and if you find it difficult using a different word or presentation programme in comparison to Office then the simple solution is that you can now get an Office version for the Mac which will allow you to use MS Office to your hearts content.
The fact I now have an Ipod Nano also makes connectivity a cynch. I don't have to download the Itunes software as it comes built in as the standard Music Player and music management has never been easier than with itunes 7!
I love the communication facilities that Apple built into the Macbook, i-chat is so easy to use and enables video-calling which is something I am adjusting to. I also have Skype loaded onto here too and the built in microphone is of such quality that it's at a better standard than making mobile or land-line calls plus Skype is cheaper (explained in my VoIP phone review).
I've discovered a host of fun applications on my Macbook such as Photobooth, i-photo (easy management of slideshows and photo albums) and predominantly GarageBand, which I have since learnt is also built on to Apple Mac PC's and used as one of the main recording programmes by amateur bands due to its plug in and play capabilities. You can plug in an electric guitar and then fiddle about with the recorded results, remix, and aline tracks!

The Macbook is a robust piece of kit, it's small enough to be portable and the built in airport card makes it simple to connect wirelessly to the net wherever you are! At 1.08 inches thich, the Macbook does not compromise on quality for it's size, and the fact that you can upgrade (quite cheaply) to increased memory etc. is Apples way of ensuring you can future-proof your MacBook without breaking the bank!
This particular model was only available in white at the time I purchased it, however there is now a black version also available. The only downside to the white model is the fact that it does attract finger prints and dirt quite easily. Having said that, PC Wipes are specifically available for these laptops so they aren't difficult to keep clean and it's something you'll find you want to keep as shiny and new as when you took it out of the box!