Apple Unveils New MacBook Featuring Intel Core Duo Processors

Apple today unveiled the newly designed MacBook, the world’s most advanced consumer notebook featuring the Intel Core Duo processor and a gorgeous new 13-inch glossy widescreen display, all in a sleek design that is up to five times faster than the iBook and up to four times faster than the 12-inch PowerBook*. Together with the 15-and 17-inch MacBook Pros, the new MacBook completes Apple’s Intel-based portable line-up and replaces both the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook. Apple’s entire portable line-up now offers Intel Core Duo processors; a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go; breakthrough Front Row media experience with Apple Remote; and several advanced features including DVI with dual display support, optical digital audio input and output, Gigabit Ethernet, Sudden Motion Sensor, Scrolling TrackPad and MagSafe Power Adaptor.

“Apple began the transition to Intel Core Duo-based notebooks in February with the 15-inch MacBook Pro, and now just 90 days later we have completed the transition with the release of the all new MacBook”, said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “The complete MacBook line-up leads the industry with Apple’s trademark innovative design and advanced mobile features — from top to bottom it is the best notebook line that we have ever offered”.

With prices starting at just £749 (inc VAT), the MacBook line-up includes three models: a 1.83GHz and 2.0GHz MacBook in a newly designed, sleek white enclosure and a 2.0GHz MacBook in a stunning new black enclosure. The new MacBook offers performance up to five times faster than the iBook and up to four times faster than the 12-inch PowerBook with a completely new system architecture including a 667MHz front-side bus and 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2GB. At about one-inch thin, the new MacBook is 20 percent thinner than the iBook and features a gorgeous new 13-inch glossy widescreen display. With a display that is 79 percent brighter than the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook, the MacBook provides incredibly crisp images with richer colours, deeper blacks and significantly greater contrast. At a resolution of 1280 x 800, the MacBook display provides 30 percent more viewing area than the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook.

Every new MacBook comes with a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing on-the-go using Apple’s award-winning iChat AV, or recording a video Podcast or iMovie using iLife ‘06. MacBook also includes Photo Booth, Apple’s fun-to-use application that lets users take quick snapshots with the built-in iSight video camera, add entertaining visual effects and share their pictures with the touch of a button. The new MacBook gives customers a simple way to enjoy their digital lifestyle content wherever they go — including music, photos and videos from across the room using the Apple Remote. With Front Row, users can effortlessly access shared iTunes playlists, iPhoto libraries and video throughout their home via Bonjour, Apple’s zero configuration wireless networking built into Mac OS X.

Designed to withstand the rigours of life on the go, every MacBook comes with Apple’s MagSafe Power Adaptor, created especially for mobile users that makes charging the notebook’s battery easier than ever by magnetically coupling the power cord to the MacBook. The MagSafe Power Adaptor safely disconnects from the notebook when there is strain on the power cord, helping to prevent the notebook from falling off its work surface. Every MacBook also includes Apple’s Sudden Motion Sensor that is designed to protect the hard drive in case of a fall, and all MacBooks include a Scrolling TrackPad to easily scroll through long Web pages or pan across large photographs.

With the latest high-performance connectivity options, every new MacBook includes built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11g WiFi for up to 54 Mbps fast wireless networking**, built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), two USB 2.0 ports, combination analogue and optical digital audio input and output ports, and a mini-DVI video output to connect up to a 23-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.

Every MacBook includes iLife ‘06, the next generation of Apple’s award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand and iWeb, a new iLife application that makes it super-easy to create amazing websites with photos, blogs and Podcasts and publish them on .Mac for viewing by anyone on the Internet with just a single click. All the iLife ‘06 applications run natively on the new Intel-based MacBooks for maximum performance.

Every MacBook also comes with the latest release of the world’s most advanced operating system, Mac OS X version 10.4.6 “Tiger” including Safari, Mail, iCal, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth, running natively on Apple’s Intel-based notebook line. Mac OS X Tiger includes an innovative software translation technology called Rosetta that lets customers run most Mac OS X PowerPC applications seamlessly***. Intel-based Mac customers have more than 1,700 Universal applications to choose from and the list is growing each day with hundreds of developers including Adobe, Quark and IBM’s Lotus division announcing support for Mac OS X Intel-based applications. An updated list of Universal applications for Mac OS X is available at http://guide.apple.com/ie/universal.

Pricing & Availability:
The new MacBook is available immediately through the Apple Store and Apple Authorised Resellers. Apple today also increased processor speeds on both models of the 15-inch MacBook Pro, delivering even greater performance at no additional cost. The £1,699 (inc VAT) model now includes a 2.16GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from 2.0GHz, and the £1,399 (inc VAT) model now includes a 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo processor, up from 1.83GHz. Beginning today, the MacBook Pro also offers the new glossy widescreen display as a CTO option on both the 15-and 17-inch models at no additional cost.

The 1.83GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of £749 (inc VAT), includes:

The 2.0GHz, 13-inch white MacBook, for a suggested retail price of £899 (inc VAT), includes:

The 2.0GHz, 13-inch black MacBook, for a suggested retail price of £1,029 (inc VAT), includes:

Additional build-to-order options for the MacBook include the ability to upgrade to 80GB, 100GB or 120GB 5400 rpm hard drive, up to 2GB DDR2 SDRAM, Apple USB Modem, Apple Mini-DVI to DVI adaptor, Apple Mini-DVI to VGA adaptor and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

 

Press Contacts:
Apple UK and Ireland Public Relations
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 (0)20 8218 1440