Apple MacBook (13in., 2GHz Core Duo): a first look

Keyboard
This is perhaps the MacBook's most notable feature. It looks markedly different from what we're accustomed to with an Apple notebook. The keys have a flat top surface and are more rounded and less jammed together than the MacBook Pro's and PowerBook's. And with about half as much travel as other Apple keyboards, the MacBook's keyboard offers a considerably firmer typing experience. So far, we really like it, though we're hesitant to make a final pronouncement until we've spent more time using it.

Touch pad
Yes, there's still only one mouse button. Apple seems to be overcompensating for it, too, because the touch pad is simply huge -- about the size of a Treo -- and considerably bigger than the 15in. MacBook Pro's. It still features all of the same magical two-finger scrolling functionality that we've seen from the others, though.

Display
The MacBook's glossy display is a bit schizophrenic. It looks really nice from straight on: bright, crisp and clear, while the 1,280 by 800 native resolution makes text readable and still gives you enough screen space to have a few windows open at once. From the side, however, the level of brightness drops off considerably, and like all glossy displays, the MacBook's picks up some serious glare from ambient light sources. If you work primarily in a dimly lit, cave-style office, you'll love it; if you spend a lot of time working outside, the glare may be too distracting. The MacBook's display delivered 230cd/m² on our Minolta luminance meter, compared to about 260cd/m² on the 15in. MacBook Pro. Both are considerably above the average for notebooks.

Components
You get a very competitive specification for the price. Our £899 (inc. VAT) unit came with a 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo processor, 512MB of RAM, integrated Intel graphics and a 60GB, 5,400rpm SATA hard drive. (The baseline £749 may be an even better deal -- we'll know for sure after we test both of them.) Based on what we've found with the MacBook Pro, we think we can expect pretty competitive performance from the MacBook, although we're less sure about its battery life; we're currently running it through our benchmarks and will post our results as soon as possible.

Audio
Like the 12in. PowerBook, the MacBook's speakers sit along the back edge underneath the screen hinge (when the lid is open) and somehow still deliver rich, multilayered sound. It's not particularly loud or powerful on the low end, but it's crisp, clear and totally decent.

Ports and connections
This is a rock-solid lineup for the price. On the plus side, you get an optical output, which the iBook lacked and which is a high-end feature for a £749 laptop. On the downside, the combined DVI/VGA output requires an adapter (sold separately) and there's no ExpressCard slot, which narrows the MacBook's opportunities for future TV tuner and wireless WAN connectivity. Here's where the ports and connections are located:

• Left edge: MagSafe AC connector, DVI/VGA output, one 400Mbps FireWire port, two USB 2.0 ports, optical output, headphone jack, security cable slot
  
• Front: battery indicator, infrared sensor (for the included remote)
  
• Right edge: slot-loading multi-format DVD burner
  
• Networking: 802.11g wireless, Gigabit Ethernet and Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (modem not included)
  

Other notable features
On top of everything else, you get Apple's best-of-breed software package, which includes almost everything that comes with the higher-end MacBook Pro; a built-in iSight Webcam for videoconferencing; and a small, iPod Shuffle-looking remote for controlling iTunes, DVDs, photos and videos from afar.