iBook replacement will sell like hot cakes

We posted our First INQpressions of the Macbook here last week. Now we've had longer to play with it, we can bring you a fuller review, writes Cliff Joseph.

The iBooks were saddled for several years with the aging IBM G4 processor, so there's been no shortage of demand amongst Mac users for a more powerful replacement.

The recently released Macbook Pro was the first Apple laptop to make the switch to Intel's Core Duo processor, but with prices starting at £1,400 the Macbook Pro is very much a top-of-the-range option.

This non-Pro version of the Macbook is the mainstream model aimed at the iPod-owning mass-market audience. There are three models, all equipped with a 13.3in widescreen display and measuring just 1in thick, 12.7in wide and 8.9in deep.

One detail that has attracted a lot of attention is the glossy coating on the screen - a number of PC laptops have similar screens.

While they're great for watching DVD films, the reflective surface of the screen can become quite annoying when performing more mundane tasks such as word processing.

The glossy surface acts like a mirror and seeing your own reflection in the screen can be something of a distraction.

To combat this, Apple has added an anti-reflective coating to the Macbook's screen, and this does reduce the mirror effect quite significantly. The screen is the one common factor across the new Macbook range, but the three models vary in a number of other respects. The cheapest version costs £749 and is equipped with a 1.83GHz Core Duo processor, 512MB RAM, 60GB hard disk and a CD-RW/DVD-Rom drive.

Our review unit was the more expensive £899 version, which increases the processor speed to 2GHz and adds a dual-layer DVD burner.

Both these models are housed in a glossy white case, similar to that of the old iBooks, but they've been updated to include a built-in webcam, wireless networking and Bluetooth as standard features.

There's also a third model designed in matte black, and with a slightly larger 80GB hard disk. It looks lovely - more businesslike than the slightly plastic-looking white models - but a price of £1,029 for the honour of having a black finish really is taking liberties.

Even so, the Core Duo processor represents a real step forward for Apple. It claims this processor is 4-5 times faster than the iBook's old G4 processor.

Of course, overall system performance relies on other factors as well, such as the graphics card and hard disk, but the Macbooks still clock in at 50-100 per cent faster than the iBook when running applications such as Apple's iMovie video-editing software.

The one weakness is Apple's choice of a low-cost integrated Intel GMA950 graphics chip. This is perfectly fine for video work or 2D graphics, but it's really not up to much when running 3D games.

You'll be lucky to get more than 15-20fps from most recent games - but then anyone that is seriously interested in the latest games will buy a PC anyway.

Mac users are typically more interested in music, digital photography and video work, and for that sort of software the Macbook is ideal - especially with all the free audio and video software that Apple includes with all Macs.

There's nothing revolutionary about the Macbook, but it does give Apple's laptop range a much-needed shot in the arm. And, of course, it's got the gorgeous design that is traditionally associated with Apple products.

The £899 model will probably sell like hot cakes - but it'll be interesting to see if even diehard Apple fans are prepared to swallow the overpriced black model. ?

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