Apple MacBook

In our original review, we mistakenly stated the price of an extended warranty for the MacBook. The cost is $249. We regret the error. (6/1/06) Billed as a replacement to both the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook, the 13.3-inch MacBook offers a great compromise between size and portability for a reasonable price (the baseline white model costs $1,099). Even better, that low cost gets you a number of features also found on the more expensive MacBook Pro--notably, Core Duo processors, digital audio in/out, and the groovy MagSafe power adapter. Its performance doesn't match that of the MacBook Pro, which is outfitted with discrete graphics and more memory, but the MacBook's combination of design, features, and software significantly narrows the value gap between Apple laptops and the PC competition.

Measuring about an inch thick, 12.8 inches wide, and just shy of 9 inches deep, the MacBook hits the sweet spot between portability and usability, much like the Sony VAIO SZ. At 5.1 pounds, the MacBook weighs about half a pound more than the 12-inch PowerBook and 1.3 pounds more than the VAIO SZ. With its AC adapter, the MacBook hits the road at 6 pounds--portable, though not exactly lightweight.

In a nice touch, the MacBook uses magnets instead of a physical latch to hold the lid closed. A small notch on the front edge affords just enough room for your finger, and the lid and case separate very nicely. Lifting the lid reveals a gray keyboard deck, which should hide dirt better than the iBook's pure white interior. The keys themselves are flat on top with rounded edges, and they are spaced farther apart than the MacBook Pro's and PowerBook's. (Apple tells us this design makes it more difficult to pop off the key caps, a useful feature for a laptop that is likely to see heavy use in schools.) With about half as much travel as other Apple keyboards, the MacBook's keyboard offers a considerably firmer and not uncomfortable typing experience. Below the keyboard sit a huge touch pad and single mouse button (at 4 inches wide and 2.8 inches high, they're about the size of a Treo 650). We love the touch pad's two-finger scrolling functionality.