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PC Mag: MacBook among top budget laptops

updated 11:45 am EST, Mon December 11, 2006

PC Magazine on MacBook

Apple's consumer-oriented MacBook today was ranked one of the best budget laptops by PC Magazine due to its inclusion of Intel's Core 2 Duo processor. Apple surprised some industry watchers when it unexpected unveiled refreshed MacBooks with Core 2 Duo processors just one week after the company's more expensive MacBook Pro received the new chips. The publication cites Apple's style and overall look alongside the keyboard as positive features which add to the notebook's overall value in the budget arena, but notes that 512MB of memory is considered insufficient for modern usage. Speed tests using SYSmark 2004 SE revealed a 7 percent speed increase over the original MacBook, according to PC Magazine's Cisco Cheng, who says the MacBook is "great for watching a DVD movie or editing your holiday photos."

"Among budget laptops, the Apple MacBook 13-inch White (Core 2 Duo) is one of the best," said Cheng. "It's ideal for novice users, college students, and frequent travelers who are looking for something that's easy on the wallet and looks absolutely fabulous. With the move to the Intel Core 2 Duos all finished, the Apple laptop line is now complete�and poised to give Windows-based laptops a real big run for their money."

by MacNN Staff

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testudo
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Joined: Aug 2001

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12/11, 12:52pm | report spam | close Reply |
But

Is it enough to convince people looking at laptops that the $1100 macbook is a better deal then the $700-$800 windows laptops you can get from Best Buy, Circuit City, Dell, etc.

Anyway you cut it, $400 is still $400.

e:leaf
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Joined: Mar 2006

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12/11, 01:15pm | report spam | close Reply |
yes, $400 is

still $400, but, on the other hand, Windows is still Windows and the $400 saved is little more than an investment in a piece of s***.

FastAMX79
Junior Member

Joined: Sep 2000

0

12/11, 01:19pm | report spam | close Reply |
$400

to me it is worth it. others, no.

people don't care as long as its cheap. but those same people have no problem dropping 60 grand on a SUV, when the 20 thousand dollar SUV is just as good (getting you from point 'a' to point 'b') people just dont care when it comes to computers.

wingdo
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Joined: Apr 2001

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12/11, 01:29pm | report spam | close Reply |
MBP

Not even mentioned in the MacNN article is the fact the MacBook Pro was an Editors Choice.

gudin
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12/11, 02:57pm | report spam | close Reply |
$400.00

well, the $400 laptops don't have what it has, so they're not really comparable. Otherwise, the comparison would simply be the least expensive laptop.

They set an artificial dollar range for what they considered to be "budget laptops," and this was one of the best considering price, performance, style, etc.

No, that's not going to sell someone who only has $700. But that's not the point.

MacnnGregor
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12/11, 07:05pm | report spam | close Reply |
So what is the point?!

I don't like the SUV analogy, because college students don't buy SUV's - professionals do.

Getting a consumer laptop to the $1k mark was a very important thing for Apple and with a more-than-consumer cpu, I see that as the best deal for a Mac at any level. In the article it did not describe notebooks that were $400 cheaper, so I don't know where testudo's numbers came from (not that he ever needs to actually show proof of his claims).

The comparisons were with machines from $999 to $1200 and except for harddrive and memory sizes and an inch off screen realestate, the MacBook looks comparable.

The internals for MacBooks are now so standard that the Mac software costs should be the only factor and it is very reasonable for they to be either $100 more or with a smaller component (that can be upgraded) here or there.

So the comparable $600 Dell laptop with Core2 Duo is a myth. Apple needs to stay aggressive on price using Intel off the shelf parts. Software optimization and elegance will keep people switching at a reasonable rate while maintaining a good business model.

We don't need to compare MacBooks to SUV's or BMW's, that is for the MacBook Pro's.

MacnnGregor
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12/11, 07:12pm | report spam | close Reply |
Checks and Balances

Basically the MacBook trades the larger harddrive for a standard built-in camera.

These comparisons of statistics are sort of dumb now that the internals of these laptops get more and more the same. They should be giving analysis of the plastics that are being used, which are stronger, which screens are brighter, is the camera worth it - those kinds of questions. Benchmarks are dumb because cpu's are all the same and speed has more to do with how many windows you have open and how much extra harddrive space you have available and how many bells and whistles you keep activated (Expose). The difference between my laptop and the exact same laptop used by a friend are greater than the differences in speed of my laptop and a Dell laptop.

MacnnGregor
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12/11, 07:14pm | report spam | close Reply |
and so ....

Once THOSE comparisons are evaluated and the MacBook looks just as good as the Dell, THEN we can bring up the actual interface, GUI and iApp freebies that REALLY separate the Macs from the Dells. Mac OSX and the iApps should be the frosting on the cake after the comparisons, not an excuse for higher prices during the comparisons.

yakirz
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12/11, 09:00pm | report spam | close Reply |
CompUSA

had a $699 (after rebates) Toshiba Satellite notebook.

It had a Core 2 Duo CPU, but at 1.66 GHz instead of 1.83 or 2.0. I'm not sure of the amount of RAM, but I think it had a DVD-RW drive, and a 15.4" screen.

The main issue is it comes with Windows Media Center. I don't want to run Windows. I can install Linux, but in the end I'd rather have the MacBook, and that's what I'll get.

tbone
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12/11, 11:12pm | report spam | close Reply |
Total Cost of Ownership

I think that if you look at the total cost of ownership over a 3 year time frame you will find that the PC will be more expensive. Mac will be more at the time of purchase but the time and money spent fixing and supporting the PC/Windows over the next couple years will cost more.

testudo
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12/12, 12:31pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: so what is the point?

Getting a consumer laptop to the $1k mark was a very important thing for Apple and with a more-than-consumer cpu, I see that as the best deal for a Mac at any level.

Great, but the macbook isn't at the $1000 mark, its $1100. The iBook once sold for $999 (an important price point) but no more.

In the article it did not describe notebooks that were $400 cheaper, so I don't know where testudo's numbers came from (not that he ever needs to actually show proof of his claims).

Who the h*** needs articles. My boss bought a new AMD-64 laptop, 15" HP, 1GB RAM, standard config, ExpressCard slot, for $700. 13" MacBook $1100. Hence, $400 difference. Oh, and it doesn't look half bad, either (not like a crappy Dell does, at least).

And when people are picking out computers during the holiday season, they aren't comparing spec sheets (Oh, look, this has a built-in camera, so add $100 to the other...), they're looking to spend what they want to spend. And if its $700, then they're getting someone that HP.

The comparisons were with machines from $999 to $1200 and except for harddrive and memory sizes and an inch off screen realestate, the MacBook looks comparable.

Yeah, if you look at the price and ignore the features that make the others look more appealing, they do look comparable.

We don't need to compare MacBooks to SUV's or BMW's, that is for the MacBook Pro's

No, but Apple has this stupid-assed problem. They apparently don't understand that some consumers actually want something larger than a 13" screen, but don't need all the other bells/whistles of the MacBook Pro, or some Pro users need the bells/whistles, but want a smaller machine. Is it really that hard to develop a MacBook with a larger screen (and a true larger screen, not their assinine '14" iBook with same resolution as 12" iBook' thing they did previously.

The crux of the problem is that, while Apple's offerings pass the "Let's compare computer X to computer Y on price/performance/features", you have a lot harder time passing it once you realize you have a near infinite set of computers to use as the 'computer X' in the argument. There are too many people who fall outside Apple's little world.

testudo
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12/12, 12:34pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: TCO

I think that if you look at the total cost of ownership over a 3 year time frame you will find that the PC will be more expensive. Mac will be more at the time of purchase but the time and money spent fixing and supporting the PC/Windows over the next couple years will cost more.

Ah, but if you're on a budget, TCO is not one of the factors you're looking at. "Hey, I can only afford $700 for a laptop, but, h***, I'll charge the whole thing, because in three years I'll be SAVING money!" Yeah, that works great, I'm sure.

tonybenjaminz
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Joined: Dec 2006

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12/12, 01:54pm | report spam | close Reply |
macbook

I find the MacBook to be a good portable replacement for my iMac. With Boot Camp I can run the few (very few) Windows apps I need, and with the addition of PocketMac for Blackberry being (finally!) free, I have absolutely NO need to ever purchase a Dell.

:)

jmills
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Joined: Dec 2005

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12/12, 09:03pm | report spam | close Reply |
Saving 700

Its' not so much saving 400 dollars as it is an issue of saving 700 dollars, which is why this isn't a bad buy. Ask nearly anyone who is a novice computer user who has spent a considerable amount of time (a year or more) with both operating systems (Windows XP and OSX) , and I would bet the majority would say OSX is easier to use. Not everyone is a technological wizard, and even wizards want to relax occasionally. Especially as concerns a laptop, you want something that works 100% of the time, especially while travelling, or writing a term paper in the library. People are less confident about a Windows-OS preinstalled machine making that criteria. Also, a smart Apple Genius is probably quick to point out that the MacBook can run both OS'es , and maybe even offer to set up an appointment to help set up BootCamp.

People who can spend no more than 700 will spend 700 dollars. People who can spend 1100 will spend 1100. Computers are like cars; the minute you buy them they depreciate in value. People are beginning to realize that, and are looking for sturdy, reliable machinery that does well in the long haul. So far, the majority of signs for that point to Apple, not Dell. Then again, I have met many people who have owned Dells for many years with no problems; but there was one striking similarity between all of them. They were all Computer Science majors or involved in the technology industry.

ottawadave
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Joined: Apr 2002

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12/15, 08:41pm | report spam | close Reply |
MacBooks use Faster RAM

Most PC dual core laptops (including the Dell Inspirion in the article) use cheaper/slower 533Mhz DDR2 RAM vs the 667Mhz RAM used in all the Apple laptops today.

The more than ample 4MB cache on the Core 2 Duo makes up for this for most applications, but if you have any memory intensive tasks, Apple should have an advantage with the faster system bus and memory.

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PC Mag: MacBook among top budget laptops

updated 11:45 am EST, Mon December 11, 2006

PC Magazine on MacBook

But

yes, $400 is

$400

MBP

$400.00

So what is the point?!

Checks and Balances

and so ....

CompUSA

Total Cost of Ownership

Re: so what is the point?

Re: TCO

macbook

Saving 700

MacBooks use Faster RAM

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PC Mag: MacBook among top budget laptops

updated 11:45 am EST, Mon December 11, 2006

PC Magazine on MacBook

Related Articles

Recent Articles

But

yes, $400 is

$400

MBP

$400.00

So what is the point?!

Checks and Balances

and so ....

CompUSA

Total Cost of Ownership

Re: so what is the point?

Re: TCO

macbook

Saving 700

MacBooks use Faster RAM

Login Here

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