Apple Quietly Updates Entry-Level White MacBook

[Narcosynthesis]

I bought my white macbook mid december

oh well, that's the price of technology...

 

[firestarter]

It will be interesting to see if, since it is the same MB as the unibody, that they just put slower ram in there or if it is a unique design built to cripple the white one to DDR2...

It has Firewire too, and other port differences. It's not the same motherboard.

 

[akbc]

Mmm, are we going to see another 2000 threads with title such as:

"White MB vs. Unibody MB?!?! HELP!!!11!!!!!1!!1!" again? hahaha.

The new banner is up as well, but if you click the "learn more" that page isn't updated yet..

EDIT: Now it's updated!

EDIT 2: Official WhiteBook SPEC PAGE.

EDIT 3: It's got the new 43% smaller sexy box That's awesome. My unibody MBPro's box is on display on my shelf... the box itself is an eye candy lol.

 

[puffnstuff]

I guess I was wrong in thinking the whitebooks are overstock. This means there may never atleast not in the distant future be a $999 aluminum macbook.

 

[Jack Flash]

It has Firewire too, and other port differences. It's not the same motherboard.

Right, however both 'books are presumably sharing the same P7350 processor and 9400M chipset so there are going to be similarities in the architecture.

 

[okatidubi]

As long as the price of the unibody macbook cannot be lowered to $999, the macbook white will still be there to cover the price tag. In this time of recession, you'll need a cheap yet powerful and up to date machine. The macbook white fits perfectly in the category.

I'll say it will live for another update or two. I just hope it doesn't become the next mac mini (no updates for almost 2 years)

 

[ftaok]

I say SWEET!

I personally felt that the previous white MB was a great value and now, this new one is an even better value.

FW and nVidia are the two biggest things the $999 model has going for it ... not to mention the price. The uni-MBs are sexy, though, but the loss of FW was a killer for me.

If they don't come out with a new mini soon, I might be tempted to go with a new white MB for my HTMac project (don't bet on it, I'm a chronic fence-sitter).

Also, this bodes well, IMHO, for the retention of FW on the next mini.

ft

 

[YetioDoom]

I believe you are correct... it also has 2gigs RAM as standard.... but has dropped to 2.0 GHz from 2.1.....

The UK store isnt showing it yet but the US store is... look at both for a comparison of specs.

(emphasis mine)

The processor is newer, with a faster FSB (1066 vs. 800) so despite the lower clock speed, it is a "faster" chip.

 

[weezercleaver]

I bought my white macbook mid december

oh well, that's the price of technology...

Totally with you on that one, mine is just barely a month old...kind of dissapointed but whatever

 

[poozer115]

It's a good update, but really bad allocation of time on Apple's part. They should seriously be focusing on updating the current Macbook, iMac, and Mac Mini, not the old Macbook. I mean, imagine if the update was simply to change the old Macbook to a low end uni. 999, same specs as current white macbook, unibody. It would sell like crazy and actually be a good idea. This is a very backward step forward, if that makes sense .

 

[ftaok]

Totally with you on that one, mine is just barely a month old...kind of dissapointed but whatever

Yeah, that really sucks ...

I think this update really caught everyone by surprise. Who would have thunk that they would update the white MB?

Still, your MB is a solid machine and very capable.

 

[The Samurai]

It's a good update, but really bad allocation of time on Apple's part. They should seriously be focusing on updating the current Macbook, iMac, and Mac Mini, not the old Macbook. I mean, imagine if the update was simply to change the old Macbook to a low end uni. 999, same specs as current white macbook, unibody. It would sell like crazy and actually be a good idea. This is a very backward step forward, if that makes sense .

Well, it is after all their best selling product... the Macbook

 

[sikkinixx]

Apple is trying to tempt me back from the windows side.... $300 LESS and all I lose is DDR3 and an ugly black keyboard and alum shell? Count me in.

 

[nick9191]

Battery life 30 mins shorter, presumably because of graphics.

Edit: Wakey wakey Arn

 

[akbc]

Apple is trying to tempt me back from the windows side.... $300 LESS and all I lose is DDR3 and an ugly black keyboard and alum shell? Count me in.

That's right! and $300 less also gets you a more variety of expansion choices. Like FW400

But you also miss out on the Glass trackpad.. This thing is a beauty once you get used to it. I find myself using it on my home desk when I have a full mice/keyboard set... haha.

Now the MB vs. MBAir vs. Alu MB choice becomes even tougher than it was...

 

[MacRumors]

Apple Quietly Updates Entry-Level White MacBook

Engadget reports that Apple has quietly updated the entry-level white MacBook, adopting several of the components used in the base aluminum unibody MacBook model. Engadget speculates that the upgrade serves to prepare the last member of Apple's notebook line for the addition of OpenCL in their upcoming OS X Snow Leopard. Updated specs include:

- Processor moved to 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo with 1066 MHz frontside bus from 2.1 GHz Core 2 Duo with 866 MHz bus
- Standard RAM increased to 2 GB (two 1 GB sticks) from 1 GB (two 512 MB sticks)
- Graphics switched to NVIDIA 9400M with 256 MB of shared memory from Intel GMA X3100 with 144 MB of shared memory
- Bluetooth version updated to 2.1 from 2.0.
- 320 GB, 5400-rpm hard drive option added

These changes bring the white MacBook much closer in specs to the low-end aluminum MacBook. With the processor and graphics now matching, the $300 premium for the aluminum model primarily offers the new look, faster RAM, a slightly larger standard hard drive, Mini DisplayPort, and no FireWire port.

Pricing remains at $999, with orders currently listed as shipping in 4-6 business days from the US online store. While Apple's Canadian online store is offering the new model, Apple's other international sites and stores have not yet been updated.

Article Link: Apple Quietly Updates Entry-Level White MacBook

 

[windstarfy]

Hm... this made me regret ordering my Macbook for a minute. Firewire, and non glossy screens...

 

[VSMacOne]

This is definitely NOT a single occurrence ... I think it's part of something bigger... It'll be interesting to see what part this plays in the bigger picture with the iMacs, Minis, Snow Leopard, etc...

 

[The Samurai]

Get the mac mini's updated 'silently' already

 

[The Samurai]

On front page now.

 

[Bengt77]

With the processor and graphics now matching, the $300 premium for the aluminum model primarily offers the new look, faster RAM, a slightly larger standard hard drive, Mini DisplayPort, and no FireWire port.

What about the glass trackpad and the LED screen?

 

[jholzner]

Hm... this made me regret ordering my Macbook for a minute. Firewire, and non glossy screens...

The white Macbook has a glossy screen too...

 

[wiz7dome]

So it DOES have firewire?


Methinks Apple is testing the waters on its decision to drop FW on the unibody model. Can you imagine if the sales of this version are in line with or out perform the new model?

I think its possible Apple would find a way to include the FW port.

 

[ZachsMacDaddy]

It figures. My 2.1 refurb is supposed to arrive tomorrow. I guess for what I plan on using it for it's not that big a deal. $150 more to get this new revision, I think I'll stick with what I bought.

It stings a little, but it happens all the time. Not as bad as when they put a $2000 rebate on my car 2 weeks AFTER I bought it.

 

[AlecJenx]

I don't believe this has anything to do with Firewire port vs. Sales growth.
Just a boost in performance for Snow Leopard.