Skip to main content

Apple Bumps Up MacBook and MacBook Pro

Without tooting its own horn (even a little bit), Apple has launched updates for its MacBook and MacBook Pro notebook lines.

At the high end, the MacBook Pros can now be custom ordered with a 2.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor (up from a top speed of 2.4 GHz), and a 250 GB hard drive is now available for professionally-oriented notebook.

Apple’s update to its consumer-oriented MacBook line is more interesting, however: the company has bumped the system from Intel’s Calistoga architecture to the current Santa Rosa architecture, and boosted the MacBook’s specs in other areas: the systems can now handle 4 GB of RAM, sport a 800 MHz frontside bus, and offer the Intel GMA X3100 graphics controller with 144 MB of RAM shared with main memory. The MacBook also offers new media controls in the row of function keys. Prices for the MacBook remain unchanged, starting at $1,099 and going up to $1,499 for the MacBook with the cool black case.

Both the new MacBook and MacBook Pro ship with Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, which is raising some eyebrows in organizations which have not certified Apple’s newest operating system for use. According to Apple, the version of Leopard shipping with the new MacBook model can only be installed on those new MacBooks, and other Leopard installation discs are not supported.

Editors' Recommendations

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
The best Mac keyboard shortcuts for 2023
Apple iMac with Retina 5K Display review hand on mouse

Many Mac owners swear that keyboard shortcuts help simplify their lives. If you’re new to a Mac, learning all the available keyboard shortcuts can be a real challenge. Quite a few of these shortcuts will now work in iPadOS, too, thanks to the Magic Keyboard available to iPad Pro users.

We’ve put together a list of the most important shortcuts you should know. You can also take a look at our list of the best Mac apps for even more Apple shortcuts.
The most important shortcuts

Read more
This Windows laptop costs under $1,000 and handily beats the MacBook Air
Asus Zenbook 14 OLED rear view showing lid and logo.

The least expensive MacBook you can buy remains the MacBook Air M1, which Apple is keeping around in spite of a complete redesign with the MacBook Air M2. And there's good reason. The MacBook Air M1 is among the best laptops that sell for under $1,000.

But it's not the only great laptop for under $1,000. The Asus ZenBook 14 OLED is also a special machine, offering considerable value at a starting price of $700, including a luscious OLED display. As good as the MacBook Air is, the ZenBook 14 just might have it beat.
Specs

Read more
How to download macOS 14 Sonoma
MacOS Sonoma presented at WWDC 2023.

Apple's macOS Sonoma (also known as macOS 14) has a bunch of exciting new features, including game mode, desktop widgets, and a new presenter mode for video calls. Is your Mac ready for it? If so, you'll want to download it as soon as possible to take advantage of all the new features and security enhancements. Make sure you back up your most important information before you do, but once you're ready, here's how to download macOS 14.

Read more