MacBook 13-inch laptop review

MacBook 13-inch White

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo
1GB 667MHz DDR2 SDRAM
120 GB hard drive
Combo Drive: (DVD-ROM/CD-RW)
13 inch white screen
AirPort Extreme Card
Bluetooth capable

First Impressions:

This computer is so small that I joke about it being a pocket laptop. While it's not as small as the MacBook Air the smaller screen size makes it a nice compact alternative. One drawback I immediately noticed was that the monitor while it has an excellent picture it is extremely small and I don't think I would want it if it were my only computer. This laptop appears to be the perfect travel companion that will turn a lot of head in the airport or at the train station.

Looks & Size:

This little piece of art is exactly that, a work of art. It looks as good closed as it does open. The beautiful Apple logo lights up every time the computer is open and screams look at me; I'm a Mac owner. At just 1.08 inches and 5 pounds this little design wonder is a heavy travelers dream.

Hardware:

The MacBook offers a plethora of plugs and options that will meet any laptop users needs. Ethernet, Firewire, Bluetooth and of course, multiple USB plugs. The ComboDrive is a nice addition because not only does it allow you to watch DVD's, but it also allows for the burning of CD's. This little machine has plenty of punch for the casual or avid user to utilize.

Software:

Mac is known for having very well designed and simple to use software and operating systems. New machines come with Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard. This is one of the most solid operating systems I have ever used. Never once has my machine froze or crashed. It's a solid workhorse that is well designed both visually and technically. Also worth mentioning are the standard programs that come pre-installed on all Macs. Mail, iChat, Safari and iPhoto. These are truly the last email client, instant messaging program, web browser and photo editing programs you will ever need. These are all simple to learn with very powerful options.

Performance & Battery Life:

I was a bit skeptical at first because I have owned previous Mac laptops and accessories that had a very poor battery life. So it was a pleasant surprise to find that the MacBook has hours of battery life for those long presentations or road trips. While watching a movie the MacBook gets about 4 hours of battery life, while if you are just casually surfing the internet that battery life gets a major boost up to about 8 hours of use. Then the more programs and memory that you use that number slowly decreases. All in all the length of battery life is truly amazing. No longer will your computer die in the middle of a movie while traveling.

Sound and Video Quality:

The MacBook has a built in speaker that is extremely quiet, however most laptops aren't known for their sound quality. If you're interested in sound quality I suggest purchasing some high quality external speakers. A fun bonus is the iSight Camera that is built in and allows the user to have video chats and take pictures. Best of all is it takes up zero extra space. The monitor can produce at up to 1280 x 800 pixels, which is pretty powerful for such a small machine.

Support:

Apple Support is top notch. They have always answered my question and the one time I needed a repair they sent me an addressed padded box to ship the laptop in and provided free repairs in less than a week. Of course the laptop still must be under warranty, but with a 90-day warranty and the option of additional coverage you should be in good shape.

Final Thoughts:

Overall this is a very powerful machine in a small package. As I always say, "Once you go Mac, you'll never go back." I've been a Mac user for over ten years and will never go pack to the inferior PC. Trust me, you'll love this machine.