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Apple overhauled its entire notebook line this week, with the
exception of the MacBook White, which was just updated in May. From the
13" side of things, the biggest change is that the 13" Unibody MacBook
has gained FireWire and an SD Card slot while adding "Pro" to its
name.
The
13" MacBook
Pro has the same unibody form factor as the Unibody MacBook that it
replaces, but with some significant improvements. It is available in
2.26 GHz and 2.53 GHz versions, is Apple's first 13" notebook with
FireWire 800, and gains an SD Card slot, allowing it to use the most
popular solid state memory found in digicams and camcorders.
The smallest MacBook Pro retains the glossy 13.3" 1280 x 800 display
of the MacBook and surrenders its swappable battery for one that lasts
up to 7 hours - up from 4.5 hours in the regular MacBook.
Best of all, the 13" MacBook Pro is US$100 less expensive than
the 13" Unibody MacBook it replaces. This is in stark contrast to what
I said when Apple introduced the Unibody MacBook last October:
Apple really surprised me with the "Unibody" MacBook -
not because it's aluminum, but because the two new models seem to offer
less for your dollar than the models they replace. Part of that is
because it's not really possible to quantify the difference in the
video realm. What is a 5x as fast GPU worth?
The entry-level 13" MacBook Pro runs at 2.26 GHz, making it 6%
faster than the MacBook White. At the new $1,199 price point, the
question is whether it's worth the extra $200. You have the same RAM
and drive configuration, while you gain an aluminum case, a faster
version of FireWire, an SD Card slot, and the ability to reach 8 GB of
RAM. For a slightly smaller, lighter model with vastly better battery
life, I'd say the smallest MacBook Pro has proved its value relative to
the MacBook White.
The top-end MacBook runs at 2.53 GHz and has the same RAM and drive
configuration as the 2.4 GHz Unibody MacBook it replaces. It has the
same benefits over the Unibody MacBook - and the Unibody MacBooks don't
have FireWire at all. But is it worth $300 more than the 2.26 GHz 13"
MBP?
The Value Equation
You do gain 12% more processing power, and the 250 GB hard drive is
a much better option in a media-rich age. You also get twice as much
RAM - 4 GB instead of 2 GB. Overall, I give the 2.26 GHz model the edge
for value, but the 2.53 GHz model is very close in overall value.
We updated our 13" MacBook and
MacBook Pro price tracker this morning. Here are the best deals on
new and refurbished Unibody MacBooks and the new 13" MBP (close-out
prices on the Unibody aren't good enough to take sales away from the
MBP):
refurb 2.0 GHz Unibody, $949
refurb 2.4 GHz Unibody, $1,099
new 2.26 GHz MBP, $1,119
new 2.53 GHz MBP, $1,399
If you don't need FireWire, the refurbished 2.0 GHz Unibody is
the low price leader - plenty of power for most users most of the
time, good battery life, and the same form factor as the 13" MacBook
Pro. However, for just 18% more money, you gain 13% more processing
power, FireWire 800, and the ability to use SD Cards without buying a
card reader. Additionally, should you need more than 6 GB of RAM, the
MBP goes to 8 GB.
The refurb 2.4 GHz Unibody offers 6% more CPU speed for less than 2%
more money - and it has a 250 GB hard drive. Again, if you don't need
FireWire or more than 6 GB of RAM, it can be an excellent value. Still,
for a lot of Mac users, FireWire is definitely worth having, the SD
Card reader is a nice plus, and that 7 hour battery in the MacBook Pro
is a real bonus.
The overall value champion: The 2.26 GHz 13" MacBook Pro by a slim
margin over the 2.53 GHz model. Refurb prices are competitive if you
only consider basic features like CPU speed, RAM, and hard drive size,
but the improved battery life and inclusion of FireWire give the "Pro"
model the edge for most users.
Dan Knight has been using Macs since 1986,
sold Macs for several years, supported them for many more years, and
has been publishing Low End Mac since April 1997. If you find Dan's articles helpful, please consider making a donation to his tip jar.
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