

The Core 2 Duo for laptops is identical to the desktop Core 2 Duo processors but the notebook-processors work with lower voltages (0.95 to 1188 Volt) and a lower Frontside bus clock (1066 vs 667 MHz). As an addition to the Core Duo design there exists a fourth decoder, an amplified SSE-unit and an additional arithmetical logical unit (ALU). Intel Core 2 Duo: This is the Core Duo and Core Solo successor with a longer pipeline and 5-20% more speed without more power consumption. » Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List. Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards. GeForce GT 325M) but without dedicated memory. NVIDIA GeForce 320M: Integrated chipset graphics card based on the GT216 core (e.g. Single Review, online available, Short, Date: The only drawback with the Pro version is the heat transfer through the bottom and to your lap- it gets very hot while the non-Pro model stays cool. Heck, upgrading the MacBook the RAM to 4 gigs alone will cost your around $120. You get so much more for that small sum including a durable metal casing, twice the RAM, a backlit keyboard, FireWire 800 and an SD card slot. Our advice? If you can afford $200 more, get the 13" MacBook Pro. Still, we wish Apple would find a way to toughen up the finish or move on to another one altogether (old black macbook, we miss you). It is fairly impervious to dents and it is easy to wipe and clean though. If you're rough on your computers, the MacBook unibody won't likely stay glossy and pretty for long. We do live in terror of the pure white finish that's scratchable and can stain.

If you're not wed to Mac OS, there are certainly compelling Windows laptops in the same price range with better specs, but few have the Mac's build quality. It's a fast and responsive machine whether running Windows 7 or Mac OS X, and the multi-touch trackpad is superb. It's attractive, has a colorful and bright LED backlit display that's a great improvement over pre-unibody MacBook models and the updated graphics give the machine enough punch for light gaming. If you want Mac OS (and we can't blame you), and are on a budget, the MacBook is Apple's most affordable notebook.
