Apple MacBook Spring 2010 (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD)
Manufacturer: Apple Part number: MC516LL/A
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Apple slightly revamps its basic MacBook with improvements under the hood, but keeps the design and price the same, which makes the new MacBook tough to beat as a back-to-school laptop.
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CNET editors' review
Apple MacBook Spring 2010 (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD) price range: $1,499.95
- Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
- Reviewed on: 06/08/2010
- Released on: 05/18/2010
The good: Faster processor; improved graphics; better battery life.
The bad: Still no SD card slot; might be time for Apple to switch to 16:9 aspect ratio displays.
The bottom line: Apple slightly revamps its basic MacBook with improvements under the hood, but keeps the design and price the same, which makes the new MacBook tough to beat as a back-to-school laptop.
Incredibly popular on college campuses and in coffee shops, Apple's MacBook laptops are arguably one of the most flexible and useful laptop lines ever designed, thanks to the company's overarching hardware and software ecosystem--and anchored by our favorite track pad ever.
The Pro line may be Apple's flagship laptop, but the basic white polycarbonate $999 MacBook hits the sweet spot between price and performance; especially now that the Apple's latest updates have added a slightly faster Intel Core 2 Duo processor, improved Nvidia graphics, and even given its battery life a modest boost.
While the practical impact on users is probably modest, Apple still hasn't moved to Intel's newer Core-series CPUs in its 13-inch models, and the lack of an SD card slot in any laptop these days seems like a glaring omission. We expect some changes in these areas when Apple gives its MacBook line its next big refresh, else things may start to feel a bit dated. While we're compiling a wish list, we'd love to see Apple make the switch and give the MacBook screen a 16:9 aspect ratio with higher resolutions.
That said, if you're shopping for a back-to-school laptop--and it's certainly getting to be that time of the year--the 13-inch MacBook is very likely near the top of your list, and with good reason.
| Price as reviewed / Starting price | $999 |
| Processor | 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo |
| Memory | 2GB, 1,066MHz DDR2 |
| Hard drive | 320GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | Intel NM10 |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce 320M |
| Operating System | OS X 10.6.3 Snow Leopard |
| Dimensions (WD) | 13.0x9.12 inches |
| Height | 1.08 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 13.3 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 4.5/5.0 pounds |
| Category | 13-inch |
From the outside, this new version of the MacBook looks identical to the one released in the fall of 2009. It uses the same polycarbonate "unibody" construction-- although the bottom panel is a separate piece--found in the last few generations of the aluminum MacBook Pro line, and only comes in white; we still find people who miss the black MacBook.
The MacBook is not the thinnest 13-inch laptop we've seen, but the gently sloped edges on the glossy white lid make it look nice and slim. As before, the bottom panel has a darker off-white color and a matte feel than the glossy lid and keyboard tray.
Seeing other PC makers implement their own versions of a multitouch track pad just makes us appreciate the Apple version even more. The MacBook has the same large glass multitouch track pad the MacBook Pros have had for some time, as well as the one on the non-Pro MacBook since last fall.
The entire track pad presses as a giant left mouse button, but tapping to click can be turned on in the settings menu--it really should be on by default, and every time we use a new MacBook, it takes us a minute to figure out why we can't click on anything. The large surface area and the multitouch gestures--including four fingers to minimize every open window and the two-finger tap to simulate a right mouse click--are so intuitive and useful that it takes a few minutes to adjust to using any other kind of track pad.
This 13.3-inch display still has the same 1,280x800-pixel native resolution as its previous versions had. Once that resolution was extremely common; however, these days laptops from 11- to 15-inch screen size generally have a 16:9 aspect ratio, 1,366x768-pixel resolution display, rather than the 16:10 aspect ratio found here. Many premium-priced laptops go even further, with display resolutions hitting 1,600x900 pixels or higher. It's not a deal breaker, but for viewing HD video content, it's not perfect. If you're spending $1,000 or more on a laptop, having a 12x8 aspect ratio display is starting to look a little long in the tooth.
| Apple MacBook spring 2010 | Average for category [13-inch] | |
| Video | Mini-DisplayPort | VGA plus HDMI or DisplayPort |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 2 USB 2.0 | 3 USB 2.0, SD card reader |
| Expansion | None | None |
| Networking | Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Ethernet, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional mobile broadband |
| Optical drive | DVD burner | DVD burner |
The ports and connections on this new MacBook are exactly the same as the previous model, which is no surprise. You'll need to adapt the mini-DisplayPort video output to match your preferred external monitor, and its lack of an SD card slot is still a major inconvenience. At the same time, the Magsafe power adapter connection, which pops harmlessly off if yanked, should be an industry standard across the board.
The standard MacBook comes in only a single configuration with a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU. You can increase the RAM from 2GB to 4GB for $100, or upgrade the hard drive to 320GB ($50) or 500GB ($150), but that's it as far as you can upgrade the hardware. Considering the 13-inch MacBook Pro is only $200 more--and $100 of that goes to the RAM upgrade--you could spend the extra $100 and get the metal construction, backlit keyboard, and an SD card slot.
Performancewise, you're getting essentially the same experience as with the more expensive 13-inch MacBook Pro in our benchmark tests, although even the older fall 2010 MacBook wasn't far behind. In fact, the Core 2 Duo MacBooks were significantly faster than a recent 13-inch Asus U30Jc with an Intel Core i3 CPU, although in our single-app tests, a Core i5 Sony Z116 was faster.
The biggest under-the-hood change to the MacBook is that it now has Nvidia's GeForce 320M graphics chip. It's technically still an integrated GPU, and a close relative to the previous MacBook's GeForce 9400M chip. However, just as we loved the 9400, the new 320M is even better, providing decent 3D graphics and HD video playback without the need for a discrete GPU. In Call of Duty 4, we got 28.9 frames per second at the system's 1,280x800-pixel native resolution with 4x anti-aliasing turned on, and 48.3 frames per second at lower graphics settings without the anti-aliasing. In comparison, the current 15-inch MacBook Pro, with a discrete Nvidia GeForce GT 330M running at 1,440x900-pixel resolution gets 34.9fps and 59fps on the same tests.
With the introduction of Steam for Macs, there's never been a better time to be a Mac gamer. While it may not be perfect for hardcore gamers, mainstream users will find they can use the non-Pro MacBook for most current and upcoming games (provided the game publishers release an OSX version).
 Juice box |
|
| Apple MacBook spring 2010 | Average watts per hour |
| Off | 0.26 |
| Sleep | 0.88 |
| Idle | 8.72 |
| Load | 33.83 |
| Raw kWh | 36.05 |
| Annual power consumption cost | $4.09 |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Apple continues to dominate in our battery life tests. Thanks to a modest change in the chemistry of the sealed-in MacBook battery, the current 13-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro both last significantly longer than their predecessors did. This model ran for 6 hours and 27 minutes on our video playback battery drain test, while the fall 2009 MacBook ran for only 5 hours and 14 minutes. Outside of low-voltage Netbooks--and then even just a handful of those--it's nearly impossible to get a longer workday out of a laptop. The trade-off is that the sealed battery compartment means that you can't swap in a second battery, or replace an old battery yourself.
Apple still includes a one-year parts-and-labor warranty, but only 90 days of telephone support. Upgrading to a full three-year plan under AppleCare will cost an extra $249 and is pretty much a must-buy, considering the proprietary nature of Apple products. Support is also accessible through an online knowledge base, video tutorials, and e-mail with customer service, or through in-person visits to Apple's retail store Genius Bars, which in our experience have always been fairly frustration-free encounters.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
System configurations:
Apple MacBook - spring 2010 - Core 2 Duo 13.3-inch - 2.4GHz
Mac OS X 10.6.3 Snow Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz; 2,048MB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce GT 320M; 320GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
Apple MacBook - fall 2009 - Core 2 Duo 13.3 inch - 2.26GHz
OS X 10.6.1 Snow Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.26GHz; 2,048MB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce 9400M; 250GB Toshiba 5,400rpm
Sony Vaio VPC-Z116GX/S
Windows 7 Professional (64-bit); 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 M520; 4,096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 330M; 256GB Intel SSD
Apple MacBook Pro - Core 2 Duo 13.3-inch - 2.4GHz (Silver) OS X 10.6.3 Snow Leopard; Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz; 4,096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce GT 320M; 250GB Seagate 5,400rpm
Asus U30Jc
Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit); 2.27Hz Intel Core i3 M350; 4,096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 512MB Nvidia GeForce 310M + 64MB Mobile Intel GMA 4500MHD; 320GB Hitachi 5,400rpm
User reviews
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The best is cheapest in the long run
by r83245 on June 11, 2010
Pros: No lockups, no crashes, always works. When you think about the downtime, virus scans, and all that are part of the non-Apple OS world, this computer really is more cost effective.
Cons: Stability, trackpad, operating system, it works! It's so worth the money to not have downtime.
The above reviewer says that "cheaper" alternatives are available, but they'll cost you more in downtime and lost production...4 out of 6 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Great computer for a great price
by johndog13 on June 9, 2010
Pros: Stability of Mac OS X
Included iLife Suite
Ability to dual boot Mac OS AND Windows - great for cross platform web development
Awesome battery life
Mag-safe Power Adapter
Unparalleled track pad
Minimalist case design and solid buildCons: SD card slot or 1 more USB port would be great
Summary: I use both Windows and Mac OS on a variety of desktop and laptop computers and have done so for years... much prefer using Apple hardware (even to run Windows). ...
Summary: I use both Windows and Mac OS on a variety of desktop and laptop computers and have done so for years... much prefer using Apple hardware (even to run Windows). As the family "IT guy" I absolutely recommend Macs to the non-techy members of the family - makes my life much simpler (excellent built-in screen-sharing ability in iChat for remotely helping them solve their problems). Couple of quick comments regarding the review:
1. I feel the ability to run both major consumer OS's (without hacking) should definetly be mentioned in the review
2. The inclusion of the iLife Suite in the price of the machine should ABSOLUTELY be emphasized, as I can't think of a rival package that is included with a Windows machine that comes close to rivaling this Suite for ease of use and smooth integration. It is an extremely robust suite for photo editing and organizing, movie/video editing, music creation (loops, recording and mixing), basic personal web-page creation, and DVD authoring. It could at the very LEAST be mentioned under the full specs, where included software is listed as "Drivers and Utilities".3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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amazing. 1 flaw
by laptoplover23 on June 22, 2010
Pros: its sleek. I love that it's small but not so small and thin to where it's like the mac air. i think its wonderful (read my summary for more detail.)
Cons: read bottom line summary.
Summary: i really do like this product, its slim, smooth, fast, but there is one flaw...THE KEYBOARD! after about a 2 year use the keyboard buttons fall off!!! make a ...
Summary: i really do like this product, its slim, smooth, fast, but there is one flaw...THE KEYBOARD! after about a 2 year use the keyboard buttons fall off!!! make a tougher keyboard apple!
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This laptop is the best piece of technology and design
by Eduardo Andres Fontanilla on July 12, 2010
Pros: With a perfect screen size a long-life battery a good (but not the best) processor and the best OS made ever OSX (it's not windows!) with a multi-touch trackpad the new macbook is the best laptop ever made.
Cons: The color: White (black is a better color for laptops). Needs a Better processors (core i3)
Summary: I never used a mac before. I always used a PC but my last laptop was stolen (a beautiful dell xps m1330) i really thought about change to a MAC'...
Summary: I never used a mac before. I always used a PC but my last laptop was stolen (a beautiful dell xps m1330) i really thought about change to a MAC's world. Believe me the change is from being in earth to now being in sky. Good laptop.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A little room for improvement that still beats the comp
by watermonkey on June 12, 2010
Pros: This laptop is fast, reliable, and contains top of the line components to keep it going long after a comparably priced pee cee will crap out on you. Service is top notch if something breaks in warranty and it's inexpensive to fix out of warranty.
Cons: Apple needs to add a SD reader and probably should add a Blue Ray drive as an option along with driving the monitor industry by increasing the quality of their screens with every iteration. These are not big deals, but would improve the laptop more.
Summary: I had a logic board crap out on my three and a half year old laptop just a month after the extended warranty expired. I was not a happy camper ...
Summary: I had a logic board crap out on my three and a half year old laptop just a month after the extended warranty expired. I was not a happy camper when I found out what a replacement would cost. I called Apple support and they told me to cough up a little over $300 and they'd send FedEx to my house with a box to mail my computer out in. I told them I wanted a new monitor too because I thought it looked quite dim next to my Dell (I didn't mention the Dell display was a recent replacement). A few days went by and the FedEx guy delivered my laptop back to me with a new logic board, display (with LED backlight instead of the fluorescent lit one it replaced), and one new 1G RAM module that replaced a defective one. I basically got a new 17" MBP back from Apple for a little more than $300! You don't even hear of that level of support much anymore let alone experience it. Apple has me hooked, even if that fraud Algore is on their B.o.D.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Love this computer!
by LeftyKittay on October 27, 2011
Pros: Looks great, perfect size, can do alot, great battery life, simple to figure out.
Cons: Not fantastic webcam quality.
Summary: Overall a great computer! I would deffinately recomend it!
Summary: Overall a great computer! I would deffinately recomend it!
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Great Laptop
by Ballardman on September 25, 2011
Pros: Battery Life. Reliability. Faster than any windows computer that i have had.
Cons: I wish for the price that it had the card reader. To bad Apple pulled the plug on this model.
Summary: This is my first MacBook. Now I understand why Mac users stay loyal. Once you go Mac you never go back. No crashes, freeze-up, no more myriads of anti-virus updates ...
Summary: This is my first MacBook. Now I understand why Mac users stay loyal. Once you go Mac you never go back. No crashes, freeze-up, no more myriads of anti-virus updates which bog down system performance. I love that you can turn it on and run your programs. No more waiting for long windows boots ups before running my programs. My Macbook experience has been great. Also Apple support is top notch. I love that you can schedule appointments go to the Apple store to take classes on how to work/use the common programs installed on your computer. Sure, you pay a little more for a MacBook upfront but to me it is we'll worth it. I have not been disappointed so far.
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alright all-rounder...
by huggyman12 on July 17, 2011
Pros: looks nice, great quality, great for light work(e.g. typing documents, small video editing, net-surfing), plays some games reasonably well (e.g. Halo 1, command and conquer generals etc.)
Cons: Stutters with some of the bigger games (e.g. COD4, team fortress 2, supreme commander 2)
Standard 2 Gb of RAM just isn't enough for doing anything more than net surfing and typing etc.
Battery isn't removableSummary: Just as the title says, there are a few things that it does well, but if you are looking for a rig with proper gaming capabilties, definately look elsewhere. Should ...
Summary: Just as the title says, there are a few things that it does well, but if you are looking for a rig with proper gaming capabilties, definately look elsewhere. Should be bought with 4 Gb's of RAM if you are going to push it a little.
On a side note: the only reliabilty issues I've had after a year are problems with the SMC (System Management Controller) in regards to the battery meter being faulty, and the trackpad getting gummy underneath, which was solved by poking a bit of paper around underneath it. -
Spectacular product!
by qosmioamit on December 16, 2010
Pros: led backlit display,
unibody sturdy design,
complete mac computer with ethernet port, cd/dvd drive, full keyboard, multi touch trackpadCons: none whatsoever :)
Summary: The cheapest laptop in the apple line gets better at no added cost. yay!
Summary: The cheapest laptop in the apple line gets better at no added cost. yay!
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Good Laptop
by threehunnit on November 24, 2010
Pros: Pros: Light weight, user friendly, lots of cool features and inexpensive operating system, lots of memory and speed, very seldom affected by viruses
Cons: Con: the only con I have is that the one I got in 2008, didn't have a DVD burner.
Summary: My understanding is that the whole "lack of a DVD burner" situation has been fixed with the newest basic macbooks and that the price is the same. Get lojack or ...
Summary: My understanding is that the whole "lack of a DVD burner" situation has been fixed with the newest basic macbooks and that the price is the same. Get lojack or some sort of tracking software on it because as a law enforcement professional, macbooks are highly coveted!!!
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Apple
- Part number: MC516LL/A
- Description: High-performance NVIDIA graphics bring more speed and efficiency to just about everything you do on a MacBook. Featuring thin and weighing light, MacBook features a sleek and durable unibody enclosure that slips easily into your bag or backpack.
General
- System Type Notebook
- OS Provided Apple MacOS X 10.7 Lion
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Notebook type 13-inch
Processor / Chipset
- Processor Intel Core 2 Duo 2.4 GHz
- Multi-Core Technology Dual-Core
- Cache L2 cache - 3 MB
- 64-bit Computing Yes
- Front Side Bus 1066 MHz
Memory
- RAM 2 GB ( 2 x 1 GB )
- Max RAM Supported 4 GB
- Technology DDR3 SDRAM
- Speed 1066 MHz
- Form Factor SO DIMM 204-pin
- Slots Qty 2
- Empty Slots 0
Storage
- Floppy Drive None
- Hard Drive 250 GB HDD / 5400 rpm
- Interface Serial ATA-300
- Storage Removable None
- Optical Drive DVD±RW (±R DL)
- Read Speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD)
- Write Speed 24x (CD) / 8x (DVD±R) / 4x (DVD±R DL)
- Rewrite Speed 10x (CD) / 4x (DVD±RW)
- Optical Drive (2nd) None
- Hard drive type Portable
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 50 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 95 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 0 - 90%
Display
- Type 13.3 in
- LCD Backlight Technology LED backlight
- Max Resolution 1280 x 800 ( WXGA )
- Widescreen Yes
- Features Glossy
Audio & Video
- Graphics Processor 256 MB,
NVIDIA GeForce GT 320M - Memory Allocation Technology Shared video memory (UMA)
- Max Allocated RAM Size 256 MB
- Camera Yes
- Sound Microphone
Input
- Type Keyboard,
Trackpad - Features Multi-touch touchpad
Communications
- Wireless Bluetooth 2.1 EDR,
802.11 a/b/g/n - Network Interface Gigabit Ethernet
Battery
- Technology Lithium polymer
- Installed Qty 1
- Capacity 63.5 Wh
- Run Time 10 hour(s)
AC Adapter
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Connections & Expansion
- Slots Memory
- Interfaces LAN,
Mini DisplayPort,
2 x USB 2.0,
Headphone/microphone/SPDIF combo jack - Interfaces 2 x USB 2.0 - USB 2.0,
1 x Ethernet - RJ-45,
1 x Display / video - VGA,
1 x HDMI,
1 x DVI-out,
1 x Dual-link DVI-out,
1 x Audio-in,
1 x Audio output,
1 x MagSafe power Software
- Software Included Apple iCal,
Apple QuickTime,
Apple Dashboard,
Apple Spotlight,
Apple XCode Developer Tools,
Drivers & Utilities,
Apple Address Book,
Apple Safari,
Apple DVD Player,
Apple iLife,
Apple Time Machine,
Apple Quick Look,
Apple Spaces,
Photo Booth,
Front Row,
Apple iChat,
Apple Mac OS X Mail Miscellaneous
- Color White
- Features Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)
- Cables Included Power cable ( 1 pcs.)
Dimensions & Weight
- Width 13 in
- Depth 9.1 in
- Height 1.1 in
- Weight 4.6 lbs
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - 1 year,
Technical support - Phone consulting - 90 days Sustainability
- ENERGY STAR Qualified Yes
- EPEAT Compliant EPEAT Gold
- Greenpeace policy rating (Nov 2011) 4.6
Accessories
- A-Data Classic Series C008 - USB flash drive - 4 GB (34637987)9.69
- A-Data Classic Series C008 - USB flash drive - 64 GB (34581520)64.99
- A-Data Classic Series C008 - USB flash drive - 64 GB (34581564)62.99
- Apple Magic Mouse (33783857)57.99 - 114.38
- Apple Mighty Mouse (wireless) (31985391)69.89
- Ergoguys mouse (34828799)
- Cisco Linksys E4200 v2 Maximum Performance Dual-Band N900 router (35098697)164.99 - 199.99
- Asus RT-N56U Dual-Band Gigabit Wireless-N Router (34200558)114.79 - 135.00
- Belkin N150 Wireless Router - wireless router - 802.11b/g/n - desktop (34859948)28.99 - 34.99
- Belkin N300 Wireless N Router - wireless router - 802.11b/g/n - desktop (35263578)39.99 - 55.10
- Belkin N600 DB Wireless Dual-Band N+ Router - wireless router - 802.11 a/b/g/n - desktop (35190484)66.57 - 104.73
- Belkin N900 Dual-Band Wireless Router - wireless router - 802.11n - desktop (35262637)194.99 - 292.17
- Cisco 881 Fast Ethernet Security Router supporting EVDO/1xRTT - router - cellular modem - 802.11b/g/n (draft 2.0) - desktop (35026157)
- Cisco 892F Gigabit Ethernet Security Router - wireless router - ISDN - 802.11 a/b/g/n (draft 2.0) - desktop (34693849)
- Cisco Integrated Services Router Generation 2 819G-V - router - cellular modem - 802.11 a/b/g/n - desktop (35040403)
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Apple products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:Apple
- Address:
One Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014 - Phone: 1-408-996-1010
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