Apple’s recent change in architecture from G5 to X86 processors has brought a lot more scope to the usability front. As a result, we have seen the beginning of operating system interoperability and we are now taking a look at the new MacBook because of its architecture, which is remarkably similar to a standard Windows PC.

The new black MacBook is the replacement for the superseded iBook line. Its niche is carved out on lower level of Apple’s two-tiered performance scale, and lacks the Radeon X1600 graphics, FireWire 800 connector, bigger screen and, unfortunately, backlit keyboard.

Specifications
Running version 10.4.7 of OS X, the machine is powered by a 2GHz Core Duo processor on a 667MHz FSB. An 80GB SATA hard drive was loaded with Apple’s built in suite of tools and Microsoft Office. By default, it comes with 512MB of DDR2 RAM, however our review unit came equipped with the maximum available 2GB. An Intel GMA 950 graphics card syphons off 64MB of system RAM to drive the 1280 x 800 13.3” widescreen LCD. It puts the system in a powerful and productive niche for those who want longevity and power but don’t plan on playing 3D games.

The sound is handled by an Intel High Definition audio chip, which can handle both analogue and digital connections through 3.5mm hybrid mini-jacks. This is done through analogue headers which have an optical SP/DIF interface inside them. Wi-Fi is included, as is Bluetooth (currently without A2DP support) and Gigabit Ethernet. There are no inbuilt card readers, no PCMCIA support and not surprisingly, no modem. A DVD burner is included that will handle any form of optical media currently available, except 8cm discs, as it is a slot loading model.

The package
Although the onboard connectivity is limited, a lot of expandability is available through accessories. If you need to connect an external DVI monitor, or output to S-Video, you’ll need a task-specific dongle first. The MacBook doesn’t come with any, however there is a bundled IR remote control for use with the iLife suite, which controls playback of music, DVDs and pictures through Apple’s bundled software. All the connectivity occurs on the left hand side of the laptop, with the right hand side housing the DVD drive and the rear covered by the hinged design of the screen.

Build quality
The exterior of the case is beautiful and smooth, with the only seam breaking up the fluid surfaces and curves being the integrated battery, hard drive and RAM cover at the base. The chassis’ seams had to go somewhere though, and in a blow to usability, have wound up on the inside edge of the laptop, directly underneath your wrists. This razor-like edge in the chassis’ construction is a baffling decision considering Apple’s normally unrivalled attention to detail. To make matters worse, your wrists are the part of your body that spend the most time in contact with the laptop, and the edge makes typing extremely uncomfortable. It’s a real pity, as it detracts from the experience of using OS X.

You can set up the touchpad to interpret a two-fingered tap as a right click, and if you keep them on the touchpad and drag them around, you’ll scroll the active window. This explains the monstrous touchpad, but not the equally monstrous single button mouse button below it. With the advent of the Mighty Mouse it’s strange that such a lot of real estate has been allocated to a single button, but certainly not surprising, seeing as the single button mouse has been a Mac trait since day one.

While we’re on the subject of input devices, the keyboard is a strange hybrid beast. It tries to mimic a desktop keyboard by providing 3mm of separation between the keys. This would make it feel more like a desktop, except that it’s still a laptop keyboard with 2mm of key travel, not the clunky, reassuring, near-centimeter key travel of a desktop keyboard. Compounding these tactile problems is the directly related issue of the smaller keys, which make typing more precise and arduous task, like playing tennis with a squash ball.

Overall
There’s no denying that the underlying hardware, with the exception of the graphics system, is very powerful. This low-end Mac laptop has the best of the PCs. A purchasing decision that once came down to a choice of allegiance is now more flexible. Depending on which programs you use, Boot Camp’s outlook (which officially isn’t supported as it’s a still a demo beta) and if you can stomach the Swiss army edge underneath your wrists, the Mac Book may be from you.