At a Glance
Expert’s Rating
Pros
- 802.11n wireless enabled
- Integrated iSight camera
- Sturdy but elegant design
- Slightly faster CPU
- Built-in AirPort Extreme and Bluetooth
- Larger hard drive
- Great glossy screen
- 8x SuperDrive
- Good battery life
Cons
- Enclosure easily marred by fingerprints
- No expansion card slot
- Mediocre graphics performance limits appeal for gaming
Our Verdict
The black MacBook gets a processor boost to 2.16GHz and a bigger 160GB hard drive in the May 2007 round of laptop updates. The SuperDrive has also been upgraded to an 8X model, and the MacBook now has built-in support for 802.11n wireless networking. Otherwise, the specs are unchanged from the previous Core 2 Duo-based offerings.
The black MacBook posted the highest Speedmark score in our test of the new MacBook models, a fact we attribute to its larger hard drive. Apple continues to charge a $200 premium for the bigger-capacity drive and black finish; whether that extra expense makes this a better buy than the equally fast 2.16GHz white MacBook is a matter of personal taste.
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