Apple's new MacBook integrates a number of impressive features from the MacBook Pro line while maintaining a lower cost and valuable features aimed at regular users (as well as those new to the Mac ecosystem).

In fact, the new MacBook (US$999, C$1099) approximates the computing power and operability of the more expensive, aluminum-clad MacBook Pro ($1299) in most respects.

Replacing the blocky design of the old new MacBook, the new new MacBook sports the "chiclet" form factor of the old Apple iBook (follow?) with a sleeker, more rounded 1.08-inch unibody enclosure. What's more, there is a substantial amount of aluminum in the new MacBook's chassis to prevent flexing and bending - a common conundrum for the older MacBooks.

The new MacBook weighs in at an acceptable 4.7 pounds - not bad considering you get an optical drive and roughly 7-hours of battery life in the package.

The MacBook also shares the glass trackpad found on the MacBook Pro and together with this larger, more resilient, more sensitive touchpad is a host of two, three and four finger controls (pinch, sweep, etc.) that make navigation on the MacBook easier and more dynamic - provided you use programs that recognize the gestures, of course.

The MacBook's 13.3 inch LED screen is bright, crisp and uses less power overall. It also comes with the requisite iSight camera built in, good for video calls and conferencing or just fooling around on the popular PhotoBooth app. It's hard to believe that this same LED screen was a premium feature on the MacBook Air and the 15-inch MacBook Pro just a year and a half ago, now its standard on all the Apple portables. Chalk another one up for Moore's Law.

Tested as a primary production machine for the greater part of a week, the new MacBook proved to be a stellar performer all around. The 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor offers more power than the typical user should need and with 2GB of RAM (expandable to 4GB), you can have dozens of windows and applications open without any perceptible slowdown.

While not as "solid" in look and feel as the aluminum MacBook Pro, the shiny white MacBook does feel rugged and travels exceptionally well. The MagSafe power adaptor is also a great plus, one that many Mac users take for granted. Any sudden jerking pulling movement on the power cord will disengage it from the notebook, limiting the chance of drag-and-plummet disaster.

This version of the MacBook has become popular not just for what it introduces but also what it has removed. There is no longer a user-replaceable battery, for example. For some time now, all MacBook Pros have used a fixed, long life battery, larger but permanently enclosed. The new MacBook takes this no-touchy approach, too. The trade off is battery life extended from 4.5 hours to 7 hours of use and can apparently be recharged 1000 times before you have to go get it replaced by an "Apple Genius" (certified technician) for about $100 +tax, because Apple doesn't trust "Paying Customer Idiots" to get the job done.

In the real world, testing revealed that the MacBook actually ran for around five and half hours while surfing the web and working on some Word documents, blogging and some Photoshop edits. Not quite the claimed "7 hours," but not bad, either.

Sadly, there's also no FireWire slot on the new MacBook.

That Apple is phasing out FireWire is no surprise, though it is frustrating for many users, especially those already in possession of devices like video cameras, external hard drives and other "I Heart Mac" peripherals that use FireWire. It's okay, of course, because Apple will gladly sell you brand new FireWire-free devices to replace your perfectly functional FireWire gadgets. Gee, thanks.

As a Mac technician, I've used FireWire Target Disk Mode to diagnose, repair and rebuild ailing Macs, and FireWire has been a great way to move gigabytes of data back and forth between machines. Apple claims that space, power drain and the popularity of USB 2.0 were the reasons for ditching FireWire. Fair enough, but for Mac specialist and aficionados, FireWire will be sorely missed.

Finally, there's no battery charge indicator on the new MacBook chassis. One of the coolest things about older Apple portables was a battery indicator on the batteries themselves, later on in the chassis of the notebooks. Perplexingly, the new MacBook has ditched that as well. Now the only way to figure out how much of the so-called "7-hours" you have left on the battery is to boot up the device and check the information on-screen, which is not always practical.

In the grand scheme of things, however, and considering the intended target user, the listed omissions are trifle. The new MacBook is still a great product.

Yet considering the undemanding user or neophyte might also be considering a similarly fashionable notebook or netbook from Acer, HP, MSI and Dell in the sub-$500 range, well, the new MacBook certainly looks like an expense for naught. Or if not naught, then for a big, fat, partially chewed fruit logo emblazoned topside.

Use the thing and you do see the extra cost as somewhat justified - Apple innovation, sterling build quality and quick service and support through Apple's network of Apple Stores, all part of the package. Still, stripped of key components, Moore's Law in action and all such things considered, a $700 price tag would seem more appropriate.
 

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