Here it is! My video comparison of the new White Macbook side by side with the Macbook Pro. If you aren’t able to watch the video, let me give you a quick written review of the specs and what makes these two models different.
New White Macbook Base Specs:
2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
250 GB Hard Drive
2 GB of DDR3 Memory
New Brighter Display
Full Unibody Construction
7 Hour Battery
Multi-Touch Glass Trackpad
Total $999
Aluminum Macbook Pro Base Specs:
2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
160 GB Hard Drive
2 GB of DDR3 Memory
LED Display
Full Unibody Construction
7 Hour Battery
Multi- Touch Glass Trackpad
SD Card Slot
FireWire 800
Back-lit keyboard
Battery Indicator Light
Total $1,199
Obviously, each model also includes a display port, ethernet port, two USBs, an audio in/out, Kensington Lock, and a Superdrive, so we can just ignore those specs, along with the processor, the memory, 7 hour battery and glass track pads which are the same between the two models. What we are really interested in are the components of the computer that differ. To begin with, the screen. Although they both have the same screen resolution and LED Backlit display, the Macbook Pro still has a superior quality of the screen. In the video you can see the difference between the colors on each screen and although I believe Apple has made vast improvements to the Macbook’s screen, it is still not on par with the Macbook Pro.
Now, the Macbook has a greater hard drive capacity in the base model. There is no way around this, the numbers speak for themselves. You can of course upgrade the size of the Macbook Pro’s hard drive, but this is one area where the new Macbook is superior to the Macbook Pro. However, this is really where the superiority ends, as the Macbook lacks many of the great features that make the Macbook Pro a more functional and fully equipped computer.
These Pro features include the SD card slot, FireWire 800, a back lit keyboard, and battery indicator lights. Now, for a difference of $200 you can get all these useful features, by giving up 90 GBs of hard drive space, and to me, that is worth it. When it comes to computers, space isn’t a major issue because hard drives are one of the most easily replaceable components of any computer. Apple charges you a mere $50 to equip your Macbook Pro with a 250 GB hard drive, and for not too much more, you can bring your laptop to an Apple certified repair business to have the hard drive upgraded. You also have the option of many different forms of external hard drive space that any computer owner should use to back up their files -if for no other purpose. Remember, you can always get more hard drive space, but you can’t just add an SD card slot, or a backlit display to a notebook computer.
When it comes down to it, the difference between the Macbook and the Macbook Pro base models is $200, and you certainly get your money’s worth for the difference, especially if you are someone, who like me, values those added features and would prefer them to a $200 savings. Of course, another major factor in the decision between the two machines is the difference between white plastic and aluminum, and although I am not going to discuss that difference because to me it will always come down to personal taste, I just wanted to remind my readers that this is a machine that you will probably have for some time and you should like the way it looks just as much as you like the way it works. So, if you love the way the white Macbook looks and can’t stand the Aluminum, I think you have already made your choice, because no amount of extra features will turn one unibody into another 😉
Fantastic review and comparison. You should go work for Macworld. You didn’t mention heat, though, and that’s very important for laptops. Since you’ve used both, which is cooler in the lap? Is there a difference in the frequency with which the fans come on in each machine? Oh, and the screens really do get progressively better as you move up the MB and MBP line. The 15″ MBP has a much brighter screen than the 13″ MBP. The Air also has a brighter screen. Pity Apple doesn’t just unify that one aspect of all their computers.
– Mark
thanks for doing the review! i’ve been anticipating for it. thank you!
Hello! First I want to say that your comparison is great. I’m brazilian and now the new MacBook White comes to sale in here. It will be my first Mac, so, I’m reading so much about that to choose which one I will buy, I’ve been reading that some people has trouble about the plastic of MacBooks who used to break or to be more fragile (of course) than aluminum of pro, and all the great stuff on the pro, I think I’ll but this one ;D
thanks for posting this o/
Bravo, this phrase has had just by the way