Those familiar with the 13.3-inch MacBook Pro will immediately feel at home on the MacBook version, which has a similar rounded-edge profile, LED-backlit screen, and glass trackpad. The main difference, as most people will immediately notice is the choice of materials. This MacBook is all plastic.  Apple had built this Mac from a single piece of polycarbonate, the same material used in various other products even bulletproof windows.   Creating the MacBook’s main case out of a single piece of polycarbonate plastic results in fewer parts, fewer screws, a lighter weight, and better durability.  The result is a consistent white color, and a smoother surface without the sharp edges of the earlier generation. Instead of pads in the corners on the bottom of the MacBook, the entire surface is one giant rubberized foot secured by eight Phillips screws.   Apple’s other unibody laptops, the battery is not user-replaceable, but Apple says that the battery gives you between three and a half and seven hours of juice and up to 1000 charge cycles before being reduced to 80 percent capacity. Apple says that the battery should take about five years to reach that point, but each user’s results will vary.

This MacBook stills uses an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, with 2.26GHz as the processor speed. The 2009 MacBook, like its predecessor, has 3MB of shared L2 cache. And although the MacBook maintains the same 1066MHz frontside bus as before, the new model supports 1066MHz DDR3 RAM as opposed to 800MHz DDR2 RAM.

In regards to graphics, this MacBook uses the same Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics processor, which shares 256MB of RAM with the main memory, as both the previous version and the 13-inch and low-end 15-inch MacBook Pros.  A nice feature compared to the low end MacBook Pro, is that this laptop has a 250GB hard drive compared to the 160GB hard disk given by default on the 13” MacBook Pro.  While comparing this MacBook to the Pro version, it does lack a SD Card reader and Firewire port.

Apple has changed the backlight on the new MacBook over to LEDs, which use less power and reach full brightness instantly, eliminating the dim, hazy look of a just-powered-on laptop screen. The screen looks spectacular. As with all glossy screens, be prepared for screen glare outside, from windows outside, or just any type of lamps inside your house.

Although it includes a slot-loading optical drive where as others do not, it offers no dedicated analog microphone input (the headphone jack has to be switched using software), no SD card slot, and a mini DisplayPort connector, which can’t actually be used for connecting anything without a $29 adapter. Two USB ports look quite alone on the left hand side, when other laptops offer 3 or 4 in some cases.  My only complaint is the two USB ports are pretty close together, so I could see in cases where different USB cables or thumb drives will make it harder to plug in two devices at the same time.

Much like the MacBook Pro, the MacBook offers a gigantic multi-touch trackpad with no buttons – the entire thing depresses like one big button. I am in love with multi-touch already, and found it extremely easy to navigate around the OS with no issues.  I actually have been using the Trackpad more than an external mouse, however that may change.  I do not want to add additional wear if unneeded, so I plan on purchasing a Bluetooth mouse soon.

The Intel Core 2 Duo and Nvidia GeForce 9400M in the MacBook give it some definite kick, especially when coupled with Snow Leopard. After pressing the power button, it reaches the desktop in only 20 seconds. Every application I open starts immediately, I’m assuming partly from the hardware specs, and other from Snow Lepoard.  I can’t believe how well everything just runs.

Even though I had originally looked to purchase a MacBook Pro, the fact I was able to price match a new MacBook for $799 had made the choice clear.  I could not justify spending the $400 dollar difference for the base MacBook Pro, even though they are rumored to be updated soon.   This MacBook however still rocks, besides the lack of a swappable battery, however this Mac improves upon the previous generations in every way.  Regardless of the fact it lacks an SD card reader, this MacBook fits all of my needs, and I am looking forward to spending some quality time with my new friend, “Mac.”