Notebook Critic

Apple’s low-end Macbook line is looking sparse now that the unibodies are sorted out, with a single lonely model available to budget conscious Apple aficionados.

Back to School looms on the horizon and there is still the matter of a price competitive entry level Macbook to sort out (it is seriously over due). This and ‘budget friendlier’ iMacs should drive lots of volume.

• 1.6 Ghz CULV Intel CPU
• 13″ LCD
• 2 GB RAM (800 MHz)
• Nvidia 9300m (lower spec 9400m but still 2x Intel GMA) or ATI discrete (4330)
• 160 GB HDD
• No optical drive
• 802.11n (no BT)
• OSX 10.6 if possible or 10.5 with up to date program.
• $699
• White plastic but .5″ thinner
• 7 hour battery

Netbook interest is waning but a whole bunch of new CULV notebooks are to be sprung on unsuspecting consumers over the next two-three months. These are real Core 2 Duo CPUs going into tiny form factor notebooks that PC makers have had 3 years to develop and perfect. A usable ultra portable for $500 running Windows 7 is not something you want to face off against if all you have is a $999 Macbook with it’s admittedly faster innards but dated looks.

There will be a whole lot more Macs in homes in 2010 when Apple launches their MacOS App Store at WWDC.