MacBook: Battery up, performance mixed
March 3rd 2008
AnandTech has published an in-depth, 15-page look at the just-refreshed MacBook line. While you'll find extensive performance benchmarks (see also Primate Labs) and battery-life testing, his work quantifying the good and bad of Apple's "new" consumer portable can be summed up thusly:
• The only real change is the addition of Intel's Penryn
• Battery life has improved 7 to 15 percent (ie Penryn)
• Performance is a mixed compared to last-gen models
-- Penryn is better at some things, merely equal at others
As clearly indicated by the above and Apple's "soft launch," the new MacBooks are evolutionary in terms of the improvements on offer. If you're looking for something more radical, Anand suggests you might want to wait for Montevina-based portables later this year.
Editor's note: For the vast majority of tasks, current performance isn't an issue for the MacBook's target audience. However, battery performance is a critical differentiator for users of all stripes.
The switch to Intel and Apple's willingness to follow in the chip giant's wake continue to paid dividends for Mac users--a worthy update.
What's your take?
