Billed as a replacement to the 12-inch Powerbook, the 13-inch widescreen MacBook, which is on sale now, starts at $1,099 for a 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo processor with a 60GB hard drive. Like the former iBooks, that model--and the next model up, which packs a 2.0GHz processor, a 60GB hard drive and $1,299 price tag--is cased in white.
The top-of-the-line 2.0GHz model, starting at $1,499, comes equipped with a 80GB hard drive and is available only in black.
The new MacBooks weigh 5.2 pounds each and measure about 1 inch thick, making them about 20-percent thinner than the iBook. According to press materials from Apple, they're also equipped with a display that is 79 percent brighter than the iBook and the 12-inch PowerBook.
In other news:
Each of the new MacBooks will come with a built-in iSight video camera, which can be used for video conferencing and video podcasts.
They also include built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet, built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11g WiFi, built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate), two USB 2.0 ports, combination analog and optical digital audio input and output ports, and a mini-DVI video output to connect up to a 23-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.
Apple first announced the MacBook Pro series, which features models with 15- and 17-inch screens, in January. Rumors of the latest MacBook revelations had been swirling in recent weeks, with one Mac rumor site predicting the release would be a week earlier.
