Apple Revs Up Entry-Level MacBook

By Geoff Duncan May 18, 2010

Although rumors have been circulating for a few weeks now, Apple has quietly revised the specs of its entry-level white MacBook notebook computers, pushing the systems up to a 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, putting in the same Nvidia 320M graphics with 256 MB of video memory that can be found the its 13-inch MacBook Pro, and including a beefier battery that Apple says can give the machine up to 10 hours of use on a single charge.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Other specs for the machine—including its start $999 price tag—remain the same. The MacBook stoll sports 2 GB of RAM (supports up to 4 GB), a 250 GB hard drive, a 13.3-inch 1280 by 800-pixel display, a slot-loading DVD±RW DVD drive, gigabit Ethernet, 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth 2.1 wireless networking, a mini DisplayPort output, integrated iSight camera, two USB 2.0 ports, and Apple’s nifty MagSafe power adapter.

The MacBook update lands in time for the back-to-school season, which typically sees computer update purchases start in the summer. However, Apple’s decision to quietly update the entry-level MacBook makes one of Apple’s signature notebooks—the super-slim MacBook Air—look even longer in the tooth: it hasn’t received an update in quite some time. Industry watchers generally expect Apple will refresh the MacBook Air before the end-of-year holiday buying season begins in earnest.

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

Computing

The best Firefox extensions to level up your browser

Firefox

Firefox is one of the best browsers you can use, but it gets even better when you start to power it up with a selection of add-ons and extensions. In fact, it has one of the best extension libraries of any browser out there, meaning you’re absolutely spoiled for choice if you want to add new features and abilities to your browser.

Here, we’ve rounded up our picks for the best Firefox extensions that you can use today. Each one brings something different to the table, but they all significantly improve your web-browsing experience.
Productivity
Gesturefy

Computing

HP’s answer to Apple’s iMac is discounted from to $450 this weekend

A man does creative work at the HP 27-inch all-in-one PC.

If you don't really have the space to fit a whole desktop computer, then you may want to consider going for an all-in-one (AIO) solution; it will save you a ton of space, plus you don't have to go out and buy each part individually. Luckily, there are some great early Memorial Day deals on AIO solutions you can take advantage of, such as this deal on the HP All-in-One 27, which usually goes for $850 but has been discounted down to just $450. That makes it an excellent budget pick if you just want something for the basics and don't expect to do any complex tasks on it, like graphical rendering.

Why you should buy the HP All-in-One 27
While the HP All-in-One 27 might not be as powerful as an iMac, it does have similar dimensions, with a large 27-inch screen and a surprisingly tiny bezel, which is actually a bit smaller than the iMac's.The screen runs a 1920 x 1080 resolution and can hit a peak brightness of 300 nits, which will be fine for a well-lit room, and you can upgrade it to a touch version for $200, but it's probably not worth it in the long run. Under the hood, you'll find an Intel Core i3-1315U, an entry-level CPU that should handle most basic tasks just fine, although we'd probably suggest upgrading to the Intel Core i5-1335U for an extra $125, which will give you a lot more versatility and quality of life.

Computing

Apple’s M2 13-inch MacBook Air is $150 off in the Memorial Day sales

The screen of the MacBook Air on a table.

If you don’t mind going one generation back with your purchase, Best Buy has the MacBook deals for you with a massive $150 off the Apple MacBook Air 13.6-inch M2. Usually $999, it’s down to $849 for a limited time only. We can’t say how long the deal will stick around, but we can confidently say this is one of the better laptop deals to go for. If you’re keen to learn more, keep reading while we take you through things.

Why you should buy the Apple MacBook Air 13.6-inch M2
When you check out our look at the best MacBooks, you’ll notice that the MacBook Air 13.6-inch M2 features as the best MacBook for everyone. It’s super versatile with a great M2 processor, and a very lightweight and thin build. Despite being so thin, it’s robust thanks to its all-aluminum unibody enclosure which is super durable while looking good too.