Apple MacBook Gets Intel Core 2 Duo Chip

Apple Computer on Wednesday unveiled its upgraded MacBook laptop, and the computer now features Intel’s Core 2 Duo chip, which the Cupertino, Calif.-based firm claims boosts the MacBook’s processing power by 25 percent, Macworld.com reports.

Intel Core 2 Duo

The upgraded MacBook comes in white in 1.83GHz and 2.0GHz models, and in a black 2.0GHz edition, according to Macworld. The 1.83GHz white model sells for $1,099, the white 2.0GHz version goes for $1,299, and the 2.0GHz black MacBook wears a price tag of $1,499, Macworld reports.

“This is our first consumer [notebook] model to use the Intel chip, and it has been extremely popular for us,” Apple Vice President of Worldwide Mac Product Marketing David Moody told Macworld.

Apple said the new MacBooks offer increased performance for such applications as its iPhoto program—which is 18 percent faster than when run on the predecessor MacBook—the iMovie application, which is 20 percent faster, and the iWeb program, which is 27 percent faster, Macworld reports.

The 1.83GHz MacBook has 512MB of RAM, a 60GB hard-disk drive and combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW optical drive, according to Macworld. The 2.0GHz versions have 1GB of RAM, and the white model includes an 80GB hard drive, as well as a 6x SuperDrive with dual-layer support, Macworld reports. The black 2.0GHz model has a hard drive with 120GB storage capacity, according to Macworld.

Last month, Apple announced that its MacBook Pro line of computers would get Intel’s Core 2 Duo chips, but it did not specify if or when the consumer MacBook would get the upgrade.