Apple Upgrades MacBooks With Core 2 Duo

Solidifying its new relationship with Intel, Apple unveiled a new line of MacBook notebooks that include Intel Core 2 Duo processors.

With the help of one of Intel's latest processors, the MacBooks are up to 25% faster than the previous generation and six times faster than the iBook, according to Apple. They're also one-inch thick, and tout a built-in iSight video camera for on-the-go video conferencing and Apple's MagSafe Power Adapter that magnetically connects the power cord to the MacBook and safely disconnects under strain.

"The big deal is that they continue their move to Intel," says Gordon Haff, an analyst with Iluminata, an industry analyst firm based in Nashua, N.H. "Faster processors, obviously, tend to be a good thing." The new product line will be of special interest to gamers looking for a power boost, he says.

The new MacBook lineup includes three models: white 1.83 GHz and 2.0 GHz MacBook models, and a black 2.0 GHz MacBook model. Prices start at $1,099, and all three models are shipping, according to Apple.

"MacBook has helped drive Apple's notebook market share to over 10% in U.S. retail," says Philip Schiller, a senior VP with Apple.

The company also now offers a MagSafe Airline Adapter that connects to in-seat power ports. And the MacBook also includes a Sudden Motion Sensor, designed to protect the hard drive in case of a fall.