Apple MacBook 2008 Edition - white (Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD)

Description: This configuration of the Apple MacBook 2008 is a 5.1-pound, general-purpose notebook computer. Compared to other consumer level notebooks on the market, it is midpriced at around $1,290. Has Wi-Fi (wireless connectivity) built-in. Features Intel GMA X3100 graphics with 144MB of video RAM.

Pros: Has 2 GB RAM, which is more than some similarly priced notebooks. In fact, the average cost of a product with this ample a RAM is $1,550. Also, this notebook has only a 5.1-pound weight, which is lighter than some similarly priced notebooks.

Cons: Has only a 13.3-inch screen size, which is somewhat smaller than some similarly priced notebooks. For example, the Dell Inspiron 1720 , a -pound notebook at around $1, 400, has a 17.0 screen size. Also, this notebook has an integrated housing media bay, which is somewhat less favorable than some similarly priced notebooks. For example, the Lenovo ThinkPad T60 , a 5.1-pound notebook at around $1, 390, has a plug-in module media bay. The Apple MacBook 2008 comes with basic word processing software – if you often need to create presentations you will likely need to upgrade to a more powerful office suite . This notebook's Intel GMA X3100 graphics chip uses system RAM, which sometimes results in slower performance.

Suitability: A consumer level notebook, suited for general mobile computing. Store massive amounts of data on DVD using the DVD writer included in this laptop. With 144MB of dedicated video RAM, this machine will do tremedously better than most other notebooks, when it comes to multimedia applications and games. Also, this notebook comes packaged with photo editing software to help you select, crop, and print the photographs from your digital camera. If you have a wireless network at home, wirelessly browse the Internet from any room in your house with this Wi-Fi enabled laptop.

Value: Overall, this notebook has good features for the money.

Suggestions: (1) Given this device's Wi-Fi capability, you may want to get a wireless access point for your home, so that you can browse the Web more conveniently from any room. (2) To get the most out of this laptop's Bluetooth capability, you could have a Bluetooth-enabled headset, PDA or other device, and be able to link it wirelessly to your computer within a range of 20-or-so feet inside the same room.