13 Inch Aluminum MacBook (Pro)

The aluminum MacBook was first a new redesign of the plastic model. The design is called unibody and it is a process where Apple make the casing out of one piece of aluminum. More on that below. Not long after its release this model was renamed and joined the MacBook Pro lineup instead. You could say that this computer was one of the first 13 inch MacBook Pro.

I bought it when it came out and reviewed it (Aluminum MacBook Review). The review is a bit dated today and the things I write about the display does not apply to the current Macs available today. They have much better displays now.

This 13 Inch Mac also replace the long living white MacBook or.. (Crackbook?) ;). Apple recently removed it from its store but I believe some educational institutions still is able to buy it.

Unibody Casing

The casing for this laptop is carved out of one piece of aluminum. Designing a computer this way drastically improves its sturdiness. It doesn't only look nice and feel great when you handle it but it also makes it easy to service. One drawback is that the edges feel sharp. It doesn't bother me that much though.

The Aluminum MacBook Pro comes with an integrated battery giving you up to 7 hours of wireless usage. This number is also more or less confirmed in unofficial tests. Not only marketing talk.

CPU Speed and RAM

The basic model have a CPU speed of 2.3GHz but it can also be purchased with an 2.7GHz option. We are in this case talking about Intel Sandy Bridge processors (Core i5/i7) Apple have also upped the amount of RAM you can put inside these little notebooks. 8GB, should be enough right?

The aluminum MacBook Pro features the Intel HD Graphics 3000 graphics chip which makes the computer a bad candidate for gaming and other graphic intensive tasks. World of Warcraft and Starcraft 2 will work but the performance will not be optimal. However it is always possible to reduce the graphic settings. Its not the best laptop for gaming but if you are the occasional gamer it may be enough for you.

Other MacBook related articles

Here are some more information related to the Aluminum MacBook Pro. Check them out if you like.

20 Beautiful MacBook Skins and MacBook Pro Skins

Beautiful MacBook Skins. Use them to make your Mac laptop stand out from the crowd and minimize the risk of getting scratches. Remove them with ease if you grow tired, leaving no marks or residue behind.

Used MacBook - You really need that computer ... so you figured a used MacBook or used MacBook Pro is something for you to consider... Right?

MacBook Stand - Using a MacBook Stand is useful if you often use your laptop as a stationary computer. This will give you better ergonomics because it gets the laptop a bit higher up.

MacBook VS MacBook Pro - What are the differences and how to they affect my choice between this line of notebooks?

MacBook RAM - Upgrading the MacBook RAM is one easy way to get a little more performance out of your computer. However selecting and finding the correct type of RAM can be challenging and that is why I made this list for you.

Battery Care - Learn how to take care of your battery in the best possible way. This page contains tips on how to achieve this. It will also give you information about how you calibrate the battery to maximize the performance.

Notebook Car Charger - Sometimes you might need to charge something when on the road, this page will show you not only how you can charge your MacBook (Pro and Air) but other items too.

Battery Time - If you want to get more battery time out of your laptop read this guide for 7 general guidelines and tips that will help you improve it.

MacBook Scratch Protection - You will probably want to protect your investment from scratches and to minimize the effect general wear and tear. Read more about neoprene sleeves.

MacBook Hard Case - A MacBook Hard Case is designed to give your laptop more protection compared to neoprene sleeves for example. Usually the cases are made of some kind of sturdy plastic material. You can put the MacBook inside this item and carry it around with you.

Useful external resources

Mini-laptops-and-notebooks.com The one-stop resource for mini laptops and netbooks. Product news, reviews and top ten mini laptops. A whole suite of resources to help find the Best One 4 U and Secrets to Save You Money. Subscribe to our Blog, RSS and monthly newsletter.