What are the differences between the "Late 2006" MacBook and MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models?

Please note that all systems mentioned in this Q&A have been discontinued.

There are a number of substantial differences between the "Late 2006" MacBook and the MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models.

Photo Credit: Apple Computer

Upon first glace the similarities may not be immediately obvious, as the "Late 2006" MacBook Core 2 Duo models use "bright white" or "sleek black" polycarbonate cases with 13.3-inch "glossy" widescreen displays with a 1280x800 native resolution, and weigh 5.2 pounds. The MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" models, on the other hand, use silver-colored aluminum cases with 15.4-inch or 17.0-inch "matte" or "glossy" widescreen displays with either 1440x900 or 1680x1050 native resolution, respectively. The 15.4-inch MacBook Pro models weigh 5.6 pounds and the 17.0-inch models weigh 6.8 pounds.

Apart from size and color, there are a number of external similarities. Both the "Late 2006" MacBook and MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models have "scrolling TrackPads" that allow one to scroll or pan by touching the trackpad with two fingers instead of one and "two-finger click" capability -- which allows one to place two fingers on the trackpad and click with the thumb -- and the notebook interprets this action as the same as a "control-click.

All MacBook and MacBook Pro models also have built-in iSight video cameras for easy videoconferencing, included Apple Remotes for use with Apple Front Row media organization software, and the clever "MagSafe" power connector. The MacBook lacks the fiber-optic-based "ambient light sensors" that automatically "measure ambient light and work with integrated software to adjust keyboard illumination and screen brightness based on user preferences" of the MacBook Pro models, but does have a unique "flush against the bed" keyboard design and a unique magnetic latch that "catches without a catch".

Connectivity is similar, as both the MacBook and MacBook Pro 15-Inch "Core 2 Duo" models have AirPort Extreme (802.11g), Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, a FireWire "400" port, and optical digital audio in/out. The MacBook, however, substitutes a mini-DVI out port for the DVI out provided by the MacBook Pro, and lacks the ExpressCard/34 expansion slot and the Firewire "800" port provided by the MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" models. The 17" MacBook Pro models have a third USB 2.0 port as well. No Intel-based Macs have an internal modem.

There are some important internal differences between the "Late 2006" MacBook and MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models. All have "Core 2 Duo" processors -- with two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip -- and support 667 MHz PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM. The entry-level MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 1.83 13-Inch only has 2 MB of shared "on chip" level 2 cache, but all other MacBook and MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" models have 4 MB of level two cache.

The most notable difference between the "Late 2006" MacBook and MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models is perhaps that the MacBook systems include "integrated graphics" -- "the Intel GMA 950 graphics processor with 64MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory" -- whereas the MacBook Pro models all include the substantially faster ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 graphics processor with either 128 MB or 256 MB of dedicated GDDR3 SDRAM. The MacBook systems support an external display up to 1920x1200 pixels, and the MacBook Pro models have dual-link DVI and consequently can support an external display up to 2560x1600 pixels.

Configuration is similar, but the MacBook Pro models shipped by default with faster processors and generally larger and faster hard drives (Serial ATA for the MacBook and Serial ATA/100 for the MacBook Pro). Both systems include "Sudden Motion Sensor" technology that stops the hard drive heads from moving if the notebook is dropped. All "Late 2006" MacBook and MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models are capable of writing dual-layer DVD media with the exception of the entry-level MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 1.83 13-Inch which is not capable of writing DVDs at all. It is capable of writing to CD-R(W) though.

Ultimately, the most notable differences between the "Late 2006" MacBook and MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models are that the consumer-targeted MacBook models are smaller and lighter with 13" displays, come in white and black cases instead of silver aluminum ones, have slower processors, substantially slower "dedicated graphics" with inferior external display support, can support less memory, lack ExpressCard/34 and Firewire "800", but provide longer battery life and cost less.

These differences are summarized in this handy chart for your convenience:

"Late 2006"	MacBook	MacBook Pro 15"	MacBook Pro 17"
Processor Speeds:	1.83-2.0 GHz	2.16-2.33 GHz	2.33 GHz
Video System:	Intel GMA 950	Radeon X1600*	Radeon X1600*
Video Type:	Integrated	Dedicated (GDDR3)	Dedicated (GDDR3)
Video Memory:	64 MB†	128 MB, 256 MB	256 MB
Display Size:	13.3"	15.4"	17.0"
Native Resolution:	1280x800	1440x900	1680x1050
Ext. Display:	1920x1200	2560x1600	2560x1600
Hard Drive Size:	60, 80, 120 GB	120 GB	160 GB
Hard Drive Type:	Serial ATA	Serial ATA/100	Serial ATA/100
Default Memory:	512 MB, 1 GB	1, 2 GB	2 GB
Max Memory:	2 GB	3 GB	3 GB
ExpressCard/34:	No	Yes (1)	Yes (1)
Firewire 800:	No	Yes (1)	Yes (1)
Ambient KB:	No	Yes	Yes
Case Color:	White or Black	Silver	Silver
Size (Inches):	1.08 x 12.78 x 8.92	1.0 x 14.1 x 9.6	1.0 x 15.4 x 10.4
Weight:	5.2 lbs (2.36 kg)	5.6 lbs. (2.54 kg)	6.8 lbs. (3.1 kg)
Max Battery Life:	6 Hours††	5 Hours††	5.5 Hours††
Intro Price:	US$1099	US$1999	US$2799

You might also be interested in a side-by-side comparison between the "high end" MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13-Inch (Black) and "low end" MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.16 15-Inch:

Core 2 Duo	MacBook 2.0 13" Black	MacBook Pro 2.16 15"
Intel Processor:	T7200	T7400
Processor Speed:	2.0 GHz	2.16 GHz
Video System:	Intel GMA 950	ATI Mobility Radeon X1600
Video Type:	Integrated	Dedicated (GDDR3)
Video Memory:	64 MB†	128 MB
Display Size:	13.3" Widescreen	15.4" Widescreen
Native Resolution:	1280x800	1440x900
Ext. Display Support:	1920x1200	2560x1600
Hard Drive Size:	120 GB	120 GB
Hard Drive Type:	Serial ATA	Serial ATA/100
Default Memory:	1 GB	1 GB
Max Memory:	2 GB	3 GB
ExpressCard/34:	No	Yes (1)
Firewire 800:	No	Yes (1)
Ambient Keyboard:	No	Yes
Case Color:	Black	Silver
Size (In Inches):	1.08 x 12.78 x 8.92	1.0 x 14.1 x 9.6
Weight:	5.2 lbs (2.36 kg)	5.6 lbs. (2.54 kg)
Max Battery Life:	6 Hours††	5 Hours††
Apple Part No:	MA701LL/A	MA609LL
Price:	US$1499	US$1999

*ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 video system.

†64 MB of "video memory" is "borrowed" from system memory.

††Maximum battery life as provided by Apple.

Also see:

• What are the differences between the "Late 2006" MacBook Core 2 Duo models?
• What are the differences between the "Late 2006" MacBook Core 2 Duo models and the original MacBook notebooks that they replaced?
• What are the differences between the "Late 2006" MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo models?

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