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MacBook Q&A - Updated March 16, 2008

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What kind of expansion slots are provided by the MacBook?

The MacBook provides no expansion slots. If a Mac notebook with an ExpressCard/34 expansion slot is a high priority, you will need to purchase a MacBook Pro. If you need a Mac notebook with an older PC Card slot, you will want to consider PowerBook G4 models with 15" or larger displays.

Site sponsor PowerMax has new and used MacBook Pro and PowerBook G4 systems available for sale free of sales tax.

What type of video processor is provided by the MacBook? Is it upgradable?

The MacBook systems released prior to the unveiling of the "Late 2007/Santa Rosa" line on November 1, 2007 have an Intel GMA 950 integrated "graphics processor with 64 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory". Apple reports that "memory available to Mac OS X may vary depending on graphics needs. Minimum graphics memory usage is 80 MB". With 512 MB of memory installed, 432 MB of system memory is available and with 1 GB of memory installed, 944 MB of system memory is available.

The models in the "Late 2007/Santa Rosa" and "Early 2008/Penryn" lines -- have an Intel GMA X3100 integrated graphics processor with 144 MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory. Much like the integrated graphics processor in the previous models, the "memory available to Mac OS X may vary depending on graphics needs. Minimum graphics memory usage is 144 MB (an additional 16 MB is required when using an external display). This results in 880 MB of system memory available" with the default 1 GB installed.

The video processor cannot be upgraded in any of the MacBook models.

Does the MacBook support monitor mirroring? Does it support dual displays?

As noted on page 66 of the original MacBook User's Guide, the MacBook supports both "monitor mirroring" (where the contents of the internal display also are displayed on an external display) and for the first time officially on a "consumer" Apple notebook "dual-display" or "extended desktop" (where the external display can be used as additional work space).

What is the maximum resolution for an external display?

For systems released prior to November 1, 2007 (prior to the "Late 2007/Santa Rosa" models), Apple reported that the maximum resolution supported on "Apple DVI displays" is 1920x1200 and 1600x1200 on VGA displays. For the "Late 2007/Santa Rosa" and "Early 2008/Penryn" models Apple simply reports that the maximum supported resolution on an external display is 1920x1200.

What are the capabilities of the optical drive provided by the MacBook models? Which can read and write dual-layer DVDs?

All MacBook models are capable of reading and writing to CD media, but some can only read DVD or write to single-layer DVD. The specific capabilities of each system are included on the specifications page of each model, but also are included below for your convenience.

MacBook

Optical Drive

MacBook "Core Duo" 1.83 13"

8X "Combo" Drive

MacBook "Core Duo" 2.0 13" (White)

4X "SuperDrive"

MacBook "Core Duo" 2.0 13" (Black)

4X "SuperDrive"

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 1.83 13"

8X "Combo" Drive

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (White/06)

6X DL "SuperDrive"

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (Black)

6X DL "SuperDrive"

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (White/07)

8X "Combo" Drive

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.16 13" (White)

8X DL "SuperDrive"

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.16 13" (Black)

8X DL "SuperDrive"

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13" (White-SR)

8X "Combo" Drive

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.2 13" (White-SR)

8X DL "SuperDrive"

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.2 13" (Black-SR)

8X DL "SuperDrive"

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.1 13" (White-08)

8X "Combo" Drive

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13" (White-08)

8X DL "SuperDrive"

MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13" (Black-08)

8X DL "SuperDrive"

Systems with a "Combo" drive can read single-layer DVD but not write to DVD. Systems with a 4X "SuperDrive" are capable of reading dual-layer DVD, but only can write to single-layer DVD. Systems with a "dual-layer" SuperDrive can read and write dual-layer DVD.

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