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White & Black MacBook Q&A - Published June 19, 2007
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What are the differences between the "Mid-2007" MacBook and MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Santa Rosa" models?
Please note that all systems mentioned in this Q&A have been discontinued.
There are a large number of substantial differences between the "Mid-2007" MacBook and the MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Santa Rosa" models. The difference between these systems is more substantial than the difference between previous MacBook and MacBook Pro models.
Photo Credit: Apple Computer
Upon first glace the similarities may not be immediately obvious, as the "Mid-2007" MacBook Core 2 Duo models use "bright white" or "sleek black" polycarbonate cases with 13.3-inch glossy CCFL-backlit widescreen displays with a 1280x800 native resolution, and weigh 5.2 pounds. The MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Santa Rosa" models, on the other hand, use silver-colored aluminum cases with either a 15.4-inch matte or glossy "mercury-free power-efficient LED-backlit" widescreen display with a 1440x900 native resolution or a 17.0-inch matte or glossy CCFL-backlit widescreen display a 1680x1050 native resolution (a CCFL-backlit 1920x1200 display also is available by custom configuration). The 15.4-inch MacBook Pro "Santa Rosa" models weigh 5.4 pounds and the 17.0-inch model weighs 6.8 pounds.
Apart from size and color, there are a number of external similarities. Both the "Mid-2007" 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 has 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 (802.11n enabled by default), 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. 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. No Intel-based Macs have an internal modem.
Internally, the differences between the "Mid-2007" MacBook and MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Santa Rosa" models are substantial. 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 "Santa Rosa" models, however, use a more advanced architecture with a faster frontside bus (800 MHz compared to 667 MHz), additional RAM capacity (4 GB instead of an official 2 GB and unofficial 3 GB), a massively faster graphics processor (the "dedicated" NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT video processor with either 128 MB or 256 MB of dedicated GDDR3 SDRAM instead of the "integrated" Intel GMA 950 with 64MB of DDR2 SDRAM shared with main memory), and superior power management (including a dynamically adjustable frontside bus, which when combined with the backlit LED display on 15-inch models results in an extra hour of estimated battery life and an additional 15 minutes on the 17-inch system).
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 "Mid-2007" MacBook and MacBook Pro Core 2 Duo "Santa Rosa" models are capable of writing dual-layer DVD media with the exception of the entry-level MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.0 13-Inch (White - Mid-2007) 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 "Mid-2007" 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 may provide longer battery life and cost less.
These differences are summarized in this handy chart for your convenience:
| "Mid-2007" | MacBook | MacBook Pro 15" | MacBook Pro 17" |
|---|---|---|---|
| Processor Speeds: | 2.0-2.16 GHz | 2.2-2.4 GHz | 2.33 GHz |
| Video System: | Intel GMA 950 | GeForce 8600M GT* | GeForce 8600M GT* |
| 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" |
| Backlighting: | CCFL | LED | CCFL |
| Native Resolution: | 1280x800 | 1440x900 | 1680x1050** |
| Ext. Display: | 1920x1200 | 2560x1600 | 2560x1600 |
| Hard Drive Size: | 80, 120, 160 GB | 120, 160 GB | 160 GB |
| Hard Drive Type: | Serial ATA | Serial ATA/100 | Serial ATA/100 |
| Default Memory: | 1 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Max Memory: | 2 GB§ | 4 GB | 4 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) | 5.4 lbs. (2.45 kg) | 6.8 lbs. (3.1 kg) |
| Max Battery Life: | 6 Hours†† | 6 Hours†† | 5.75 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" 2.16 13-Inch (Black) and "low end" MacBook Pro "Core 2 Duo" 2.2 15" (Santa Rosa):
| Core 2 Duo/Santa Rosa | MacBook 2.16 13" Black | MacBook Pro 2.2 15" |
|---|---|---|
| Intel Processor: | T7400 | T7500 |
| Processor Speed: | 2.16 GHz | 2.2 GHz |
| Video System: | Intel GMA 950 | NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT |
| Video Type: | Integrated | Dedicated (GDDR3) |
| Video Memory: | 64 MB† | 128 MB |
| Display Size: | 13.3" Widescreen | 15.4" Widescreen |
| Backlighting: | CCFL | LED |
| Native Resolution: | 1280x800 | 1440x900 |
| Ext. Display Support: | 1920x1200 | 2560x1600 |
| Hard Drive Size: | 160 GB | 120 GB |
| Hard Drive Type: | Serial ATA | Serial ATA/100 |
| Default Memory: | 1 GB | 2 GB |
| Max Memory: | 2 GB§ | 4 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) | 5.4 lbs. (2.45 kg) |
| Max Battery Life: | 6 Hours†† | 6 Hours†† |
| Apple Part No: | MB063LL/A | MA895LL |
| Price: | US$1499 | US$1999 |
* NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT video processor with either 128 MB or 256 MB of dedicated GDDR3 SDRAM.
** A CCFL-backlit 1920x1200 display also was available by custom configuration.
§ Apple officially supports 2 GB. Third-parties have been able to upgrade these systems to 3 GB.
† 64 MB of "video memory" is "borrowed" from system memory.
†† Maximum battery life as provided by Apple.
Please refer to the Ultimate Mac Comparison feature to dynamically compare any MacBook model to any other G3 or later Mac.
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