MacBook Late 2008 Aluminum

Featuring a black and silver design reminiscent of the Aluminum iMacs, the "Unibody" MacBook "Core 2 Duo" (Late 2008/Aluminum) models unveiled an entirely new case design. Milled from a single block of aluminum, this construction provides superior strength, reduced weight, and a more premium finish than earlier systems.

The Apple MacBook "Core 2 Duo" 2.4 13-Inch (Unibody - Late 2008/Aluminum) is powered by a 45 nm "Penryn" 2.4 GHz Intel "Core 2 Duo" processor (P8600), with two independent processor "cores" on a single silicon chip. It includes a 3 MB shared "on chip" level 2 cache, a 1066 MHz frontside bus, and 2 GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500) installed in pairs (two 1 GB modules). For storage, it has a 250 GB Serial ATA (5400 RPM) hard drive and an 8X DL "SuperDrive". The system features a NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor with 256 MB of DDR3 SDRAM shared with main memory, an integrated iSight camera, and an LED-backlit 13.3" widescreen TFT active-matrix "glossy" display (1280x800 native resolution).

Connectivity options include AirPort Extreme (802.11a/b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, Gigabit Ethernet, two USB 2.0 ports, optical digital/analog audio in/out, and a new "Mini DisplayPort" that supports an external display up to 2560x1600. It does not have a Firewire "400" port.

In addition to the new case, the "Unibody" line offers several enhancements over the "Early 2008/Penryn" models it replaced. These include a new "no button" glass "multi-touch" trackpad supporting new "four finger" gestures and programmable "zones", a faster architecture with an improved system bus, quicker memory, and a more powerful graphics processor, as well as an LED-backlit display. This model also comes with a backlit keyboard, a feature absent in the lower-end configuration.

Released in late 2008, this model elevated the MacBook to a new level with its adoption of the aluminum unibody. The combination of a fast 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, and speedy DDR3 memory delivered outstanding performance for a notebook of its time. In particular, the backlit keyboard and the expansive, buttonless glass multi-touch trackpad dramatically improved usability and were widely acclaimed by users. Its beautiful design and robust construction were truly befitting of the moniker "a smaller MacBook Pro." While the absence of a FireWire port was lamented by some, the machine possessed more than enough appeal and refinement to compensate, earning its place as a landmark model in MacBook history.