Main differences between Macbook 2.0 2007 version and 2.1 2008 version

Hello

I am looking to purchase my first Mac and i have settled on a Macbook; i am looking at a used macbook that is a very good value however it is a 2007 version.

What i'm mainly looking for is differences in the compoments of them. The used macbook i'm looking at has the 8x superdrive and 2g of ram, 2.0ghz along with leopard and ilife installed so it has some extras which are nice. However differnences i'm looking for are things that you can't really see on paper like...do the 08's run cooler than the 07's? Which version seems to run windows better when needed, etc. Those type of differences.

Any help is greatly appreciated, thanks

 

IIRC, the 2007 macbooks used the old merom processor, which is built on the 65nm process, vs. the current penryn's 45nm process, which runs cooler. I've read the macbook pros pre-santa rosa had heating issues. I know with my old inspiron (which used a merom processor), it got quite warm under heavy usage so you may want to consider that.
Both models should run windows just fine, I wouldn't worry about it. Both platforms only support a 667Mhz FSB for RAM, the merom (napa platform) supported only 667Mhz FSB processors, while santa rosa supported 800Mhz. There really wont be much of a difference performance wise.
Also, I believe the older macbooks used only the intel gma 950 integrated graphics, while the "latest" uses the x3100 which will increase performance (still not quite good enough for newer, more demanding games).
Please read this if you're interested in learning more about the different platforms.

 

Thank you for your response, as i have dug more and found that the main difference is the newer penryn runs slightly cooler than the older mermom and from what i'd read in some reports it doesn't seem to be a ton.

However, one thing i read that concerns me a bit is that i read on a review that apple laptops run hot enough that you shouldn't really use them in your lap that you should have them on a desk or on top of a laptop pad and that Apple even recommends it; quote "While the actual physical temperature of the computer's contact services would also be a significant issue for folks who use their 'Books a lot in literal laptop mode (no longer recommended by Apple for precisely this reason), it's not so much for me, since I mostly keep mine elevated on a laptop stand with an external keyboard, and when I do anticipate a laptop computing session, it's no hardship to grab my Lapworks Futura laptop desk and stuff it can the backpack with the computer." http://www.macopinion.com/index.php/site/more/have_penryn_chips_licked_the_macbooks_heat_problem/

Is this person simply overstating things a bit or would others agree? I/we use our laptop a lot around our house including the couch and bed and would prefer to not have issues.

Thanks

 

You should probably never use any notebook on your lap. All of them are designed to be on a hard surface and something like pants or carpet acts like an insulator. Having said that, I use my MBP in my lap all the time and have never had an issue.

 

Even if you have a good enough CPU, the x3100 struggles to play the old Halo 1 demo....

 

My sister has a MBP 2.0 and it runs VERY hot with a T7500. If you leave it on a soft surface (even though there are no fan vents in the bottom) it heats up a lot, and is uncomfortable to use in your lap. Also, Apple was stupid to only give the MBP 2.0's 8600M GT only 128MB of GDDR3, which was upgraded to 256 with MBP 2.1.

-J.B.

 

I have a 2007 Macbook and it only runs hot when you run processor intensive apps, like VMware Fusion or Photoshop, when it's processing, but other than in those instances, the Macbook is only warm. BTW, this lappy is on my lap for the better part of 18 hours a day, so you obviously need not worry about it running too hot.

 

Thank you for all the responses, i am still considering other 13" laptops because i was not aware of the current weight of the Macbook which is 5lbs (5.1) for a 13" laptop seems to be kinda hefty when this is meant to be more portable.

Again, thank you for all the responses so far and to the poster who said something about Halo, there will be next to ZERO gaming done as we usually just game on our PS3 when we feel the need.

Thanks

 

AppleCare categorize each generation/refresh with a date on there. Take Macbook for example, there are currently 5 different revision: Macbook, Late 2006, Mid 2007, Late 2007 and Early 2008. Obviosuly the current one is the Early 2008 model.

Each revision has some differences in components. They are not interchangable generally. Usually one Apple part will work for 2 generations of Macbook before new parts are required. The Macbook Early 2008 uses Broadcom Airport Extreme card. In earlier models, they use Atheros Airport Extreme card. The fans/heatsink on Early 2008 model is smaller and quieter than the ones in Late/Mid 2007 due to heat issue.

Is the newer revision better? To consumer, yes it is. To service provider like myself, the new ones are a pain to service because many connector clips are fragile.

 

Doesn't that defeat the purpose of a "laptop"?

 

Sure it does, as a term. But then again you don't actually break out an iPhone from a jailhouse, do you?

 

Yup! I think the problem is that laptop was a bad moniker.

 

That's why we call them notebooks or portable PC. lol

 

Umm, I don't know about you guys, but I buy Notebooks for the sole purpose of going portable and on the move with them. You don't always have a flat surface/table to put your notebooks onto.. And my Lap is the next best thing.

MacBooks are designed to have the option of being in your lap, the exhaust goes out the rear end.. it's not going to hurt anything having it in your lap unless you're somehow blocking the entire rear side of the notebook, which is going to be hard to do since the exhaust actually gets deflected by the bottom portion of the MacBook screen.. so it's kind of shooting upwards.. Good design on Apple's part.. there are no vents on the bottom of the unit.

Jay

 

Most notebook has the vents at the left or right, very few are located at the rear. I think the Macbook is not designed very well because there is a heatpipe that leads to the fan, that means the cooling will not be as efficient compare to many notebooks who has the fan next to the processor. The CPU and the chipset is where the E,R,F,D keys are.

However, Apple has been switching fan maker already. It used to be Delta, now it's Sunon.