Apple MacBooks ship with Core 2 Duo

Apple's consumer laptop switches to Core 2 Duo processors

Apple has upgraded its MacBook line of laptops to include Intel's Core 2 Duo processors.  

The Core 2 Duo chips, said to be 25 per cent faster than the previously used Core Duo chips, use Intel's new Core micro-architecture.

Three new MacBook models will be available. One will feature a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo and 512Mb of Ram, while the other two models (one in a white case and one in a black case) will be given 2GHz chips and 1Gb of memory.

All three will have a 13in screen and a built-in iSight camera. Prices range from $1,099 for the 1.83GHz model to $1,499 for the 2GHz black model.

The laptops will use Apple's MagSafe power adapters, and will be compatible with the new MagSafe airline adapter.

The MacBook is not the first Apple laptop to use Intel's Core 2 Duo processors. In October, Apple upgraded its high-end line of MacBook Pro laptops to the Core2 Duo chips. The MacBook Pro models retail between $1,999 and $2,799.