Apple MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) vs Apple MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008) compared with MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)
AppleMacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008)AppleMacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2012)
Overview
ReleasedOctober 2008June 2012
Display
Screen size13.3″13.3″
Resolution1280 × 8001280 × 800
Panel–TN LCD
TouchscreenNoNo
Display typeGlossy LED-backlit widescreen display with millions of colours; exact panel technology and refresh rate unpublished by Apple.13.3-inch LED-backlit glossy display, 1280 × 800 native resolution and millions of colours. TN panel identified by Notebookcheck’s exact-model review; brightness and refresh rate unpublished by Apple.
Performance
ProcessorIntel Core 2 Duo P7350 or Intel Core 2 Duo P8600Intel Core i5-3210M or Intel Core i7-3520M
CPU cores22
CPU threads–4
GraphicsNVIDIA GeForce 9400M (256 MB shared DDR3)Intel HD Graphics 4000
Memory2 GB or 4 GB4 GB or 8 GB (better)
Storage128 GB to 320 GB128 GB to 1 TB (better)
CPU2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P7350 or 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo P8600, with 3 MB shared L2 cache and 1066 MHz front-side bus. Exact chip identities are confirmed by Geekbench’s contemporary tested-machine configurations and Notebookcheck.2.5 GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 3.1 GHz and 3 MB L3 cache, or 2.9 GHz dual-core Core i7 with Turbo Boost up to 3.6 GHz and 4 MB L3 cache. i5-3210M identified by Notebookcheck; i7-3520M by EveryMac.
GPUNVIDIA GeForce 9400M (256 MB shared DDR3)Intel HD Graphics 4000
Memory typeTwo SO-DIMM slots for 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM (PC3-8500); 2 GB standard, configurable to 4 GB.1600 MHz DDR3 in two SO-DIMM slots. Core i5 has 4 GB, configurable to 8 GB; Core i7 has 8 GB.
Storage type5400 rpm Serial ATA hard drive: 160 GB standard at 2.0 GHz or 250 GB at 2.4 GHz, with 250 GB or 320 GB hard drives and a 128 GB solid-state drive available to order. 8x SuperDrive; the 160 GB base drive is not included for the higher-clocked model.Core i5 has a 500 GB 5400-rpm hard drive, configurable to 750 GB or 128 GB, 256 GB or 512 GB SSD. Core i7 has a 750 GB 5400-rpm hard drive, configurable to 1 TB or the same SSD capacities. Rows follow the CPU-specific maker storage sections. 8× slot-loading SuperDrive supports DVD±R DL, DVD±RW and CD-RW.
Battery and size
Battery life (maker's claim)–Up to 7 hours
Battery capacity45 Wh63.5 Wh (better)
Weight2.04 kg (better)2.06 kg
Thickness24.1 mm24.1 mm
Width × depth325 × 227 mm325 × 227 mm
Battery life detailRemovable 45 Wh lithium-polymer battery. Maker reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process. Battery-life hours omitted because the archived maker specification does not publish them.Built-in 63.5 Wh lithium-polymer battery; up to 7 hours wireless web in Apple’s test. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
Charger60 W MagSafe Power Adapter60 W MagSafe Power Adapter with cable management
MaterialsAluminium unibody enclosureAluminium unibody enclosure and glass trackpad
ColoursAluminiumSilver
Connections
Ports2 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack, MagSafe2 × USB-A, MagSafe, headphone jack, SD card slot, Ethernet, Thunderbolt
Wi-FiAirPort Extreme draft 802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/g802.11n; compatible with 802.11a/b/g
Bluetooth2.1 + EDR4.0
WebcamiSight camera720p FaceTime HD camera
Operating systemmacOSmacOS
Port detailTwo USB 2.0 ports, Gigabit Ethernet, MagSafe, Mini DisplayPort, separate combined optical digital audio input/line input and combined optical digital audio output/headphone output. No FireWire; display adapters sold separately.One Thunderbolt port up to 10 Gb/s, two USB 3 ports up to 5 Gb/s, one FireWire 800 port up to 800 Mb/s, Gigabit Ethernet, SDXC card slot, MagSafe, headphone port with digital/analogue audio line output and iPhone headset support and Kensington lock slot. Thunderbolt provides native Mini DisplayPort output; DVI, VGA, dual-link DVI and HDMI require separate adapters.
External displaysOne external display up to 2560 × 1600 alongside the built-in screen; Mini DisplayPort adapters sold separately.Built-in display plus one external display up to 2560 × 1600, both at millions of colours; dual display and video mirroring.
KeyboardFull-size keyboard with 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function/media keys and four arrow keys; backlit at 2.4 GHz, unlit at 2.0 GHzFull-size backlit keyboard with ambient light sensor, 78 US or 79 ISO keys, 12 function keys and four arrow keys.
TrackpadGlass Multi-Touch trackpad with integrated button; supports scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three-finger swipe and four-finger swipe.Multi-Touch trackpad supports inertial scrolling, pinch, rotate, swipe, three- and four-finger swipe, tap, double-tap and drag.
SpeakersBuilt-in stereo speakersStereo speakers with subwoofer
MicrophonesBuilt-in omnidirectional microphoneOmnidirectional microphone
In the boxMacBook, display cleaning cloth, removable battery, 60 W MagSafe Power Adapter with AC wall plug and power cord, install/restore DVDs and documentation. Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard and iLife ’08 at launch.MacBook Pro, display cleaning cloth, 60 W MagSafe power adapter, AC wall plug, power cord and documentation; OS X Lion and iLife.

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