MacBook facts for kids
The MacBook is a popular line of notebook computers made by Apple. These computers use Apple's macOS operating system. The first MacBooks came out in 2006. They replaced older Apple laptops called PowerBook and iBook.
Today, the MacBook family includes the MacBook Air (first released in 2008) and the MacBook Pro (first released in 2006). There were also two other laptop lines simply called "MacBook" that were sold from 2006 to 2012 and again from 2015 to 2019. In 2015, the MacBook brand was known as the "world's top-selling line of premium laptops."
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What Makes MacBooks Special?
MacBooks have changed their look over the years. Early models looked like the iBook and PowerBook. Later, they switched to a sleek, single-piece aluminum design, similar to the MacBook Air. This design is called "unibody."
The keyboards on modern MacBooks have black keys on a metallic aluminum body. This look started with the MacBook Air. MacBook lids stay closed with magnets, so there's no need for a mechanical latch. This cool feature first appeared on the older polycarbonate MacBooks.
Older MacBooks let you easily change things like memory, drives, and batteries. However, newer, more compact MacBooks have these parts built in, so they can't be easily changed. All current MacBooks also have keyboards that light up, which is great for working in the dark.
The original MacBook line was stopped in February 2012. But a new, super-thin MacBook model came out in March 2015. This new model had an all-metal body. It was then stopped again in July 2019.
Different MacBook Models
The First MacBook (2006–2012)
When Apple switched its computers to use Intel processors, they released a 13-inch laptop called "MacBook." This was the follow-up to the iBook series. For a long time, this MacBook was the cheapest Mac computer you could buy. It was an entry-level laptop, less expensive than the powerful MacBook Pro or the super-thin MacBook Air. It was made for everyday users and for schools.
Apple sold these MacBooks to regular customers until July 2011. After that, the MacBook Air became the new entry-level option because its price dropped. Apple continued to sell the original MacBook to schools until February 2012.
This MacBook was the best-selling Mac computer in Apple's history. For five months in 2008, it was even the best-selling laptop of any brand in US stores!
There were three main designs for this MacBook:
- The first design used a mix of polycarbonate (a type of plastic) and fiberglass. It looked a lot like the iBook G4.
- The second design, from October 2008, had a single-piece aluminium body. This was similar to the 15-inch MacBook Pro.
- The third design, from late 2009, went back to a single-piece white polycarbonate body. The aluminum design continued as the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
The 12-inch MacBook (2015–2019)
In 2015, Apple introduced a new 12-inch MacBook. People sometimes called it the "Retina MacBook" because of its super sharp screen. This laptop was smaller than any other MacBook at the time. It had a Retina display, which means the screen has very tiny pixels, making images look incredibly clear.
This MacBook also had a fanless design, meaning it was very quiet. It used a special "Butterfly keyboard" which had keys that didn't move very much when you pressed them. It only had one USB-C port for both charging and connecting other devices, plus a headphone jack. This model was updated in 2017 and then stopped being sold in July 2019.
The MacBook Family Today
MacBook Air
The MacBook Air is known for being super thin and light. The first MacBook Air was a premium, very portable laptop. But over time, its price dropped, and it became Apple's entry-level portable Mac.
Older models (from 2010 to 2017) had a 13-inch screen. They were the thinnest Apple notebooks until the 12-inch MacBook came out in 2015. These models had two regular USB ports, a Thunderbolt 2 port, and an SD card slot (on the 13-inch model). They did not have a Retina display. An 11-inch MacBook Air was also available from 2010 to 2016. In 2017, the 13-inch MacBook Air got a small update with a faster processor.
On October 30, 2018, the MacBook Air got a big redesign. It lost the regular USB ports and the SD card slot. Instead, it gained two USB-C/Thunderbolt 3 ports and a headphone jack. This new model also featured a Retina display and a Touch ID sensor, which lets you unlock your computer with your fingerprint. The keyboard was also updated. The price for this model was initially higher, but it dropped in July 2019.
On November 10, 2020, Apple announced a new MacBook Air that uses their own special chip called the Apple M1. This M1 Air doesn't have a fan, so it runs silently. Apple said its performance was better than most Intel laptops at the time.
On June 6, 2022, Apple released a new MacBook Air with the Apple M2 chip. This model has a flat design, full-sized function keys, and a "Liquid Retina display" with rounded corners and a small notch for the 1080p webcam. It still has a fanless design. It includes two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports and brought back MagSafe charging.
On June 5, 2023, Apple introduced a larger 15-inch version of the M2 MacBook Air. Then, on March 4, 2024, Apple updated both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the even newer Apple M3 chip.
MacBook Pro
The MacBook Pro is Apple's more powerful laptop, designed for professionals and people who need a lot of computing power. It's available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro, updated in October 2018, featured a touch-sensitive screen strip called the Touch Bar instead of regular function keys. It also had a Touch ID sensor built into the power button and four USB-C ports that also work as Thunderbolt 3 ports. The May 2020 update brought back a traditional "Magic Keyboard" with a scissor mechanism and a physical Escape button.
On November 13, 2019, Apple released the 16-inch MacBook Pro. This model replaced the 15-inch version. It also brought back the "Magic Keyboard" and a physical Escape key. It had better graphics cards from AMD and improved speakers, microphones, and cooling. This 16-inch model could have up to 64GB of memory and 8TB of storage! It also had a very large battery.
On November 10, 2020, Apple announced a new 13-inch MacBook Pro with the Apple M1 chip. Unlike the M1 Air, this Pro model has a fan, which helps the M1 chip run at full speed for longer.
On October 18, 2021, Apple introduced new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. These use Apple's powerful M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. These new models brought back many popular features, like physical function keys (instead of the Touch Bar), an HDMI 2.0 port, an SDXC reader, and MagSafe charging. They also have amazing Liquid Retina XDR screens with thin borders, a 1080p webcam, and great sound.
On June 6, 2022, Apple updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the Apple M2 chip. It kept the same design as the previous M1 model.
On January 17, 2023, Apple announced updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips. These models also got faster Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi 6E, longer battery life, and more memory options.
Most recently, on October 30, 2023, Apple announced updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models that use the even newer M3 series of chips.
Timeline
| Timeline of portable Macintoshes |
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See Also
