MacBook · The Aluminum Age · 2008
MacBook (Unibody Aluminum)
Apple introduced the unibody process, milling a laptop from one aluminium block for rigidity and beauty, plus the big glass button-less trackpad still used today.
First Mac carved from a single block of aluminium ("unibody"), and the glass multi-touch trackpad.
MacBook (12-inch Retina) (2015)
MacBook (Unibody Aluminum): key facts
When was the MacBook (Unibody Aluminum) released?
The MacBook (Unibody Aluminum) arrived on October 14, 2008. Apple discontinued it in June 2009.
How much did the MacBook (Unibody Aluminum) cost?
The MacBook (Unibody Aluminum) launched at $1,299 in 2008, about $1,936 in today’s money (approximate, US CPI).
What specs stand out?
Key specs: Intel Core 2 Duo at 2 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 156.3 GB storage, 13.3" LED LCD, 1280×800 display.
Why does the MacBook (Unibody Aluminum) matter?
First Mac carved from a single block of aluminium ("unibody"), and the glass multi-touch trackpad.
Full specifications
| CPU | Intel Core 2 Duo · 2 GHz |
|---|---|
| Cores | 2 |
| Memory (RAM) | 2 GB (up to 4 GB) |
| Storage | 156.3 GB |
| Display | 13.3" LED LCD, 1280×800 |
| GPU | NVIDIA GeForce 9400M |
| Ports | USB 2.0, Mini DisplayPort, MagSafe |
| Weight | 2.04 kg |
| Dimensions | Unibody aluminium notebook |
| Operating system | Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard |
| Released | October 14, 2008 |
| Discontinued | June 2009 |
| Launch price | $1,299 |
How the MacBook (Unibody Aluminum) compares to today
A 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro has about 8.0× more memory than this device shipped with.
At 2 GHz, the clock is roughly 1.6× slower than a single performance core of a 16 GB Apple Silicon MacBook Pro, and that is before counting cores, width and IPC.
This held about 40,000 modern phone photos, a respectable library even today.
Launched at $1,299 in 2008, about $1,936 in today’s money (approx., US CPI).
Method note: clock comparisons use frequency only; price conversions use US CPI.
Sources
Specs checked against Apple technical specifications archive, EveryMac, Mactracker, Wikimedia Commons image credits.
Did you know?
Apple showed a film of the robotic CNC machining to explain the new "unibody" word.
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Open the MacBook (Unibody Aluminum) in the interactive archive →
Last updated: 2026-08-11