Apple MacBook 2008 Edition compare (white, Core 2 Duo 2.4GHz, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD)

While it's not going to dazzle anyone, the Toshiba Satellite U845T is a great example of exactly how much laptop $799 should buy in 2013.

The newly redesigned MacBook Pro with Retina Display combines an amazing screen with just enough of the MacBook Air design to feel like a new animal, and to take its place as the best of the current MacBook breed.

This year's MacBook Air opts for gradual improvements rather than anything revolutionary, but lowered prices continue to make it the go-to mainstream recommendation for any MacBook owner-to-be.

With a few minor upgrades to processing speed, memory allotment, hard-drive size, and wireless bandwidth, the Apple MacBook remains a well-designed, fully featured, thin-and-light laptop.