| Brand: | Apple | ||
| Average Rating |
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The MacBook uses a graphics processor that economizes space in a whole new way. A traditional computer logic board contains multiple components: the CPU, two chips that control communication throughout the computer, and the graphics processor. The logic board in the MacBook contains only two components: the CPU and a graphics processor with all of the core logic built into a single chip.Open your MacBook and you’re instantly greeted by glorious full screen brightness. Anything you view, including the glossy widescreen display itself, is a spectacular experience. The LED-backlit display is more power efficient. And it’s mercury- and arsenic-free, so it’s greener than ever. more info
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Consider the MacBook Pro 13.3″ instead
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Consider the MacBook Pro instead.
For those who don’t want to carry the bulky 17″ or 15.4″ just for the matte screen, this is a good alternative? Why? You may apply anti-reflective film directly over the image plane. This is not the same as applying anti-reflective film on the glossy unibody MacBook Pro, because the image actually project about 3mm before hitting the matte film, which degrades the image by reducing clarity.
The plastic body is a vast improvement from the flawed design from May, 2006. The plastic body is more resilient and is not as likely to be dented or be deformed from normal use. The bottom plate is rubberized aluminum. It may help heat dissipation. The previous version has a very poor record with heat dissipation, so hard drive failure rate is significantly higher than any other product on the market (regardless of brand). It is a sliver (like two sheets of paper) thinner than the predecessor. (SO WHAT!)
What’s so bad about this unit?
Let me list the negative aspects of this ‘new’ product, now I am done with the positive attributes, let me outline the bad and the ugly–regardless of how trivial they might be.
* At $999, it’s only $170 less than the MacBook Pro.
* No FireWire of any kind. Apple might as well call this the ‘NeuterBook’.
* No IR remote access.
* No backlit keyboard.
* Wider and deeper than the previous version (Sorry, we are not dealing with B-movies, so these are not good attributes).
* A few ounces heavier than the 13.3″ MacBook Pro.
* No SD card slot.
I think we are easily giving up more than $170 of convenience and equipment.
Let this product fail. It’s not meant to be. Stay away from this.
No Reason Not to Consider, Same Punch, Smaller Price
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I had intended to purchase my mother a Macbook for some time now. I wobbled between the several models I considered. However, Apple’s late October 2009 update to the white polycarbonate MacBook made the decision much easier.
Reasons for my Decision – With this update to the 13-inch white MacBook, Apple gave its entry-notebook impressive numbers. The processor a 2.26 GHZ Core 2 Duo is the same processor found in the 13-inch MacBook Pro. 2GB of memory? Same as the Pro. Nvidia 9400 Graphics, Same as the Pro. Hard drive? 250 GB, bigger than the MacBook Pro (it has 160GB only).
Yes, considering the larger hard drive, 250 versus 160, this white MacBook actually gives you a higher specification computer in some regards than the $200 more expensive MacBook Pro 13-inch. Remember this updated white MacBook also now incorporates the unibody under its polycarbonate shell. The unibody provides strength, and I must say this notebook is very solid. Furthermore, Apple has incorporated a long-life battery! The only downside is Apple must replace it, though it has a longer life cycle. In terms of performance, my mother reported to me simple usage of nearly six hours on a charge. Impressive. Blows away my older Mac notebook’s battery.
Yes, this white MacBook does lack the remote control sensor, Firewire Port, and backlit keyboard that the MacBook Pro would offer, but my mother would likely not use those features and she had an affinity towards the white polycarbonate. The white does look nice, but handle and place it on surfaces very carefully as it will show light scratches easily.
The bottom of the MacBook is a bit strange. It is a rubber seal so to speak like what is found on the bottom of Airport Extreme and Apple TV. I’m not certain I like that choice by Apple. The material does pick up dirt easily. I would recommend wiping off whatever surface you are going to sit the computer on, to remove light dust, if you worry about the computer’s appearance.
Overall, I was looking to find a quality Mac, for my mother. I didn’t want to compromise performance, and I feel I didn’t despite choosing this entry-level MacBook. Truly, with its stats, it can hardly be called entry level. My daily Mac is only slightly faster. These computers are getting faster and faster, and they impress me. Snow Leopard is great, and my mother is enjoying iPhoto and iMovie, all included with the computer.
The price to value of this MacBook is remarkable. At two hundred less than the MacBook Pro you get the same speed and memory, plus a larger hard drive. You can’t argue with that. I didn’t, and the MacBook has impressed.
My First Mac. Not the current model but it doesn’t really matter.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
In a nutshell, I love this little white MacBook. I bought it in Jan ‘09 and upgraded the memory to 2G (just for fun) and later upgraded to Snow Leopard (again just for fun).
The Mac OS has performed flawlessly and so has the computer. The “blue screen of death” situation just doesn’t occur. When a 3rd party program occasionally gets tangled up in itself it either closes down and you return to your desktop or if it hangs you can do a “Force Quit” and it quits. Simply an amazing feature of an operating system.
I have used MS operating systems since 1986, prior to that a TRS Color Computer. DOS always seemed stabile but starting with Windows 3 all that changed then along came Win 95, Win 98, Win ME and finally XP. I realized that for one reason or another I was having to do a hard system restore 3 to 5 times a year and that had been going on for a very long time. For a long time I thought maybe it was because of something I had done wrong but finally realized it wasn’t me. I finally grew tired of Windows instability and vulnerability while on the internet and started experimenting with Linux.
Linux is cool but after trying some 15 – 20 different flavors of it and not finding any of them fully compatible with my old Dell laptop (and not being geeky enough to figure out how to make everything work) I gave up on Linux and made the transition to Mac and have absolutely no regrets. Everything works so smoothly together and with the OS and hardware designed hand in hand why wouldn’t it?
I used Boot Camp to install a OEM copy of XP in a small partition of my hard drive and about the only reason I maintain that is so I can run an old version of Flight Sim once in a while. I have no other need for Windows. I’m not a gamer and my computing needs are pretty much met with iWork and my camera’s software.
Buy the Mac, you’ll love it. Buy David Pogue’s book so you will know where stuff is and how to use it.
Solid upgrade for the MacBook
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Pros:
- Unibody enclosure
- Same battery as the MacBook Pro
- Same graphics and processor (low end) of 13″ MBP
- Glass multi-touch trackpad
- 250GB Hard Drive (bigger than entry level MBP)
- DDR3 RAM
- LED Backlit Display
- SuperDrive
- New AC Adapter (I just like it better. Basically the same as a MB Air’s)
- Snow Leopard
- Price
Cons:
- No backlit keyboard
- Bezel around the display isn’t as “refined” and the edge to edge glass on the MBP
- No Firewire. Isn’t that big for current products as most things are going USB, but legacy items and high transfer rates of Firewire 800 or sustained throughput of 400 would have been nice.
- Battery is non-removable. Again, could be a big deal for some.
- “Non-slip” bottom is rather slippery and tends to gather crud easily, but then again, it’s easy to wipe clean
- While I would surely say that the new case is more pro than con (looks better, doesn’t get dirty as easily, fingerprints rub right off) that high gloss is rather easy to scratch.
- Finally, this is more neutral than con, I would have liked to have seen a $50 price drop, putting this machine for students and educators, who make up a sizable chunk of Apple’s target demographic, at $899. With everything that has changed on this machine, I can see why it didn’t happen.
Overall, I would say that this is an very solid machine. For those looking for the “best overall value” in the notebook line, I say that it would be a toss up for me between this guy and the 2.53 MBP. For most users, this is more than enough machine and would be my pick for them. With the overall features, value, and redesigned exterior (and interior), this is really a great machine.
My first Mac.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Wow. Okay, I previously had a Sony Vaio that ran Windows Vista. It wasn’t a bad computer in any sense, but now that I’ve owned this Macbook for a day, I can already see that it wasn’t a GREAT computer at all! Even after a single day, I can already tell that this Mac has pulled me in, and I will never go back to Windows computers, unless they somehow become more amazing than Apple. But they won’t. Once you go Mac, you don’t go back
But… anyway. The pros:
1. Start up/shut down. Shut down takes 5 seconds, and start up takes 10-20 seconds. My jaw dropped when I actually saw it happen.
2. The BATTERY. It really will last up to seven hours. Which I need, as I am a college student. If nothing else, get it for the battery life, haha.
3. Ease of use! I know my way around Windows computers quite well, and this was my first Mac, but my gosh, I’ve caught on quite quickly. Installing & uninstalling “apps” is 1000X easier than programs in Windows. I couldn’t believe it was so easy, again, until I saw myself do it. If you happen to lose anything, spotlight will easily find it for you. Similar to the “search” feature in Vista’s start menu.
4. The power adapter. It really is a simple magnet. You can pull as hard as you want, and the computer is going nowhere as it detaches.
5. The keyboard, and track pad! And… well, honestly, everything else, haha.
Cons:
1. No SD card slot. But this can easily be fixed by purchasing a SD-USB item. I haven’t done so yet, but eh.
Overall, this is definitely a computer you should get. I once thought Apple overpriced its computers, by looking at the technical specs. Now I realize, you really do get what you pay for. Mac is sooo much better! Now I’m a believer