apple macbook review

[yoMAMA]

Apple's MacBook Leaves Its Predecessors in the Dust

By Rob Pegoraro
Sunday, June 11, 2006; F06



Apple's new MacBook ranks as one of the company's most anticipated laptops ever. This machine isn't Apple's first portable computer to run on Intel chips -- with all the added speed and Windows compatibility they bring -- but it is the first to sell at consumer-friendly prices. And it brings the first fundamental change to Apple's entry-level laptops since 2001.

The MacBook almost justifies the wait for it to arrive. Apple has delivered an exceptionally versatile machine, but three issues can't help but hold it back a bit. The most serious among them should be fixable with a software update; the others are less critical but can't be cured without changes to the MacBook's hardware (and one may not matter to many users anyway).

In general, the MacBook represents a tremendous advance over the iBook that it replaces. It starts at $1,099, $100 more than its predecessor, but is barely heavier (the review model loaned by Apple weighed 5.14 pounds) and offers a wider, brighter, glossier screen (13.3 inches across). Its most important feature lies inside, a 1.83 or 2 GHz Intel Core Duo processor.

Like the Intel-based iMac, Mac mini and MacBook Pro, the MacBook rips through software revised for these new processors -- including the bundled Mac OS X 10.4 operating system and iLife '06 multimedia suite, plus a growing number of third-party applications. But it also runs most software written for the old PowerPC chips, at the cost of slower performance and a bigger demand for memory. (The 512 megabytes Apple includes aren't enough for sustained use of these older applications.)

And the MacBook can run Windows itself. You can employ Microsoft's operating system inside Mac OS X using the pre-release version of Parallels Workstation, an upcoming, $80 release from Herndon-based Parallels ( http://www.parallels.com ), or you can download Apple's free Boot Camp software ( http://www.apple.com/bootcamp ) to add a completely separate, faster copy of Windows XP that can be booted instead of OS X each time you start the MacBook.

Either way, buying the MacBook -- or any other Intel-based Mac -- means never having to say "I'm sorry, I can't run this program on my computer."

Apple offers the MacBook with a 60, 80, 100 or 120-gigabyte hard drive -- which you can upgrade yourself, a rarity on any laptop. The $1,099 model can burn CDs but only plays DVDs; two more expensive configurations, at $1,299 and $1,499, can burn both DVDs and CDs.

Like other Apple computers, this laptop makes some high-end features standard equipment while omitting a few things included by every other manufacturer.

For example, an iSight Webcam graces the top of the screen, allowing you to conduct video Web chats and take goofy self-portraits in Apple's Photo Booth program, and Bluetooth wireless connects such peripherals as cellphones and handheld organizers. The included remote control and Front Row software let you plug the MacBook into a larger monitor or TV -- after buying a $19 adapter for its miniature digital-video output -- and enjoy your music, photos and movies from across the living room.

But the MacBook provides only two USB ports, lacks a memory-card reader or PC Card expansion slot and even leaves out a modem. That last feature could be deal-breaker; if you ever must use dial-up, your only option is a $49 external model sold by Apple. And it's not as if there wasn't room on the MacBook's left flank to include a humble phone jack.

Like the iPod, the MacBook comes in white or black; the more striking black model costs $1,499, $150 more than a comparably configured white machine. Is it worth that much to carry around something that looks like Batman or Darth Vader's laptop? Something tells me I should expect to see folks using the black MacBook (one blogger has nicknamed it the "DarthBook") the next time I'm on a plane.

The MacBook's weight makes it slightly less suited to travel than its predecessor, but its battery life easily suffices. In a worst-case test, with a DVD playing and the screen backlight turned up all the way, the test MacBook ran for 2 hours and 24 minutes. Turning off Bluetooth and WiFi while dimming the screen halfway -- a decent approximation of coach-class film-going -- stretched that time to 3 hours and 9 minutes.

In other tests, the machine ran for 3 hours and 59 minutes while playing a loop of music with the screen dimmed halfway (with WiFi on and Bluetooth off); a best-case test, with the screen dimmed as low as possible, both wireless systems disabled and only the TextEdit program open, yielded 4 1/2 hours of use.

Unlike most PC vendors, Apple remembers that power adapters add weight and bulk, too; the MacBook's compact hardware weighs only nine ounces. It connects to the MacBook with a new, magnetically attached MagSafe plug that gracefully falls away if yanked instead of dragging the computer off a table or damaging the inside of the power socket.

The MacBook, however, may be less attractive once the flight ends. The review unit repeatedly lost the wireless signal of an Apple AirPort Extreme WiFi access point, even while Windows laptops in the same room stayed online. MacBook users have posted similar complaints in Apple's discussion forums.

Weirdly enough, this problem didn't emerge when I rebooted the MacBook into Windows -- which suggests that Apple should be able to fix it by updating the MacBook's software.

The unit stayed nearly silent most of the time, but a different side of its personality surfaced when copying some music CDs to the hard disk. The CD/DVD drive and cooling fans revved all the way up to a sustained, low-level howl -- as if the computer were readying for takeoff -- and the already hot left rear corner of the machine became outright scorching. The plastic in front of the screen hinge, just above the MacBook's vents, felt even hotter.

It's not that other laptops run much cooler, but after all the time Apple has spent advertising the "performance per watt" advantages of its new Intel processors, you'd expect something a little less sizzling than the average Windows notebook.

It can be instructive to compare the MacBook with PC laptops built around the same Intel chips. Dell's Inspiron E1405, when configured with the closest possible specifications to the base MacBook, costs $18 more, while HP's Pavilion dv1000t costs $145 less when set up to match a MacBook.

Those price differences are far smaller than what a lot of people believe about Macs. On the other hand, a lot of people don't need or want all the extras that Apple bundles. And they'll be able to save substantially more by getting a slower, heavier laptop from somebody else.

Price alone won't lead people to get the MacBook (and it certainly won't sell the high-end MacBook Pro, which has a bigger screen and more powerful graphics hardware and starts at $1,999). You have to want that extra refinement of an Apple machine -- software like the virus-resistant, low-maintenance Mac OS X and hardware such as the MacBook's ingenious trackpad, which lets you scroll through windows or bring up right-click menus by dragging two fingers across its surface.

Glitches such as the MacBook's erratic WiFi reception and almost painfully hot surfaces undercut that appeal. Apple has taught its users to expect better, and it ought to be able to deliver as much before long.

Living with technology, or trying to? E-mail Rob Pegoraro atrob@twp.com.


© 2006 The Washington Post Company

[Irezumi Kiss]

But the MacBook provides only two USB ports, lacks a memory-card reader or PC Card expansion slot and even leaves out a modem. That last feature could be deal-breaker; if you ever must use dial-up, your only option is a $49 external model sold by Apple. And it's not as if there wasn't room on the MacBook's left flank to include a humble phone jack.
The first two are peanut issues, but that missing modem does make me twist my eyebrows. Maybe they didn't want it getting fried from all that reported heat?

I may be picking this up at the end of the month. The heat thing can be circumvented with ease as all lappies cook the thighs no matter what...but it sure won't be an issue during the wintertime, I know that.

[yoMAMA]

The first two are peanut issues, but that missing modem does make me twist my eyebrows. Maybe they didn't want it getting fried from all that reported heat?

I may be picking this up at the end of the month. The heat thing can be circumvented with ease as all lappies cook the thighs no matter what...but it sure won't be an issue during the wintertime, I know that.

who still uses dialup these days?

[Irezumi Kiss]

I haven't used it in ages...haven't really bothered to use it, mostly, but I suppose if there's ever a situation where you really need it and there's no Starbucks to run to...hmmm...

[yoMAMA]

I haven't used it in ages...haven't really bothered to use it, mostly, but I suppose if there's ever a situation where you really need it and there's no Starbucks to run to...hmmm...

well then there's always caribou, borders, barnes and noble, paneras,,,,,:wink:

[achtungbaby]

who still uses dialup these days?
About 60 million Americans:biggrin:

[Irezumi Kiss]

Apple traces MacBook heat issues to plastic strip
By Peter Cohen

A technical note posted to Apple’s Web site notes that some MacBook laptops may run too warm because of an issue involved in their manufacture. The good news is that it’s something that users can easily fix themselves.

Apple reports that some MacBooks appear to run too warm, with their internal fans running consistently and heat emanating from top and bottom. If this happens, you’re encouraged to check the MacBook’s rear vent for the presence of a thin piece of clear plastic.

“This is used in the factory to prevent dust from getting into your computer,” reads the tech note. “If your MacBook has the plastic still over the vent, simply remove and discard it.”

Apple also encourages MacBook owners who remain concerned about the operating temperature of their systems to read an associated technical note entitled Apple Notebooks: Operating Temperature.

[sinisterpanda]

I heard that there were some discolouration in the white mac books, the source of the problem is UNKNOWN!!

[Irezumi Kiss]

Discoloration in the shell/casing? hmmm...I'll have to check that out up close.

Has any NYC Mac heads been to the Fifth Avenue store yet? Sa-weeet. 24 hours open, no less.

[sinisterpanda]

It's grody, and cannot be wiped off:
http://ibloggedthis.com/2006/06/12/apple-macbook-discoloration-issues/

[yoMAMA]

Discoloration in the shell/casing? hmmm...I'll have to check that out up close.

Has any NYC Mac heads been to the Fifth Avenue store yet? Sa-weeet. 24 hours open, no less.

i've been to the mac store in mall of america.

:biggrin:

[TB4000]

People are already complaining because the software my company makes won't be compatible with their Intel chips.

[Irezumi Kiss]

^ Too bad. This baby is looking sweeter than sugar with every review I'm reading. I'm still on the fence on if I should wait out another two paychecks and get the Pro, but distance between the two models is not a wide chasm and the MB's cons appear to be minimal. Here's a great review for it:

http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/macbook.ars

I found it very hard to come up with a list of negatives about the MacBook—while I am usually pretty fond of Apple stuff, I am still usually able to cobble together a list of annoyances I encounter during my use and from around the web. In contrast, I've developed a high opinion of this machine and my anecdotal research for this review seems to indicate that many others are of a like mind. With that in mind, I am giving the Apple MacBook a solid nine.

Pros
Widescreen display
Nice screen resolution
Improved graphics over iBook G4
Glossy screen is nice in some situations
MagSafe
Integrated iSight
Affordable
Enhanced track pad operation
Dramatic performance increase
No latch!
Super easy to service (hard drive too!)
Front Row and remote control

Cons:
High operating temperatures
Glossy screen can be annoying under certain circumstances (i.e., with any direct lighting)
Integrated graphics siphon off system RAM, slower than dedicated graphics card

Oh yeah...that discoloration seems to be a sweaty palm thing and not a heat issue?

[moser]

Wow, if my school had better support for Apples, I'd get one.

[Tao]

^ Too bad. This baby is looking sweeter than sugar with every review I'm reading. I'm still on the fence on if I should wait out another two paychecks and get the Pro, but distance between the two models is not a wide chasm
if you're waiting for the pro, you shold wait until the end of the year for the model to get updated again. rumor has it apple will be using the core 2 duo chips by then which are 64bit chips instaed of 32. plus by then hopefully they've worked out most of the heat and whine problems some ppl have complained about.

[yoMAMA]

dude i'm seriously thinking about getting the black mac book.

is 13.3 inch screen too small though?

i don't want to get the macbook pro cauz it's so expensive.

[Irezumi Kiss]

dude i'm seriously thinking about getting the black mac book.

is 13.3 inch screen too small though?

i don't want to get the macbook pro cauz it's so expensive.
Keep in mind that if you get the black one you're essentially paying $150 more for it just to be black when it would be on par with the white version, which you could hook up with a larger HD with that same $150. It's not a bad buy, but remember to look at the specs if you want your money to go farther.

Apple made that price toss up when it found out that the black iPods were way outselling the white ones, so they decided to take advantage of that. Aesthetics are a bitch, ain't they?

You can always add on an external monitor if you get the adapter. And even the big ones of those are cheap these days. A 17" flatscreen might run you $250 at the most, if you buy non-Apple third party. I've been thinking about this even though the $799 20" Apple monitors are heaven on earth for laptops running externals. See what you can buy if you save on the white vs. black casing?

[yoMAMA]

Keep in mind that if you get the black one you're essentially paying $150 more for it just to be black when it would be on par with the white version, which you could hook up with a larger HD with that same $150. It's not a bad buy, but remember to look at the specs if you want your money to go farther.

Apple made that price toss up when it found out that the black iPods were way outselling the white ones, so they decided to take advantage of that. Aesthetics are a bitch, ain't they?



for the white vs black thing, I like the ipod white and the macbook black, LOL.


You can always add on an external monitor if you get the adapter. And even the big ones of those are cheap these days. A 17" flatscreen might run you $250 at the most, if you buy non-Apple third party. I've been thinking about this even though the $799 20" Apple monitors are heaven on earth for laptops running externals. See what you can buy if you save on the white vs. black casing?

so you are saying that the macbook DVI adpater thing is worth it?

could i get an adapter aftermaket cheaper?

also, if i get the adapter, which one should i get,

DVI to DVI, or DVI to VGA?

Wow, if my school had better support for Apples, I'd get one.

well actually you can run XP on this thing now too.

:biggrin:

[Shinkai]

I have the 2GHz white macbook. I got it the first day it came out, so I've used it for awhile. I owned an ibook g4 12" before this and it's a huge difference. It's pretty damn fast and the lcd is on par if not better than most top quality stand alone lcds.

My macbook idles at about 65C, which is pretty warm imo. But it is still within reasonable operating temperature so I don't think apple will change much in the future. Basically apple chose to make a quiet laptop so the fans don't turn on that often (they've always done that).

Macbook uses apple's proprietary mini-DVI port, so you must get it from apple (it's only $20). Is it worth it? I think so. I'm using macbook with 20" widescreen lcd and HDTV. You can output 720p or 1080i to hdtv (can't do that with vga).

I installed bootcamp to use winxp. There are some driver problems but it works for the most part. You need to use regedit hack to turn off laptop speakers and install third party software to right click (trackpad only has one button as usual). The only time I boot into windows is to play games or watch wmv files (you can view wmv in osx too, but HD stuff is very slow).

Apple has that ipod nano promotional deal again. If you really want a 64bit laptop, I think you need to wait until sept or so. Personally I think macbook is fast enough. Just don't expect to play new games with it. Get the macbook pro if you want that.

[yoMAMA]

I have the 2GHz white macbook. I got it the first day it came out, so I've used it for awhile. I owned an ibook g4 12" before this and it's a huge difference. It's pretty damn fast and the lcd is on par if not better than most top quality stand alone lcds.

My macbook idles at about 65C, which is pretty warm imo. But it is still within reasonable operating temperature so I don't think apple will change much in the future. Basically apple chose to make a quiet laptop so the fans don't turn on that often (they've always done that).

Macbook uses apple's proprietary mini-DVI port, so you must get it from apple (it's only $20). Is it worth it? I think so. I'm using macbook with 20" widescreen lcd and HDTV. You can output 720p or 1080i to hdtv (can't do that with vga).

I installed bootcamp to use winxp. There are some driver problems but it works for the most part. You need to use regedit hack to turn off laptop speakers and install third party software to right click (trackpad only has one button as usual). The only time I boot into windows is to play games or watch wmv files (you can view wmv in osx too, but HD stuff is very slow).

Apple has that ipod nano promotional deal again. If you really want a 64bit laptop, I think you need to wait until sept or so. Personally I think macbook is fast enough. Just don't expect to play new games with it. Get the macbook pro if you want that.

cool review, thanks.

65 C does sound pretty hot though (did you have the anti dust thing on?)

[Shinkai]

cool review, thanks.

65 C does sound pretty hot though (did you have the anti dust thing on?)

nope, i don't think the anti-dust strip was that widespread. i posted on other forums about this and most people idled between 55-65C. I'm on the high end, not sure why... but at full load, all macbooks go up to about 80 C (yikes!).

if you're going to buy a macbook (pro or not), make sure you get at least 1GB of ram. you can upgrade ram and hard drive yourself w/o voiding warranty.

[sinisterpanda]

THe magsafe power thingies burst into flames!

[TB4000]

Talked to our product engineers to see if Apple was going to take into account that their Intel chips won't function with our software. My boss was like, "Steve Jobs has this at maybe on the bottom of his list of shit to get to when he's done eating dinner." Which means no.

[ares]

Talked to our product engineers to see if Apple was going to take into account that their Intel chips won't function with our software. My boss was like, "Steve Jobs has this at maybe on the bottom of his list of shit to get to when he's done eating dinner." Which means no.

:)

What kind of stuff doesn't work?

Unless there's something that specifically won't work with any Intel Core Duo, things should be fine?

I've been very happy with my MacBook Pro. I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for 200+ gig notebook drives.

[yoMAMA]

:)


I've been very happy with my MacBook Pro. I just wish I didn't have to wait so long for 200+ gig notebook drives.

holy shit, i'm absolutely drooling over macbook pro.

however at over 2000$ to start with........:frown:


Also, I heard that 3rd party softwares runs slowly on intel macs.

is that true?

[ares]

Just about everything is super super fast.

Mac programs not yet released for Intel run under Rosetta translation. It's a bit slow but still decent. I'd guess as fast as a 1-1.2ghz PowerPC. The non-native apps I use most of the time are Office, Photoshop, InDesign, and sometimes Sibelius. They run nicely but sure not even as fast as they would natively.

Windows runs along with OS X very nicely too.

I also wish I could have more than 2 gigs of RAM. A notebook is still no substitute for a desktop. :)

[yoMAMA]

Just about everything is super super fast.

Mac programs not yet released for Intel run under Rosetta translation. It's a bit slow but still decent. I'd guess as fast as a 1-1.2ghz PowerPC. The non-native apps I use most of the time are Office, Photoshop, InDesign, and sometimes Sibelius. They run nicely but sure not even as fast as they would natively.

Windows runs along with OS X very nicely too.

I also wish I could have more than 2 gigs of RAM. A notebook is still no substitute for a desktop. :)

I thought macbook pro supports up to 2 gigs of ram?



Windows runs along with OS X very nicely too.



that's great to hear, since i can do windows work (like writing papers on xp when i install bootcamp), and leave OSX for the fun stuff like i movies.

and I don't want to buy office X when I already got office 2003.

:biggrin:

[ares]

I thought macbook pro supports up to 2 gigs of ram?


It does. I just want 4. :)


that's great to hear, since i can do windows work (like writing papers on xp when i install bootcamp), and leave OSX for the fun stuff like i movies.

and I don't want to buy office X when I already got office 2003.


Using Office 2004 for Mac is far more pleasant than O2k3. :)

You can run Windows within OS X. Parallels is already out and VMWare should be out soon. There's also CrossOver Office which should be out in July. That runs many Windows apps like Office in OS X without running Windows.

http://www.parallels.com/files/upload/desktop_1.gif

[yoMAMA]

wow...I think i'm now 90% sure I'll go for the macbook. :)

although I still have some questions:

like i heard the macbook's color's drop (or something like that)...

and the glossy screen sucks? (i thought glossy makes the colors look better...so what's the problem?)

Also:

can I write non-english/western langauges in osx, like chinese? or do i have to purchase seperate/3rd party softwares to do that?

and can OSX allow multiple user accounts?

(you see, I'm a "switcher"...excited about life on the "other side"....yet somewhat nervous about things that I'm not so familiar with). ;)

[ares]

like i heard the macbook's color's drop (or something like that)...


There seem to be some problems with white MacBooks. Maybe something about how skin oils discolor the case. Haven't read much about it.


and the glossy screen sucks? (i thought glossy makes the colors look better...so what's the problem?)


Some people say glossy screens aren't too readable in some light situations. The MacBook's glossy is supposed to be better than most.


can I write non-english/western langauges in osx, like chinese? or do i have to purchase seperate/3rd party softwares to do that?


It's built in. Pinyin, bopomofo, anything you want. There's also other free software for chinese writing.


and can OSX allow multiple user accounts?


Fast User Switching is far easier and cooler on a Mac. Check out the video:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/fastuserswitching/



(you see, I'm a "switcher"...excited about life on the "other side"....yet somewhat nervous about things that I'm not so familiar with). ;)

I've used PCs since I was around 10 even have done years of IT. I also messed around with Linux for a few years. After moving to a Mac, everything is so much simpler and quicker. You'll like it.

[yoMAMA]

wow, that switching looks really cool.

thanks for your help. :smile:

one last question:

should i get it online, or retail (such as mac store or comp usa).

does it make a difference?

[ares]

Buying it online could save you tax.

Getting it from the Apple Store will give probably get you a lot of help. I think they're willing to do a lot to help you set it up.

Either way, you can go to an Apple Store and try it out. You can sit there for hours and play around; they'll let you.

[yoMAMA]

Either way, you can go to an Apple Store and try it out. You can sit there for hours and play around; they'll let you.

yeah, i've done that at the mac store at mall of america.

:biggrin:

although i guess i'm still concerned with the heat issue with macbooks.

maybe it has been overblown, but i have read alot of reviews from macbook owners with really "hot" machine, who otherwise love the mb.

[Shinkai]

i think the heat issue depends on your past experience with laptops. some people say high temperature is nothing since other laptops are like this. i used ibook g4 before this, which ran at much cooler temperature so it's a fairly big change.

i really like the glossy screen. yes, it can look like a mirror depending on where you sit. for the most part though, its not much of a problem. you'll either love it or hate it, just check it out at local apple store.

here's a picture of my macbook.

http://mywebspace.wisc.edu/klapoetke/web/Photos/2006.07.01.workstation.jpg

[Irezumi Kiss]

^ Shin, what's your external monitor model and size? 19"? DVI or VGA? How much did it run you and are you happy with it?

Sorry for the inquisition, I'm just trying to figure out if I should settle for an Apple 20" or go cheaper with a third-party. Looking at forums online, a lot of people are hooking up their Macs with non-Apple monitors, especially the Mini users, which was going to be my alternative system before the Macbooks reeled me in.

And is that your true day-to-day workspace area, or did you spartan it up especially for posting this pic? :wink:

[Shinkai]

it's a dell 2005fpw, so 20" widescreen lcd. the panel is actually same as Apple's 20", just different logic board and backlight. Backlight is better on apple in general, but it's perfectly fine on mine. i bought it for $350 a year ago from dell (look for online coupons). the new model is 2007fpw but there's some banding problems with it... i would suggest you to check this forum (http://www.hardforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=78) out for more info on lcds.

i did clean up for the picture. usually it's an absolute mess. i have journals and research papers lying all over table and floor. i moved back home two months ago and i still haven't unpacked my notes and books.

[TB4000]

Minus the books, magazines, cartons of uneaten food and cans, my workstation is EXACTLY like that above.

[yoMAMA]

does anyone know who makes the cinema view displays?

i've heard it's LG-philips.

also, should i (or is it worth it) to get the apple 3 year protection plan?

went to comp usa today and the sales guy there really recommanded the service.

[bluemonq]

interesting that so far nobody's mentioned one interesting problem that's been in the news lately:

Swelling batteries
http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/06/22/1828232&from=rss

Also, though the MagSafe connector doesn't burst into flame as often as originally thought there' still plenty of problems with the insulation joining to the plug. Invest in some electrical tape. I think it comes in white. And if it doesn't burst into flame, you might also face the more mundane problem of the power pins needing to be replaced after a few months.
http://www.macuser.com/hardware/magsafe_not_so_safe.php
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=115507
http://blog.wired.com/cultofmac/index.blog?entry_id=1437672

i think i'll stick with my thinkpad, thanks.

[Irezumi Kiss]

interesting that so far nobody's mentioned one interesting problem that's been in the news lately:

Swelling batteries
http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=06/06/22/1828232&from=rss

Also, though the MagSafe connector doesn't burst into flame as often as originally thought there' still plenty of problems with the insulation joining to the plug. Invest in some electrical tape. I think it comes in white. And if it doesn't burst into flame, you might also face the more mundane problem of the power pins needing to be replaced after a few months.
http://www.macuser.com/hardware/magsafe_not_so_safe.php
http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=115507
http://blog.wired.com/cultofmac/index.blog?entry_id=1437672

i think i'll stick with my thinkpad, thanks.
Was reading those sites you linked to, and others linked within those on the same topic...I dunno...the claims about stuff burning or melting are extremely few...and of those that are there, seem to be pretty spurious in their being legit claims.

If it was really epidemic, you'd be hearing a big stink wave about it. I've had power cords short out and bust on me just thru normal, everyday use.

[bluemonq]

which is why i put the magsafe thing second. the battery thing is pretty well-documented. it used to be that i could sort of understand the apple premium: polished technology with reliability to boot. i remember in the past comparing apple's quality of product to ibm, but it seems that things have gone downhill after they moved (coincidentally i suppose?) away from powerpc chips. i mean, they refused to admit to the thermal paste issue, even after everyone found out. their response? deploying lawyers to remove the photographic evidence taken from apple technical service manuals. riiiiiiiight, copyright issues. it wouldn't happen to have anything to do with the fact that it shows a tech emptying an entire syringe of paste onto one spot, would it?

[ares]

does anyone know who makes the cinema view displays?

i've heard it's LG-philips.

also, should i (or is it worth it) to get the apple 3 year protection plan?

went to comp usa today and the sales guy there really recommanded the service.

The displays are made by LG.

AppleCare is worth it. You can purchase it anytime within the first year. For displays, you can have AppleCare cover both a Cinema Display and computer if you buy them together.

which is why i put the magsafe thing second. the battery thing is pretty well-documented. it used to be that i could sort of understand the apple premium: polished technology with reliability to boot.

No magsafe or battery problems here. :)

I think the build quality problems might be due to their move to China. Their notebooks used to be made in Taiwan, mostly by Quanta (maybe Asustek also?).

[bluemonq]

Quanta did the PowerBooks and iBooks later on, while Asustek made the iBooks. However, they still are the manufacturers for the MacBook and MacBook Pro. In the same factories even. These days, Taiwanese factories do more design and component manufacturing and less product construction. Do you get the whining/chirping noise from the AC adapter?

[ares]

Quanta did the PowerBooks and iBooks later on, while Asustek made the iBooks. However, they still are the manufacturers for the MacBook and MacBook Pro. In the same factories even. These days, Taiwanese factories do more design and component manufacturing and less product construction. Do you get the whining/chirping noise from the AC adapter?

No whining. :) And my MacBook Pro is assembled in China.

[bluemonq]

Of course. My point is that Apple computers have been assembled in China for a long while now (along with most laptops, which is why I never understood the flap with Lenovo/IBM).

BTW, consider yourself lucky then. All of my friends who own MacBooks (quite a lot actually, being college students) have been complaining about it.

[Shinkai]

Of course. My point is that Apple computers have been assembled in China for a long while now (along with most laptops, which is why I never understood the flap with Lenovo/IBM).

In Lenovo's case, some design work is probably gonna be done in China also. US Senate was concerned about Chinese government adding spying/data mining hardware to new computers. I think government stopped buying IBM right after Lenovo acquired IBM.

BTW, consider yourself lucky then. All of my friends who own MacBooks (quite a lot actually, being college students) have been complaining about it.

My MacBook whines also. It's audible only in a completely quiet environment. My room is silent most of the time, so the whine is quite annoying. Luckily there are ways to suppress it entirely. It'll go away if you keep the cpu busy. I just open photobooth but you can run this program (http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/21714) to do the trick. By the way, there is no whining noise in WindowsXP. So this is definitely a problem Apple can fix.

[bluemonq]

In Lenovo's case, some design work is probably gonna be done in China also. US Senate was concerned about Chinese government adding spying/data mining hardware to new computers. I think government stopped buying IBM right after Lenovo acquired IBM.
Oh, I know about *that* mess. I was referring to the all the hand-wringing over the change in quality from IBM to Lenovo when (if I remember correctly) Lenovo already oemed some of IBM's line of pcs already. That's just silly. And besides, most of the support contracts still go through IBM.

[yoMAMA]

Just ordered my macbook (white)! with the apple 3 year protection, it was a little over $1700.

can't wait to get my baby :)

mac buyers:

what are your experiences with the mac recycling program?

i signed on to that, so i can get rid of my haulking CRT.

Of course. My point is that Apple computers have been assembled in China for a long while now (along with most laptops, which is why I never understood the flap with Lenovo/IBM).


it's simple:

politicians (tell me one thing that congress actually achived this year? -let's see: defended marriage from gays, gave themselves another raise? defend america from flag burning?)trying to score cheap political points (especially in an election year).

-and that of course belongs on other threads.

:wink:

[Irezumi Kiss]

All of my friends who own MacBooks (quite a lot actually, being college students) have been complaining about it.
Okay, I don't doubt you...but how many of your friends have experienced bloated batteries or melted power cords or grilled thighs from the overheating? Or is it something else they don't like or found out about later after purchase that's not making news?

The whine thing is negligible; if the battery/power cord thing were a chronic occurrance, seeing as they're all made from the same stuff and selling rather well, then it would be all over the map by now...and even I (a ride-or-die Mac head from jump street) would question getting one.

[yoMAMA]

and even I (a ride-or-die Mac head from jump street) would question getting one.

so you are the type of Mac person that would never use a PC?

I boss is like that ;)

[bluemonq]

Okay, I don't doubt you...but how many of your friends have experienced bloated batteries or melted power cords or grilled thighs from the overheating? Or is it something else they don't like or found out about later after purchase that's not making news?
Speak of the devil: one of my friends has noticed his battery getting really hot (more so than normal) and a slight warping of the battery exterior. Nothing dramatic yet like an explosion, he says. Stay tuned. He also says the iSight camera built in sucks ("worse than cameraphone"), nothing like the real iSights. Not much of a surprised there, considering the size of the thing. I'll ask my friends again to see if they've noticed anything wrong.

[yoMAMA]

Quanta did the PowerBooks and iBooks later on, while Asustek made the iBooks. However, they still are the manufacturers for the MacBook and MacBook Pro. In the same factories even. These days, Taiwanese factories do more design and component manufacturing and less product construction.


looks my macbook white will be made at ASUSTEK's suzhou, china factory.

which is cool cauz suzhou is one of my fav. cities in china.

:smile:

[Powerful T]

I heard that there were some discolouration in the white mac books, the source of the problem is UNKNOWN!!

Jizz stains?

[yoMAMA]

I bet billy and monica each ordered one.

now i think about glossy monitors...

those gigantic CRT monitors...

they really reflect things with any direct light.

[hooligan]

Early adopters always seem to get the shaft from Apple. I'm probably going to buy a macbook in about a couple of days.

However, I wnated to wait for the Merom chips, unfortunately that's not going to happen anytime soon.