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Apple MacBook MB466LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop
See it at Amazon.com for $1,099.00Average Customer Rating
(4.5 out of 5)
Amazon Customer Reviews
Most Helpful First | Newest First | + Share26 of 81 people found the following review helpful:
The absence of FireWire is a major flaw.
(1 out of 5) by Skyhawk on Oct 22, 2008 (USA)I have been a loyal Apple customer (and I still am) going back to 1980, I have become accustomed to Apple making superior products, with a few exceptions (the round mouse and iMovie 08) I've always been well pleased.
The aluminum Macbook is a non-starter due to no Firewire. Removing Firewire is like taking all the Philips screwdrivers out of a toolbox.
Thousands of devices use Firewire, with more coming out all the time.
FireWire advantages over USB include:
Target Disk Mode on Macs
FireWire can be daisy chained
Bus Power - FW - Up to 30V/45W vs USB 5V/500mA
Peer to Peer Connections (no host or CPU required)
Multiple Host on a bus support
TCP/IP Networking support
Distance FW800 = 100 Meters USB = 5 Meters
No Drivers Required (config ROM built in) aka Plug and Play
Remote Control of devices like cameras
CableTV Box Support
You can't transfer a VHS tape or other Video tape using an Analog-to-DV Converter without Firewire
There are no USB to Firewire adapters.
The Macbook Pro has Firewire, but many don't want a 15" Macbook Pro, because of the large size. They want something more portable.
The aluminum MacBook has no slot for an Express Card. There's NO WAY to connect any Firewire device to the new MacBooks...period.
Keep in mind that when Apple dropped ADB, SCSI and floppy drives in the Mac at least there where alternatives. USB floppy drives and usb to ABD adapters that protected your investment. There is NO option to connect existing or future Firewire products to the new aluminum Macbook.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the first revision of the new MacBooks. The original MacBook Pros didn't have Firewire 800, but Firewire 800 was added in the first revision after many complaints.
Firewire is continuing to improve. (Firewire 3200 will be out soon.) Firewire is more relevant than it ever has been.
Most would be better off with the White MacBook (that comes with Firewire). They're slightly faster and cheaper than the low end aluminum Macbook. The White Macbook is a good machine, good value and a great deal.
Apple has always been a visionary company, leading the way in new technology adoption. this one has me scratching my head. They have removed a mature, ubiquitous and robust protocol and replaced it with... NOTHING!
The aluminum Macbook is a non-starter due to no Firewire. Removing Firewire is like taking all the Philips screwdrivers out of a toolbox.
Thousands of devices use Firewire, with more coming out all the time.
FireWire advantages over USB include:
Target Disk Mode on Macs
FireWire can be daisy chained
Bus Power - FW - Up to 30V/45W vs USB 5V/500mA
Peer to Peer Connections (no host or CPU required)
Multiple Host on a bus support
TCP/IP Networking support
Distance FW800 = 100 Meters USB = 5 Meters
No Drivers Required (config ROM built in) aka Plug and Play
Remote Control of devices like cameras
CableTV Box Support
You can't transfer a VHS tape or other Video tape using an Analog-to-DV Converter without Firewire
There are no USB to Firewire adapters.
The Macbook Pro has Firewire, but many don't want a 15" Macbook Pro, because of the large size. They want something more portable.
The aluminum MacBook has no slot for an Express Card. There's NO WAY to connect any Firewire device to the new MacBooks...period.
Keep in mind that when Apple dropped ADB, SCSI and floppy drives in the Mac at least there where alternatives. USB floppy drives and usb to ABD adapters that protected your investment. There is NO option to connect existing or future Firewire products to the new aluminum Macbook.
It will be interesting to see what happens in the first revision of the new MacBooks. The original MacBook Pros didn't have Firewire 800, but Firewire 800 was added in the first revision after many complaints.
Firewire is continuing to improve. (Firewire 3200 will be out soon.) Firewire is more relevant than it ever has been.
Most would be better off with the White MacBook (that comes with Firewire). They're slightly faster and cheaper than the low end aluminum Macbook. The White Macbook is a good machine, good value and a great deal.
Apple has always been a visionary company, leading the way in new technology adoption. this one has me scratching my head. They have removed a mature, ubiquitous and robust protocol and replaced it with... NOTHING!
7 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
Love it!!
(5 out of 5) by FroggyM on Oct 17, 2008 (Washington, DC)I admit it, I'm an Apple fanboy. Ever since I switched to the mac a year ago, I've fallen in love with Apple software and hardware. This product is no exception. I'm using it for school and work, it's light but powerful, sexy, just totally awesome.
28 of 92 people found the following review helpful:
No FireWire Makes the new 'MetalBook' a Mixed Bag...
(1 out of 5) by Your Role Model on Oct 22, 2008 (from parts unknown)Well gosh, where to begin...
In a few ways, the new aluminum MacBooks ('MetalBooks') are actually an improvement... the aluminum is IMO nicer-looking than the previous white plastic, there's a slightly more solid-feeling keyboard, a new LED-backlit glass (not plastic) screen, the trackpad now lets you use multitouch gestures (like the iPhone) for a few common functions, the whole trackpad is one big button now (some may dig that, some might not), and there's somewhat better graphics performance too (though still far from hardcore gamer standards).
Sounds pretty nice, right? But somehow, in a VERY puzzling decision, Apple managed to give with one hand and take away with the other, by eliminating FireWire from the new MetalBooks.
Apple's removal of Firewire is a real (and very unnecessary) kick in the teeth, especially at the $1300 point (medium for *Apple*, but high for Windows switchers, who are about 50% of Apple's clientele these days).
Besides losing Target Mode and super-easy file migration, many ppl with expensive Firewire-only video cameras and/or audio equipment are being left in the lurch by this, and USB 2 and Firewire-to-whatever adapters/hubs are not real solutions, as they can't do all the things Firewire can.
These folks are stuck with either having to move up to the very pricey MacBook Pro (at $2000+), or settling for the old 'Plastic'Books, still around at $1000 with FireWire (though probably not for much longer).
Some ppl will also dislike the lack of a matte screen option- while it's nice that the screen is now LED-backlit and made of glass, it's also verrry glossy now, with all the annoying glare and fingerprints that that entails. Also, the viewing angle is surprisingly narrow, and the screen doesn't have very good blacks or contrast, which is disappointing for a laptop in this price range.
All in all, this is a quite pretty MacBook with some clever touches/minor upgrades, but one huge downgrade that did not need to happen, plus a less-than-stellar screen.
If all you plan to do with it is Internet, email, productivity apps and playing Starcraft 2 or WoW, then it's fine. But, isn't much of the reason why MacBooks are WORTH the price premium the fact that you can do darn near ANYTHING with 'em? Not anymore.
At $1300, most 'prosumers' will be expecting a notebook that's a 'win-win', not a 'win-lose'. Sadly, that is what the new MetalBooks ultimately are.
Why Apple, why? =[
[Edit:] Also be aware that many users are noting problems with the new Macbook and MB Pro trackpads, such as not all clicks registering, the cursor repeatedly leaping off of selected items, etc. Apple is now aware of this and is saying that a software fix is on the way, but it remains to be seen how effective it'll be. Another reason to wait, I guess.
In a few ways, the new aluminum MacBooks ('MetalBooks') are actually an improvement... the aluminum is IMO nicer-looking than the previous white plastic, there's a slightly more solid-feeling keyboard, a new LED-backlit glass (not plastic) screen, the trackpad now lets you use multitouch gestures (like the iPhone) for a few common functions, the whole trackpad is one big button now (some may dig that, some might not), and there's somewhat better graphics performance too (though still far from hardcore gamer standards).
Sounds pretty nice, right? But somehow, in a VERY puzzling decision, Apple managed to give with one hand and take away with the other, by eliminating FireWire from the new MetalBooks.
Apple's removal of Firewire is a real (and very unnecessary) kick in the teeth, especially at the $1300 point (medium for *Apple*, but high for Windows switchers, who are about 50% of Apple's clientele these days).
Besides losing Target Mode and super-easy file migration, many ppl with expensive Firewire-only video cameras and/or audio equipment are being left in the lurch by this, and USB 2 and Firewire-to-whatever adapters/hubs are not real solutions, as they can't do all the things Firewire can.
These folks are stuck with either having to move up to the very pricey MacBook Pro (at $2000+), or settling for the old 'Plastic'Books, still around at $1000 with FireWire (though probably not for much longer).
Some ppl will also dislike the lack of a matte screen option- while it's nice that the screen is now LED-backlit and made of glass, it's also verrry glossy now, with all the annoying glare and fingerprints that that entails. Also, the viewing angle is surprisingly narrow, and the screen doesn't have very good blacks or contrast, which is disappointing for a laptop in this price range.
All in all, this is a quite pretty MacBook with some clever touches/minor upgrades, but one huge downgrade that did not need to happen, plus a less-than-stellar screen.
If all you plan to do with it is Internet, email, productivity apps and playing Starcraft 2 or WoW, then it's fine. But, isn't much of the reason why MacBooks are WORTH the price premium the fact that you can do darn near ANYTHING with 'em? Not anymore.
At $1300, most 'prosumers' will be expecting a notebook that's a 'win-win', not a 'win-lose'. Sadly, that is what the new MetalBooks ultimately are.
Why Apple, why? =[
[Edit:] Also be aware that many users are noting problems with the new Macbook and MB Pro trackpads, such as not all clicks registering, the cursor repeatedly leaping off of selected items, etc. Apple is now aware of this and is saying that a software fix is on the way, but it remains to be seen how effective it'll be. Another reason to wait, I guess.
0 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
New Macbook
(5 out of 5) by Abdulrahman Alasfoor on Nov 23, 2008Apple MacBook MB466LL/A 13.3-Inch Laptop (2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo Processor, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB Hard Drive, Slot Loading SuperDrive)
7 of 37 people found the following review helpful:
$1299 for this?
(1 out of 5) by AHUGECAT on May 8, 2009 (Los Angeles, California)For $1299 I can get a 13 inch Dell laptop (Studio XPS) with a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 500GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive, GeForce 9500M 256MB GPU and I can upgrade the battery for only like $80. I could get a 16 inch Studio XPS with a 2.53GHz IC2D, 4GB DDR3 RAM, 320GB 7200 rpm Hard Drive, Radeon 3670 512MB and 9-cell battery for $1330.
Macs have weak specs - heck, YouTube videos look pixelated like heck (don't believe me? Try them out at your local Apple Store or Best Buy), and Flash (which YouTube uses) is crap on the Mac. The gestures are nothing more than gimmicks, there is only 2 USB ports, OS X's dock is also very outdated and when Windows 7 comes out it will be even more outdated (1990's outdated status), this gets hot too, MagSafe isn't that safe (just see the reports), it's just not a good notebook.
Get the Dell or another PC laptop with better specs and features, and if Windows turns you off, get Linux. Stay away from Macs.
Macs have weak specs - heck, YouTube videos look pixelated like heck (don't believe me? Try them out at your local Apple Store or Best Buy), and Flash (which YouTube uses) is crap on the Mac. The gestures are nothing more than gimmicks, there is only 2 USB ports, OS X's dock is also very outdated and when Windows 7 comes out it will be even more outdated (1990's outdated status), this gets hot too, MagSafe isn't that safe (just see the reports), it's just not a good notebook.
Get the Dell or another PC laptop with better specs and features, and if Windows turns you off, get Linux. Stay away from Macs.