Home > Consumer Reviews > MacBook 13.3" 2.0GHz/2GB/160GB/GeForce 9400M/SuperDrive

Prior to buying this MacBook I had the 13.3 White version from last year, which is a fantastic machine. I bought this new model however after selling my old MacBook, given the new UniBody might solve the problem of the previous plastic enclosure becoming a bit creaky and even bending.

After about a month of using this new MacBook, my thoughts are somewhat varied as to the value of Apple's new hardware these days. So firstly, lets get the negatives out the way:

The Price...

Producing the new aluminium enclosure may benefit the environment and 'precise' details of the body, as well as strength benefits, but the milling-process to make the uni-body has just shot the production costs up. I remember Steve Jobs saying that "Choice is good". In this case, why can't we buy the upgraded MacBook without the enclosure? Because if we want the old White MacBook, it's now more expensive! Makes absolutely no sense, particularly for students.

No FireWire...

Big mistake. Many of us still use it to transfer large amounts of data; particularly HD video's or in my case, large PhotoShop/Logic Pro files. Given Apple have always been geared to giving the working person the tools they need, this is a step back - surely production costs can't inflict on one little port on the side of the body? I think it may be possible that the slimmer profile of this new MacBook wouldn't have housed FireWire, yet in all honestly, the original White MacBook was thin enough.

Display OutPut changed...

Just when you buy all the necessary Mini-DV leads for work/uni, you have to change them again because of yet another different sized port. Nice one Apple! What was wrong with the other one? Actually nothing, but this one supports more pixels apparently. We use a large projector at University with the Mini DVI to VGA adaptor, and everything looked fine with the old connection.

Ventilation still poor...

From what I can remember, the iBook G4 was probably the last Apple laptop to remain cool when using hungry programs like Photoshop/Dreamweaver. Since then, the reduction in size of their laptops has created less space for cool air to enter, and warm air to escape. The problem is still here - the tiny vents at the back are useless if the screen is tilted far back, or if you're on a surface that's not completely flat. The only thing I would say is that this MacBook doesn't toast your surface as much as the White 13.3 model. With the increasing slimmer profile of Apples Notebooks, they need to think of a new ventilation design, fast.

But lets look at some positives, it's not all bad news.

Strength...

This is much stronger laptop than any previous model, and keeps it shape, re-assuringly, when held with one hand or and an angle. It feels solid and robust, and doesn't spring in when pressed hard on the top of the screen (Apple Logo side). The whole UniBody issue is somewhat compromised by both positive and negative outlooks, but if Apple found a cheaper milling process, hopefully it can become more affordable. Generally however, they appear to be sticking to the current aluminium generation for recyclable reasons.

Slight Better Screen...

The screen starts-up faster and is a bit sharper, but more importantly easier to clean! Best move of the laptop probably - the edges of the screen don't have as thick a border as the previous generation. I hear this new way of manufacturing LCD screens is also better for our environment.

Better Graphics...

A great addition - makes the Dock a bit smoother, better handling of large RAW and PSD files, and more efficient on the battery. I haven't tested it out on games, as Steve Jobs compared and contrasted at KeyNote, but the move is definitely something we've all wanted.

Despite the obvious positives, I think Apple have gotten confused over what the budget consumer and pro consumer require. Instead of creating a more diverse paradigm to cut costs and just give us "what we need" (per sae) the only major difference between this and the Pro model are HDD and CPU sizes. This shouldn't be the case - yes, we all want the best, but when you don't have a choice to buy a new model which retains standard consumer specs, what can we do?

Such thing may not be problematic in America where the class-system allows mummy and daddy to buy their darling kids a MacBook, and for the average worker to not think twice, but not all of us have that financial backing internationally. I'm afraid to say Apple's ethos of value and performance is wearing thin both in price and final product - whether you may agree or not is your choice, but it appears to me as a critical observation of the companies changes since 'that turnaround' of 1997, when they had a much simpler and more "focussed" (the word used) paradigm for consumer and pro customers.

Yet look at Apple's software on a positive scale. Logic Pro (music production), what was once just under a thousand pounds, is now almost a consumer studio product at just under three hundred pounds - including all studio programs and add on packs.

I'm only speaking on behalf of my own experience, so do have a good think before buying...

I have never used a Mac before. This is so easy to use. The programs work and purchased items load and work with ease no silly questions just get on with it.
Light, easy to carry, battery lasts for ages. Connects to network every time. Keyboard superb
Would I make my next desktop a Mac? Very likely.

It took me about 2 days before i could correctly use the trackpad, even at this time i thought it was overpriced and not worth it. Two weeks later and I cant live wothout it, []

Much has already been said about the new MacBooks, so I thought I'd keep my review short and sweet, and write it as a list of pros and cons...

Pros:

- The Unibody enclosure is rock solid. It doesn't flex, warp or creak if you try to bend it or twist it
- The silver appearance is the result of real aluminium, not plastic sprayed with metallic paint
- The 13.3" LED display is gorgeous. Colours are clear and vivid, and whites are very bright and clean
- The 13.3" LED display doesn't indent or ripple when touched
- The Multi-Touch trackpad is about 4 times larger than the average. It's 10.5 cm by 7.7 cm
- The Multi-Touch trackpad responds to about 6 different gestures, including pinching and rotating
- The Multi-Touch trackpad doesn't have any buttons, but you can still do physical left clicks and right clicks
- The NVIDIA 9400M chip enables it to run Google Earth totally fluidly, without any fans kicking in
- The NVIDIA 9400M chip enables it to play and scale 1920 x 1080 H.264 video, totally fluidly and silently
- The NVIDIA 9400M chip simultaneously supports an external display up to 2560 x 1600 pixels
- The NVIDIA 9400M chip will be used as a second processor with Snow Leopard (Summer 2009)
- The internal hard drive is very accessible. Just flip the latch on the underside and it's visible
- The internal hard drive can be replaced with a 500GB 2.5" model for as little as £90
- The line out socket is compatible with the iPhone/iPod touch Stereo Headset with microphone
- It starts up (to the Desktop) in about 40 seconds, and shuts down in about 5 seconds
- It supports 6GB of RAM with Leopard, and potentially 8GB of RAM with Snow Leopard (Summer 2009)
- It comes with Mac OS X Leopard pre-installed

Cons:

- The starting price of £949 is too high for a "consumer" laptop. £749 would be far more attractive
- The 13.3" LED display has a narrow vertical viewing angle, solarising easily with head movements
- The 13.3" LED display is more reflective than a typical "glossy" display, being made from glass, not plastic
- The Multi-Touch trackpad button click is quite loud and clunky
- The absence of a FireWire port makes the MacBook incompatible with MiniDV or HDV camcorders
- It doesn't come with an Apple Remote (an extra £15)
- It doesn't come with a Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter (an extra £20)

As a PC user for years I cannot believe it has taken me so long to get my first mac. I have had it for four months now and i am still continually impressed by it. It's simplicity to use is incredible and the operating system seems immense. Even my parents would look professional on one. I have a lot a photos and the macbook is a delight when sorting through them.

I could go on all day about how good I think the macbook is. Of course there are flaws, (although i've only read about them and not encountered any) and the cost is higher than other brand, 'better specced' laptops. But that's apple. It's a premium brand and it seems you've got to pay for it. It's an individual choice whether you think the price is worth paying and personally I do. To pay for something and then complain about missing items/ports/price seems ridiculous as you know what you're getting, what your spec is and how much it costs before you part with your cash! I'd probably just recommend better decision making.

So if you're thinking about getting a mac, do it! I can't say i know anyone personally who has bought a mac and hasn't gone on to preach how much better they are than a PC. It makes using a computer enjoyable.