Hi, I'm a Mac, and I'm a PC... FWHOOOSH! PC? Where'd you go? PC?
Written: Dec 15 '07 (Updated Dec 19 '07)
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Pros: Light, thin, very fast in web browsing and everyday tasks, Leopard included, useful software suite.
Cons: Not a great choice for video or photo-editing in stock form, not cheap at $1,100.
The Bottom Line: Wow, I'm absolutely thrilled with my MacBook. It's powerful-enough, easy to use, sweet to look at, and comes with tech support based in the USA... what's not to love?
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| openroad's Full Review: Apple MacBook (MB061LL/A) (MB061LL A 2GHZ MACBOOK)... |
Apple 13.3" MacBook
Graphics: Intel GMA X3100 144MB DDR2 RAM
Drive: Combo Drive CD/DVD read, CD & CD/R write
Processor: 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo
Ports: 2 USB 2.0 ports, Optical audio in/out
Hard Disk: 80GB Serial ATA drive
Memory: 1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM
MSRP: $1,099.00
Nothing lasts forever in this world, not even laptop computers... maybe I should say especially not laptops. After about 16 months of ownership (as the 2nd owner thanks to eBay) my 4-1/2 year old Apple iBook G4 12" succumbed to an internal board failure. Cost to repair estimated at $300-$400, time to look for a new laptop. Even though I'm an avid Apple user I didn't want to drop the $1,100 for the entry level MacBook at this time of year, so I went to Best Buy and shopped their PC laptops. I ended up leaving with a Toshiba Satellite A215 for $800 and a one year warranty... not bad I figured. Four words for you... Windows Vista, Battery Life. If you want to hear about my ownership experience check out my Toshiba review, but long-story-short I returned my Toshiba 6 days later, took a $105 hit for restocking fee, and beat a path to my local Apple store.
I walked out the door with a spring in my step, a very cool box in my hand, and $1,400 less in my checking account. My new MacBook is the base model 13.3" with no upgrades, although I did opt for the 3 year total coverage with AppleCare ($250). I also splurged for what I consider two requirements for any MacBook, the iSkin ProTouch MacBook keyboard skin and Timbuk2 Laptop sleeve.
----- Using my MacBook and a bit about Leopard -----
As others have mentioned, Apple pays such attention to detail that even their packing materials emit the distinct odor of coolness. Unpacking my brand new Toshiba Satellite was like opening a box of cereal, all function, no style at all. On my MacBook however everything from the smooth operation of the box's top flap to the space-alien look of the eggcrate packing foam oozed... well I guess coolness. If you've seen the Mac & P.C. adds Apple has out you'll understand what I mean, sure it's all image and clearly Apple is sucking up to its customers, but I like it... and it works.
First I booted up my MacBook (MB) and used the amazing System Transfer to move my music and pictures from my iMac desktop to the laptop. After all settings were complete and my login entered, I looked at the clock and only 45 minutes had passed, amazing since my Vista-powered Toshiba took almost 3 hours to startup, customize, and finish rebooting for the last time. Even though my MB only has 1GB of RAM it boots up and opens programs faster than the Toshiba did with 2GB of RAM. All new MacBook and MacBook Pro models come with OS 10.5.1 Leopard which is a $130 option if you need to buy it for an older laptop.
The main screen of your MacBook is clean and uncluttered, thanks to the "dock" at the bottom of the screen which is where all your programs and system icons are located. You can change the size & height of your dock or even hide it completely until you mouse over it. Instead of trial programs, Apple gives you full versions of actual software you can use every day and that are designed to look good and increase your productivity.
Leopard comes with all the programs you already know (iTunes, iPhoto, Garage Band, iMovie, iCal, iWeb), and a couple new ones that you'll might enjoy. Time Machine is a very customizable backup program which automatically saves the data you specify to an external hard drive. The other program worthy of mention is Spaces, it's similar to Expose only Spaces gives you multiple "desktops" which you can assign specific programs to. Say you want iTunes to always open in a different desktop than your primary one, you you'll just hold Command and use the arrow keys to swap between "desktops". This works great for laptops used at work and home, since all the programs can be assigned to different "spaces".
Enough about Leopard, on to the MacBook. The at the top of the keyboard you'll find the shortcut keys for screen brightness, Expose, Widgets, audio controls and volume. Keyboard keys are fullsized and easy to type with, although if you have the white model you'll find the keys get dirty easily. The glossy widescreen is very bright when turned all the way up and it's possible to actually use your MacBook in indirect sunlight. Internal Bluetooth 2.0 hardware makes connecting wireless peripherals a cinch. Internal slot loading CD/DVD drive eliminates the pesky CD loading tray common on many PC laptops.
Behold, the power of magnets! All MacBooks and MacBook Pros get Apple's MagSafe 120V charger which connects to the laptop and transfers power to the laptop without "plugging in". When charging a small LED glows orange at the laptop, when charge is complete it changes to soft green. If you walk into the cord or snag it the charger will pop off your laptop without rending a hole in the side. I feel strongly about this charging system since I seriously damaged my old 17" Powerbook by backing up my office chair, catching the cord, and watching it crash to the floor. Besides the MagSafe charger the MacBook's screen is held closed magnetically, without any mechanical latches whatsoever. Very cool and no latches to break or stick closed.
Once you familiarize yourself with iChat a bit you'll be able to video chat with anyone else that has an iSight camera. All MacBooks and iMacs come with iSights built in, no accessories needed. Using iChat to communicate is a great idea for families spread out over the country or even overseas. You can have a total of 4 people in one video chat at once and each person gets their own video panel and everyone is visible at the same time.
Battery life is so much better than any PC based laptop it's not even fair to compare them. My MacBook charges completely in about 1.5 hours even when using it and lasts anywhere from 4-6 hours on one charge. Obviously this depends on screen brightness and what applications you're running, but on average I hit about 4 hours with some CD usage, iTunes running, and the screen on about 30% brightness (which is fine for indoor use). If you're watching a DVD movie you'll see about 3 hours of life since the Combo Drive is always running, but that's enough for most any movie.
----- Final Thoughts -----
In case you haven't figured it out by now I'm a big fan of the MacBook as an all-around mid-level laptop. I've converted several of my friends into MacBooks from their Dell and Gateway models and they've been happy as Apple pie every since. Only if you MUST use a PC for some obscure work reason would I stay in the realm of the dark side (Bill Gates of course).
In my opinion everything you do on a Mac is easier that its PC alternative due to the streamlined interface and suite of Apple software. Thanks to the rising popularity of Macs most of Microsoft's productivity software is available on your Apple. I have Microsoft Office and it runs smoothly, just as if it was a native app. You won't find the MacBook to be a gaming system since it's not set up for massive graphics processing. I've only done a little bit of video editing with iMovie on my MacBook and it's done just fine, although it wouldn't be my first choice for lots of video work.
For students, staying connected with your small business, or just toting along to coffee shops to check your mail, email pictures to your parents, and shop online, the Apple MacBook is a first-rate system. I purchased the AppleCare warranty which extends the free phone-support and warranty coverage to 3 years from the standard 90-day phone and 1 year warranty. Speaking of phone support, you won't find yourself calling India or China and trying to understand what's being said. Apple keeps all their phone support inside the USA and you'll always get an English speaking rep on the line.
It took buying my Toshiba Satellite to see the differences in the way PCs and Macs function, hopefully my story will at least allow you to check out Apple and give them a look the next time you purchase a new computer.
Related links:
•Toshiba Satellite A215 15.4" Laptop
•Apple iMac Intel Duo 20"
•Apple iMac Intel Duo 24"
•Apple iBook G4 12"
•Apple Powerbook G4 17"
•Apple iPod Photo 40GB
•Apple iPod 20GB
•iSkin ProTouch MacBook Keyboard Protection
•Timbuk2 Quilted Laptop Sleeve
•Nikon D70 Digital SLR
•Viosport Adventure Cam 2 Kit
Thanks for reading and feel free to comment!
© Openroad 2007
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 1350.00
Operating System: Macintosh
Processor: Other
Processor speed: over 1000
Screen Size: 13 inches
RAM: More than 256
Internal Storage: CD-RW and DVD
Hard Drive (GB): Over 50
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