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Black or White: I need help deciding
- Thread starter Steven1621
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I would pay as much as $400 more for the Black model:
First of all, go to the Apple Store. Look at them both. Side-by-side. The white model looks like a toy, while the black model looks like a sleek machine.
The whole "but it has a white power adapter" argument is bogus. It also has white lettering on the keyboard. Should that be black as well? Just because the case is black doesn't mean the whole package has to be, and I actually think it makes for a nice contrast.
Granted, each model has some case issues, but I'm willing to take the risk with some flaking (which seems to be VERY rare) than the wide-spread discoloration (which I can't believe people are even surprised about, since the white iBooks had the same problem for years). Couple that with the white MacBook's amazing ability to show dirt and add to that its uncanny knack for emphasizing scratches and I think you'll know who wins the case wars.
As for the "grease and fingerprints" argument, if you're a clean person, it's not as bad as they say, and in any case, they wipe off rather easily.
The resale value argument isn't just, either. True, the BlackBook may depreciate quicker than the WhiteBook, but just the opposite may happen (like the Lime iBook in the past) where it could command a premium down the road.
It's all personal preference, but I think the VAST majority of people prefer the black model, and many of the folks that don't admit to it come up with all sorts of excuses to justify the fact that they were too cheap to spring for the paint job.
Still, any MacBook purchase should begin with the following question: If the white and black models cost the exact same, which would I buy?
If the answer is the white one, go for it. If the answer is the black one, then take into consideration what I said above and figure out if it's worth the 10% premium...
First of all, go to the Apple Store. Look at them both. Side-by-side. The white model looks like a toy, while the black model looks like a sleek machine.
The whole "but it has a white power adapter" argument is bogus. It also has white lettering on the keyboard. Should that be black as well? Just because the case is black doesn't mean the whole package has to be, and I actually think it makes for a nice contrast.
Granted, each model has some case issues, but I'm willing to take the risk with some flaking (which seems to be VERY rare) than the wide-spread discoloration (which I can't believe people are even surprised about, since the white iBooks had the same problem for years). Couple that with the white MacBook's amazing ability to show dirt and add to that its uncanny knack for emphasizing scratches and I think you'll know who wins the case wars.
As for the "grease and fingerprints" argument, if you're a clean person, it's not as bad as they say, and in any case, they wipe off rather easily.
The resale value argument isn't just, either. True, the BlackBook may depreciate quicker than the WhiteBook, but just the opposite may happen (like the Lime iBook in the past) where it could command a premium down the road.
It's all personal preference, but I think the VAST majority of people prefer the black model, and many of the folks that don't admit to it come up with all sorts of excuses to justify the fact that they were too cheap to spring for the paint job.
Still, any MacBook purchase should begin with the following question: If the white and black models cost the exact same, which would I buy?
If the answer is the white one, go for it. If the answer is the black one, then take into consideration what I said above and figure out if it's worth the 10% premium...
macdaddy121 said:
I really doubt that the new MacBook Pro's will depart from the current brushed metal appearance. I'm not saying that they will not see a design change, because that is always a possibility, but I do not think that the color scheme will change. They look more professional than the MacBooks, and that is for a reason.
You're right about the dirt showing up worse on white than black, because most dirt tends to be darker coloured. However, I seriously believe that if scratches will appear worse on a Blackbook because of its matt finish. Also the underlying colour would show through right? And I'm guessing that it wouldn't be black plastic underneath, however, I really have no proof as I haven't seen a scratched Blackbook.
However, I have to say I'm very happy with my white MacBook and I picked it not for the money, but for the colour. White just seems to still be the signature colour of Apple, even if it is starting to get a bit cliched with iPods and all that.
I'd be curious as to what some blackbook owners have to say about this. I haven't owned any black apple products, so I honestly don't know. I do know, however, that my white macbook is getting the notorious white scratches - they're unavoidable and really only visable at the right angle, but do blackbooks have this same problem?01jamcon said:
xfiftyfour said:
I don't have the slightest scratch in my BlackMB. It's 1 month old and looking as good as new.
It does shows fingerprints...but one quick clean using iKlear makes it look perfect. And the contrast of the white logo with he black case is just great.
xfiftyfour said:
As far as I can tell, the black isn't a coating, but rather a material that goes through the core of the case. So, now matter how deeply it's scratched, it will still be black.
In fact, I realize it's the same material as the white one, but the black just feels sturdier to me. Maybe it's the matte finish that makes it more solid to the touch than the glossy WhiteBook...?
Also, the matte finish is FAR less probe to scratches than the white finish, which any iBook owner will tell you is impossible to prevent (without some sort of skin). I bet you could run a cotton swap over an iBook and leave behind a mark - I can't imagine the white MacBook case would act any differently.
01jamcon said:
Maybe I'm making it sound worse than it is, but it does scratch easily.
If you've had experience with an eMac, it's the same kind of material.
Or for an even easier to find reference, check out the white plastic parts of an iPod - it's a similar finish.
well it's definitely not white underneath - see pictures here of a blackbook that's begun peeling. below the matte finish is still a black laptop.01jamcon said:
and trust me, no matter how well you take care of your white macbook (unless it sits on your desk always, never moving at all, not even sliding), you will have the light scratches. it's pretty inherent. luckily, they're light, subtle, and like i said earlier, only really visable at the right angle.
macdaddy121 said:
Yes, the same cream they sell for iPods works.
There's more companies that market the stuff than I care to list, but RadTech has a really nice product...
Unspeaked said:
So the light scratching can be fixed for 20 bucks....not bad at all.....white for me
i asked people about apple sauce and how it worked on their ipods and/or macbooks, and those that responded said it didn't do squat for the scratches, and wasn't even a very good cleaner, at that.macdaddy121 said:
i'd want to hear from more than just one user that had success with a product ridding their white apple plastics of scratches before i was so quick to assume the scratching could "be fixed for 20 bucks"
xfiftyfour said:
Allow me to clarify my earlier statment: the scratches are still there, they're just sort of covered.
They can easily show up again and need the cream to be reapplied.
It reminds me of that stuff they used to sell in the 80s - liquid leather? To fix, like, vinyl seats in cars and stuff.
The BlackBook would still look better with a few minor scratches than the WhiteBook would with dozens of "repaired" scratches. Assuming the BlackBook gets any scratches in the first place...
White all the way unless you want a pc clone looking Mac with a glowing apple on the lid which shows every finger and hand print. As for the scratching on the white MacBook, I guess if you're prone to looking at it in a certain light with your head angled sideways so that your eyes are looking across the top of the lid all the time, then yes you'll notice insignificant teeny, tiny rub marks that look like scratches.
I have the white 2Ghz with 2GB ram and a 120Gb HDD and I love it. I went from a 12" Powerbook to this little beauty and don't regret a thing.
Besides I have a white iPod and BT Mighty Mouse (which doesn't come in black) and it's all very slick indeed
I have the white 2Ghz with 2GB ram and a 120Gb HDD and I love it. I went from a 12" Powerbook to this little beauty and don't regret a thing.
Besides I have a white iPod and BT Mighty Mouse (which doesn't come in black) and it's all very slick indeed
I actually feel that the Blackcook its actually funkier than the white. That apple logo is just screaming "I HAVE AN APPLE" at you. Sometimes you just want to get by, not make a statement about yourself.
kind of reminds me of an ad that said: "does your backpack say a lot about you? tell it to shut up! - such and such, backpacks that dont have an attitude and actually carry your stuff!" - sort of.
I was enamoured by the black because I thought it was less funky than the white, but now, after seing it, I dont honestly know.
kind of reminds me of an ad that said: "does your backpack say a lot about you? tell it to shut up! - such and such, backpacks that dont have an attitude and actually carry your stuff!" - sort of.
I was enamoured by the black because I thought it was less funky than the white, but now, after seing it, I dont honestly know.
Bern said:
The same can be said about the prints on the BlackBook - unless you're looking for them, they're difficult to notice.
Again, I go back to what I said earlier - if you asked 100 people which model they preferred (and didn't discuss price, cosmetic defects or anything else - just looks), I'd reckon 80 to 90 of them would say black.
And though I'm sure some people honestly do prefer the white model, I think most would gladly choose black if they were the same price - and I bet there's even a few diehard fans of white who claim to love the color but would switch to the black model in a heartbeat if it were even $25.00 less than the WhiteBook.
manic said:
I really think you have to see them in person - before I had, I thought the black would be less "Mac-like" too.
But I haven't been with a single person who's looked at them side-by-side at the Apple Store and not preferred the BlackBook.
Unspeaked said:
Well I know when I was looking at a black MB straight on I could definitely see every finger print on the key board, wrist area and all over the lid. That was enough for me to decide to go white otherwise I'd be forever wiping it over. It just looked greasy and unprofessional.
In Australia white is the most popular colour according to recent sales figures (I have two friends in the retail industry selling Macs - one at a department store the other at a Mac store).
If black were the same price I would still have gone white.
Unspeaked said:
Maybe it's just me but I thought they were really obvious.
Both black & white have their pros and cons. The white scratches and stains (supposedly fixed). The black shows oils and the paint peels (supposedly not a real issue).
They both look really good and you are taking a chance with either.
I honestly think the white one looks better (maybe subconsciously I'm thinking about price). I just think the white one looks more Mac like. Don't get me wrong the black looks great but.....it looks.....generic.
My brother is buying the black one next week and I'm buying the white one. They are both amazing computers. And money is a key factor in why more white ones are being sold then black ones (I think....judging on shipping times).
EricNau said:
good point...I am going with white for the gloss finish. Man, I cant wait! I am getting mine for college in late August.
90% of laptops out there are black.
Its boring!
I find white refreshing .. crisp and clean.
Get a white one
Its boring!
I find white refreshing .. crisp and clean.
Get a white one