First Post! my review of the 2.0 ghz Macbook (DETAILED)

[jjohnson87]

Haha Thanks for everyone that likes the review. Even all of you who have deciding my formating sucks I appreciate the honest feedback. Next time I write anything for this message board I will triple check for a nice easy to read format. I will be attending The University of Massachusetts-Lowell next year to who ever asked and I absolutely can't wait

 

[celebrian23]

Have fun with your new toy! I'll be getting one officially now too for my graduation present!

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

Yes, I actually muddled through the review. Still, I've written reviews as well and held off posting them. I format them to pleasing to the eye as much as the content itself.

The new MacBook is a lot of power in that little package. It's not a gaming machine but it'll blow your socks off in iLife and in Universal applications. I have some reservations about the glossy screens. They seem to be more of a gimmick to make the MacBooks shiny. We have Dells in our offices and just having the blinds open causes massive glare on those screens.

They handle 1080p playback smoothly even with 512 MB of RAM. (Cool too after playing it for 5 minutes.) I was getting 60-70% CPU usage divided between the cores. (30-35% each) I don't know how it'd fair having the video spanned on an external monitor though. You'll want more then 512 MB of RAM for that.

Wow, by reading your post, you are definately the last person that should be telling him how to write a review.

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

Haha Thanks for everyone that likes the review. Even all of you who have deciding my formating sucks I appreciate the honest feedback. Next time I write anything for this message board I will triple check for a nice easy to read format. I will be attending The University of Massachusetts-Lowell next year to who ever asked and I absolutely can't wait

The formatting may have been a bit off but actually the content was very nice, and a pleasure to read. You speak very well for somebody your age, and better than many adults. Keep up the good work.

 

[Eidorian]

Wow, by reading your post, you are definately the last person that should be telling him how to write a review.

Well , thanks but I don't really need it. I just post my thoughts into single paragraphs. I think it's easier to get an idea across when each paragraph just contains information on a single idea.

 

[Nar1117]

This thread has a lot of AOLspk, which I personally hate. Please refrain from using 'lol' 'u' 'btw' all that crap...

It gets annoying to see it on a messageboard where most people are usually pretty smart and logical. Afterall, if we weren't, we'd all still be on Windows right?

 

[jjohnson87]

Thanks!..acting older than I am has always been something that has been a gift/curse for me. I was one of if not the youngest employee ever to be hired at an apple store (the day of my 18th birthday) because the hiring manager was amazed at what I allready knew with no training and at my age. Also I have been the lead computer/network tech at my school since my sophomore year.

 

[jjohnson87]

Yeah I totally agree and if i have used any sorry I am still in high school and these days it has to be a second language to maintain a social life and sometimes it just slips out.

 

[zorg]

On that note, this is a forum and I for one thank you for the great review and could care less about the formatting.

I don't want to be a grammer police. But I don't like it when people say they could care less. If they could care less, that means they care some to begin with. If you don't care, then you couldn't care less...

 

[vakej]

At the end of the day, thanks for the post...good overview of the macbook.

I checked it out this afternoon at the local apple store. I agree that the keyboard is quite nice. Very responsive, and comfortable. I actually found it easier to type on relative to the macbook pro 17". Just my opinion...

VJ

 

[Eidorian]

At the end of the day, thanks for the post...good overview of the macbook.

I checked it out this afternoon at the local apple store. I agree that the keyboard is quite nice. Very responsive, and comfortable. I actually found it easier to type on relative to the macbook pro 17". Just my opinion...

VJ

I tested the keyboard by opening up Word and trying out a few paragraphs. I wouldn't type a term paper on it but it's great for on the road. I still prefer the standard Apple USB keyboard format. The spacing of the keys is a little annoying but manageable on the MacBook.

 

[jjohnson87]

Yeah the keyboard is going to be one of the most subjective aspects of the compuer. I have small hands and the spacing for me is perfect. I typed out a 26 page paper effortlessly the day I got the computer. I always thought the powerbook keyboard keys felt too rounded and could never get a good over all feel for the keyboard. The ibook keyboard was too closely spaced and not responsive enough for my likeing. In my opinion this keyboard is the best I have ever used on any computer. (the only thing I miss is having the number pad but god doesnt give with both hands )

 

[CaptainCaveMann]

I don't want to be a grammer police. But I don't like it when people say they could care less. If they could care less, that means they care some to begin with. If you don't care, then you couldn't care less...

Wait a second, if your the grammer police should'nt you know to not start a sentence with but?

 

[jjohnson87]

Guys lets all calm down and focus on what is important... people want honest opinons on the macbook, not semantics arguments.

 

[blitzydog]

Guys lets all calm down and focus on what is important... people want honest opinons on the macbook, not semantics arguments.

I second that! Why in hell are we talking about paragraph formatting so seriously on a Mac computer forum. Gosh ;ddd

 

[1848]

Nice review, as far as your budget for the computer is concerned, I strongly recommend using some of that surplus to upgrade your RAM. I popped 2Gb of Crucial purchased off Newegg ( ~$280) into my Macbook and it is night and day. Also consider the fact that you system will need to give you a few good years of usage in college. That RAM will add significantly to the longevity of your systems usefulness. And one last thought, don't forget Applecare, because if my MacBook, which is going back tommorow, is any indicator.... you'll need it

 

[direzz]

Thanks for the support lol. Trust me I hear what your saying about the
best work comes late at night rushed lol I managed to finish a 26 page memoir from 10am-6am right before school the other day lol (which is an AP class if there is still any questions as to my ability lol) I was merely saying this late on a message board is something I didnt think would matter if I typed it without formatting but whatever haha. As for the keyboard I would say imo this is the best laptop keyboard I have used 100 percent. I am in a small minority but I worked at an apple store and we would constantly use a powerbook g4 for the register; I like this keyboard much more than the old powerbook keyboard. As for the apple logo on the back, as of right now the apple lights up on all of the notebooks, what are you are really seeing is the light comming from the lcd, so the logo will light up as bright as you have your screen set.​

buddy do you have a girlfriend?

lol, great review. are we talking hottt tho? and do the fans come on often and are they loud?

 

[jjohnson87]

A ram upgrade is deffinatley next on my docket, is it worth the extra money to buy cruical ram as they are somewhat pricey. I used to work at the apple store so trust me I have way too much expericance with the perils of not having applecare. Also, why is youre macbook going back?

 

[macenforcer]

Nice review, as far as your budget for the computer is concerned, I strongly recommend using some of that surplus to upgrade your RAM. I popped 2Gb of Crucial purchased off Newegg ( ~$280) into my Macbook and it is night and day. Also consider the fact that you system will need to give you a few good years of usage in college. That RAM will add significantly to the longevity of your systems usefulness. And one last thought, don't forget Applecare, because if my MacBook, which is going back tommorow, is any indicator.... you'll need it

OR $82 a stick for the cheaper kind. I don't understand why people spend so much more money on crucial ram. It doesn't make a lick of difference.

 

[jjohnson87]

I personaly wouldnt say hot but my father thought it was hot. In my opinon it is only marginaly hotter than other laptops in the same form with equal compnents. The fan nose hasnt been a problem at all I often dont even notice when they are on.

No I do not have a girlfriend as I am moving away in a few months and honestly the whole long distance relationship idea seems in no way appealing. Why do you ask?

 

[1848]

jjohnson87 --
As far as my decision for getting Crucial, I think its the right way to go, you can get a cheaper brand and save a significant amount. However, because OS X is very demanding on its RAM, and because your system will be stable enough to run for an extended period of time without crashing, any flaw in the RAM, be it just one or two BITS, could potentially cause unfathomable headaches and stability problems. Yes, there are people who get away with cheap RAM, but its a numbers game... and for every one of them who don't have any problems there are some people who, either immediately have problems, or start to get problems down the road, and a RAM flaw can be a real pain to diagnose. Anyways, crucial is way cheaper than Apple OEM RAM... and in my eyes the best compromise. If you ever have a problem with your crucial sticks, theyll replace them right away.
I really can't stress enough how much more pleasurable the system is to use with a full 2gb though. It's truly night and day... and blisteringly fast.

As to why its getting replaced: The 'B' key has fallen off of my keyboard after 5 days of light use. I can see the broken clip on the underside of the key now that it has fallen off. Also my MacBook 'moos', which is/was a problems with the MBP. I can live with the mooing, as it is very faint and you only hear it in quiet environments... but obviously the keyboard is a bit of a deal breaker. Real bummer, and I love the machine... I am just planning on exchanging it out for an identical one.hopefully this isn't another full fledged quality control dilemma, only time will tell!

 

[1848]

macenforcer... read some of the nightmares of people who went with the cheap sticks and then you'd understand. Cheaper sticks REGULARLY ship with flaws. Even a minor flaw will corrupt files and crash your system, and you might not even notice it until you've had the RAM 2 months, and then you are thinking that something else is the culprit, like some recently installed software, etc etc. Really its a risk but I don't have time to play the 'oh lets send this ram back etc etc' all day long and troll message boards because im so lonely. Crucial 'just works'. Macs 'just work'. Rolexes 'just work'. These are products that someone just put more care into in order to make their customer's lives easier (and to make money of course) There's a reason people pay the premium,... the same reason people buy Macs.

 

[jjohnson87]

Thanks for the advice it will be taken into consderiation when I am buying the ram upgrade I cant wait to see this thing when it is fully loaded. That's tough with the keyboard....I have been typing papers day and night on this thing for the last few days and so far havent had a single problem. Heres to hoping you wont have any further problems.

 

[Abstract]

I'm going to apologize on behalf of all the regulars on this board. We're not usually anal about grammar unless you type like a 10 year old g@m3r, and you definitely don't. Hope the people in this thread didn't give you the wrong impression.

Way to focus on the really petty stuff. What, you want him to make a brochure for you? As far as I see, there are 3 paragraphs of information that should take you 2-3 minutes to read. Not a big problem.

I think he might have been joking, or wasn't completely serious. I'm sure didn't care.

You say that you're off to university in the Fall to study English?

Maybe they'll teach you about something called a paragraph.

.....well, except poindexter here. He may have been serious.

Either way, it was an interesting review (ie: it was good). No whining from the MB, and he gave an idea as to how hot the machine got.

And typing on a message board isn't the same as typing out essays. I don't get my posts proofread, and I definitely don't care what people say about my grammar. I don't care about what others type as well as long as it makes some sense and isn't in "Net" speak or l33t.

 

[blink56k]

I think maybe people were more annoyed by what seems to be a detached short attention span style of writing more than the semantics. Spelling/grammar is one thing, tone/manner of carrying oneself is another.

ie.

I pln to get a macbok as soon as Merom comes out,

versus

I plan to get a macbook as soon as Merom comes out and did I mention the apple logo glows, which is good for camping trips except I haven't had my Mac long enough to have gone on one...k thanks bye


I mean, he writes honestly and rubs off me as a nice kid (wish him the best of luck on the last bit of his high school career)...but he just doesn't sound like he's 18.

But yeah...I'll shut up now