After having spent the last few weeks trying to determine whether I should get a 17" MBP or a MB/iMac combo (for approximately the same price), I finally decided to go with the latter. I figured this would give me a great satellite computer (MB) for school and a nice gaming machine (iMac) for home.
First, I must give credit where credit is due. The nail in the coffin for me was wyrmintheapple's review and his great video documentary of a few games being played on his new MB. Knowing that the MB could do some basic gaming and the iMac would do the rest, I was set. I ran out to my local Apple store and picked up a 2GHz white MB in stock configuration. I'm now typing this review from it...Mmmm hmmm. I'll be ordering the 20" iMac tomorrow since I'd like the 256MB vRAM upgrade and no local stores had any in stock. On to the MacBook...
I'll start with a few first impressions. My first thought after opening the rather slim box is that Apple has really done a great job packing this thing. I like the weird styrofoam inserts with the odd, heart-valve shaped holes (sorry my wife is in cardiac medicine) and the way that everything fits inside the tiny box. The MacBook itself seems oddly heavy for its small size. I don't consider this a bad thing; however, as it gives the computer a much more robust and sturdy feel than my 17" PB. The first thing that struck me when opening the screen is how glossy it really was...more on that later.
The Keyboard
This may be one of the greatest keyboards I've ever typed on. It seems, at first, that the spacing between the keys could make typing awkward, but after a few words, I found that it's very nice. It still has the crisp but soft Apple keyboard feel with which I've fallen in love.
When you actually measure the size of the keys and their spacings and compare them to (for example) a PowerBook, you find that the keyboards are *exactly* the same in every respect (except that the MB keys are flat and the PB keys are scalloped). The MacBook keys are 5/8" square with 1/8" while the PowerBook keys are 3/4" square with basically no space in between. This all adds up to make both keyboards measure in at 11-3/4" by 4-1/2". In the end, they may be exactly the same, but there's something about the MB keyboard that I really enjoy. It just makes me want to type...
The Case
Since I chose to go with the white MB, my case is a glossy, hard plastic. I know people have expressed concern with regard to the resilience of the plastic to fingerprints and oils. The white plastic seems to be rather impervious to it, at least after this short period of time. It also, interestingly enough seems not to be too sensitive to scratching. I suppose if it eventually gets scratched up, a bit 'o brasso might do the trick.
The top, grayish plastic that makes up the handrest and keyboard area seems to be made of something different than the previous iBooks. I can't say for sure (I discussed this briefly in another thread), but it seems to me to be some form of teflon. If this is true, then it should stand up to some serious nastiness. I guess only time will tell... I'm one of the nuts who polishes his lappies every week with iKlear though, so you may not want to wait for my MB to get dirty.
The Screen
Wow...just wow! I'll be honest...I was afraid of the glossy (it's *very* glossy!) screen, but after playing around with it a bit, I don't know how I ever survived with the matte screen on my PB. I used the computer both in natural light with the screen facing a large picture window in my home and in an office setting with artificial lights and I haven't found a situation yet where the glare is even noticeable. This screen is so bright, crisp, clear, and beautiful. Now that I sit here with the PB on my right and the MB in front of me, the PB screen looks so old and busted and the MB screen looks so "new hotness."
I liken it to when you get a new pair of glasses with a new prescription...The first time you pop those suckers on, it's like whole new world of crisp, clear beauty. Well, the MB screen is my new pair of glasses. In short, anyone who is worrying about the glossy screen issue, don't bother...this thing is dead sexy. Period.
The Conclusion
I'm pretty much blown away by the MacBook. I didn't think that the thing looked all that great initially. But I think I've found a great computer that should last me a long time. As for performance, it's just great! Really snappy and swift. I haven't gotten around to running any games or booting Windows, but I will hopefully in the next few days.
I will definitely be upgrading the hard drive as I don't even have enough space to fully transfer the contents of my PB hard drive to the MB right now. I think I'd like to try out the Hitachi 7200rpm 100GB drive from OWC and also pick up 2GB of RAM just to see how it affects the graphics for gaming.
Anyway, if you've made it this far, thanks for reading and I hope it was helpful. Sorry for the terribly long post, especially since everyone has been posting these reviews...I just figured I'd toss one more out there, as it seems when I'm in the market for a new compy, I can never read too many.
First, I must give credit where credit is due. The nail in the coffin for me was wyrmintheapple's review and his great video documentary of a few games being played on his new MB. Knowing that the MB could do some basic gaming and the iMac would do the rest, I was set. I ran out to my local Apple store and picked up a 2GHz white MB in stock configuration. I'm now typing this review from it...Mmmm hmmm. I'll be ordering the 20" iMac tomorrow since I'd like the 256MB vRAM upgrade and no local stores had any in stock. On to the MacBook...
I'll start with a few first impressions. My first thought after opening the rather slim box is that Apple has really done a great job packing this thing. I like the weird styrofoam inserts with the odd, heart-valve shaped holes (sorry my wife is in cardiac medicine) and the way that everything fits inside the tiny box. The MacBook itself seems oddly heavy for its small size. I don't consider this a bad thing; however, as it gives the computer a much more robust and sturdy feel than my 17" PB. The first thing that struck me when opening the screen is how glossy it really was...more on that later.
The Keyboard
This may be one of the greatest keyboards I've ever typed on. It seems, at first, that the spacing between the keys could make typing awkward, but after a few words, I found that it's very nice. It still has the crisp but soft Apple keyboard feel with which I've fallen in love.
When you actually measure the size of the keys and their spacings and compare them to (for example) a PowerBook, you find that the keyboards are *exactly* the same in every respect (except that the MB keys are flat and the PB keys are scalloped). The MacBook keys are 5/8" square with 1/8" while the PowerBook keys are 3/4" square with basically no space in between. This all adds up to make both keyboards measure in at 11-3/4" by 4-1/2". In the end, they may be exactly the same, but there's something about the MB keyboard that I really enjoy. It just makes me want to type...
The Case
Since I chose to go with the white MB, my case is a glossy, hard plastic. I know people have expressed concern with regard to the resilience of the plastic to fingerprints and oils. The white plastic seems to be rather impervious to it, at least after this short period of time. It also, interestingly enough seems not to be too sensitive to scratching. I suppose if it eventually gets scratched up, a bit 'o brasso might do the trick.
The top, grayish plastic that makes up the handrest and keyboard area seems to be made of something different than the previous iBooks. I can't say for sure (I discussed this briefly in another thread), but it seems to me to be some form of teflon. If this is true, then it should stand up to some serious nastiness. I guess only time will tell... I'm one of the nuts who polishes his lappies every week with iKlear though, so you may not want to wait for my MB to get dirty.
The Screen
Wow...just wow!
I'll be honest...I was afraid of the glossy (it's *very* glossy!) screen, but after playing around with it a bit, I don't know how I ever survived with the matte screen on my PB. I used the computer both in natural light with the screen facing a large picture window in my home and in an office setting with artificial lights and I haven't found a situation yet where the glare is even noticeable. This screen is so bright, crisp, clear, and beautiful. Now that I sit here with the PB on my right and the MB in front of me, the PB screen looks so old and busted and the MB screen looks so "new hotness."I liken it to when you get a new pair of glasses with a new prescription...The first time you pop those suckers on, it's like whole new world of crisp, clear beauty. Well, the MB screen is my new pair of glasses. In short, anyone who is worrying about the glossy screen issue, don't bother...this thing is dead sexy. Period.
The Conclusion
I'm pretty much blown away by the MacBook. I didn't think that the thing looked all that great initially. But I think I've found a great computer that should last me a long time. As for performance, it's just great! Really snappy and swift. I haven't gotten around to running any games or booting Windows, but I will hopefully in the next few days.
I will definitely be upgrading the hard drive as I don't even have enough space to fully transfer the contents of my PB hard drive to the MB right now. I think I'd like to try out the Hitachi 7200rpm 100GB drive from OWC and also pick up 2GB of RAM just to see how it affects the graphics for gaming.
Anyway, if you've made it this far, thanks for reading and I hope it was helpful. Sorry for the terribly long post, especially since everyone has been posting these reviews...I just figured I'd toss one more out there, as it seems when I'm in the market for a new compy, I can never read too many.
