Questions for MacBook Owners

[witness]

I realise that some of these questions may have been answered elsewhere, but I'm looking for some answers from MacBook owners (or people that have used one).

1. Sound quality - What is the sound quality from the speakers?
2. Keyboard - How does the new keyboard compare to the MacBook Pro/PowerBook keyboard - is it good enough for touch typing?
3. Touch-pad - Does the touch-pad support "two finger tap" right click?
4. Heat - How hot does it get under normal use?
5. Back light - Is the back lighting even?
6. Viewing Angle - Does the glossy screen improve the viewing angle?
7. Graphics Performance - Under normal use are all effects/transitions smooth (we're not talking about pro graphics apps here).
8. And the most important question of all - Will it run second life?

9. Glossy vs Matte Screen - This issue has been flogged to death, so no need to discuss here.

With your answers please state which MacBook you have/used.

 

[witness]

I'm thinking of picking up one of these today (if my local store has any left). So I've looked through all the articles and posts that I've found so far and summed up. I'd still like to hear from people that have them.

1. Sound quality - What is the sound quality from the speakers?

From the dissection pictures, it looks like the sound bounce off the screen from the back of the MacBook. Still no word on the quality of the sound though.

2. Keyboard - How does the new keyboard compare to the MacBook Pro/PowerBook keyboard - is it good enough for touch typing?

Some have said that the feel of the keyboard is acceptable, but I haven't seen any comparisons yet.

3. Touch-pad - Does the touch-pad support "two finger tap" right click?

Seems like it does support this.

4. Heat - How hot does it get under normal use?

One user said that theirs was cooler than the MacBook Pro, but no figures yet.

5. Back light - Is the back lighting even?

Unknown

6. Viewing Angle - Does the glossy screen improve the viewing angle?

Unknown

7. Graphics Performance - Under normal use are all effects/transitions smooth (we're not talking about pro graphics apps here).

Sounds like it should do the job, the dual channel memory is apparently crucial to graphics performance.

8. And the most important question of all - Will it run second life?

Unknown

 

[ImNoSuperMan]

I`d have really loved to answer your questions.As that wud mean I have one in my hands. But sadly I wont get it before this monday

 

[witness]

I've decided that I need to look at one myself, so I'm going to drive 130 miles this evening to my local Apple store and take a look. If I like it then I'll bring one back with me.

 

[GooMan]

I've decided that I need to look at one myself, so I'm going to drive 130 miles this evening to my local Apple store and take a look. If I like it then I'll bring one back with me.

I'm thinking the same thing. I really wish I had a "local" Apple Store that was closer than 3 hours away!!! Oh well.

 

[MRU]

I'm thinking the same thing. I really wish I had a "local" Apple Store that was closer than 3 hours away!!! Oh well.

Tell me about it. i'm in Ireland, where Apple Europe HQ is based and we dont have 1 official Apple Retail Outlet. There's small franchise operations but no offical store. It's a dire status of affairs...

 

[alienex]

I realise that some of these questions may have been answered elsewhere, but I'm looking for some answers from MacBook owners (or people that have used one).

1. Sound quality - What is the sound quality from the speakers?
Its good and clear but not loud.

2. Keyboard - How does the new keyboard compare to the MacBook Pro/PowerBook keyboard - is it good enough for touch typing?
Different check my other thread to see a picture https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=2420671&posted=1#post2420671
3. Touch-pad - Does the touch-pad support "two finger tap" right click?
Havent tested that yet.
4. Heat - How hot does it get under normal use?
It gets warm but after more testing I am going to say its cooler then the MBP
5. Back light - Is the back lighting even?
Yes. It looks like the brightness is on very high but the screen itself isnt has bright has the MBP. Its nice but I prefer the MBP screen.
6. Viewing Angle - Does the glossy screen improve the viewing angle?
No.
7. Graphics Performance - Under normal use are all effects/transitions smooth (we're not talking about pro graphics apps here).
So far so good.

8. And the most important question of all - Will it run second life?
Sorry I dont know

9. Glossy vs Matte Screen - This issue has been flogged to death, so no need to discuss here.
Matte

With your answers please state which MacBook you have/used.[/QUOTE]
base model. https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=2420671&posted=1#post2420671

 

[witness]

I've decided that I need to look at one myself, so I'm going to drive 130 miles this evening to my local Apple store and take a look. If I like it then I'll bring one back with me.

I'm back and I brough a white 2.0 MacBook back with me

Sound is pretty tinny (as it to be expected), keyboard is ok, but not as good as the Pro, though I'm hoping that it will soften up with use. Generally it seems to be very good value for money.

 

[MacBookDJ]

I'm back and I brough a white 2.0 MacBook back with me

Congrats on the new MacBook! I'm interested to see how you feel about the keyboard after you've had a chance to get used to it.

 

[netdog]

1) Fine, but nothing compared to my iMac. Okay for a non-DTR laptop.
2) Keyboard is fantastic
3) Yes
4) Mine is not hot at all after running all day.
5) Even
6) No problems with glossy screen. Colours are great.
7) Waiting on RAM upgrade. 512MB is not enough.
8) Dunno

 

[liquidh2o]

I realise that some of these questions may have been answered elsewhere, but I'm looking for some answers from MacBook owners (or people that have used one).

1. Sound quality - What is the sound quality from the speakers?

lacks any real bass, but didn't expect any with such small speakers. Is pretty clear, think it's about the same as the ibook... would fill a small room if there were no other noises, think along the lines of a loud alarm clock radio.

2. Keyboard - How does the new keyboard compare to the MacBook Pro/PowerBook keyboard - is it good enough for touch typing?

one of the best changes imo... keys feel really solid, there's very little if any play in them, and they're very responsive. Not a touch typer but i imagine if it feels good this way you'd be ok touch typing too.

3. Touch-pad - Does the touch-pad support "two finger tap" right click?

haven't got the hang of this yet, first time trying

4. Heat - How hot does it get under normal use?

acceptable. The majority of the heat comes from the rear/left side, not really noticable while unplugged, and slightly noticable while plugged in.

5. Back light - Is the back lighting even?
6. Viewing Angle - Does the glossy screen improve the viewing angle?

It's a great little screen, back lighting is even, the glossy screen really makes the lcd look crystal clear. It isn't as bright as the intel imac, but is plenty bright enough for my needs, and would imagine for most everyone elses as well

7. Graphics Performance - Under normal use are all effects/transitions smooth (we're not talking about pro graphics apps here).

every day apps (safari, iLife, mail etc.) run great, pretty much the same as the intel imac. I think if this thing came with 1gb of ram it would be perfect. As is, i'll have to purchase a 1gb stick, dunno what i'll do with those 256mb sticks, gah!

8. And the most important question of all - Will it run second life?

Haven't tried and probably won't.

With your answers please state which MacBook you have/used.

have the black macbook... the black looks great, didn't mind paying a little extra for it since I got a discount.

 

[alienex]

I have posted alot of pictures and videos on my thread.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/201453/

 

[wyrmintheapple]

Finally nice to see people with actual MacBooks replying. This thread started like every other MacBook Q&A thread.

1. Member asks for a MacBook owner for their opinions of their new Mac.

2. Hundreds of replies appear from non-MacBook owners giving their 'expert' opinion.

3. Thread descends into flame war concerning integrated graphics!!

So, while we have actual MacBook owners reading this thread....

Has anyone installed any games at all on these machines? What kind of performance did you get?

 

[liquidh2o]

no games yet but i do have WC3 sitting upstairs, might be a good game to try out, will try to get to it in the next couple of days.

 

[AvSRoCkCO1067]

Finally nice to see people with actual MacBooks replying

I agree - very good thread.

Of course, the OP asked very good, very specific questions that couldn't be answered by simply looking up information on the Apple website .

So thanks .

 

[AndyR]

Does the Apple logo on the back of the screen light up like on the MBP and PowerBooks?

 

[witness]

Does the Apple logo on the back of the screen light up like on the MBP and PowerBooks?

Yes

 

[GooMan]

I'm glad the logo lights up. Now if I could get a backlit keyboard without buying a Pro I would be good to go.

 

[bcharmx]

Exposé on MacBooks

Do the Exposé keys on your new MacBooks work? I was playing around with them in the Apple store and noticed the F9 and F10 keys weren't activating Exposé. When I checked the System Preferences for Exposé, they we set up correctly. No big deal if you use hot corners, but I'm wondering if it's a bug anyone else is experiencing.

 

[runninmac]

Do the Exposé keys on your new MacBooks work? I was playing around with them in the Apple store and noticed the F9 and F10 keys weren't activating Exposé. When I checked the System Preferences for Exposé, they we set up correctly. No big deal if you use hot corners, but I'm wondering if it's a bug anyone else is experiencing.

They most differently work. The settings just probably have the function keys to work differently.

 

[MB Buyer?]

external display?

when you plug in an external display, can you rotate it to portrait mode? - i like my 2nd screen screen that way for reading / writing pdfs and word docs - ta